GB2035807A - Face visor for low temperature environments - Google Patents
Face visor for low temperature environments Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2035807A GB2035807A GB7936908A GB7936908A GB2035807A GB 2035807 A GB2035807 A GB 2035807A GB 7936908 A GB7936908 A GB 7936908A GB 7936908 A GB7936908 A GB 7936908A GB 2035807 A GB2035807 A GB 2035807A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- visor
- nasal
- wearer
- face mask
- cup
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
- A41D13/11—Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
- A41D13/11—Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres
- A41D13/1184—Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres with protection for the eyes, e.g. using shield or visor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
- A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
- A42B3/18—Face protection devices
- A42B3/22—Visors
- A42B3/24—Visors with means for avoiding fogging or misting
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F9/02—Goggles
- A61F9/028—Ventilation means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
- A62B18/02—Masks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
- A61F2007/0001—Body part
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
Abstract
A face mask, to be worn by a wearer in dry cold weather, in which mask condensation and fogging are prevented, has a transparent visor overlying the eye and nasal areas of the wearer, and support means including a support harness. To inhibit condensation of moisture on the internal surface of the visor, a nasal cup is provided, being spaced from said visor and supported in a manner so as to form with the visor an air conducting channel. The nasal cup encloses a space in the nasal area. An inhalation valve in said nasal cup permits unidirectional air flow through the same upon inhalation by the wearer. Inhalation creates a pumping action to momentarily evacuate the enclosed space, such evacuation inducing a flow of dry cold air through the conducting channel and inhalation valve means. This flow of dry cold air inhibits the condensation of moisture on surfaces of the visor internally of the face mask. A supporting base member may also be provided, connected to both the visor and nasal cup so as to support the nasal cup. In a preferred configuration, the visor, supporting base member and nasal cup are integrally connected, being formed as a moulded, unitary structure. An exhalation valve means may also be provided, being operative upon exhalation by the wearer to permit the unidirectional flow of warm moist air from the enclosed space to the ambient environment. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Face visor for low temperature environments
This invention relates generally to face protection as might be required by persons working in dry, cold atmospheric conditions such as those encountered in polar climates. More particularly, this invention relates to an imprved face mask adapted to be worn in such conditions, in which mask condensation and "fogging" are minimized.
Facial protection is often required by persons working outdoors in winter, or in other environments where cold dry atmospheric conditions are encountered such as high altitudes. This is especially important in the ambient winter conditions found in many parts of
North America or Northern Europe and Asia, and particularly in Arctic and Antarctic regions. Indeed, such conditions of low humidity tend to be found in any region which is subject to continental weather conditions, as opposed to maritime conditions where ambient humidity levels tend to be much higher.
Protection for the eye and nasal areas is usually in the form of masks or goggles.
However, these are frequently subject to "fogging" or "frost-up" due to the condensation of moisture on the inner surfaces of the mask or goggles, due largely to the relatively low ambient humidity encountered. Such moisture is derived from exhaled air, or from perspiration from the face in the area covered by the mask or goggles. The presence of such moisture is inevitable, and aggravates the above-mentioned tendency for condensation.
According to the invention there is provided a face mask adapted to be worn by a wearer in dry cold atmospheric conditions, comprising a transparent visor to overlie eye and nasal areas of the wearer and support means including a support harness, and provided with a nasal cup spaced from the visor and supported in a manner so as to form with the visor an air conducting channel, said cup enclosing a space in the nasal area; and inhalation valve means provided in the nasal cup, the valve means permitting unidirectional air flow through the same upon inhalation by the wearer, so that said inhalation causes a momentary evacuation of the enclosed space, whereby the evacuation induces a flow of dry cold air through the conducting channel and inhalation valve means, such flow of dry cold air inhibiting condensation of moisture on surfaces of the visor internally of the face mask.
In a preferred form of the present face mask, a supporting base member is also provided, this base member being connected to both the transparent visor and nasal cup, with the nasal cup being supported by the base member.
In a more preferred form of face mask embodying the present invention, exhalation valve means are also provided in the base member, such exhalation valve means being in flow communication with the enclosed space and operative to permit unidirectional flow of warm moist air upon exhalation by the wearer from the space to the ambient environment. In this way the entry of moist exhaled air into the vicinity of the visor is prevented.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of this invention, the transparent visor, the supporting base member and nasal cup are intregrally connected, being formed as a unitary structure, preferably moulded, and formed with apertures therein for the unidirectional valve means.
The present invention, therefore, provides an improved face mask which minimizes problems of fogging or "frost-up" of prior art masks or goggles. The invention will now be illustrated by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation one preferred embodiment encompassed by this invention; and
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the face mask illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 shows overall one preferred form of face mask 10 according to this invention.
Thus, the face mask typically has a transparent visor 12 mounted on a supporting structure 14 that has a harness 16 adjustably connected to it. Adjustability of the harness 16 is by adjustment devices indicated at 18 typically being in the form of a buckle or hasp.
The transparent visor 12 overlies the eye and nasal areas of a wearer 20. This transparent visor is usually clear, although some colouring or tinting can be added if desired.
Further, the visor 12 is generally formed of sheet or planar material, curved to generally embrace or surround the eye and nasal area of the wearer 20. Moreover, the visor 12 is conventionally attached to the flexible support 14 by means of an adhesive or sealant well known to persons knowledgeable in this art.
The flexible support 14 extends peripherally of the transparent visor 12, and usually has a preformed edge adapted to follow fairly closely the contours of the face of the wearer 20.
The face mask 10 also includes a base member 22 which is generally planar in form.
In the face mask 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this base member 22 is formed integrally with the transparent visor 12 and a nasal cup 24.
This nasal cup 24 is spaced from the visor 12 and supported on the base member 22 in a manner so as to form with that visor an air conducting channel or passageway.
Of particular importance to the present invention is the nasal cup 24 which encloses a space 28 of preselected volume around the nasal area of the wearer 20. The volume of space 28 should be less, preferably considerably less, than the volume of air normally inhaled by wearer 20 at rest. Thus, the volume of air inhaled by wearer 20 while working or exerting some effort, say, while walking fast, will greatly exceed the volume of space 28. Inhalation by wearer 20 will, therefore, develop a pumping action tending to evacuate the space 28 momentarily, and induce a purging flow of cold, dry ambient air into the face mask, across the inside surface of the transparent visor 12. Typically, a wearer 20 may inhale 25-30 litres/minute of air while resting, and say 110 litres/minute while working.
The volume of space 28 is much less, typically in the order of 50 to 100 milliliters.
In the preferred form of face mask 10 illustrated herein, the base member 22 is provided with apertures containing at least one inhalation valve 30. In the face mask illustrated, the inhalation valve 30 is a unidirectional valve and is in flow communication from the ambient environment to the air conducting passageway 26. The nasal cup 24 is also provided with one or more unidirectional inhalation valves 32. Thus, inhalation by the wearer 20 initially causes a momentary evacuation of the space 28, which then induces an in-flow of dry cold air from the ambient environment via inhalation valve 30, air conducting passageway 26 and inhalation valves 32 into the previously evacuated space 28. Thus, the flow of cold dry air which normally is also of low humidity, passes over the inner surface of the transparent visor 12.This purging flow of air tends to flush any moisture derived, for example, from facial perspiration under the visor into the space 28 from which it is initially inhaled and then subsequently exhaled by the wearer 20. As clearly seen from
Figs. 1 and 2, exhalation orally will be directly into the ambient environment.
Normally, however, exhalation and inhalation occurs via the nose. Thus, the face mask 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 is also provided with at least one unidirectional exhalation valve 34.
The exhalation valve 34 interconnects the space 28 with the ambient environment outside of the face mask.
The exact structure and configuration of the inhalation valves 30 and 32, and exhalation valves 34 are well known in this art. The exact structure of such valves does not form part of the present invention and need not be described any further herein.
As a modification to the face mask 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, louvers or slots may optionally be provided peripherally of the visor 12. Such peripheral slots would further promote the purging movement of cold dry air from the exterior of the mask across the internal surface of the visor 12. As mentioned previously that purging movement inhibits the condensation or "frost-up" of moisture on that interior surface.
The foregoing has described one preferred form of face mask envisaged by this invention. Some modifications have been suggested, and others will be evident to persons knowledgeable in this art. It is intended to encompass all such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention defined in the claims below.
Claims (7)
1. A face mask adapted to be worn by a wearer in dry cold atmospheric conditions, comprising a transparent visor to overlie eye and nasal areas of the wearer, and support means including a support harness, and provided with a nasal cup spaced from said visor and supported in a manner so as to form with said visor an air conducting channel, said cup enclosing a space in said nasal area; and inhalation valve means provided in said nasal cup, said valve means permitting unidirectional air flow through the same upon inhalation by the wearer, so that said inhalation causes a momentary evacuation of said enclosed space whereby said evacuation induces a flow of dry cold air inhibiting condensation of moisture on surfaces of said visor internally of the face mask.
2. A face mask according to claim 1, wherein a supporting base member is provided, said base member being connected to both said visor and nasal cup, the nasal cup being supported by said base member.
3. A face mask according to claim 2, wherein exhalation valve means is provided in said base member, said exhalation valve means being in flow communication with said enclosed space and operative to permit unidirectional flow of warm moist air upon exhalation by the wearer from said space to the embient environment.
4. A face mask according to claim 1, 2 or 3 3 wherein air channel means are formed in said visor peripherally thereof, thereby to facilitate ducting of the incoming cold dry ambient air across the visor over the eye and nasal areas of the wearer upon inhalation by the wearer.
5. A face'mask according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the visor, supporting base member, and nasal cup are integrally connected, being formed as a unitary structure, and formed with apertures therein for said valve means.
6. A face mask according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said support means also includes a flexible sealing element adapted to conform to the facial contours of the wearer.
7. A face mask according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA315006 | 1978-10-31 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2035807A true GB2035807A (en) | 1980-06-25 |
Family
ID=4112779
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB7936908A Withdrawn GB2035807A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1979-10-24 | Face visor for low temperature environments |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2035807A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0238032A2 (en) * | 1986-03-17 | 1987-09-23 | Michael Schröder | Pollen protection device |
GB2203050A (en) * | 1987-04-06 | 1988-10-12 | Cam Lock | Respirator |
US4784131A (en) * | 1986-03-17 | 1988-11-15 | Michael Schroeder | Pollen protection device |
CN104705840A (en) * | 2015-01-17 | 2015-06-17 | 彭丕志 | Electric mask |
US10549058B2 (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2020-02-04 | Dimar S.R.L. | Seal mask for the respiratory therapy |
CN111867530A (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2020-10-30 | 花王株式会社 | Warming appliance |
US11412791B2 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2022-08-16 | Edward Kunar | All-weather protective face mask |
-
1979
- 1979-10-24 GB GB7936908A patent/GB2035807A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0238032A2 (en) * | 1986-03-17 | 1987-09-23 | Michael Schröder | Pollen protection device |
US4784131A (en) * | 1986-03-17 | 1988-11-15 | Michael Schroeder | Pollen protection device |
EP0238032A3 (en) * | 1986-03-17 | 1989-04-26 | Michael Schröder | Pollen protection device |
GB2203050A (en) * | 1987-04-06 | 1988-10-12 | Cam Lock | Respirator |
GB2203050B (en) * | 1987-04-06 | 1991-07-31 | Cam Lock | Respirator |
CN104705840A (en) * | 2015-01-17 | 2015-06-17 | 彭丕志 | Electric mask |
US10549058B2 (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2020-02-04 | Dimar S.R.L. | Seal mask for the respiratory therapy |
CN111867530A (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2020-10-30 | 花王株式会社 | Warming appliance |
US11412791B2 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2022-08-16 | Edward Kunar | All-weather protective face mask |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |