Patent ID: 6412486
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A41D,A62B

Abstract:
A disposable travel mask for removing air-borne contaminates from air inhaled by a traveler, the contaminates including large contaminates such as dust and small contaminates such as bacteria, dust mite waste, and viruses, comprising:a mask body having a filter area, the mask body adapted to be secured to a traveler with attachment means; and a filter on the mask body constructed to be positioned over a nose and mouth of the traveler, the filter for entrapping the air-borne contaminates in air inhaled by the traveler, the filter further including: a first membrane for entrapping a first set of contaminants, said first set of contaminants being larger than a predetermined size, and at least a portion of a second set of contaminants, said second set of contaminants being smaller than the predetermined size, with same of said second set of contaminants passing through the first membrane; a second membrane for entrapping at least some of the second set of contaminants that passed through the first membrane; and means for sealing the first membrane to the second membrane, wherein at least one of said first membrane and said second membrane comprises an anti-allergen filter for entrapping unwanted material; said first membrane being fanfolded to form a series of generally equal-sized flaps each extending reversely folded completely from a front side of a first plane thereof and pointing in one direction; said flaps being equally spaced apart and separated by intervals of a distance substantially equal to the length of each flap; said second membrane being fanfolded to form a series of generally equal-sized flaps each extending reversely folded completely from a back side of a second plane and pointing in an opposite direction relative to the first-mentioned direction; said first and second membranes being disposed in a back-to-back relationship with said first and second planes being disposed parallel to and in registration with one another; said flaps of said first membrane being completely on a first side of a dividing plane; said flaps of said second membrane being completely on a second side of the dividing plane; each one of said flaps of said first membrane being disposed opposite and spaced apart from an adjacent flat interval; corresponding flat intervals of said first and second membranes being disposed opposite and in aligned registration with one another; and corresponding pairs of first membrane flaps and second membrane flaps extending from opposite ends of correspondingly aligned first and second intervals.