Patent ID: 6382206
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A62B

Abstract:
A negative pressure respirator mask defining a clean air envelope at least around a wearer's nose and mouth comprising:a) a compliant body having a peripheral sealing portion, said sealing portion being adapted to be worn on a wearer's face in sealing engagement therewith; b) an inhalation port for admitting clean air to the negative pressure respirator mask; c) a filter element that can be detachably secured to the negative pressure respirator mask such that inhaled air that passes through the inhalation port first passes through the filter element; d) an exhalation port separate from the inhalation port for expelling exhaled air from the negative pressure respirator mask; and e) a speech transmission adapter that is in detachably sealed engagement with the inhalation port, the adapter comprising: i) a peripheral housing and a central aperture extending through the peripheral housing, the central aperture being adapted for accommodating the passage of air therethrough; ii) a speech reception means for receiving sound pressure generated by a wearer of the negative pressure respirator mask, supported by the peripheral housing and being exterior of the compliant body; and iii) a speech transmission means for conveying signals representative of any sound pressure received by the speech reception means to an external speech transducer and being operably coupled to the speech reception means; wherein the filter element can be detachably secured to the negative pressure respirator mask by being connected to either the speech transmission adapter or the inhalation port.