Patent ID: 6718981
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: A61B,A61F,A62B

Abstract:
A dental mask comprising:an upper filtration portion having an upper inhalation chamber defined therein for covering a nose area; a lower filtration portion having a lower exhalation chamber defined therein for covering a mouth area; an elasticized philtrum band extending between and integrally connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, the band adapted to form an impervious gas tight seal between the two chambers; a frame integrally encasing the upper portion, the lower portion and the philtrum band; the upper filtration portion of the frame formed of semi-rigid porous fibrous material being spaced away from wearer's face and including an elongated nose ridge contoured to conform to the wearer's nose, an elongated malleable moldable strip longitudinally disposed within the nose ridge for supporting the mask and adapted to create a seal between the mask and the wearer's face; and the lower filtration portion comprising: a front surface, a semi-rigid primary section having a porous fibrous material disposed approximately in the center of the lower filtration portion, a topography of peaks and valleys on the front surface of the primary section to effectively increase the surface area, wherein large fluid particles are filtered in the peak areas and relatively smaller particles such as viruses, bacteria and gases are filtered in the valley areas, a mantle projection extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper lower portion, the mantle operative as a protective barrier for breathing area, the mantle cooperating with the nasal breathing area to define a nasal canal, a reservoir concavity formed in the nasal canal section of the mantle for increasing the air supply directly beneath the nasal breathing area, and means for retaining particles to the front surface, the retaining means further comprising an adhesive band section covering the mantle projection and extending to the frame; means for indicating when material is saturated with contaminated particles, and indicating means further comprising a color changing chemical immersed in the adhesive band section, wherein the wearer, by breathing through the upper filtration portion and exhaling through the lower filtration portion, will substantially eliminate rebreathing of wearer's own exhaled breath.