GAS MASK

Abstract: Gas mask mainly composed of an inlet and outlet part (1) with possibly a speaking membrane (9), fastening devices (2) for securing the inlet and outlet part (1) before the mouth and nose orifices and a filter connection part (3), which is rotatable towards the inlet and outlet part.

Description: Gas mask The present invention concerns a gas mask. As already known the gas masks are mainly composed of an inlet and outlet and a speaking membrane which are separately disposed in fastening devices whereby these fastening devices can secure the inlet and outlet parts of aforesaid inlet and outlet before the mouth and nose orifices, and of a filter connection element which makes possi ble to secure a filter of the inlet part. The fastening devices may be composed of a face mask that is foreseen of eye glasses or of a panoramic sight glass and possible other accessories. Moreover it is also known that the inlet and outlet parts of such gas masks have each at least one check valve. Several other fittings are also foreseen in most of the cases. Quite obviously these mount devices have the disadvantage that the maintenance is made difficult by the large number of separate parts. Another disadvantage is related to the fact that, on the one hand, the assembly during the manufacturing and, on the other hand, the control of the right functioning of the gas mask require a relatively long time. It is also known that the existing filters are relatively heavy and bulky. This can result to the limitation of the head movements, to an additional reduction of the sight field, which is already quite limited in the case of masks, to the quickly increasing fatigue of specific neck muscles caused by the applied couple and to the difficult or even impossible use of instruments, tools or devices for the mask user. The present invention is thus concerning an alternative solution for a gas mask which makes possible to systematically eliminate the aforesaid and still other disadvantages of the known gas masks. To this end the invention foresees a gas mask characterized by the fact that it is mainly composed of an inlet and an outlet part, of faste fling devices in order to secure the inlet and outlet parts before the mouth and nose orifices and of a filter connection part whereby the inlet and the outlet parts are particularly and mainly composed of one single piece. Further on, the gas mask in accordance with the invention is characterized by the fact that the filter connection part can be rotated towards the inlet and outlet part The use of a monolithic inlet and outlet part or, with other words, of a common inlet and outlet part has the advantage that the gas masks are easy to manufacture and that their right functioning can be easily checked. The use of a rotatable filter connection piece has the advantage that the relatively heavy filter can be easily displaced from an inconvenient position by bringing it into another position. In a first preferred embodiment this gas mask comprises a monolithic inlet and outlet part and a filter connection part which can be rotated in all directions whereby the filter connection part is connected to the inlet and outlet part by means of a ball joint. According to a second preferred embodiment, the rotatable filter connection part is able to rotate in one plane. The connection between the inlet and outlet part, on the one hand, and the filter connection part on the other hand, is achieved in this case by means of a pivotable elbow-shaped coupling part. One end of this coupling part is al ways turned to the mouth of the gas mask user while the filter connection part is mounted on the other end. According to these two preferred embodiments the inlet and outlet part has also still a lot of specific advantages which will be more clearly described hereafter. For the sake of better understanding the characteristics of the invention two embodiments will be described hereafter as examples without any limitative character and with reference to the figures in appendix which are illustrating: Figure 1 a first embodiment of the gas mask according to the invention. Figure 2 a cross section through the inlet and outlet part and the filter connection part of the gas mask of figure 1. Figure 3 a view following the arrow F3 of figure 2. Figure 4 a view following the arrow F4 of figure 2. Figure 5 a second embodiment of the gas mask according to the invention. Figure 6 a cross-section following the lines VI-VI of figure 5. As illustrated on figure 1 the gas mask is mainly composed of an inlet and outlet part 1, of fastening devices 2, in order to secure the inlet and outlet part 1 before the mouth and nose orifices and a filter connection part 3. The fastening devices 2 are already known and may be composed for instance of a face mask which is equipped with eye glasses 4 or possibly with a panoramic sight glass 4A. In the filter connection part 3, different kinds of filters 5 may be foreseen and are selected in accordance with the application involved. The specific character of the invention consists in the fact that the inlet and outlet part 1, as illustrated on figures 2 to 4 is made of one single piece. This monolithic element is mainly composed of several inlet channels 6 and of an outlet orifice 5 which can be shut-off by means of a venting valve 8. The inlet and outlet part 1 can be also foreseen, for instance, of a speaking membrane 9. This inlet and outlet part 1 lay, however, be also equipped with other accessories like a device for absorbing liquid food, a second speaking membrane for a telecommunication connection, a transpiration drainage system and so on. Another specific characteristic of the invention consists in the fact that the filter connection part 3 is rotatable towards the inlet and outlet part 1 whereby the filter connection part 3, with the filter 5 fastened on it, is designed in such a way that the latter one can keep its last position. To this end coupling devices 10 are mounted between the filter connection part 3 and the inlet and outlet part 1, as illustrated on figures 1 to 4, whereby these devices are made, for instance, of a flexible air supply line 11 and of a ball joint 12. The flexible air supply pipe is made preferably of a bellow. The first part 13 of the ball joint 12 is a part of the inlet and outlet part 1. The second part 14 which is, for instance, the ball is fastened on the end 15 of rod 16 whereby this rod 16 is supporting the filter connection part 3 on its opposite end 17. Quite obviously, several clamping straps 18 to 20 must be also foreseen in order to secure, on the one hand, the flexible air supply pipe 11 and, on the other hand, the face mask on the inlet and outlet part 1 and the filter connection part 3. Moreover a sealing right 21 must also be mounted into the filter connection part 3. The functioning of the gas mask according to figures 1 to 4 can be easily understood by examining this latter figure. If the ball joint 12 is made tightly enough, we get the advantage that the filter connection part 3 as well as the filter 5 may be located in whichever position in order that the annoyance for the gas mask user becomes very limited. According to an alternative solution which is not illustrated on the figures, the coupling devices 10 may also be made of a large ball joint having a central aperture. To this end this ball joint nay have a hollow shape. The ball of the ball joint may be, for instance, the continuation of the lowest end 22 of the inlet and outlet part 1 while the casing of the ball joint is monolithic with the filter connection part 3. Quite obviously the coupling devices 10 may also be made of a crosscoupling. According to still another embodiment the coupling devices 10 are composed of the flexible air supply pipe 11 only. This flexible pipe is, indeed, strong enough in order that it keeps its last position in spite of the weight of the filter 5. The figures 5 and 6 are illustrating still another preferred embodi- ment of the invention with a very compact inlet and outlet part 1. The inlet and outlet part 1 is mainly composed in this case of a casing 33. The front side of the casing 23 is made of a double grid 24 whereby both grid parts 25 and 26 are designed in such a way that their respective grid apertures 27 and 28 are not overlapping eachother. The double grid 24 has the advantage that jets, for instance water jets, cannot penetrate into the inlet and outlet part and damage the speaking membrane 9. The rear side of the casing 23 is made of the speaking membrane 9 and of a grid 29 located on the side of the user's face in order to protect the membrane 9. As the speaking membrane 9 is located directly before the mouth, the acoustic vibrations can be carried to the outside without difficulty. The casing 23 is equipped with double-wall ìdes 30 which are made of respectively one inside wall 31 and one outside wall 32. The intermediate space 33 is in connection with the inside of the gas past. vr. both sides of the casing 23 in the inside wall 31 an outlet aperture 7 is mounted and sealed by means of a venting valve 8. The exhalated air can be evacuated this way through the venting valve, the inside of the casing 23 and the double grid 24. The use of two inlet apertures 7 has the advantage that the resistance opposed to respiration is reduced. The rotatable filter connection part 3 of figure 5 can be turnea bv 180 in one plane. To this end the coupling devices 10 are made of an elbow-shaped coupling part 34 rotatable around an axis A-A as well as an adequate seat 35. Preferably the seat 35 is designed in such a way that a tight fit is achieved for the coupling part 34. One end o of this coupling part 34 is oriented to the face of the mask users while the second end 37 is turned downwards and is foreseen of the filter connection part 3. As also illustrated on figure 5 the seat 38 is preferably mounted under the casing 23 in order to achieve a compact system. Near the end 36 of the coupling part 34 an inlet valve 38 is mounted. On te bottom face of the inlet and outlet part, devices 3 are foreseen in order to permit the insertion of an auxiliary part 40 for food supply and evacuation - of transpiration moisture The means 39 are, for instance, a support plate The casing 23, the seat 35 and the means 9 are preferably made of one single pressure cast part. This has the advantage that a strong assembly is achieved. Moreover one single opening must te foreseen in the mask because all fittings are located in the same monclitnic element. The invention is also concerning gas masks which are foreseen, on the one hand of a rotatable connection part 3 but which don't have, on the other hand, any monolithic inlet and outlet part, as it is the case with gas masks which include a combination of both characteristics as illustrated by the figures. The present invention is by no way limited to the embodiments described by way of examples and illustrated by the figures in appendix but such a gas mask as well as its components can be made with any shape and sizes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims 1. Gas mask characterized by the fact it is mainly composed of an inlet and outlet part (1), of fastening devices (2) for securing the inlet and outlet part (1) before the mouth and nose orifices and of a filter connection part (3) whereby the inlet and outlet part (1) is mainly made of one single part or with a monolithic design. 2. Gas mask whereby it is mainly composed of an inlet and outlet, of fastening devices in order to secure the inlet and the outlet before the mouth and nose orifices and of a filter connection part, characterized by the fact that the filter connection (3) is rotatable. 3. Gas mask according to claim 2 characterized by the fact that the inlet and the outlet are made of one single monolithic inlet and outlet part (1). 4. Gas mask according to claims 2 or 3 characterized by the fact that the filter connection part (3) is joined by means of coupling devices (10) to the inlet and/or to the inlet and outlet parts (1) whereby these coupling devices can keep the filter connection part 13) in its last position. 5. Gas mask according to one of the claims 2 to 4 characterized by the fact that the filter connection part (3) is joined by means of coupling devices (10) to the inlet and/or the inlet and outlet part (1) whereby these coupling devices (10) are mainly made of a flexible air supply pipe (11) and of a ball joint (12). 6. Gas mask according to claim 5 characterized by the fact that one part (13) of the ball joint is secured on the inlet and/or the inlet and outlet part (1) while the second part (14) is mounted on (1) and (15) of a rod (16) whereby this rod (16) is supporting the filter connection part (3) on its opposite end (17). 7. Gas mask according to claim 6 characterized by the fact that the part (14) of the ball joint (12) which is mounted on the rod (16) is made of the ball of the joint. 8. Gas mask according to one of the claims 5 to 7 characterized by the fact that the air supply pipe (11) is made of a bellow. 9. Gas mask according to one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the monolithic inlet and outlet part (1) is composed of several inlet channels (6) and of an outlet orifice (7) which is foreseen of a venting valve (8) and of a speaking membrane (9). 10. Gas mask according to one of the claims 2, 3 or 4 characterized by the fact that the filter connection part (3) is connected by means of coupling devices (10) to the inlet and outlet part (1) which is mainly composed - of an elbow-shaped coupling part (34) rotatable in one plane and of a seat (35) whereby one end (37) of this coupling part (35) is supporting the filter connection part (3), while the opposite end (36) is in connection with the inside of the gas mask. 11. Gas mask according to one of the claims 1, 3 or 10 characterized by the fact that the inlet and outlet part (1) is mainly composed of a casing (33) which is in connection through its front side with the surrounding atmosphere of the gas mask whereby its rear side is supporting the speaking membrane (9) and whereby venting valves (8) are foreseen at least along both sides (30). 12. Gas mask according to claim 11 characterized by the fact that the front side of the casing (23) is equipped with a double grid (24), both grid parts (25, 26) of which being designed in such a way that their respective grid orifices (27, 28) are not overlapping each other. 13. Gas mask according to claims 11 or 12 characterized by the fact that the casing (23) is equipped on the inside of the gas mask with a grid (29) in order to protect the speaking membrane (9). 14. Gas mask according to claim 10 characterized by the fact that at least the inlet and outlet part (1) and the seat (35) for the elbowshaped coupling part (34) are mainly made as a monolithic pressure cast part. 15. Gas mask according to one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that on the bottom side of the inlet and outlet part (1) devices (39) are equipped with an auxiliary part (40) for food supply and for evacuation of the transpiration moisture. 16. Gas mask according to one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the fastening devices (2) are a face mask.

Inventors: VANDEPUTTE GILBERT, VANDEPUTTE, GILBERT
Applicants: ENGICOM NV, ENGICOM, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A62B9
IPC codes: A62B9, A62B18