Abstract:
An adjustable mask provides a unique configuration, whereby one hand may be used to both doff the respirator and to securely don the mask. In one embodiment, such configuration is facilitated by a reel attached to one or cords, the cord attached at a second end to a harness designed to engage a portion of the head. Rotation of the reel in one direction causes the one or more cords to tighten, while rotation of the reel in an opposite direction causes the one or more cords to loosen.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED PA TENT APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/307,035, filed Jul. 20, 2001, the entire disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Respirators and masks, particularly fullface designs, are difficult to don and doff. Most have several points of adjustment, usually four or more, all of which have to be pulled in order to tighten the facepiece to the wearer&#39;s face when donning, and all of which have to be loosened before the respirator can be removed from the wearer&#39;s face. When temporarily or otherwise leaving the contaminated area, the time and complexity of donning and doffing make it difficult for the wearer to take a quick break from the confinement and from the heat which has built up inside of the respirator facepiece. 
     SUMMARY 
     The above described disadvantages and problems are alleviated by the present adjustable mask, which advantageously provides a unique configuration, whereby one hand may be used to both doff the respirator and to securely don the mask. In one embodiment, such configuration is facilitated by a reel portion attached to one or more cords, the cord attached at a second end to a harness designed to engage a portion of the head. Rotation of the reel portion in one direction causes the one or more cords to tighten, while rotation of the reel in an opposite direction causes the one or more cords to loosen. 
     The above description and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  is a side-perspective view of an exemplary respirator in the donned position; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated front perspective of the exemplary respirator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an exemplary assembly plan of an exemplary mask; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary handle portion; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an exemplary wingnut portion; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of an exemplary assembled mask; and 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view of an exemplary reel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary full facepiece respirator  10  is illustrated which allows wearers to quickly don or doff a respirator by the use of one hand and in one continuous motion. The illustrated exemplary mechanism for tightening the facepiece  12  generally comprises a cord means  14  connected at one portion  16  to a reel means  30  and at a second portion  18  to a harness means  20 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the reel means  30  comprises a circular ratchet wheel, including a reel mechanism  32 , and a cranking mechanism  34 , operatively connected to the reel mechanism  32  by a ratchet mechanism (not shown). As illustrated, the reel means  30  is located on the front of the facepiece  12 . Rotation of the reel means  30  in one direction causes the reel mechanism  32  to partially take up the cord means  14 , which may be a cord, cable, strap or equivalent connector. The cord means  14  engages a portion  22  of the headpiece means  20 , so that as the reel mechanism  32  is turned, the cord means  14  is taken up onto the reel mechanism  32  and the length the cord means between the reel mechanism  32  and the harness means  20  is shortened. Shortening of the cord means  14  causes pulling of the facepiece  12  towards the harness means  20  and tightening of the respirator facepiece  12  to the wearer&#39;s face. 
     Referring still to the exemplary embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 1 , the facepiece  12  is further provided with a first filter cartridge  40  attached to the facepiece  12  by a breating tube  42 . The facepiece  12  is further provided with a compliant material  44  along the periphery of the facepiece  12  for good sealing between the facepiece  12  and the face of the user. Inside the facepiece  12  is a mask portion  46  including a gas inlet  48 . The facepiece  12  is provided with a first point of attachment  50  with the harness means  20 . As shown, the point of attachment connects to a first harness cord  52  with a first harness adjustment means  54 . The facepiece  12  similarly provides a second point of attachment  60  for a cord means guide  62 , which directs the cord means  14  along the facepiece  12 , past the filter  40  and to the reel mechanism  32 . While reference is made specifically to the embodiment described by FIGS.  1  and  2 , connection of the cord to the harness may also be made by passing cord from a first point of attachment on the facepiece or mask through the harness and back to a second point of attachment on the facepiece or mask. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a front elevated perspective view of the respirator is shown. The exemplary respirator  10  includes a second filter cartridge  70  connected to the facepiece  12  by a breathing tube (not shown). The reel mechanism includes a cord connection means  72  for securing the cord the reel means  30 . As can bee seen, manipulation of the reel means  30  such that the cord means  14  is tightened causes the cord means  14  to be taken up into a groove  74  on the reel mechanism  32 . A third point of attachment  76  is illustrated for securing the cord guide means  62  to the facepiece. A fourth point of attachment  76  is shown on the facepiece  12  for connection with a second harness cord  78  with a second harness adjustment means  80 . The reel means  30  includes an internal passageway (not illustrated) in connected to external ports  82  on the reel mechanism  30  for permitting exhalation by the user. The internal passageway further includes a one-way breather valve (not shown) to prevent free passage of ambient air into the mask region. 
     In one embodiment, such an exemplary respirator may include a reel means which contains gear teeth intermeshing with stationary teeth on the facepiece window. Thus, the reel means is prevented from slipping after the facepiece has been tightened. The reel means may also be spring loaded so that the teeth are engaged unless the reel means is pulled forward and away from the face. Such motion disengages the teeth, allowing the wearer to turn the cranking mechanism or wheel. When the cranking mechanism is released by the wearer, the teeth are again intermeshed and the reel means locks. 
     In such an embodiment, when doffing the respirator, the wearer simply pulls the reel means away from the face to disengage the teeth. This position allows the reel means to freely turn in a direction which unwinds cord means from the reel. The entire respirator may be completely removed from the head of the wearer by holding on to the reel means and lifting upward. In one aspect, the cord means, which may be but is not limited to a cord, cable, strap or equivalent is made from a semi-rigid, non elastic material which helps to push the headpiece away from the facepiece when the reel means is being turned to release the respirator. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary assembly of another exemplary respirator is illustrated generally at  100 . The exemplary assembly generally comprises a lens piece  102 , a nosecup  104 , a voice box  106 , an exhalation valve  108 , a body  110 , a reel  112 , a handle  114 , and a wingnut  116 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the voicebox  106  forms a gas-tight seal with the lens  102  with an o-ring  118  or equivalent sealing material. The body  110  attaches to the portion of the voice box  106  protruding from the lens piece  102 . The voice box  106  includes a threaded aperture  119 , which receives a fastener from the wingnut  116 , as will be described in greater detail below. The body  110  includes a semicircular track  120  on its face  122 , which is configured to engage at least one tooth (not shown) on the underside of the reel  112 . The body also includes vents  124  communicating with the exhalation valve  108 , such that air can escape through the exhalation valve and through the vents  124 . The body also includes a post  126  onto which the reel  112  and handle  114  are positioned. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the reel  112  includes an aperture  128 , configured to engage the post  126  of the body  110 . The reel  112  receives cables  130 ,  132  at points  134 ,  136  on the perimeter of the reel  112 . The illustrated reel  112  also shows two tracks  138 ,  140 , onto which the cables  130 ,  132  may wind during rotation of the reel  112 . Finally, the reel includes teeth  142  on an upper surface  144  of the reel  112 , the teeth  142  configured to engage a plurality of teeth  146  on the lower side of the handle  114 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the handle  114  includes teeth  146 , which are selectively engageable with the teeth  142  on the reel  112 . In an engaged position, the handle  114  and the reel  112  rotate together. In a disengaged position, wherein the handle is pulled away from the reel  112 , the teeth  146  are not engaged with the teeth  142 , and the handle  114  may turn independently from the reel  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, the handle  114  and the reel  112  are configured such that the reel may only be loosened when the handle is in a disengaged position. Such may be done by providing the handle  114  with a one-way rotation. In such a configuration, when a user desires to loosen the mask, the handle  114  is pulled out, such that the teeth  142 ,  146  are disengaged, and the cords  130 ,  132  are pulled such that the reel  112  unwinds. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the exemplary handle  114  also includes teeth  148  on an upper surface  150  of the handle  114 , the teeth  148 , configured to engage teeth ( 158  in  FIG. 5 ) on a lower surface of the wingnut  116 . The handle  114  also includes a ledge  152 , configured to receive a spring  154  between the ledge and the wingnut  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , a fastener (not shown) extends through member  156 , which extends from the lower surface of the wingnut  116 , through the spring  154 , handle  114 , reel  112  and body  110 , such that the fastener may fasten into the threaded aperture  119  of the voicebox  106 . Thus, the wingnut  116  may provide a tightening force for the assembly, but still allow the handle  114  to be moved relative to the reel  112  such that the cables on the reel  112  may be loosened. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , in another exemplary embodiment, a capstop  160  is positioned over the body  110  and outside of the handle  114 . The capstop  160  includes a position marker  162 , which in the present embodiment is illustrated as a flared inner region of the capstop  160 . The capstop  160  may be provided as a convenience to a wearer, and may be positioned to create a wearer-defined set point or stopping point for the reel  112 . As such, it may be used as a compliance device or other indicator that a wearer has rotated the reel  112  all the way to a predetermined set point, where the mask has been shown or proven to fit the wearer. In another embodiment, one or more of the capstop  160 , the body  110  or the handle  114  may include marks or gradations indicative of fit or degree or amount of rotation. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the cables  130 ,  132 , which are attached to the reel  112  at one end, extend through tube lead-outs  164 ,  166 . The tube lead outs  164 ,  166  may be attached to the mask by passing through holes  168 ,  170  in the frame bottom  172 . After leaving the tube lead-outs  164 ,  166 , the cables  130 ,  132  pass through the headgear  174  and into the frame top  176 . In another exemplary embodiment, the cables  130 ,  132  have crimped ends  178  on one or both ends to facilitate attachment to the reel and/or top frame  176  in quick release fashion. Additionally, in another exemplary embodiment, the cables  130 ,  132  are constructed of a material with low stretchability. In such an embodiment, the cables may be fairly rigid such that the headgear is held open when the cables are fully unwound. Such an embodiment advantageously facilitates donning of the mask by the wearer with one hand. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the faceseal  180  may be attached to the lens  102  by the frame top  176  and frame bottom  172 . The frame top  176  and frame bottom  172  may be secured together, for example, by two screws and two nuts (not shown), and the assembled frame may compress the faceseal  180  to the lens  102 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the lens may also include cartridge adapters  182 ,  184 , configured to accept filter cartridges  186 ,  188 . Additionally, one of the lens  102  or voicebox  106  may include an aperture (not shown) for attachment or securing of additional devices, such as a microphone (not shown). 
     While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.