An Improved Mask Respirator.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
An Improved Mask Respirator.
I, FELIX DETOURBE of 18 Rue de la Roquette, Paris in the Republic of France,
Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The respirator mask which forms the object of my invention is intended to filter
the air charged with dust or toxical or inert particles, which, penetrating into the
respiratory passages cause local irritation, or general infection; it is therefore
suitable for work-people who live and work in air charged with deleterious matters
or germs.
:
In order to be of practical use a mask of this kind must fulfil various conditions:
it must be light; it must leave the' eyes uncovered, and only protect in short
the respiratory openings; it must fit exactly over the face in order to prevent
the entrance of unfiltered air, and it must be firmly held in its place without,
however, pressing to such an extent as to produce pain or annoyance; finally,
whilst possessing sufficient rigidity to preserve its general form, it is necessary that
it shall stretch slightly, in order that it may be made in only four or five patterns
of different dimensions and yet he capable of being applied to faces quite different
in form.
The mask shown on the accompanying drawing, fulfils all these conditions,
Figure 1 being a front view and
Figure 2 a side view of one form of mask, and
Figure 3 a section of a modification.
The mask comprises a light adjustable foundation or framework fitting to the
face and formed of curves which are calculated to fit on the prominent parts of
the face, thus at the top it has a naso-maxillo frontal curve a b, below a sub-
labial curve c d and on the sides lateral curves a c and b d. This framework has
on its entire periphery an indiarubber tube e which facilitates its fitting to the
face by forming a tight-joint and affording a softer pressure.
The front part of the mask is formed of a network or grating of practically
hemispherical form. It is attached to the foundation or framework by the side
pieces g.
A second network covers the first, and is attached to the framework
by means of a hinge i and fastens by means of a catch; or other suitable mode of
fastening. The space formed between the two networks f and his occupied by a
pad of wadding k, or other suitable filtering material. By means of this arrange-
ment the pad when soiled may be instantaneously replaced with the greatest
facility.
On the upper part of the mask, a springy strip 1, is fixed, which rests against the
forehead. The part marked n serves as a point of attachment for a band or
elastic cord m which goes round the head. A second band p is placed round under
the ears and its two ends are attached to the framework at c d, the ring on this
band engaging with the hook o. In this way the mask is firmly held without
causing any inconvenience and the surrounding air only obtains access through the
wide filtering opening.
A mask thus arranged can be formed with metal wires suitably bent to form the
foundation or framework, other wires connect this frame or foundation to the net-
work f. The skeleton frame thus formed is covered at g with indiarubber or other
suitable impermeable substance.
Another mode of manufacture consists in stamping the mask from a single piece
of thin sheet metal, and cutting out afterwards the grated or network part f.

page_text: The metal chosen must be light, and for this reason aluminium is most suitable :
if copper be employed, care must be taken to cover it with a suitable non-corroding
coating such as tin, nickel, varnish, enamel, or the like.
The mask is sufficiently flexible to allow, by acting with precaution on the
angles c and d, and on the curves a b, c d, of the frame which fits on the face
being varied in height as well as in width to a considerable extent. It is therefore,
evident that with 4 or 5 different models each representing the average dimensions
of a face, the exact fitting of a mask to any ordinary face may be always
obtained.
The mask herein before described may be employed with some modifications for
breathing in places charged with deleterious vapours or gases. This modification
is shown in Figure 3.
9
Instead of having a large grated opening the mask has unperforated walls u (of
indiarubber, metal or the like) which terminates at the front in a tube y forming a
joint, on which a pipe for supplying pure fresh air may be attached. At the rear
of the tube q a suction or breathing valve r is arranged. The valve for exhalings
is placed on the upper front part of the mask. It will, thus be seen that with this
mask a man may enter into and live in an atmosphere of deleterious gases, so long
as he is supplied with air from the outside, by means of a flexible tube.
It may
also be noted that it suffices to place in front of the valver a filtering wad in
order to transform the mask shown in Figure 3 into a respiratory mask for dust
laden air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A respirator mask for protection against dust, which consists of a fitting
frame a bed, covered with an indiarubber tube on the outside edge and also faced
with indiarubber in combination with a large network or grated opening holding a
filtering pad, substantially as herein before described and shown in Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawing.
2. In a respirator mask for protecting the breathing organs against dust, a large
network or grating f formed in one piece with the mask, in combination with a
grated part or network attached thereto by means of a hinge, and with a layer
of wadding or other suitable filtering material k, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
3. In a respirator mask for protecting the breathing organs against dust and
deleterious gases, the construction of the fitting frame a b c d with an elastic tube e
in combination with an impervious body or case provided with inhaling and
exhaling valves r and s, and a tube q for supplying air, substantially as herein before
described and shown in Figure 3 on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of August 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.