阅读说明：本技术 衣服支撑的空气净化面罩过滤系统 (Air purification face guard filtration system that clothes supported ) 是由 克里斯·爱德华兹 詹姆斯·亨德森 埃尔明·迪克 于 2018-12-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种可穿戴的、衣服支撑的空气净化系统,具有与面罩过滤器连通的过滤后的强制空气源,该面罩过滤器用于固定在用户的嘴和鼻子上。该过滤后的强制空气源被支撑在诸如围巾之类的衣服中,位于与面部过滤面罩间隔开的位置处。过滤后的强制空气源通过诸如挠性管之类的封闭的空气通道与面部过滤面罩连通。(A wearable, garment-supported air purification system has a source of filtered forced air in communication with a mask filter for securing over the mouth and nose of a user. The filtered forced air source is supported in a garment, such as a scarf, at a location spaced from the facial filter mask. The filtered forced air source communicates with the facial filter mask through a closed air passage, such as a flexible tube.)

1. A wearable, garment-supported air purification system comprising a source of filtered forced air in communication with a mask filter for securing over the mouth and nose of a user, wherein the source of filtered forced air is supported in the garment at a location spaced from the facial filtering face mask and in communication with the facial filtering face mask through a closed air passage.

2. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the facial filtering face mask comprises an air inlet for receiving filtered forced air and an air outlet.

3. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the mask filter comprises a replaceable layer of filter material.

4. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the facial filtering face mask comprises an air inlet for receiving filtered forced air and an air outlet.

5. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the mask filter comprises a replaceable layer of filter material.

6. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the filtered forced air source comprises: a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; an electric fan mounted in the housing to draw air into the housing through the air inlet and to exhaust air from the housing to the enclosed air passage; and an air filter installed to filter air entering the case.

7. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the enclosed air channel comprises a flexible tube.

8. A wearable, garment-supported air purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of scarves, sweaters, headscarfs and balaclava caps.

9. A wearable, garment-supported air purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mask filter is removably secured to an inner surface of the garment.

10. A wearable, garment-supported air purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filtered forced air source is removably supported adjacent an interior surface of the garment.

11. The wearable, garment-supported air purification system of claim 1, wherein the closed air passage is connected to a side of the mask filter that is furthest from a user's face when the user is wearing the garment-supported air purification system.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air filtering system for an air purifying mask for everyday use and a garment for supporting such an air filtering system.

Background

Because of the harmful levels of air pollution in many cities, face-mounted air filters for protecting urban inhabitants from pollution during everyday activities such as commuting have become common in many countries. Typically, they take the form of a shaped sheet of filter material that covers the mouth and nose of the user and is secured to the user's face by a strap or earring. Conventional face-worn air filtration masks are laminated compositions of several nonwoven materials, including the actual filtration material. This is done to provide structure for the shape and comfort for the end user.

One of the problems with these designs is that they typically do not seal well against the user's face, and therefore the user may inhale unfiltered air. In those applications where the filtering face mask does seal tightly against the user's face, it will be difficult for the user to inhale through the filter sufficient air to maintain the necessary oxygen supply when the user is breathing normally, particularly when the user is performing strenuous activities such as running or cycling. Thus, the user is forced to spend additional energy to exhale hard to obtain sufficient oxygen. One known approach to this problem is to attach a miniature electric fan to the mask filter to blow filtered air from outside the filtering mask towards the wearer's mouth and nose. However, such designs are not useful because the air flow to the user is still insufficient and the placement of the electric fan is not comfortable for the user.

Accordingly, it is generally desirable to provide a face-mounted air filter that increases air flow to the mouth or nose of a user and that can be comfortably worn.

Disclosure of Invention

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

This embodiment provides a wearable, garment-supported air purification system in which a miniature electric fan provides a filtered source of forced air. One aspect of the present invention provides a fan driven filtered air source incorporated in a scarf, headband or similar garment. The fan is held in a filter housing that is removably supported in a pocket of the garment, and the fan provides filtered forced air through a flexible conduit to a separate mask filter mounted on the face of the user and covering the mouth and nose of the user.

More particularly, a wearable, garment-supported air purification system is provided that includes a source of filtered forced air in communication with a mask filter for securing over the mouth and nose of a user, wherein the source of filtered forced air is supported in the garment at a location spaced from the facial filtering mask and in communication with the facial filtering mask through a closed air passage. The facial filtering mask may include an air inlet for receiving filtered forced air and an air outlet. The mask filter may include a replaceable layer of filter material. The facial filtering mask may include an air inlet for receiving filtered forced air and an air outlet. The mask filter may include a replaceable layer of filter material. The filtered forced air source may include: a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; an electric fan mounted in the housing to draw air into the housing through the air inlet and to discharge air from the housing to the enclosed air passage; and an air filter installed to filter air entering the housing. The closed air passage may comprise a flexible tube.

According to various embodiments, the garment for a wearable, garment-supported air purification system may be a scarf, a sweater, a headband, or a balaclava hat. Preferably, the mask filter is removably secured to an interior surface of the garment and the filtered forced air source is removably supported adjacent the interior surface of the garment. Preferably, the closed air passage is connected to the side of the mask filter that is furthest from the user's face when the user is wearing the garment-supported air purification system.

The present embodiment also includes an active air purification system retained within the scarf structure. The active air purification system utilizes an electric fan to draw air through a filter and push the air up to the end user's face. The air inlet (filter end) and air outlet (face-mounted mask) are located at opposite ends of the sealed airflow path. The face-mounted mask also contains a filter that covers the mouth and nose of the user. Excess air remaining in the face-worn mask may escape through a one-way valve located on the face-worn mask.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed description.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments are shown in referenced figures of the drawings. The embodiments and figures disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a garment-mounted air-purifying face-piece filtration system implemented in an air-purifying scarf worn by a user.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 1 being worn or removed by a user.

Fig. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4A is a rear view of the embodiment shown in fig. 3, with the fan/air purifier unit uninstalled and the mask liner removed for illustration purposes.

Fig. 4B is a detail of the front of the right end of the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, with the straps tightened around the scarf end.

Fig. 4C is a detail of the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, showing the connection of the mask to the scarf.

Fig. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of a filter mask for an air purifying scarf.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of a filter mask for an air purifying scarf as shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7A is a front view of an embodiment of a fan/filter cartridge for an air purifying scarf.

Fig. 7B is a top view of the embodiment of the fan/filter cartridge shown in fig. 7A.

Fig. 7C is an exploded view of the embodiment of the fan/filter cartridge shown in fig. 7A.

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an air purifying scarf with a fan/air cleaner unit and a filter mask installed, with the zippered slip pouch partially cut away for illustration purposes.

Fig. 9 is a partial detail of a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an exploded rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a partial detail of an exploded rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a front view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 1 being worn by a user.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 12 being worn by a user, with the central portion of the scarf being transparent to illustrate the location of the fan unit and the filter mask and to show the direction of airflow.

Detailed Description

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

An embodiment of an air purification system supported by a scarf 10 for use on a wearer 12 is shown in fig. 1 and 2. The end 14 of the scarf 10 wraps around the neck of the wearer 12 so that the central facial area 32 of the scarf 10 and attached air filtering face mask 50 (fig. 3) are held in place by the adjustable elastic ear straps 18. Concave metal or polypropylene snaps or magnetic patches 20 are secured to the liner 22 of the scarf 10 in a linear array along the scarf's edges 24. The female snaps 20 can releasably and selectively secure to the male metal snaps 26 on the outer surface 28 of the scarf 10 near the scarf edge to allow the scarf 10 to be adjusted and secured around the neck of the user 12. The female snap fasteners 20 may be replaced with other securing means, such as small magnetic metal plates, in which case the male metal snap fasteners 26 are replaced with small magnets. The outer surface 28 of the scarf 10 can be a soft, warm material, such as a cashmere sleeve, while the inner surface 22 can be a lighter, more powerful material, such as satin crepe (for example). Other useful fabrics for use in garments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to fig. 3, the scarf 10 is shown in a front view as lying horizontally, showing the ends 14 and the face-covering area 32. According to one embodiment for adults, the scarf may have an overall length A of about 200cm and a height B of the face area 32 of about 50 cm. The height D of the end 14 may be about 30cm at the end and may provide a reduced height, for example 20cm, at point C closer to the central facial region 32. Fig. 4A shows a rear view of the scarf 10 in a state where the fan/air cleaner unit is not mounted. As shown in fig. 4B, straps 34 with snap or hook and loop fastener ends can be used to tighten the scarf 10 to help wrap the scarf around the user's neck. As further depicted in fig. 8, a zippered slip pouch 36 of the air purifier unit may be formed in the inner liner 22 to accommodate a fan/air purifier unit 60. A velvet nose cap 38, also shown in fig. 8, is secured to the inner liner 22 in the area for the nose of the user when the user is wearing the scarf 10, and apertures are provided in the filter mask 50 for receiving air intake and exhaust valves 40, 42 (see fig. 9) to facilitate the passage of forced air into and out of the nose of the user. A velvet material for padding is also provided adjacent the nasal mask cover 38 to enhance the comfort of the device when worn. The air filtering face mask 50 (see fig. 4C and 5, 6) has male snaps 54, which male snaps 54 are releasably attached to female snaps 46 (fig. 10, 11).

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate an air filtering face mask 50 that may be used in this embodiment in front and rear views, respectively. The air filtering face mask 50 has die cut holes 52 for receiving the intake valves 40 and the exhaust valves 42 (see fig. 9). The die cut holes are where the air inlet 40 (the outlet of the air purification system) and the excess air outlet 42 are located. The attached elastic knitted ear band 18 is used to secure the mask 50 around the user's ears. The male snaps 54 releasably secure over the female snaps 46 on the inside surface of the scarf to releasably secure the filter mask 50 in place over the inside of the scarf. The outer surface 56 of the filter mask 50 may be a warm material such as winter knit apparel, while the inner surface 58 may be stretch velvet to conform to the user's face. Other useful materials for filtering face mask 50 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The retainer wings 44 capture and secure the ends of the removable/replaceable filter 51, which is shown in fig. 8 and 9.

Fig. 7A, 7B, 7C illustrate the fan filter cartridge 60. Fan filter cartridge 60 includes a front housing half 62, a rear housing half 64, and a filter cover 72. The housing 60 encloses a filter 74 and an electric fan 76, the filter 74 preferably being flat as shown in fig. 10 and sized to be positioned within the filter cover 72 to filter incoming air. The fan 76 has a forced air outlet 82, the forced air outlet 82 communicating with the fan transition 66, the fan transition 66 bringing forced air outside the cartridge 60 and delivered to the filter mask 50 by an air hose 85. The printed circuit board 78 is programmed to control the fan 76 and has power supplied by a battery 80, which battery 80 may be a 1500 ma-hr battery. Button 68 allows the user to select power on/off and fan speed. The printed circuit board 78 may have a mini USB connector and a bluetooth chip.

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the air-purifying scarf 10 with a fan/air purifier unit 60 and a filter mask 50 installed, with the zippered slip pocket 36 partially cut away for illustration purposes. Fig. 9 is a partial detail of a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 8. The fan filter cartridge 60 may be held in a slide pocket 36, the slide pocket 36 being closed by a hook and loop strap or zipper 37. The fan transition 66 is connected to an air hose 85, and the air hose 85 is connected to the intake air release device 40 and secured to the facepiece 50 and facepiece liner 51 by a connector 96 (fig. 11). An exhaust valve is shown at 42, and is also secured to the mask 50 by a connector 96. The facial filter 51 forms a pocket around the facial filter mask 50 when installed.

Fig. 10 is an exploded rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a partial detail of an exploded rear perspective view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the air-purifying scarf 10 shown in fig. 1 being worn by a user. Fig. 13 is a front view of the embodiment of the air-purifying scarf shown in fig. 12 being worn by a user, with the central portion of the scarf 10 being transparent to illustrate the location of the fan unit 60 and the filter masks 50, and to show the direction of airflow in the manner of arrows A, B, C. Outside air a flows into the filter unit 60 through the filter 74 and is forced into the air hose 85 by the fan 76. The hose 85 is connected to the inlet release 40 in the mask 50. The outside air at B is also drawn directly through the filter mask 50, through the filter 51 to the user's mouth and nose. The exhaled exhaust gas is exhausted at C through an exhaust valve 42.

While a scarf has been disclosed as an embodiment of a garment for supporting an air purifying mask filtration system, other similar types of garments, such as a headband, a high collar sweater, or a balaclava cap, may provide the same function.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are consistent with the broadest interpretation of the present specification.