CA2068925A1 - Breathing mask - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A breathing mask is disclosed which features a soft, flexible face contacting member and an outer shell member fastened thereto to form a mask. The face contacting member is formed in an arctuate shape that provides a cup in which the chin of the mask wearer rests to prevent the mask from slipping under the chin of the wearer, and a peripheral rim over the nose of the wearer that secures the bottom edge of eye glasses or protective eyewear between the rim and the face of the mask wearer. the outer shell member is either an air permeable material for filtering particulates and/or gases from breathed air, or may be a rigid air impervious material through which filter cartridges are mounted to filter breathed air.

Description

MRY 19 '92 06:46PM ~ETTER_~RERTHING_INC ~ ~ ~ V t~,~ P.3 BREATHIN~ M~AS~

F~ELD OF THE ~NVENTION

~ho l?ro~nt inv~ntion relat~ to breathln$~' ma~k~ that ~ovor th~
no~ and mouth o~ th~ w~aror whil~ ~ilt~rin~ ~r~ath~d air. In ~ti~:ul~r, tho bro2lth~ns ma~k o~ the p~ 0nt is~v~ntion ~ddr~s~
ths neod f or ~eaur~ and st~l o mountt n~ o~ tho ma~X orl tho w~ar~r'~ ~aco, oiE~e~'cive ~ealillg around th~ iphory o~ cos~tact with tho w~ar~r'~ E~oo whil~ util~ v~ry low m~nltud~ pulling ~or~o aga1n~t th~ ~ac~ o~ the w~rer. ~hile th~ S~oath~ns~ ma3k o~ th~ ~r~0r~t inver~tion re~51~1t5 the t~dan~y to sl~p und~r the ahin, It alao ~satur0s a small li~ or rldg~ around tha peri~h~ry o~ the a~mbled mask beh1nd whl~h tho ~ayegl a59~ or ~roto~t1ve lS ~y~w~ar on tb~ ma~k wear~sr i9 ~ur~ly retained ~n ~ven ~ bottor rn~nn~r tha2; lf tha br~ath1n~ ma~k were not ~orn.

~ACKaROUND OF THE SNVENTION

P. r-l~vant d~talled ha6k~round of rs~p$rator~ of tha ~tior art i~
~ivor~ in V.8. Pat0~t No~. 4,641,645 - 4,856,508 ~nd 4,945,~07.

A ~onunon probl 0m i~ 1 lmi t~d u~o or d1~posabl o br~&thin~
ro~plrator~ o~ thQ prior art 1~ that th~ c:hln ~ortion of tho rasp1r~tor tond~, duo to tho ~or~a ~ullin~ th~ ro~p1rator ~a1nst th~ w~aror'~ i~a~o, to ~ undar the wearer's ohln. Th~ results in the unda~irable ~1tuation whore th~ int~rlor of the resp1rator ~holl touohss tho l1~ of th~ wear~. st ~lso ro~ult~ in th~
~ri~hery of the r~lrator ~hifting downward ~nd, thor~o~o, in ~om~ oa~o~ resul ting ln 1 oak~o botwo~n th~ poriph~ry o~ the r~lrntor ~nd tho ws~ro~ ' s ~c~ . ~n ordcr to ov~rcom~ ~uch tondoncy ~or downward sh1fting o~ the ro~pir~tor on th~ wearer'~
~c~, ~n ~Co3~11V~ ~orc~ is a~ od on the to~ portlon o~ tho MRY 19 '9Z 06:47PM ~ETTER_~RERTHING_INC 2 0 6 ~ 9 2 ~ P.~
;~ plrator ln ord~e to ~ncrease th~ ~rictional r301~tanco b~twoan tho ~c~ o~ thu w~ror and th~ ~erlph~ry of th~ r~glrator. The a~ t~on o~! s~ch forcs, howov~r, m~k~3 it un~om~orta~ or th~ w~r~r to ~ontlnu~ to w~ar the ros~ir~tor for ~xtend~d 5 ~o~l od~ o~ t~ m~ . ' Accordin~ly, thoro 19 a n~d in th~ art ~s~r llmit~d us~ or dl~a~l0 r-s~lrator~ that ar~ moro com~ortabl~, ln~xpon~lv~, ~l~xibl~ and 115~ht-w~i~ht which oan re~t ~aGur~ly agai~ t tho 10 w~ar~r'~ fa~e, re~lst ~llppin~ under tha chin o~ th~ w~arer ~nd ach~ ov~ an alr-tight seal around the periph~ry o~ contack wlth thel w~ar~r's ~ace under a very low ma~nlt~lds p~lling ~orc~. Th~
broathln~ ma~ls o th~ ~r~nt lnventlon ~tdre~o~ ~nd moet2 tho ~bov~ n~s~da.
DE8C~IPTION OF T~E D~AWIIN~

~TIl~ ~ro~nt lrlvontion will b~ bett~r under~tood upon r~adl~ tho ~ollowln~ d~tail~d ~030ri~ptiC:!n in conjunction w~th th~ drawlng ir 20 whi~h:

F~ a 3ide vi~w of a ~rior art dis~osab~o, fil~rou~
bro~lthlng ma~k ~

25 ~Ia . ~ 13 a ~ld~ ~utaw~y vi~w o~ a ~rlor art breathln$~ ma~k having an alr lm~ormoa~lo foam ~h~

FIa~ 3 iJ ~ ~ldo ~utaway view o~ a breathir~g mask in acaordanao with th~ pr~sont invontion~
Flo. 3A i~ cro~ octiona~ vi~w, looklr~g downward from abov~ the hoad oi~ th0 woarer o~ th~ ma~lc, that ~how~ the ~rctuate ~ha~d ~r~ ~h~sy o~ th~ m~k;

M~Y 19 '92 06:49PM 13ETTER_~3REFITHIN~_INC 2~3~: P.l ~X~3. 4 i~ ~ido vi~w of th~ br~athln~ ma4k in ~aoordanco witb th~
pro~ont lnvontlon and ~howtn~ th~ ~orces that hold th~ mask aSIaln~t th~ ~a~ o~ 3 w~ar{~r theroo~ to ac~om~ h ~n ~lr~ti~ht 80a1 around th~ ~orlph~ry of tho ma~k ~hol 1 wh~n th~ tna~k l~
W~E~I

I~Ia. 5 ~ g a r~r vlow o~ th~ ~reathin5~ ma~ n aa~ordance~ wikh th~ 08~nt ~ nvention, 10 FI0. 6 l~ a sldo cu'c ~way viaw of th~ br~athin5~ m~
ac~ord~ns~ with an al t~rslat~ v~ embodiment o~ the ~resont ~ nvoration.

FI~. 7 i~ a ~id~ cut aw~y vi~w o~ a th~rmo~ormod ~ibrou~ ~h~l l 15 mask ombodlment o~ the ~r~nt inv~ntlon ~howing ~ chl~ ~1? ln a~cor~anc~ with tha te)aching of th~ pre~ent inv~rltton~

D~TA I ~,~D DE8CR I PT ï ON

20 In F~auR~ sht)wn ~ sldo vl~w of a prlor art dl3~0~abl~, ~ibrou~ br~athln~ ma~k 10. A~ ~hown th~r.eln, tho ~rofilo oiE the f brou~ shol 1 11 1~ a 9~ ngl a curvatur~ contlnuou3 curYo 1~ the zono abov~ $ront o~ ~nd bel ow th~ chlrl of th~ wear~r o~ th~
m~k 10. Ela~tlc bant3 12 2~nd 13, attach~d to t~io ~rl~h~ry 14 25 o~ tho ma~k ~hsl 1 pa~3 around tho h~ad ol the w~ar~r of th~ ma~k 10 to hold th~ ma~k aS~ain3t the faco of tho wearor. ~h~ ten~lle ~trotch ~orc~ Fl ~nd F2 appliod to ~la~t~c band~ 12 and 13 ~cur~s th~ ma~k to th~ w~aror'~ ~ace ar~d provldo an e~ootivo ~oal b~tw;~n th~ wsaror ' ~ f 8C~ and th~ ~e3riph~ry of th3 mask .
30 As ~hown th~r~in, howovar, for~o Fl rnay ba r~lacod by ~ torqua Tl and Porco component~ Rl snd P~2 ~ctln~ on~ and ~er~ndi~u1ar to tho co~non tan~nt to tho interior o~ th~ ma~k ~h~ nd th~
s~ar~lr's chln polnt o~ contact, r~sp~tlv~ly. Compon~nt Rl tends to ~ul 1 tho m~sk o~ th~ ~rlor art und~r th~ chln o~ tho wearor, M~Y 19 '92 06:51PM ~3ETTER_~REF~THING_INC 2 0 ~ ~ 9 ~ ~ P.Z
and, tho~by bring th~ lntarior of ma~k ~hell ll 1rato contaot w1th ths ti~ oi tho no~ ~nd/or th~ t~ of tho wo~ro~l~ llps. In add1tlo~, du~ to ~u~h ~ pa~, th~ 3eal ~round th~ to~ ~o~tlos~
of ~h~ p~rlph~ry o~ th~ ma~k of the prior ~r'c m~y 1D~ d1~t~lrb&d.
5 In FI~URTE 2 1~ ~hown a ~ldo cut~way vl~w o~ a ~rior art br~thir~
ma~k l9 havln~ an air im~rm~abl~ ~oam ~h~11 15. ~ain, ~ ~hown thoro1r~, tho profilo o~ th0 ~oam ~hlsll 15 in th~ ~h1n aroa is a ~1~71~ curvatur~ continuous curvo. Al~o, ~la~t~ c ~nds 16 and 1~, atta~h~d to tho p~riphory 18 of the ~oam m~ok ~hol 1, pa3~
around th~ h~ad o~ th~ wearer of th~ mask ~9 to hold th~ ma~k a~ai~t th~ Paco o~ th~ we~rer. Tho tonsilo strotch ~orc~ ~3 ~nd F4 a~llsd to o1~t~c bands 16 and 17 socuro th~ mask to ~h~
we~r~r's faco and provide an of~ctiv0 ~eal b~two2n th~ w~ar~r'~
fac~ and the ~riph~ry o~ the mask. ~ain, ~ch br~th~n~ ma~k o~ th~ prior art ~uffe~s o~ th~ t~nd~noy oi the chln portion to ~lip und~r tho w~arer'~ ch1n and cau~e tha s~m~ lnconvonionc~
and 1OJ9 of ~oai d~tailod abov~0 FIa. 3 i~ a Jl~ cutaw~y viow o~ a br~athing ma~k l9 in accord~n~ wlth a ftr~t ombodlment of tho pr~ent inv~ntlon. The ma~k 1~ mad~ up o~ ~ fac~ contactin~ portion 20 that i9 f orm~d o~
~oft, rosill~nt air lmperviou~ polymoric ~oam. For the ~urpo90 o~ d~Ycribin~ th~ ~r~sent lnvention, an lmp~rm~ablo polymorlc foam ~hall be do~in~d as a medium which 1~ imperm~abl~ to the ~low of ga~ and llqulds and havin~ a ma3s den~ity lower than th~ product o~ th~ ~t~ndard ma~s donsity of wator ~62.4 lbm/cu t) and th~ clfia ~ravity of the ~olld con~l~toncy o~ th~
~olym~r or com~inatio~ o~ ~olym~r~ from whi~h tho maJX Jha11 ~ac~
contacti~ ~ortlon 20 1~ mad~. ~n accord~nc~ wlth thi~
d~finition, ~n lnltial1y p~rmo~b10 i~ro~ Jh~t or opsn call ~o m ~h~ot coat0d o~ ~eslod on on~ or both sidos in ordo~ to bo l~qrmoabl~ to tha flow o~ flulds may bo do~in~d a~ an imp~rm~ablo ~o1ymorlc foam. Oth~r materi~ls that may ~lt~r~tlvo1y bo u~d to mak~ tho sub~o~t m~sk ~h~ll ar~

M~Y 19 '92 06:5ZPM aETTER-~RE~THING-INc 2 ~ 9 ~ ~I p 3 combinatlon~ o~ lam~nat~3 of polym~r~ o oheots or ~llm~, ~ibrouo wob~, fabric~, o~on c011 foam~ and/or olosed o~ oams. In a ty~ aal C:~J0 o~E thi~ fir~t ~mbodim~nt o~ tho ~ro~ont lr~vontlQn, tho ~co co~ataatln~ ~orti~rl 20 1~ m~d~ o~ ~ alo~d ~11 low d~ns~ty ~oly~thylan~ ~oam, 1/8" thl~k and with d~n~it~ o~ 4 lb./¢u ~t . ~here 19 al90 an out~r ~hol 1 m~m~r 21 wh1oh i~
madq o~ a~r psrm~ablo, flltrat~osl, flbrou~ mat~rls~ ac~
~or~tactlng ~ortion 20 i-q bond0d to the per~ ph~ry o~ out~r ah~l 1 momb~r '21 at zone 22. Thar-J ~ro 01~atlc bands 23 ~nd 2~ ~tt~ched to the m~k ~h-11 at ~ointa n~ar th~ pori~hery 25 of m~k 19 wh~r~ ca ontactiny port~ on 20 ~nd out~r ~he~l 1 momb~r 21 ara bond~d to ~ach othor a3 ~ho~n. Band~ 23 and 24 pass ~round th~
he~d o~ a ~oaror of th~ ma~k and hold tho mask ~oeu~o1~r a~in-~t th~ ~ee of a w~arer o~ the ma~k.
Fael~ eonthetl2lg ~o~tion 20 ha~ a 1ar~d aontra1 o~0nin~ 26 that ~urround~ th~ ~so~o and mouth o~ the w~aror of th~ ma~k. Th~
~rlphory o~ o~snin~ 26 i8 ~rs~rably formad lnto an arctuato ~hape 28 a~ alYo ~hown in Flgur~ 3~ that i!l inwardly lnv~rted so 20 that its lnn~rmost sur~ac~ is aonformod to ~nd touch~ the face o~ the wearor o~ the br~athin~ mask to ~rovld0 an ~ r tl~ht ~eal a~ound th~ ~r~ph~ry o~ ~aco aont~ctln~ portion 2a o~ th~ ma~lc 19 to tho woaror ' ~ f ~eo .

25 A~ may b~ ~on ln FI~URE 3, tho ~rctuatQ ~ha~ 28 of tho ~aco eontaetin~ ~ortion 20 forms a cup 27 und~r and ln ~ront o~ th~
chin o~ a woaror o~ the mask l9. This form~d eu~ ~rev~nt~ mask ~9 irom ~lldln~ undor thl~ woar~r1s c~ln and th~ intorlor of tho ~aco ma~; outor Jh~l 1 m~mbar 21 f rom touahln~ tho ~ae~ of th~
30 woar~r. In addltlon it also ~rovldo~ a slood mask to ~ac~ ~oal around tho ehln o~ th~ wo~ror of tho m~k. Tho a~etuat~ ~ha~o 2 of th~ ~ae~ eonta~tin~ l?ortion 20 al~o provld-a a good ~oal to th~ fae~ of tho ma~k woar~r around tho br~dg~ o~ ths no~e asld ~ho ch~ok~ oo that ~ good ~1 1 aehiev~d without ~trong fore~

M~Y 19 '92 06:53PM ~ETT~R_~RERTHING_INC ~ ,;3 p,4 b~ing ~yli~d to the m~k sh~11 to ~orco it agal~'c tho ~o o~
tho woaror.

FI~3. 4 1~ oido vlow o~ th~ br~athlng m~k in accord~nca wlth the ~r~ nt lnv~ntion ~howlng th~ ~ora~ thal~t hold th~ ma~k 19 ~alrl~t th~ ~ac~ o~ th~ we~r~r to ~ccorn~ h an air-tl~ht ~al around ths ~srl~h~ry o~ ~a~ contacting portion 20 oi the ma k ~h~l 1 when th~ m~3k ls worn. Elaotic band~ 23 ~nd 24 gon~rat~
f orco~ Pl arld P2 ag shown . Forao Pl r~sul t8 ~ n othor oraes P3 and P4 and moment Ml at th~ chin o~ th~ waar~r o~ ths f aco ma~k 19 ao Jhown. Forc~ P3 pr~30~ tho chln cup 27 oi ~aco aontacting ~ortlon 2a ~gainst the chin of the w~aror and theroby rosul t~ in a ç~ood ma~k to ~ac~ a1 around tha ehln of th~ w~aror o~ th~
ma~k . Momont M1 al ~o p~99g~3 eh1n eu~ 27 against tho w~D.ror ' ehln ~or addltional chin to chln eup s~a1. Foreo P4 t~nd~ to pu11 th0 ma~k 19 undor th~ ch~n of th~ wearar, ao in the prlor Elrt. How~v~r, eup 27 formsd by the a~otuate rld~ 28 of faee cont~ctlng ~ort1On 20 pr~v~nts ma~k 13 from o1id~n~ under th~
ehin o~ the woar~r o~ the ma~k.
Cup 27 thoroby acts a3 a pivot point and ~orc~ P2 only cause3 ms~X 19 to bo ~ullod a~aln~t the ~aee of th~ mask w~arl~r whllo th~ro i~ no tond~n~y for the ma~k to ~llp und~r the chln of th~
wearor. DUd to th~ low modulu~ roslli~ncy of aratuat~ shap~d ridgo~ 28 and ~ace eontactln~ portion 20, f orco P2 n~d onl y b~
of low magnitudQ to aehi~ve an air-tl~ht soal around th~ nose 3nd ch~k~ area o~ ~aeo contaeting portion 20. Thi~ air-ti~ht ~al can b~ achi~vod with almost no deformation to the facc o~ tho ma~X w~ar~r. In a typieal ea~Q o~ appl~eation of tho ~r~s~nt ~nvQntlon, whl~ro faa~ contactLng ~ortion 20 was mad~ o~ ~. clo~ed c~ll low d~sn~ty poly~thyl~ne ~oam, (1/~" thiakn~, 2 lb./~u ~t.
d~n~ty), 1~ than ono pound of forc~ w~ ~ppliod by b~nd 24 ~nd yot an air-t~ht 3~al botw~n th~ f~ce ~ontac!tlng ~ortion 20 ~Ind th~ woaror's ~ac~ wa~ achlevod.

M~Y 19 '92 06:55PM ~ETTER_~RERIHING~INC ~ p,5 In additlo~, duo to thi~ low ~oroa alr~ti~ht ~al around tho noso ~nd ch~e~k~ aroa o~ tho mask w~arer, tho portion o zona 22 that i~ ato~ th~ no~ o th~ ma~k wear~r may b~ r~lativoly low to 5 facillt~t~ th~ ma~lc w~arer w~arin~ ~ye gla~s or ~rote~tive ey~
woar . As ds~eri bod abov~, ~a~s contacl:ing ~ortion 20 i~ bonded to th~ ~rl~h~ry of out~r shel 1 membor 21 at s:on~ 22 . Thls croat~ ~ small lip or rldq~ 29 around tho ~eri~h~ry oi tho a3~mbl~d m~Jk. Ey~ gla~ or prot~ctivo ~y~ w~ar 30 on thl~
10 m~3k woar~r r~st betw~on thi~l ~mall lip 29 and th* ~ac~ of 'cho w~aror. Thu~, th~ ey~ ~lss~e~ ar0 ~oGur~ly rot~lnod on tho wo~ r in ovon a bott~r mann~r than i ~ thoy w0r~ not wearlrlg th~
br~athlng ma~k.

FI0. 3 1D a r~r vlow o~ the bro~thin~ mask ln ~eord~e~ with th~ ~o~nt inv0ntlon. ~h~ shap~.of op~nin~ 26 ln fae~
¢ont~atin~ portion 20 i3 ~oen in thi.q ~lgur~. In ~ddition, tho ~h~pe o~ th~ arctuat~ rid~e 28 and chin cup 27 ~ormod ther0by i~
~oorl .
R~~rrin~ baek to FI~. 3, ~howing ~ ~ir~t ombodimont of tho br~athing mask in a~ordanee with tho pr~3ent lnv~nt~on, out~r ~holl mombor 21 may b~ made o~ a ~1brous ~iltratlon shell eovo~ln~ th~ ~oo~ ~d mouth o~ tho we~r~r. Th~ ~1brou~
~iltration rholl i~ ~r~ferably thermo~orm~d and ha~ ~ ~tli~no~
~ufiicl~nt that it r~tain lto ~hap~. A ~ibrou~ ~lltration ~holl i~ w ~d to illtor ~articulat~ ineluding du~t3 and mists from breath~d ~lr . ~h~ mat~rial ~rom whieh fibrous ~iltratlon sh~ll 21 i~ ~orm~d may al~s bo ~ ~omp~ite m~torlal known ln the art and mado u~ o~ a num~or o~ layors ineluding an ~etivatod ehar~oal im~r0gnat~d lay~r that i~ ablo to absorb ga~ nd ~iltar parti~ul~tos from br~thed alr. Ela~t~c band~ 23 ~nd 24 aro aatonod to m~3k 19, a~ ~hown, by ataple~ 31, thormobondlng or atho~lv~3. Xn addltion, a ono-way ~xhau~t v~lve 35 may ~o MqY 19 '9Z 06'56PM ~ETTER_9RERTHING_INC ~ 9 r~ 3 P.6 !n~t~llod throu~h th~ wall o~ ~ibrous ~iltration sh~ll 21 to oxh~uJt oxhalod air ln a man~r woll known ln tha art.

~IO.6 is ~ ~id~ cut aw~y v~ow o~ th~ br~ath~ng ma~k i~ accordanc~
S with an al t0rnativ~ ombodlm~nt o~ tho i~vedt~ on . I~ t~i~
~mbodlmont, QUt~r ~holl m~mber 21 ~ ~orm~d of a thin ~la~tlc, ll~ht w~i~ht, alr lmporviou~ ~hell cov~rin~ th~ no~o and mouth of tho w~ar~r ~nd havlng at l~a~t on~ opening ln ~hich a ~ilt~r c~rtridg~ ~nd/or ~xhalation valv~ and/or ~ibrou~ ~iltration liner and/or ~ broatbablo-air-supplyln~ c~dult may bo mountod. ~h~
~ombln~tlon o~ ou~ar ~h~ll m~mb~r 21 and f~c~ cont~ctlng ~ortion 20 i~ v~ry light. In ~ typical ~a~, it w~igh~ only about on~
ounco. rn thi~ ~mbodiment the pla~tlc from outor ~h~ll mQmb~r 21 i8 form~d ~ hi~h donslty poly~thylene and i~ only 0.030 of an lS inch thlck. Othar r~l~tlv~ly thln ~la~tlc matori~l~ may al o b~
u~d. Ouk~ ~h~ll momber 21 m~y be ln~ction moldod or thormo~ormod plq~tic ~h~ll. In it3 pre~rrod ombodlm~nt, out0r ~hell m~mbor 21 i~ ~ thormo~ormod ~lasti~ ~holl.

A~ ~hown, thor- i~ at l~ast on~ holo 31 throu~h th~ alr lmp~rv~ou~ out~r ~holl m~mb~r 21. In thi3 holo 31 i3 mountod a ~iltar cartridg3 32 o~ a type woll known in tho art. Thi~ filtor cartritgo 32 ~boorb~ ga~e~ and filt~r particulRtos ~rom breathod ~ir. In addltio~, a one-way oxhau~t valvQ 35 may b~ in~tall~d in anoth~r o~onin~ 33 ln th~ wall, ~re~rably near tho botto~ o~
thln pl~tia outer ~hel 1 m~mbor 21 to ~xhau~t exhaled a~r ln a mann~r w~ nown in the art.

~hi~ ~omblnation o~ rolativ~lY mo~ rigid out~r ~h~ll m~mbor 21 a~d ~acs co~tacting ~ort~on or mombor 20 pro~ido3 ~ br~thing m~3k that i8 30Ft a~ain~t the fac~ of th~ wearor, yot ~blo ~o rotain lts ~hap~ ~or long ~or~ods, oven whon it carr~-~
c~rtrldg~ and 1~ ~ullod, ~ith~r directly ~rom it~ p~rim~tor or indlr~atly by ~ yoko mount~d around th~ out~r ~h~ll momb~r 21 o~

MRY 19 '9Z 06:57PM ~ETTER~EREPTHING_INC 2 ~ P.7 .,ha m~k, a~in~t th~ faa~ of th~ w~rar for oxton~od ~o~lod~ o~E
u~a .

FI~. 7 ~how~ a rido out ~way v$ow o~ ~ thormo~orm~d ~brou~ ~h~ll 5 mask ~0 ~at~r~n~ th~ chin ~lp 41 d~c~ib~d in ac~ord~n~ with tho t~achln~ o~ tho 1pr~nt invontion. Th~ chir~ ~u~ 41 ~11mlnato3 tho p~oblems o~ ~llp~a~ r~forr~d to ~bo~r~ ln ~orta1n ma~ o~ th~ ~r~ or ært ( o . g . a~ ~hown ln FIa . 1 ) . ~urther, du~
to tho oarli~r montloned plvotln~ around the chln, th~ ~orce ~5 10 r~quir~d to bo ap~lied by band 42 ~or a~alin~7 th~ ~ac~ o~ tho wo~lr~r to tho n)~3k poriphory ~ thu~ much ~mal ler than a3 rs~ui~d in kho prlor n~t . Thls re~ul t~ in a ~r~ator 1 ovol o~
comf ort ot tho w~ar~r .

15 ~hi 1- what ha~ beon doscribed here~nabov~ i~ tho ~rof orr~d and on~a alt~rnatlvo ~mbodimont of th~ invontion, it wil 1 bo obvious to tho~ ~1ci 11 od in th~ art that r~um~rous changos may b~ mado w~thout do~rtlrl~ ~rom the splrit and ~cop~ o~ tho ir,v~ntion.

Claims (6)

1. What is claimed is:
   l. A breathing mask for filtering a breathed air comprising:
   a face contacting member fabricated from a flexible, air impervious material, said face contacting member having a central region through which there is a hole, said face contacting member formed in an inwardly inverted manner to form an actuate periphery, said face contacting member having an inner edge that extends into the interior or of said mask and outer edge, said periphery being conformed to and touching the face of a wearer of the breathing mask, and said arctuate periphery forming a cup in which the chin of the wearer of the breathing mask rests to prevent the mask from slipping under the chin of the wearer: and an outer shell member formed of an air preamble, fibrous material to filter breathed air, said outer shell member having a periphery that is fastened to the outer edge of said face contacting member to form a rim of the mask.
2. 2. The breathing mask in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rim retains the lower edge of eye glasses or protective eyewear worn by the mask wearer between the mask rim and the face of the mask wearer.
3. 3. A breathing mask for filtering breathed air comprising:
   
   a face contacting member fabricated from a flexible, air impervious material, said face contacting member having a central region through which there is a hole, said face contacting member formed in an inwardly inverted manner to form an arctuate periphery, said face contacting member having an inner edge that extends into the interior of of said mask and said outer edge, said periphery being comformed to and touching the face of a wearer of the breathing mask;
   an outer shell member formed of an air permeable, fibrous material to filter breathed air, said outer shell member having a periphery that is fastened to the outer edge of said face contacting member to form a rim of the mask; and wherein said rim retains the lower edge of eye glasses or protective eyewear worn by the mask wearer between the mask rim and the face of the mask wearer.
4. 4. A breathing mask for filtering breathed air comprising:
   
   a face contacting member fabricated from a flexible, air impervious material, said face contacting member having a central region through which there is a hole, said face contacting member formed in an inwardly inverted manner to form an arctuate periphery, said face contacting member having an inner edge that extends into the interior of said mask and said outer edge, said periphery being conformed to and touching the face of a wearer of the breathing mask, and said arctuate periphery forming a cup in which the chin of the wearer of the breathing mask rests to prevent the mask from slipping under the chin of the wearer;
   
   an outer shell member formed of an air impervious material having at least one hole through it, said outer shell member having a periphery that is fastened to the outer edge of said face contacting member to form a rim of the mask; and A filter which is attached to said outer shell member to filter breathed air passing through said at least one hole.
5. 5. The breathing mask in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rim retains the lower edge of eye glasses or protective eyewear worn by the mask wearer between the mask rim and the face of the mask wearer,
6. 6, A breathing mask for filtering breathed air comprising:
   
   a face contacting member fabricated from a flexible, air impervious material, said face contacting member having a central region through which there is a hole, said face contacting member formed in an inwardly inverted manner to form an arctuate periphery, said face contacting member having an inner edge that extends into the interior of said mask and salt outer edge, said periphery being conformed to and touching the face of a wearer of the breathing mask;
   
   an outer shell member formed of an air impervious material having at least one hole through it, said outer shell member having a periphery that is fastened to the outer edge of said face contacting member to form a rim of the mask;
   
   A filter which is attached to said outer shell member to filter breathed air passing through said at least one hole; and wherein said rim retains the lower edge of eye glasses or protective eyewear worn by the mask wearer between the mask rim and the face of the mask wearer.