US2359506A - Fully molded gas mask facepiece - Google Patents

Description

Oct- 3 1944- J. F. BATTLEY ETAL 2,359,506

FULLY MOLDED eAs MASK FACEPIECE Filed Sept. 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll- Willi/7579110657656:

iis-lll! l Inventors JOSEPH F. BATTLEY DALLAS O. BURGER RANDOLPH MONRO OC' 3, 1944 J. F. BATTLEY ETAL 2,359,506

FULLY MOLDED GAS MASK FACEPIECE Filed Sept. 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venfars JOSEPH F. BATTLl-:Y l

DALLAs o. BURGER RANDOLPH MoNRo MLJQMWML JJM Attorneys 0d 3, 1944. J. F. BATTLEY :TAL

FULLY MOLDED GAS MASK FACEPIECE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1942 Invenfors JOSEPH F. a'ATTLEY VDALLAS o. BURGER RANDOLPH MoNRo MMM-@MW Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNiTED STATES PATENT oFEicE FULLY MOLDED GAS MASK FACEPIECE Joseph F. Battley, United States Army, Dallas 0. Burger, Burbank, Calif., and Randolph Monto, Mountain, Md., assignors to the Secretary of War oi.' the United States of America, as trustee Application September 26, 1942, Serial No. 459,802

t 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-141) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to gas masks and an object of the invention is to improve generally upon gas masks as now known and used.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To increase the upward and downward angles of l vision of the wearer; to provide adequate drainage for the facepiece; to provide an outlet valve and guard therefor, each characterized by simplicity of construction and eiciency of function; to provide a, head harness of maximum comfort; to materially improve upon the manner of securing the straps of the head harness to the lfacepiece; to materially improve upon the gas seal between the facepiece and the face of the wearer; to insure against the objectionable turning inward of the edge of the facepiece against the face of the wearer incidental to the donning of the facepiece; to present a gas mask which as a complete unity will oifer little if any interference with the proper use of the rifle or similar piece of firearms and to provide a facepiece of such structural characteristics that it may be vulcanized in a mold materially less complicated than the mold as is now generally required.

As will be appreciated as the description proceeds, the various components of the-mask are so improved upon by the teachings of this invention that they combine to present a complete gas mask facepiece meeting all the exacting requirements of a gas mask that would be free of those objections characterizing prior gas masks and as known to those experienced in this art.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a gas mask embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 4.

Figure3 is a fragmentary detailed View, part in section and part in elevation, and taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the gas mask with certain parts broken away and other parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary elevational view showing one manner of stitching the several straps of the harness together.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the eyepiece assembly.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view showing I a lens as initially positioned within the rim or flange forming part of an eyepiece of the mask. Figure 9 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 8 but showing the lens in final and secured position.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the assembled exhalation valve and guard therefor.

Figure 11 is a transverse .sectional view through a valve seat and with the associated guard shown by broken lines.

Figure l2 is a perspective view of an exhalation valve forming a part of the invention.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 8 and illustrating a slightly modied .form of eyepiece flange or rim. Referring more in 'detail to the drawings, 5

` indicates generally the facepiece of the gas mask.

with the facepiece.

This facepiece may -be made of rubber or similar material molded or cast in one piece, and shaped to the contour of the humanface. As illustrated, it extends beneath the chin, up the sides of the face and across the forehead; standing away from the nose and mouth as best seen in FigureA 4, with the inlet for inspired air positioned just belowthe mouth of the wearer.

The aforementioned inlet, indicated by the reference numeral 6, is in the form of a cylindrical downwardly extending nipple integral This inlet at its inner end merges with a pair of air passages 'i-l that extend upwardly from the inlet 6 and at opposite sides of exhalation chamber 8 to terminate suring the wearer of a clear vision.

The manner of providing the facepiece with the aforementioned air ducts 1-1 may be either by molding the air ducts with their front, sides and rear Walls integral with they body of the faceblank,l or, and preferably, only the front and side walls may be molded integral with the body of the faceblank, and the rear walls cemented or vulcanized subsequently in place. In this connection it will be noted that as the seams around the rear walls are already within the confines of the facepiece, a leak in a seam will not anect the gastight integrity of the facepiece assembly.

y at the ends-thereof opening in the vicinity of the eyepieces 9 are flared to cause the air issuing therefrom to eectively spread over the lenses.

vAlso at these discharge ends the ducts l are curved to conform to the curvature of the eyepieces.

It may be observed that due to the width and curvature of the outlet ends of the air ducts as above explained there is a, tendency of the tubes to collapse incidental to the application of eyerings, hereinafter more fully referred to, in completing the assembly of the eyepieces. This tendency of the tubes to collapse may be effectively prevented by molding the material from which the tubes are made relatively thicker in the middle portions than at the sides thereof.

Heretofore it has been the practice to make the wall rimming each eyepiece port in the form of a rubber bead integral with the facepiece and a groove in the bead to receive the edge of the lens. At the Junction of the bead and facepiece a recess is presented to receive a marginal edge of the metal binder or retaining ring. Such a' structure as just described is objectionable because it requires a rather complicated mold for vulcanizing a faceblank so equipped. In accordance with this invention the wall II rimming each eye-port I2 projects'outwardly from the body of the facepiece, is substantially of the same thickness as the facepiece body, and is free of all grooves and undercuts as shown in Figure 8. Positioned within the connes of the wall II is the lens or other transparency I0. In the present invention each lens issubstantially of symmetrical triangular edge contour having rounded corners and of cylindrical curvature.v

The lens is made larger than the port so that when positioned within the confines of the port wall II as shown in Figure 8 the wall II will be stretched as shown in Figure 9 and in a manner to form` behind the lens I a continuous groove llVhen in Athe position shown in Figure 9 the lens Il! is finally securedby resorting to a metal binder ring I4 that nts over the wall II as shown.

As shown in Figure 6 the ring Il at one edge is provided with an endless series of slits in a manner to form an endless series of spring fingers I that may be readily crimped into position and accommodated within the groove I3 as illustrated. 'I'hus it will be seen that the ring may be readily applied in completing the eye- By forming the walls II in the manner above explained, rapid manufacture of the facepiece is materially facilitated as the mold for casting the facepiece is simplified over the type of mold heretofore required.

Also, the assembly and construction lends itself to the use of lenses that are symmetrical and therefore interchangeable, and the lenses being elongated vertically, restriction of the wearers upward and downward vision is materially minimized.

A As an alternate form of construction, the wall rimming each eye-port may, as shown in Figure 13, be provided at its free edge with an integral abutment f iange II2; the referred to wall being designated in this figure by the reference character III.

In this alternate form of wall structure the flange II2 forms an abutment against which the lens is disposed incidental to nai positioning of the lens. This alternate construction possesses all' of the advantages of the wall structure shown ixe Figures 8 and 9 and as hereinabove enumera d.

The facepiece i. in the region of the exhalation chamber l is provided with an exhalation port I6 rimmed by an outwardly projecting wall or flange Il.

For the port I6 there is provided an exhalation valve of the type shown to advantage in Figure 12. The type of exhalation valve I8 herein illustrated is more or less well known to those experienced in this art and is very similar to that disclosedV in the patent to Max Yablick, No. 1,680,757, dated August 14, 1928. The exhalation valve Il of this invention is, however, constructed with a. departure from that shown in the aforementioned patent by having the tubular stem Il thereof materially greater in length than heretofore as and for a purpose hereinafter made manifest.

Alsoin accordance with this invention there is provided for the valve I8 a novel form of valve seat 20 having a valve guard 2I associated therewith.

The seat 42l is inthe form of a substantially flat plate 22 of metal. composition material, or any other suitable material, and is provided with a suitably positioned opening 23 rimmed by a tubular neck 2l that extends laterally from one side of the plate 22 and is accommodated within the confines of the port wall Il as shown in Figure The valve Il is associated with 'the seat 20 by passing the stem I9 of the valve through the neel:y 24 andv then doubling back the free end portion of the stem I9 onto the neck 24 as clearly suggestedin Figure 10.

With the valve lstem I9 rthus associated with the neck 2l the exible wall 25 of the valve I8 seats against the body plate 22. y

v'Ihe valve Il in seated position is effectively protected against damage through the medium .of the aforementioned guard member 2|.

The guard member 2l is inthe form of a sub stantially concavo-convex plate of metal, composition material, or any other suitable material and is perforated as at 26 as shown.

Guard plate 2 I for a portion of the length .thereof has a marginal edge 21 that is trans- ,vesely curved to complement spring fingers 28 provided at the marginal edgeof the body plate 22 of the valve seat 20. The 'lingers 28 may be arranged as found most advantageous but preferably as shown, namely, with a pair of fingers 2l at opposite side edges of the plate 22 adjacent the lower edge of the y.plate as viewed in Figure 10, and a third ilnger disposed at the upper end this connection it will be noted that the exposed part of the valve I8 embodies the openings or slits 23; these openings or ports being formed by the Walls 25 and 25A of the valve I8 being joinedl at their edges except at the aforementioned openings 29, and as more fully described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,680,757.

In'addition to effectively protecting the valve I3 against distortion during storage or injury in service, the guard plate is perforated as shown and described, to facilitate the transmission of the voice of the wearer through the valve.y In

this connection it may be observed that with a valve of the type herein shown and described, the sounds produced within the mask will cause the area of the valve wall 25A alignedwiththe stem I3 to vibrate and thereby amplify the sounds to a material extent and render audible sounds which otherwise could not be readily heard. It will thus be seen that the use ofthe guard 2l will in no wise detract from the sound amplifying qualities of this type of flutter valve.

astuce on the straps that may tend to tear the stitch It will also be noted that the guard plate 2| is characterized by an .absence of sharp edges or corners, the presence of which are objectionable as having a tendency to injure the hands of the wearer especially while firing a rie.

The unitary exhalation valve, seat, and guard assembly is readily secured in position on the gas m'ask by inserting the valve-stem encased neck 23 of the valve seat into the confines of the annular port wall I1. The wall I1 is then contracted about the neck 24 by vmaking two complete turns of wire around the port wall I1 and securing the ends of the wire by twisting such ends together as suggested in Figure 4; the twisted ends of the `wire being pressed into place parallel to the coil as shown in saidgure. The wire 33 is then concealed by a band 3l of suitable material.

The harness by which the facepiece is maintained on the face of the user is fragmentarily illustrated, and in the present instance consists of three elastic straps that cross one another at the back of the users head as suggested in Figure 5.

The harness straps consist of two straps 32, 32 that at one end areconnected at spaced intervals to the facepiece at the top of the latter; cross one another intermediate their respective ends, and at the back of the head (see Figure 5) and at the opposite or lo-wer ends are secured to the side of the facepiece adjacent the lower or chin portion of the latter.

'I'he third harness strap, 33, extends, at an angle to the horizontal, from one side to the opposite side of the facepiece and is secured at its respective opposite ends to the facepiece above the points of attachment of the lower ends of straps 32, 32 with the facepiece as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 5 strap 33 crosses straps 32 at points spaced downwardly from the point of intersection of the latter straps. Where the straps cross they are stitched together; straps 32, 32 being secured to one another by stitching 34, and respectively secured to strap 33 by stitching 35, 35.

While substantially diamond shaped stitching is illustrated, circular stitching may be resorted to; advantages of the latter pattern of stitching being the elimination of orientation of the harness under the needle of the sewing machine in accomplishing the stitching, and the resistance oered by three or more stitches to any strains Identical stitching patterns, regardless ofthe selected pattern, should be used as such per- .mits of the advantageous employment of an automatic sewing machine to the better accomthe edges of the facepiece and the face of the wearer gas-tight, and the provision of such a seal with minimum discomfort to the user.

In order to obtain a comfortable, gas-tight seal between the edges of the facepiece and the face of the wearer, the material of the facepiece at requisite places near the edges is thickened to afford integral, outwardly protruding bosses 36, 31. The lower ends of harness straps 32 are secured to the facepiece at thebosses 36, and the respective ppposite ends of strap 33 are secured to the facepiece at the bosses 31 through the medium of rivets 38.

When the gas mask is in position on the user and tension is applied to the straps 32, 32, and 33, those portions of the facepiece in the regions of the bosses 36, 31 will be somewhat depressed or indented at the temple and cheek portions of the wearer. As a consequence the facepiece adapts itself to any facial contour and forms therewith a toxic gas and dust excluding seal.

In those instances where, as here, recourse is had to rivets for fastening the harness straps to the facepiece, prior practice was to make use of fabric reinforcements to prevent the rivets from pulling out. However, such reinforcement is unnecessary by vreason of the type of rivet here employed, and characterized, as it is, by a concavoconvex head embodying an integral ange 39 and a cap plate 43 the-edge of which is crimped over the edge of the flange as shown in Figures 2 and 3. I

The diameter of the rivet head is 'such as to have considerable surface contact with the material of the facepiece, and when the rivet is driven home the head, as shown in Figure 2, is countersunk. As a consequence the material of the facepiece, such as for example, soft, pliable rubber, within the area of the rivet head is so confined by the latter that it is pressed or crowded toward the shank of the rivet and the rivet head grips the rubber in a manner to resist normal strain tending to dislodge the rivet.

As shown the rivet ispassed through the material of the facepiece'from the inner to the outer side of the latter, and the secured endof the harness strap is clamped between the boss and a washer 4i having a countersink receiving the upset end of the rivet shank.

It will also be noted that by having the rivet head countersunk or recessed into the material of the facepiece (Figure 2) the rivet is prevented from pressing against the face of the wearer.

the undersides of the tabs as shown in Figure 3.

'I'he securing of the harness straps to the facepiece either adjacent to the edges of the facepiece or, as `lust described, to tabs extending from such edges is objectionable because by reason thereof the edges of the facepiece or of the tabs, as the case may be, are caused to press painfully against the head of thewearer. This objection is eliminated in the present instance by resort to substantially L -shapedwashers Il `for the rivets 43. By resort to such washers arms l5 thereof overlie the free terminal edges of the tabs to substantially align the harness straps 32, 32, with the tabs as shown in Figure 3. As a consequence any tendency of the tabs 42 to turn inwardlyn and press against the forehead is effectively provided against` The edge of the facepiece is restrained from being turned inwardly so asl to hamper the rapid donning of the mask by the provision of integral loops 48 at the edges of the facepiece and through which the .ends of the harness straps secured to the sides of the facepiece are trained (see Figures 2 and 4).

From the foregoing it will be appreciated by those experienced in this art that the various Y components of the mask are so improved upon as to combine in presenting a gas mask having good balance, improved seal-forming contact with the face of the user without irritation or causing discomflture, effective protection for the exhalation valve without detracting from the sound transmitting qualities of the -latter or hampering access thereto for thawing or other purposes, affording a wider range of vision to the wearer, less likely to interfere with or hamper normal or required movements of the wearer in the use of firearms, and lending itself to greater mass production by requiring a mold considerably simplified over molds required in the productionof prior art gas masks.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a gas mask, an outlet valve comprising, a valve seat, a flutter valve in the form of a flattened bag of pliable material of greater area than said valve seat with a portion thereof extending beyond said valve seat, said flutter valve being slitted along the edge of said extending portion, a valve guardsupported. from and in front of said valve seat and substantially covering the tlat projected area of said flutter valve, the portion of said valve guard covering said extending portion of the flutter valve being separated therefrom so as to thereby make said extending portion of said flutter valve free and accessible to be held between the thumb and fingers of the wearer of the gas mask.

2. In combination 'with a gas mask, an outlet valve comprising, a valve seat in the form of a flat plate with a neck extending therefrom, a flutter valve engaging said valve seat and in the form of a flattened bag of pliable material of greater area than the fiat plate portion of said valve seat so that a portion thereof extends beyond said valve seat, said flutter valve being slitted along the edge of said extending portion and having an integral stem extending from the rear wall thereof of a length in excess of the length of said neck of said valve seat and adapted to be passed axially through said neck and then doubled back upon said neck for securing the assembly of said valve seat and flutter valve, a valve guard detachably mounted on and in front of said valve seat and substantially covering the fiat projected area of said flutter va1vethe por-` tion of said valve guard covering said extending portion of the flutter valve being `separated therefrom so as to thereby make said extending portion of said flutter valve free and accessible to be held between the thumb and ngers of the wearer of the gas mask.

JOSEPH F. BATTLEY. DALLAS O. BURGER. RANDOLPH MONRO.

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