Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Face mask covering a breathing passage
Patent
1991-12-20
1993-08-03
Burr, Edgar S.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Face mask covering a breathing passage
12820612, 12820128, 12820628, 261157, 137854, 137908, A62B 1810
Patent
active
052319822
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to gas masks and more particularly to the one-way valves used in the nosecups of gas masks.
BACKGROUND
In a gas mask, a nosecup is used to prevent humid air that is exhaled from contacting the eye pieces of the mask and causing fogging problems. A one-way valve is required in the nosecup to allow fresh air in. Current gas masks use a rigid metal valve body crimped onto a hole in the nosecup or a rigid plastic valve body glued into place in a hole in the nosecup. Even if the valve seat is molded with the nosecup, the seat is still made in a rigid form. The valving element used is also a flat, resilient disk which seals by covering the valve seat.
An example of the known prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,051,023 which issued on Aug. 18, 1936, to E. W. Bullard. Bullard's valve consists of a valve seat which is molded with the facepiece. However the seat is held in a rigid shape by the use of a metal ring which is embedded within the seat. The valving element is a flat resilient disk which is lightly held on the valve seat mainly by inhalation by the wearer. The present invention aims at the provision of a valve that is simpler and less expensive to produce.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a valve for a flexible nosecup of a gas mask, said valve comprising a valve body molded integrally with the nosecup and including a peripheral valve seat substantially thicker than the nosecup, a resilient valving element with a concave configuration and a rim engaging the peripheral seat, and valve mounting means mounting the valving element on the valve seat, and resiliently deforming a centre portion of the valving element towards the valve seat.
By using an integrally molded valve body, the number of parts and cost of production of the valves are significantly reduced. The rubber valve body is configured such that it is relatively rigid compared to the thin wall of the nosecup. Consequently, distortions of the nosecup when it is worn on the face will result primarily in a deflection or distortion of the thin wall of the nosecup itself rather than of the valve body. In the event that the valve body is flexed slightly, the distortion is accommodated by the concave, resiliently deformed valving element without losing the sealing capability of the valve on the valve body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a prior art of the valve in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a gas mask nosecup, partially broken away to show the valve;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a prior art valve body;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a prior art valve;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a valve body according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional, exploded view of a valve according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the valve of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 with the valve body flexed; and
FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 with the valve body flexed in a double curve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a nosecup 10 that is, in use, located within and assembled to a gas mask face piece. The nosecup has an exhaust opening 12 and an inlet valve 14.
A typical prior art inlet valve 14 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The valve consists of a rigid thermoplastic valve body 16 in the form of an annular channel 18. Located centrally within the body 16 is a hub 20 joined to the channel 18 by four spokes 22. The hub 20 is in the form of a collar with a central bore 24. The nosecup is made from a flexible sheet rubber 28. It is made with a hole into which the valve body 16 fits, with the edge of the hole seated in the annular channel 18 and secured to the valve body by an appropriate adhesive (not illustrated).
On the inner side of the annular channel 18 is an annular rib 30 that serves as a valve seat for a valving element 32. The valving element includes a flat, resilient disk 34 and a stem
REFERENCES:
patent: 2051023 (1936-08-01), Bullard
patent: 3085591 (1963-04-01), Schneider
patent: 3193624 (1965-07-01), Webb
patent: 3403696 (1968-10-01), Pynchon
patent: 4414973 (1983-11-01), Matheson
patent: 4549543 (1985-10-01), Moon
patent: 4832017 (1989-05-01), Schnoor
patent: 4926855 (1990-05-01), Hellqvist
patent: 4957106 (1990-09-01), Vanderputte
patent: 4958633 (1990-09-01), Angell
Davis Ronald E.
Harrison Brian H.
Burr Edgar S.
Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada
Raciti Eric P.
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