Abstract: A respirator hood 1 that has an air chamber 6 arranged above the head of a user for delivery of breathable air. The air chamber 6 has an air inlet 13 connected to an air supply hose 5 and an air outlet 17 The outlet 17 is arranged to direct air away from the eyes of the user. The air chamber 6 forms an air duct 12 that substantially covers the top of the hood 1 above the user's head. The duct 12 is collapse-resistant so that the duct shape is maintained in use and air flow through the duct 12 is substantially unrestricted. As a result, a substantially uniform air flow can be achieved in use, which air flow pattern is repeatable from day to day and from hood to hood.

Abstract: An eye-wear article (93) for use with a respiratory mask (1) comprises a flat piece of transparent polymeric material providing a visor portion. The flat piece of polymeric material has shaped portions in a lower edge that fit over respective selected parts of the mask, and elongate tabs (95) that extend from each side and are inserted into respective guides (97) on the head harness (7, 8) of the mask to cause the flat piece of polymeric material to adopt a curved configuration and locate the visor portion in front of the eyes of the wearer. The tabs (95) can slide in the guides (97) to permit the eye-wear article to be moved out of engagement with the mask and onto the top of the wearer's while the mask is being worn, without disturbing the position of the mask on the wearer's face and without affecting the respiratory protection provided by the mask.

Abstract: A personal respiratory protection device that comprises a mask body and an exhalation valve that is secured to the mask body. The mask body includes (i) a flat central panel; (ii) a flat first panel joined to the central panel through a fold-line, seam weld, or bond, the fold-line, seam, weld or bond of the first panel being substantially coextensive with an edge of the central panel; (iii) a flat second panel joined to the central panel through a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold-line, seam, weld or bond of the second panel being substantially coextensive with an edge of the central panel. At least one of the center, first and second panels includes filter media. The device is capable of being folded for storage with the first and second panels in at least partial face-to-face contact with a common surface of the central panel and, during use, is capable of forming, over the nose and mouth of the wearer, a cup-shaped air chamber having a face-contacting periphery.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices that have a flat substantially rectangular central portion having first and second edges, at flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: A filter cartridge (5), suitable for attachment to a respiratory mask, has a housing that includes an air inlet (27), an air outlet (39), and filter material (17, 19) through which air to be filtered travels through when passing from the inlet to the outlet. At least part of the housing includes a sheet material (23) that is thermo-formed around the sides of the filter material.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices that have a flat substantially rectangular central portion having first and second edges, at flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: A respirator hood 1 that has an air chamber 6 arranged above the head of a user for delivery of breathable air. The air chamber 6 has an air inlet 13 connected to an air supply hose 5 and an air outlet 17. The outlet 17 is arranged to direct air away from the eyes of the user. The air chamber 6 forms an air duct 12 that substantially covers the top of the hood 1 above the user's head. The duct 12 is collapse-resistant so that the duct shape is maintained in use and air flow through the duct 12 is substantially unrestricted. As a result, a substantially uniform air flow can be achieved in use, which air flow pattern is repeatable from day to day and from hood to hood.

Abstract: A filtering face mask that covers at least the nose and mouth of a wearer and that includes an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve opens in response to increased pressure when the wearer exhales to allow the exhaled air to be rapidly purged from the mask interior. An exhale filter element may be placed in one of several locations in the exhale flow stream to remove contaminants from the exhaled air. The face mask is beneficial in that it provides comfort to the wearer by allowing warm, moist, high-CO2-content air to be rapidly evacuated from the mask interior through the valve and also protects the wearer from splash fluids and polluted air while at the same time protecting other persons or things from being exposed to contaminants in the exhale flow stream.

Abstract: A method of making a personal respiratory protection device. The method comprises: (a) forming a multi-layered structure that comprises a first cover web, a filtration layer that comprises a web that contains electrically-charged microfibers, and a second cover web; and (b) adapting the multi-layered structure into a first panel, a central panel, and a second panel such that the central panel is separated from each of the first and second panels by first and second lines of demarcation, and each of the first, second, and central panels is non-pleated. The first and second cover webs are disposed on first and second opposing sides of the filtration layer, respectively, and at least one of the cover webs comprises spunbond fibers. The resulting respiratory protection device is capable of being folded flat at the respective lines of demarcation for storage and can be opened to form a cup-shaped air chamber over the nose and mouth of the wearer when in use.

Abstract: An eye-wear article (93) for use with a respiratory mask (1) comprises a flat piece of transparent polymeric material providing a visor portion. The flat piece of polymeric material has shaped portions in a lower edge that fit over respective selected parts of the mask, and elongate tabs (95) that extend from each side and are inserted into respective guides (97) on the head harness (7, 8) of the mask to cause the flat piece of polymeric material to adopt a curved configuration and locate the visor portion in front of the eyes of the wearer. The tabs (95) can slide in the guides (97) to permit the eye-wear article to be moved out of engagement with the mask and onto the top of the wearer's while the mask is being worn, without disturbing the position of the mask on the wearer's face and without affecting the respiratory protection provided by the mask.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond that is substantially coextensive with the first edge, and a flat second member joined to the second edge through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond that is substantially coextensive with the second edge. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media. The device is capable of being folded flat for storage with the first and second members being in at least partial face-to-face contact with a common surface of the central portion and, during use, is capable of forming a cup-shaped air chamber over the nose and mouth of the wearer.

Abstract: A filter cartridge (5), suitable for attachment to a respiratory mask, has a housing that includes an air inlet (27), an air outlet (39), and filter material (17, 19) through which air to be filtered travels through when passing from the inlet to the outlet. At least part of the housing includes a sheet material (23) that is thermo-formed around the sides of the filter material.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: A filtering face mask that covers at least the nose and mouth of a wearer and that includes an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve opens in response to increased pressure when the wearer exhales to allow the exhaled air to be rapidly purged from the mask interior. An exhale filter element is placed in one of several locations in the exhale flow stream to remove contaminants from the exhaled air. The face mask is beneficial in that it provides comfort to the wearer by allowing warm, moist, high-CO2-content air to be rapidly evacuated from the mask interior through the valve and also protects the wearer from splash fluids and polluted air while at the same time protecting other persons or things from being exposed to contaminants in the exhale flow stream.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.

Abstract: A filtering face mask that covers at least the nose and mouth of a wearer and that includes an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve opens in response to increased pressure when the wearer exhales to allow the exhaled air to be rapidly purged from the mask interior. An exhale filter element may be placed in one of several locations in the exhale flow stream to remove contaminants from the exhaled air. The face mask is beneficial in that it provides comfort to the wearer by allowing warm, moist, high-CO2-content air to be rapidly evacuated from the mask interior through the valve and also protects the wearer from splash fluids and polluted air while at the same time protecting other persons or things from being exposed to contaminants in the exhale flow stream.

Abstract: Fold-flat personal respiratory protection devices are provided. The devices have a flat central portion having first and second edges, a flat first member joined to the first edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, said fold, bond, weld or seam of the first member being substantially coextensive with said first edge of said central portion, and a flat second member joined to the second edge of the central portion through either a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold, bond, weld or seam of the second member being substantially coextensive with said second edge of said central portion. At least one of the central portion and first and second members are formed from filter media.