Abstract: Various embodiments of a respirator are disclosed. The respirator can include a mask body and one or more elastic straps that are secured to the mask body on opposing sides. The elastic straps can have an openwork construction and can include a netting that has an array of polymeric strands periodically joined together at bond regions throughout the array. In one or more embodiments, the openwork elastic straps are lighter and more breathable than conventional straps. This improvement in breathability can make the respirator more comfortable to wear.

Abstract: A respirator 10 that has a mask body 12 and a harness 14 that is attached to the mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a filtering structure 18 that has an inner cover web 40a, an outer cover web 40b that comprises melt-blown fibers and staple fibers, and a filtration layer 42 that is located between the inner and outer cover webs 40a, 40b. The mask body 12 also has a mesh 20 that is joined to the outer cover web 40b. A respirator having this construction is more resistant to inward collapse of the filter media during breathing and is more aesthetically pleasing.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a filtering face-piece respirator and a method of making such respirator are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the filtering face-piece respirator includes a mask body and a harness attached to the mask body. The mask body includes a corrugated filtering structure including peaks separated by valleys, and bridging filaments that are in discontinuous contact with at least one of an interior surface and an exterior surface of the corrugated filtering structure. The bridging filaments are attached to at least some of the peaks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a respirator are disclosed. The respirator can include a mask body and one or more elastic straps that are secured to the mask body on opposing sides. The elastic straps can have an openwork construction and can include a netting that has an array of polymeric strands periodically joined together at bond regions throughout the array. In one or more embodiments, the openwork elastic straps are lighter and more breathable than conventional straps. This improvement in breathability can make the respirator more comfortable to wear.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 and a harness 14 that is joined to the mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a filter layer 30 and a nonwoven fibrous cover web 16. The fibrous cover web 16 is partially occluded and is generally parallel to and spaced from the filter layer 30 such that air passing through the cover web 16 can move freely between the cover web 16 and the filter layer 30 so that it can enter the filter layer 30 at essentially any available point over the filter layer surface 32. The inventive respirator is beneficial in that it can provide very good splash fluid and airborne contaminant protection while also exhibiting an extraordinary low pressure drop across the mask body during breathing.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 and a harness 14. The mask body 12 includes a supporting frame structure 16 and a filtering structure 18. The frame structure is injection molded onto the filtering structure 18 such that the frame structure 16 becomes bonded to the filtering structure 18. A mask body having such a support structure allows the filtering structure to follow its configuration closely, providing improved aesthetics and collapse resistance to the resulting article.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 and a harness 14 that is attached to the mask body 12. The mask body 12 comprises a shaping layer 20 and a filtering structure 22 that contains a filtering layer 32. The filtering structure 22 also comprises an outer cover web 36b that includes colored melt-blown fibers and staple fibers. The use of colored melt-blown fibers and staple fibers in an outer cover web provides the respirator with a mottled colored appearance—that is, the color does not appear uniform over the outer surface of the outer cover web.

Abstract: A respirator 10 that has a mask body 12 and a harness 14 that is attached to the mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a filtering structure 18 that has an inner cover web 40a, an outer cover web 40b that comprises melt-blown fibers and staple fibers, and a filtration layer 42 that is located between the inner and outer cover webs 40a, 40b. The mask body 12 also has a mesh 20 that is joined to the outer cover web 40b. A respirator having this construction is more resistant to inward collapse of the filter media during breathing and is more aesthetically pleasing.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 and a harness 14 that is joined to the mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a filter layer 30 and a nonwoven fibrous cover web 16. The fibrous cover web 16 is partially occluded and is generally parallel to and spaced from the filter layer 30 such that air passing through the cover web 16 can move freely between the cover web 16 and the filter layer 30 so that it can enter the filter layer 30 at essentially any available point over the filter layer surface 32. The inventive respirator is beneficial in that it can provide very good splash fluid and airborne contaminant protection while also exhibiting an extraordinary low pressure drop across the mask body during breathing.

Abstract: A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 and a harness 14. The mask body 12 includes a supporting frame structure 16 and a filtering structure 18. The frame structure is injection molded onto the filtering structure 18 such that the frame structure 16 becomes bonded to the filtering structure 18. A mask body having such a support structure allows the filtering structure to follow its configuration closely, providing improved aesthetics and collapse resistance to the resulting article.

Abstract: An filtering face-piece respirator that includes a mask body 12 and a harness 14. The mask body includes a support structure 16, filtering structure 18, and a face seal element 40. The face seal element 40 is overmolded onto at least a portion of a perimeter of the support structure of the mask body. The overmolding of the face seal member to the support structure allows the face seal to become firmly secured to the mask body at its perimeter.