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 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: 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 negative pressure respirator 20′ that has an integrally-disposed filter element 28 and that covers at least the nose and mouth of a wearer. The respirator 20′ includes an exhalation valve 22 and an impactor element 50 that covers the exhalation valve 22. The exhalation valve 22 has a diaphragm and an orifice and opens in response to increased pressure when the wearer exhales to allow exhaled air to be rapidly purged from the mask interior. The impactor element 50 is positioned in the exhale flow stream to remove particles and other contaminants from the exhaled air. The exhalation valve and impactor element have a ratio of Zn:Dj of less than about 5.

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: A shield that is configured for use with a mask to form a protective article. The mask includes (i) a central portion having a pair of opposed edges, (ii) a first portion joined to an edge of the central portion, and (iii) a second portion joined to the other edge of the central portion. At least one of the central, upper and lower portions is formed from filter media. The shield is flexible and transparent, having upper and lower edges, with the lower edge having at least one projection. It is dimensioned to cover the portion of the wearer's face not covered by the mask. The shield is adapted to be attached to the mask and moved between a first position in which the shield lower edge and the lower edge projection lies in front of the mask central portion, and a second position in which the lower edge projection engages the mask such that at least a portion of the shield lower edge lies behind the central portion.