Air-pollution filter and face mask

United States Patent m

Mulchi

[li] 4,141,703 [45] * Feb. 27, 1979

[54] AIR-POLLUTION FILTER AND FACE MASK

[75] Inventor: Charles L. Mulchi, New Carrolton, Md.

[73] Assignee: Stanley I. Wolf, Silver Spring, Md.; a part interest

[ * ] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Dec. 27,1994, has been disclaimed.

[21] Appl. No.: 774,647

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1977

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 653,717, Jan. 30, 1976, Pat. No. 4,064,876.

[51] Int. CI.2 B01D 50/00

[52] U.S. CI 55/316; 55/487;

55/527; 55/DIG. 31; 55/528; 528/DIG. 33;

128/142.6

[58] Field of Search 128/146.6, 141 R, 148 R,

128/142 R, 142.2, 142.3, 142.6, 145.8, 146 R, 146.2, 146.3, 146.4, 146.5, 146.7, 188, 191 R, 186, 212, 202; 55/316, 387, 485, 486, 487, 524, 527, 528, DIG. 33, DIG. 31

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,789,262 1/1931 Monro et al 55/417

1,931,989 10/1933 Jenness 23/288 F

1,963,874 6/1934 Stampe 55/316

2,744,525 5/1956 Whipple 128/146 R

2,787,333 4/1957 Boone et al 55/316

2,822,059 2/1958 Lunn et al 55/487

2,855,021 10/1958 Hoppe 154/41

2,898,908 8/1959 Sovinsky 128/141 R

2,910,979 11/1959 Shanty et al 128/141 R

2,922,418 1/1960 Heffernan et al 128/142.6

3,006,346 10/1961 Golding 131/10

3,118,445 1/1964 Norman 128/141 R

3,142,549 7/1964 Klusewitz et al 128/146.6

3,170,461 2/1965 Watts, Jr 128/146.2

3,238,056 3/1966 Pall et al 117/98

3,464,186 9/1969 Hankison et al 55/316

3,538,020 11/1970 Heskett et al 210/496

3,722,510 3/1973 Parker 128/142.6

3,732,669 5/1973 Chambers 55/321

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Katz et al., The Universal and the Fireman's Gas Masks, 1923, pp. 4 & 5, Technical Paper No. 300, Dept.of Interior.

Primary Examiner—Henry J. Recla

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Berman, Aisenberg & Piatt

[57] ABSTRACT

A flexible polymeric mask, which covers the mouth and at least the lower part of the nose, has exhale-valve means and vertical supporting means for air-intake filter means. The filter means provides a wearer of the mask with air which has passed, in sequence, through, e.g., porous foam, activated charcoal, filter paper, absorbent cellulose and gauze.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures