The present invention relates to a mask to be used in connection with breathing apparatus which supplies breathable air to the mask. In particular, the present invention is concerned with a single mask which is adapted for connected to both a filtered air supply and a pressurised air supply.

Mask respirators are used in contaminated environments where the air cannot be inhaled for example because the air includes harmful gases or is noxious. Commonly, the mask respirator comprises a mask which has a peripheral seal which seals around the face of the wearer thereby defining a mask space between the mask and face of the wearer and it is from this mask space that air is inhaled by the wearer. The mask includes an inlet for introducing breathable air into the mask space and an outlet for ensuring air exhaled by the wearer is expelled from the mask space. Conventionally, there are two types of air supplies that may be used in combination with this type of mask respirator. The air supply may be sourced from a pressurised air cylinder or the air supply may be sourced from the immediate environment via one or more filters.

The mask outlet is usually in the form of a one-way exhalation valve which opens in response to raised pressure within the mask space as a result of exhalation and which closes again as the pressure within the mask space lowers. Where the mask inlet is connected to a filtered air supply, the pressure within the mask space is at atmospheric or slightly below atmospheric pressure and so the mask air outlet may be responsive to even a small increase in pressure over atmospheric. However, when the mask inlet is connected to a pressurised air supply, the mask space is usually maintained at a positive pressure, i.e. a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric, to ensure any leakage around the face seal of the mask is outwards to the environment rather than into the mask space. The positive pressure in the mask space therefore requires the cracking or opening pressure of the exhalation valve also to be higher. As the pressure in the mask space and hence the opening pressure of the exhalation valve varies in dependence upon the nature of the air supply, in the past masks dedicated for use with one or other of the air supplies have been used.

Attempts have been made to develop a mask that is suitable for use with both types of air supply. For example, in GB 2264646 a mask for use with breathing apparatus is described which has an exhalation valve with two different selectable opening pressures and two separate inlets respectively fixed to the filter of a filtered air supply and to the demand valve of a pressurised air supply. The exhalation valve comprises a valve member maintained in position on a valve seat by means of a valve spring which constantly acts on the valve member. The valve spring is, in turn, acted upon by a piston so that in a first position the piston compresses the valve spring and thereby raises its resistance and similarly raises the opening pressure of the exhalation valve. In a second position of the piston, the valve spring is uncompressed and so the opening pressure is the exhalation valve is less than with the piston in the first position. Movement of the piston between its first and second positions is dependent upon the insertion of a disconnected air supply line into a side fitting on the mask. This mask has a number of disadvantages including: the mask is heavy to wear because it must permanently carry both a filter and a demand valve; and even when relying upon a filtered air supply the wearer must still exhale with sufficient pressure to overcome the biasing action of the valve spring.

Similarly, in WO 2007/123585 a mask for use with breathing apparatus is described which again includes separate inlets for a filtered air supply and a pressurised air supply and an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve again comprises a valve member which is maintained in position on a valve seat by means of a valve spring. The opening pressure of the exhalation valve is again adjusted using a piston which acts to compress the spring when the mask is connected to a pressurised air supply. With this document, though, direct connection to the pressurised air supply is used to move the piston between a spring compression position and a non-spring compression position. Thus, the mask described in this document similarly has the disadvantage of requiring the wearer to exhale against the pressure of a biasing spring even when the mask is connected to a filtered air supply.

In EP 0667171 a mask is described having only one air inlet which is adapted for connection to either a filter or a pressured air supply and an air outlet which has two selectable opening pressures. The air outlet comprises a valve member which is maintained in position on a valve seat by a biasing spring. In addition a control member in the form of a second spring is provided which is arranged to act in series with the first spring to increase the biasing pressure applied to the valve member. The second spring is mounted on a pin which moves between interference and noninterference positions. Movement of the pin between its two positions is caused by engagement of the pin with a lug provided on the pressurised air supply connection. Here too, the exhalation valve is permanently biased by a valve spring.

It is also known in the art to include in breathing masks a system for conveying information to the wearer. Typically, this is achieved by way of a lighting system which switches on or off, or can emit different colors to indicate different events to the wear. In these prior art systems, the lighting system is configured to direct its light towards the eye of the wearer. However, this has been found to be distracting to the wear if it is bright enough to be clearly seen.

According to the present invention there is provided a mask for breathing apparatus, the mask comprising a seal for sealing against and around the face of a user; a mask inlet adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a supply of air, a mask outlet through which a user's exhaled breath is emitted, the mask outlet including a one-way exhalation valve including a valve closure member mounted on a valve seat, an oronasal mask in fluid communication with the mask inlet and mask outlet and positioned to engage, in use, over the nose and mouth of the wearer, - A -

said oronasal mask being at least partially formed of material which is at least partially translucent, and Illuminating means in optical communication with the oronasal mask such that said illuminating means illuminates said oronasal mask.

A mask in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the illumination of the oronasal mask can be achieved in a more diffuse manner than the direct illumination of the eye of the prior art systems whilst still being easily visible to the wearer. In this way, the information conveyed by the illuminating means is easily discerned by the wearer without being distracting. Furthermore, the at least partially translucent nature of the oronasal mask will make more of the face of the wearer visible to other persons, which has been found to make the appearance of the wearer less alarming, particularly in emergency situations.

The reference above to the oronasal mask being formed of material which is at least partially translucent is intended to cover the mask being formed of material which may be translucent or completely transparent, but not opaque. The oronasal mask may be only partially formed of said translucent / transparent material but is preferably completely formed of said material so as to maximise visibility of the wearer's face and also to make illumination of the oronasal mask as obvious to the wearer as possible.

The illuminating means is preferably removably mounted to the mask, in particular carried on a plug which is removably connectable to a port formed in the mask. The illuminating means may particularly advantageously be a multi-colour LED.

The problems, such as those identified above in the prior art, arising with conventional masks used with breathing apparatus may also be addressed by a mask with an exhalation valve which is adjustable between two predetermined opening pressures and is thus suitable for use with both a filtered air supply and a pressured air supply.

More particularly, the present invention further provides a mask for breathing apparatus comprising: a seal for sealing again the face of a user; a mask inlet adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a supply of air, the mask inlet being adapted for fluid communication with the outlet of an air filter and being adapted for fluid communication with the outlet of a pressurised air supply; a mask outlet through which a user's exhaled breath is emitted, the mask outlet including a one-way exhalation valve including a valve closure member mounted on a valve seat, the exhalation valve having first and second modes of operation in which the fluid pressure required to open the exhalation valve is higher for the second mode of operation than for the first mode of operation; and a control mechanism for activating the second mode of operation of the exhalation valve, the control mechanism including a first biasing member which is movable between a first position in which the biasing member is isolated from the valve closure member and a second position in which the biasing member acts upon the valve closure member, the control mechanism further including a switching device adapted for automatic engagement with the outlet of a pressurised air supply when said outlet is connected to the mask inlet which engagement activates the biasing member of the control mechanism to adopt its second position whereby the valve closure member is subjected to an external biasing force only when a pressurised air supply is connected to the mask inlet.

A mask for breathing apparatus in accordance with the preceding aspect of the invention has the advantage that it provides a system by which a standard, negative pressure mask can have a pressurised air supply securely and easily attached to it in a way which ensures appropriate operation of an exhaust valve with the required pre-bias. This is furthermore achieved with a single port, thereby maximising the available space of the mask for other uses. Also, the system of the invention easily allows a range of different demand valves to be connected by use of suitable adapters.

Thus, with the present invention, when the mask is used in combination with an air filter in a negative pressure mode, the exertion required during exhalation to activate the exhalation valve is minimised as the opening pressure of the exhalation valve is determined solely by the inherent characteristics of the valve closure member.

In a preferred embodiment the valve closure member comprises a planar one-way valve and wherein the opening pressure of the exhalation valve is determined solely by the inherent characteristics of the planar oneway valve.

Furthermore, preferably the control mechanism includes a second biasing member which is arranged to oppose the biasing action of the first biasing member with the switching device preferably arranged to oppose the action of the second biasing member.

With the preferred embodiment the control mechanism includes a frame supporting the first biasing member and a pivotally mounted lever which is biased by said second biasing member to engage the frame and isolate the first biasing member from the valve closure member. Also, the switching device may comprise a cam surface provided on the lever which is adapted for engagement with a projection on the outlet of a pressurised air supply, whereby engagement of the projection on the cam surface causes the lever to pivot against the action of the second biasing member.

To ensure automatic actuation of the first biasing member, preferably the mask inlet and the exhalation valve are positioned such that rotation of the outlet of a pressurised air supply into locking engagement with the mask inlet automatically causes the projection on the outlet to engage with the cam surface of the lever.

The mask may further include an adapter for bridging engagement between the pressurised air supply and the mask inlet with the adapter which forms the outlet of the pressurised air supply having means for engagement with the switching device.

In a preferred embodiment the adapter and the mask inlet comprise interengaging means forming a bayonet-type engagement. Also, the adapter may comprise engagement means adapted for connection to a plurality of different pressurised air supply outlets. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a mask in accordance with the present invention for use with breathing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic partial view of the exhalation valve of a mask in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate the attachment of a pressured air supply to the air inlet of a mask in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mask with a translucent oronasal mask in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 5a to 5c are various views showing illuminating means for use with the translucent oronasal mask of Figure 4.

Referring to the figures, the mask 10 shown in Fig. 1 generally comprises a visor 11 in a frame 12 which includes a peripheral seal 13 and means (not shown) for mounting the mask 10 over the face of a user. The peripheral seal 13 is provided to form with the face of a user a substantially air-tight seal to prevent ingress of contaminated air from the environment into the enclosed space defined by the mask and the user's face. In this embodiment the mask 10 additionally includes an inner oronasal mask 14 which is intended to fit snugly over the mouth and nose of the mask user. The oronasal mask 14 is in communication with a mask inlet 15 and a mask outlet 16.

The mask air inlet 15 consists of a threaded ring 17 which leads to a chamber 18 and to the inlet 19 to the mask cavity, external to the oronasal mask 14. On inhalation, air is drawn into the oronasal mask through inhalation valves (41 ) placed to the top of the oronasal mask 14. The threaded ring 17 is adapted to sealingly engage with the air outlet of a conventional mask filter. Additionally, by means of an adapter 20 the air outlet of a conventional pressurised air supply may be sealingly engaged to the threaded ring 17 of the air inlet 15.

The mask outlet 16 is located immediately below the air inlet 15 and has an outer perforated guard 21 which protects an exhalation valve 22 provided at the mask outlet 16. However the outer guard 21 includes a cutaway portion 21a which provides access to a control part of the exhalation valve 22 which is described in greater detail below.

As may be seen more clearly in Fig. 2, the exhalation valve 22 is positioned behind the perforated guard 21 and comprises a valve closure member in the form of a planar one-way valve 23 which overlies a fluid port 24 that is surrounded by a valve seat 25. The edges of the one-way valve 23 sealingly engage with the valve seat to prevent the passage of air from the environment into the fluid port 24. The one-way valve 23 is mounted in position overlying the fluid port 24 by any suitable means (not shown).

The mask outlet further includes a control mechanism for adjusting the opening pressure of the exhalation valve. The control mechanism includes a frame 26 which is aligned with the side of the one-way valve 23 facing away from the fluid port 24 towards the perforated guard 21. The frame 26 has opposing first and second sides with the first side of the frame facing towards the one-way valve 23 and adapted for engagement with the one-way valve 23. The second side of the frame 26 engages with a first biasing member 27 in the form of a spiral spring which is mounted around a guide post 28. The post 28 extends from the frame 26 to a biasing member support 29 or alternatively to the inner surface of the outer guard 21. By means of the first biasing member 27, the frame 26 is biased into contact with the one-way valve 23.

A lever 30 is pivotally mounted to the mask 10 immediately above and close to the fluid port 24. The lever 30 includes a finger 31 which is provided at the end of the lever 30 remote from the pivotal connection of the lever to the mask. The lever 30 extends over the valve support 26 with the finger 31 positioned to make contact with a lug 32 projecting outwardly from the guide post 29. A second biasing member 33, which is the stronger of the two biasing members and which is also preferably in the form of a spiral spring, extends between the mask 10 and the lever 30 and acts to bias the lever 30 towards an engagement position in which the finger 31 engages with the lug 32. The second biasing member 33 is positioned between the fluid port 24 and the pivotal connection of the lever 30 to the mask. That is to say, the second biasing member does not overlie the fluid port 24 or the one-way valve 23.

The lever 30 includes a cam surface 30a which is aligned with the cut-out portion 21a of the perforated guard 21 and which overlies the pivotal connection of the lever to the mask and the point of connection of the second biasing member 33 with the lever. The lever 30 and its finger 31 function as an activation device controlling the position of the frame relative to the valve 23.

When the mask is used with a filtered air supply, the filter is attached to the mask inlet by screwing the outlet of the filter into the threaded ring 17 of the mask inlet 15. In this configuration the action of the second biasing member 33 on the lever 30 is unhindered. This causes the finger to contact the lug 32 and, as the second biasing member 33 is stronger than the first biasing member 27, the finger 31 of the lever holds the frame 26 away from contact with the one-way valve 23. Thus, it may be seen that the action of the second biasing member 33 is substantially parallel to but in opposition to the action of the first biasing member 27. With the frame 26 held away from contact with the one-way valve 23, the opening pressure of the one-way valve 23 is determined solely by the characteristics of the planar one-way valve 23.

When the mask 10 is to be used with a pressurised air supply, the adapter 20 for the pressurised air supply is connected to the mask inlet 15. The adapter 20 engages with the threaded ring 17 and is rotated, preferably through between approximately 15° and 90°, more preferably 45°, to releasably lock the adapter 20 onto the mask inlet 15. As the adapter 20 is rotated into its locking position, a projection 34 provided on the exterior of the adapter 20 extends through the cut-out portion 21a of the perforated guard and is brought into contact with the cam surface 30a on the lever 30. The action of the adapter projection 34 on the cam surface 30a of the lever 30 causes the lever to pivot against the biasing action of the second biasing member 33. This pivoting movement of the lever to a disengagement position causes the lever finger 31 to release the lug 32. This in turn removes the opposition to the biasing action of the first biasing member 27. The first biasing member 27 therefore urges the frame 26 into contact with the one-way valve 23 and this results in the opening pressure of the one-way valve 23 being increased by the biasing force of the first biasing member 27. Contact of lever finger 31 releases from the lug 32 to not hinder operation.

As will be appreciated, the exhalation valve described above, provides a single one-way valve which is operable at two different opening pressures selectively. The first operating mode of the exhalation valve 22, which is the default operating mode and corresponds to a negative pressure operating mode, is at a first opening pressure corresponding to close to atmospheric pressure. In this first operating mode the opening pressure is determined by the characteristics solely of the one-way valve 23 and so minimal exertion is required to ensure successful exhalation. The second operating mode of the exhalation valve 22, which corresponds to a positive pressure operating mode, is at a second opening pressure which is greater than the first opening pressure corresponding to the additional biasing force of the first biasing member 27. Thus the adapter 20 of the pressurised air supply in combination with the lever 30 act as a mechanical switch to activate the second operating mode of the exhalation valve 22.

To ensure a reliable locking action of the adapter 20 on to the mask inlet 15, the adapter 20 and the threaded ring 17 are preferably provided with interengaging elements of a conventional bayonet-type fixing. Ideally, a further locking function is provided when the adapter projection 34 contacts the cam surface 30a of the lever for example in the form of a final interference fit of the bayonet-type fixing or a resilient lug and groove engagement. To release the locking function, when the adapter 20 is to be removed from the mask, the resilient lug and groove engagement may be disconnected by one or more release buttons 35 provided on adapter 20; alternatively the air supply may be disconnected from adapter 20 - leaving the mask in positive pressure operation mode and allowing an alternative air supply to be connected.

The use of an adapter with the mask when connecting the mask to a pressurised air supply offers an additional benefit as the adapter may be designed to engage with various different demand valve connectors. In this way, through the use of the adapter, the mask with its improved exhalation valve, may be used in combination with many different types of conventional pressurised air supplies.

Whilst the mask described above includes an oronasal mask, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to this particular type of mask arrangement and that the exhalation valve described herein may be used with masks that do not include oronasal masks.

Also, although the mask described above has the mask outlet positioned immediately below the mask inlet, it will be understood that the relative positions of the inlet and the outlet may be altered as long as their relative positions still enables the adapter of the pressurised air supply to engage with the pressure control mechanism.

Whilst details have been provided of the means for connecting an air filter and a pressurised air supply to the mask, it is to be understood that alternative connection means may be employed without departing from the claimed invention.

Referring next to Figures 4 through 5c, there is shown in more detail a mask embodying the present invention. As can clearly been seen in Figure 4, the oronasal mask 14 is formed of translucent material as compared with prior art systems which are formed of opaque material.

The mask furthermore includes a port 40 by means of which an illuminating means 42 - in the illustrated embodiment a 3 colour LED, may be secured to the mask in optical communication with the oronasal mask 14. As illustrated in Figures 5b and 5c, the LED is mounted on a plug 41 which locks in the port 40 in an air tight fashion and has a wire coming out of the back for connection to a power supply, although it will be understood that the plug 41 may also have a self-contained power supply such as a rechargeable battery. It will also be understood that the illuminating means may be integrated directly into the mask instead of being mounted separately thereto.

As already stated, the LED is positioned to emit its light onto the oronasal mask 14. As a result of the translucent nature of the oronasal mask, the light from the LED illuminates the whole of the oronasal mask 14 in a manner which is easily visible to the wearer. As a result, the information conveyed by the activation and/or colour of the LED is easily detected by the wearer since the change in illumination and/or colour of the oronasal mask will be within the normal field of vision and hence discretely visible to the wear. It will, of course, be understood that the oronasal mask may be transparent rather than translucent within the scope of the invention