A PROTECTIVE MASK FOR SANITARY USE WITH ANTI-FOGGING

SYSTEM

Technical field

The present invention refers to the technical field of protective masks for sanitary and medical use.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative mask configured in such a manner so as to shield the condensation developing while breathing and so avoiding the phenomenon of fogging of lens or protective screens. Background art

Protective masks for medical and sanitary use have been known for a long time. They are always more commonly used not only to avoid the spread of bacteria from the doctor to the patient, but also to avoid an opposite contamination, that is from the patient to the doctor.

Figure 1 highlights a mask 1 of background art. It foresees a lower part 2 in form of a strip of holed fabric which forms a sort of filter and it is intended to be applied for covering both mouth and nose. The holed fabric allows to breath but also to filter the air that passes. For that purpose, such lower part is generally filled with filtering material, such as cotton or similar ones and it is generally made of many overlapping layers.

The mask has two rings 3 which allows its application by inserting such rings around the ears.

In this way, the operator applies easily the mask to cover its mouth and does not transmit germs to the patient and vice versa.

However, figure 1 shows a background art form of mask and by now commonly used. This one adds practically a screen 4 of laminated, flexible and transparent material which connects to the lower part 2, for example by glue 5, weld joint or similar ones.

The function of the screen 4 is necessary as it is the coverage and protection of the eyes.

In fact, it is known that many pathogenic viruses, such as hepatitis or HIV, can infect if some infected biological material gets in contact with eyes.

Concerning the particular case of the dentist, it is easy that, while drilling a tooth, some infected material can squirt out the patient's mouth towards the operator's eyes. Therefore, this kind of screen 4 guarantees a safe protection, as it covers almost completely the face up to the brow, by fully screening off the eyes.

A technical problem while using such mask as per figure 1 is that the operator's breathing through the lower part causes the development of micro-drops of liquid, that is vapor or condensation, which gradually flows upwards covering the screen 4 and limiting the view.

Therefore, the operator is compelled to stop the operation to clean the screen 4 or even to change mask.

The same issue occurs also in case of using masks without screen 4 and using separate glasses or goggles.

In this case too, the mask which filters the operator's air causes the development of condensation which gradually flows upwards fogging the glasses.

For example, such technical problem is solved in part with a solution described in US6988500.

In such case a protective mask is described having a hole and a filter in it to prevent the development of condensation .

Such solution is not only particularly structurally complex, as it requires a hole and the seat of a filter in the hole but also it is limited specifically to prevent the fogging of glasses used by the user and the mask itself does not offer a protection for the operator's eyes, as it is not equipped with a screen.

Another solution is described in US4944294 which represents the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1.

In this case, a protective mask is foreseen made by a lower part of fabric which covers the respiratory tracts and in part of a transparent screen which covers eyes. The transparent part, to avoid the problem of fogging, is treated with chemical agents. It is obvious that such solution is not functional, as the anti-fogging action due to a chemical agent is always very limited and loses efficacy over time. In that sense, the risk is that the anti-fogging substance results no more functional, if the protective mask is used after a long time from the purchase .

Disclosure of the invention

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an innovative protective mask for sanitary use which solves, or at least diminishes effectively said technical inconveniences.

In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a protective mask which prevent the fogging of possible lens used by the operator and/or of the screen 4, in case of mask provided with screen, in simply and easy way .

These and other aims are therefore obtained through the present protective mask 1, according to claim 1.

Such protective mask comprises a lower part (2) of fabric material configured in such a manner so as to result applicable to cover the respiratory tracts of the operator . According to the invention, a sheet element (7) is further foreseen, arranged in such a manner so as to screen off the rising of the condensation and the development of liquid drops.

In particular, a screen (4) is comprised in transparent material connected to the lower part (2) in such a manner that it covers the operator's eyes. In that way, the mask offers a protection for eyes and respiratory tracts .

In order to avoid the fogging of the screen, a sheet element (7) is further comprised, arranged in such a manner that it screens the rising of liquid drops, said sheet element (7) being interposed between said screen (4) and the lower part (2) .

In this way, all said technical inconveniences are easily solved.

In particular, the sheet material stops the rising of the condensation and thus avoiding the fogging, in particular of the screen and/or of possible glasses used by the operator.

Such solution with the sheet material (7) interposed between the screen and the lower part results constructively easy and functional.

Further advantages are inferable from the independent claims.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present mask 1, according to the invention, will result more clearly with the description which follows of some embodiments, made to explain and not to limit, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows an outlining of the mask, according to the background art;

- Figure 2 shows an outlining of a mask, according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a section of a mask, always according to the invention along its diagonal axle. Description of some preferred embodiments

Figure 2 describes a first possible embodiment of the invention .

The protective mask of figure 2 comprises, as per background art, a lower part configured in such a manner that it can cover the mouth and the nose of the operator.

It is generally made of more overlapping transpiring fabric materials.

Fiber material such as cotton or similar ones can be embedded between such layers, in order to create a thick net to filter air naturally.

An above screen 4 is then connected through connection points 5, said screen being of such size to cover most part of the operator's face, eyes included. The coverage is generally up to the brow.

As explained in the introduction of background art, the technical problem of such solution is the development of fogging caused by breathing and by the air which is thus filtered through the lower part. As time passes by, while breathing, condensation drops form and they rise towards the screen, creating the fogging phenomenon indeed .

According to figure 2, the problem is solved by interposing a sheet element 7 between the lower part 2 and the screen 4.

The section of figure 3 outlines indeed the lower part 2, the screen 4 and such interposed sheet 7.

The double direction of the arrows applied to the lower part shows the breathing direction which causes the development of many condensation drops 200 which tend to rise towards the screen 4. Always figure 3 outlines the operator's eye 100 which looks through the screen.

According to the invention, the interposition of such sheet material 7 screens the rising of condensation, thus avoiding the fogging of the screen 4.

The sheet material 7 may be of absorbing material, in such a manner that it can absorb condensation by preventing its rising.

As alternative, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it may be of waterproof material, for example plastic or plasticized material.

The advantage of waterproof material is to screen the rising of condensation without any limit, while, in case of adsorbing material, it may allow the rising of condensation once fully saturated by liquid (for example in case of hours lasting operations) .

Abiding by the above description, a variation of the invention may also foresee the application of the sheet material 7 inside the lower part 2 during the process of production of the sheet itself, for example interposed between a layer and the other one.

What was described above is valid also for masks without the screen 4.

In that case, the sheet material may be applied externally or internally to the lower part and the rising of condensation will be avoided. This proves to be very useful for operators using glasses or separated protective glasses .

In all descripted embodiment, such element of sheet (7) may be connected in several ways, for example by gluing, welding or sewing it.

The remaining structure of the protective anti- fogging mask remains obviously identical to the background art and therefore it will not be examined here anymore. In particular, rings may be foreseen to fix it to the face through the ears or a normal elastic lace, which passes behind the head, may be used.

The screen 4 is connected to the lower part as per background art.