FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the fields of gas masks/air cleaning. Specifically, the invention refers to a protection device for humans respiratory paths whose main function is to protect the user's respiratory airway, it also enables the user to perform basic biological movements such as scratching of head, face, eating and drinking without having to remove the device first.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Respiratory protectors (also known as respirators) to provide fresh air to the users are used in a variety of applications. Respiratory protectors can be used in fires, military operations, and hazardous industrial applications where the air exhaust can be contaminated. In addition to providing a clean source of air for the nose and mouth to breathe, respirators also protect the eyes and face from harmful gases or other irritants. Respiratory protection devices may include mounting brackets for receiving removable and replaceable filter elements or connectors for the air supply.

There are several types of specific respiratory protection devices that are commonly used. These respiratory protectors include a transparent visor-mask, a face shield to position the visor-mask to the user's face, and one or more ports that provide air to the user. In addition, respiratory protection devices can be configured for different modes depending on the specific circumstances of use.

In addition, there exists a PAPR (powered air purifying respirator) that continuously supplies positive pressure air to the respirator to maintain positive pressure in the respirator. PAPR is commonly used in military, industrial, or hazardous environments to protect personal breathing airways by preventing ambient air from entering a user's mask, helmet or hood. Respiratory hazards can include particulate matter, toxic gas or toxic vapors that are removed by filtering the surrounding air through a filter. Typically, a powered air purifying respirator consists of a powered fan, forcing ambient air through one or more filters to be inserted into the respirator. The fan and filter can be mounted on the mask, or in some cases, can be mounted on a belt or backpack and connected to the mask via an adapter and fan. The fan power is usually mounted away from the mask but can also be mounted on the mask.

EP2555849A2 to David L.Ausen disclosed an air purifier consisting of a filter housing and a filter. The filter consists of a contaminated air inlet, a filter in liquid communication with the contaminated air inlet, a blower in fluid communication with the filter assembly through a duct, and the fan assembly further contains an filtered air outlet and a filtered air inlet in fluid communication with the blower assembly outlet. In which, the blower assembly is isolated from the filter housing by being attached to the filter housing with a duct exclusively. The duct includes an elastic material for reducing filter load and is designed to be flexible in use.

US Patent No.US2009025716Al to Mark Glazman disclosed a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) mask. The helmet structure is attached to an inner adjustable headband. The straps include straps to specifically adjust their size to the wearer. A shield is attached to the helmet structure to completely cover the user's head to maintain the usual shape of the helmet. A shield with at least one inlet containing the filter, arranged to be adjacent to the fan. The disclosure of the US2009025716A1 also states that the powered air cleaning mask also includes an air disinfection chamber, fan, filter, UV sterilizer, and a power supply unit.

A respiratory protection device for humans, apart from being used under circumstances such as fires or in places with a highly toxic/infectious environment such as laboratories, infectious disease areas, thermal power plants, waste treatment plant, etc., can also be used in the increasingly polluted natural environment.

According to the annual report The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of the United States, Vietnam is currently in the top 10 of air polluting countries in Asia. Notably, the total amount of dust in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is continuously increasing, making the Air Quality Index (AQI) always at an alarming level. In 2016, GreenID published a Brief Environmental Status report in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: Hanoi: the average AQI was 121, the PM2.5 dust concentration was 50.5, twice as much as the national standard (25 pg/m3) and five times higher than the WHO recommendation (10 pg/m3). Ho Chi Minh City: the average AQI is 86, the PM2.5 dust concentration is 28.3, higher than the national standards and three times higher than the WHO recommendation. Average dust concentrations in the air in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City exceed the allowable level from two to three times and tend to remain at high threshold. The source of polluting dust in big cities is mostly from traffic emissions, construction works, roads and industrial factories. Hanoi is second only to New Delhi, India (124 pg/m3), where air pollution is the second heaviest in the world.

The use of respiratory protection devices is becoming increasingly urgent. Respiratory protection devices like the N95 respirator or the devices listed above meet its basic needs. However, especially for devices similar to a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR), they are often inconvenient for the user in the case of basic bioactive needs such as scratching head, face, eating/drinking or needing to check the user's temperature; in all cases, the user must remove/dismount the respiratory protection device, which easily leads to lack of safety for the user.

Therefore, it is essential to have a device that can protect the human respiratory airway from adverse effects in the external environment such as air pollution, fire, environment With a high potential of infection, etc.. At the same time, respiratory protection devices are also used for people with respiratory infections in order to prevent the spread of the disease to the community.

It is also essential to have a respiratory protection device with wich the user can have their temperature checked without having to remove/dismount the respiratory protection device.

It is also essential to have a respiratory protection device with which the user can perform basic biological activities such as scratching the head, face scratching, eating/drinking without having to remove/dismount the device, helping to maximize efficiency for users.

The aspects of the invention provide a technical solution that achieves the above objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in the first aspect a respiratory protection device for human is provided, which includes a sealed helmet used to isolate the user's respiratory airway from the air outside. The helmet surface has at least one soft area made of a soft material that allows the user to manipulate the space inside the helmet without altering the respiratory isolation properties of the same to the air outside. The soft area is in the form of a glove, to enable the user to separate thumb activity from other fingers. The helmet also includes a mechanical connection with a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) system; where the PAPR air blower system continuously pressures the sealed helmet to maintain a permanently positive or negative pressure inside the sealed helmet; in operation, the blower continuously blows filtered air in between the space inside the sealed helmet and the outside space. The sealed helmet also has openings above the user's head which are covered with the first gasket, so that the user can scratch their head. In addition, the inner helmet includes at least one empty compartment for drinking water and/or food and/or other personal items such as toothpicks, floss, cloths, and straws.

In the second aspect, it is provided a respiratory protection device for human whose users can perform basic biological activities such as scratching their heads, face and eating/drinking without respiratory protective equipment being disassembled/removed.

In the third aspect, it is provided a respiratory protection device for human whose user’s body temperature can be monitored/measured without the need to disassemble/disassemble the respiratory protection device.

These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent to skilled persons in the field under the teaching of the invention disclosing detailed description of the preferred embodiments, illustrated on different figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are combined and form part of this invention to illustrate the points of independent and dependent claims of the invention, as well as for the interpretation of the operating principles of the whole technical solutions, in which:

Figure 1A is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the side view of a human respiratory protection device according to the examplary embodiment of The invention; Figure IB is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the coronary structure of a respiratory protection device for human according to a exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1C is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the top inner surface of a human respiratory protection device according to a exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure ID is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates shield panel of a respiratory protection device for human according to a exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to illustrate in detail the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the invention will be described through the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to these embodiments. In contrast, the alternative features, innovative and quantitative alternatives may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention determined by the claims attached. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the invention, many specific details are laid out to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be evident to the skilled persons in the field that inventions can be practiced without these specifics. In other cases, the known methods, process, composition and scope of application have not been described in detail so as not to obscure necessary aspects of the invention.

It is further understood that the invention is not limited to methods, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, specific usages and applications described in this document, as these may differ. It is also important to understand that the terms used here are used for the purpose of describing only specific embodiments but not for limiting the scope of inventions. The singular terms used here and in the claims attached, "one" and "singular" forms include plural references unless the context clearly indicates. Therefore, for example, a reference to an element, an element referring to one or more elements will include equivalent elements that are known to those with common skills in the field. Similarly, in another example, a reference to a step or a way means a way of referring to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and dependent means. All conjunctions used should be understood in the most comprehensive sense. Therefore, the word "preferred" or "should" be construed to have a definition of a logic or logic rather than an exclusive word or logic, unless the context indicates clearly and necessarily. The structures described in this document are also meant to refer to the equivalent functions of those structures. Language that can be understood for approximate expression should be understood as such, unless otherwise specified by the context.

Except as otherwise defined, all scientific and technical terms used here have the same meaning as commonly understood by skilled persons in the art that the present invention refers. Common methods, techniques, equipment and materials described, although any method, technique, equipment or material similar to or equivalent to the methods described in this document may used in practice or testing of the invention. The structures described in this document are also meant to refer to the equivalent functions of those structures.

References to the embodiments of one of the alternatives, realisation, for example, may indicate that the embodiment of the invention described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic but not that all embodiments necessarily include these specific features, structures, or properties. Furthermore, the repeated usage of a phrase in a direct or exemplary embodiment, does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

The title provided here is for convenience in describing the invention and should not be considered to be restricted to disclosure in any way.

It should be noted that the term "continuously positive respiratory airway pressure" is a feature provided by a positive pressure breather, applying lightly positive pressure in a continuous way. It keeps the airway open continuously in those who can breathe naturally, but it is necessary to help keep the airway of them unobstructed.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to its preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings.

Reference is made to Figure 1A, which is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the side of a respiratory protection device for human according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. The respiratory protection device for human 100 ("the device Vihelm 100") includes a PAPR 110 (powered air purifying respirator) system, a clean air supply hose 120, couplers 130 and a sealed helmet 140. The sealed helmet 140 consists of a top 141, a shield 142, a brim 143 and a base plate 144 located below the brim 143, under the chin of the user of the device Vihelm 100. The brim 143 is for mechanical connection between components including the top 141, the shield 142 and the base plate 144; In addition, the brim 143 also has the function of fixing the sealed helmet 140 on the head 150 of the user of the device Vihelm 100. The top 141 is at the top of the device, is bent to the top of the head 150 of the user of the device Vihelm 100; a large ridge of 141a runs along the top of user’s head 150a and two leaf-shaped depressions 141b on either side of the large ridge 141a; This structure makes it convenient for the user to wear the device Vihelm 100 to wear a 140 sealed helmet. The top of the helmet 141 together with the brim 143 is used to fix the helmet 140 on the user's head 150 and used to connect to the rim 143, the shield 142 and to connect to the air blowing system PAPR 110. In the present embodiment of the invention, the top 141 will not be connected to the air blowing system PAPR 110; Meanwhile, the sealed helmet 140 acts as a stand-alone device that isolates the respiratory airway of the user of the device Vihelm 100 from the air outside.

Continuing with Figure 1A, shield 142 is placed in front of the user of the device Vihelm 100. According to the present embodiment of the invention, the shield 142 is made of transparent material such as plastic, glass, etc., in order not to limit the visibility of the user of the device Vihelm 100. Base plate 144 is linked to the brim 143, together with the brim 143, the shield 142 and the top 141, it covers the head of the user of the device Vihelm 100, helps optimize the respiratory airway, protects the respiratory airway from external environmental influences. Details of the top 141, the shield 142, the brim 143 and the base plate 144 are shown in Figure IB - Figure IE and will be discussed below.

Reference is again made to Figure 1A, the air blower system PAPR 110 is connected to the sealed helmet 140, at the top of the hat 141, through a supply hose 120 by joints 130. Air from the surroundings of the user using the device Vihelm 100 will be purified by the air blowing system PAPR 110 and put into the sealed helmet 140 through the clean air supply hose 120. The clean air supply hose 120 and the couplers 130 are made of plastic material and clean air supply hose 120 is stretchable to fit the majority of the height of user of the device Vihelm 100. On the air blower PAPR 110, there provided a clip 111 used to hang/wear the air blower system PAPR 110 on the shirt/pants of the user of the device Vihelm 100. According to the embodiment of the invention, the air blowing system PAPR llOcan be mechanically connected directly to the sealed helmet 140 without running through the clean air supply hose 120 and couplers 130. The air blower system PAPR 110 is used to maintain permanently positive or negative pressure in the space inside the sealed helmet 140. The blower continuously provides filtered air in between the inner space and the outer space of the sealed helmet 140. Meanwhile, the air exhaled by the user of device Vihelm 100 is continuously expelled. Positive/negative pressure prevents ambient air from entering the sealed helmet 140 and prevents foreign matter from entering the sealed helmet 140. The air blowing system PAPR 110 is commonly used in protection equipment/masks. Respiratory protectors are available on the market so they will not be described in detail here so as not to obscure the various aspects of the invention. It should be noted that the term "inner space" refers to the space that the sealed helmet 140 encircled the head of the user of the device Vihelm 100. Positive pressure is a state in which the air pressure in the inner space is greater than that of the ambient pressure, (pressure outside the cap). Negative pressure is a state in which the air pressure in the inner space is less than that of the ambient pressure (pressure outside the cap).

Now refer to Figure IB, which is a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the brim structure 143 of the device Vihelm 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. The brim 143 consists of abase frame 143a, a hollow box 143b. The base frame 143a has the shape of a 3-step trapezoid, consisting of the first step 143al, the second step 143a2, the third step 143a3. The first stage 143al is rounded to the chin of the user of the device Vihelm 100. The third stage 143a3 has a circular structure following the top 102 of the user's head the device Vihelm 100, starting from temple 103 on the left/right to temple 103 on the right/left. The two third steps 143a2 connect between the first step 143al and the third step 143a3 at the position of the opposing side of the head 150 of the user of the device Vihelm 100. Inside the second step 143a2, there provides an empty box 143b. The empty box 143b is of rectangular/square/round shape with sealed downward bottom of the box, the top of the box is open to store drinking water and/or food and/or other items such as toothpicks, dental floss, wipes, straws, etc.. The structure of th brim 143 achieves the goal of the invention, that the user of the device Vihelm 100 can perform basic biological activities of eating/drinking without having to disassemble/disassemble the device Vihelm 100; this makes safer for the user of the device Vihelm 100, especially in case of the activities in need to operate/operation in a long time in the environment, such as waiting for emergency rescue/rescue, etc..

This is followed by a reference to Figure 1C, a three-dimensional (3D) perspective view that illustrates the inside top of the top 141 of the device Vihelm 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, the top 141 is connected mechanically to the brim 143 at the third position 143a3 and also includes an additional clean air duct 141c, a forehead bar 14 Id, a large number of openings 14 le. The clean air duct 141c is located below and along the large ridge 141a with one end connected to couplers 130 and the other end tapered down toward shield 142; This structure is intended to increase the efficiency of the permanently positive airway pressure, allowing clean air from the air blowing system PAPR 110 to go in only one direction. The forehead bar 14 Id is in the form of semicircular, horizontal arc to the contour of the head of the user of the device 150 Vihelm 100; In addition, the forehead bar 14 Id is also made of a highly elastic rubber material, which makes the sealed helmet 140 can be used for a variety of head sizes of the users of the device Vihelm 100. The openings 141e are evenly distributed over two leaf-shaped depressions 141b. The openings 14 le are covered with the first (not shown) gasket, which is also made of a rubber material with high elasticity; thanks to this structure, the goal of the invention is achieved, that is, the user of the device Vihelm 100 can perform basic biological activities such as scratching their heads through the openings 14 le without having to remove/remove sealed helmet 141, while still achieving the target of protecting the respiratory airway of the user of the device Vihelm 100.

It should be noted that the term "elastic" used here means that the object tends to return to its original state without remaining deformation.

Now referring to Figure ID, which is the three-dimensional (3D) perspective view of the device Vihelm 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in the Figures 1A and IB, the lower shield is mechanically connected to the brim 143 at the first step 143al and the second step 143a2, the upper part is mechanically connected to the top 141 to form a loop structure. Returning to Figure ID, above the shield, facing the forehead of the user of the device Vihelm 100, there is a temperature-checking glass ring 142a. Through Jhe temperature-checking glass ring 142a, the user of the device Vihelm 100 can check the temperature with a laser thermometer without having to remove/dismount the sealed helmet 100; This is very convenient in case the user of the device Vihelm 100 is in a highly contaminated environment and needs to check the body temperature (e.g in COVID19 pandemic). According to another embodiment of the invention, at the position of the temperature-checking check glass ringl42a, there also includes an electronic thermometer (not shown), always updating and displaying the temperature information of the user of the device Vihelm 100. According to the embodiment of the invention, this electronic thermometer includes an internet of things (IoT) device.

Figure IE is the three-dimensional (3D) perspective view of the base plate of the device Vihelm 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the base plate 144 consists of a soft area 144a, a perimeter 144b and a second pad 144c. The soft area 144a is made of soft material so that the user can use the hand to impact on the space inside the sealed helmet 140 without changing the characteristics of isolated respiratory airway of the user to the air outside. The soft area 144a is glove-shaped so that the user of the device Vihelm 100 can separate thumb activity 144al from other fingers. The second pad 144c is made of high elastic rubber material. Belt 144b is used for connecting mechanically the base plate 144 to the brim 143 and for connecting components including the soft area 144a and the second pad 144c. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the soft area 144a includes gloves for left and/or right handed people. With this design, it is achieved the goal of the invention is that the user of the Vihelm 100 can perform basic biological activities such as scratching the face and/or eating/drinking from the 143b empty pits without having to disassemble/dismount the sealed helmet 140.

As shown in Figure IE, on the second pad 144d, below the third step 143a3 of the brim 143, an opening 144d is provided; the user of the device Vihelm 100 wears the sealed helmet 140 through this hole 144d. Since the second pad 144c is made of highly elastic rubber, it will hug the neck of the user of device Vihelm 100. Thus, together the top 141, the shield 142, the brim 143 and the base plate 144 create a structure that covered the head of the user of the device Vihelm 100. The invention achieves the following objectives: a) Protecting human respiratory airway; b) Providing a clean air stream for the user of the Vihelm 100; c) Not restricting the visibility and the range of activities of the user of the device

Vihelm 100; d) The user of the Vihelm 100 can perform basic biological activities such as scratching the face/head and/or eating/drinking without having to remove/dismount the sealed helmet 140; e) The user of the device Vihelm 100 can be checked with body temperature without having to remove/dismount the sealed helmet 140.

The above discussion/statement has fully described at least one embodiment of the invention, equivalents or other alternatives to implementing the device Vihelm 100 according to the invention and the principles of the invention described here enable the skilled persons in the field to realize the invention. The various aspects of the invention have been above described only by illustration, and the specific alternatives have been disclosed for no purpose of limiting the invention to specific forms. Specific implementations of the device Vihelm 100 can vary depending on the context or specific application such as the sealed helmet 140 has more than one soft area 144a and more than one hollow box 143b above the surface of the helmet at the top of the hat 141, on the position of the check glass ring 142, of the brim 143 and the base plate 144. Consequently, the present invention includes all modifications, equivalents and alternatives lying in the spirit and scope of the claims attached. It should be further understood that not all options disclosed in the above description will necessarily satisfy or achieve each objective of the invention.

Required elements and steps in this document may have been numbered and/or characterized only as an aid to readability and comprehension. Any such numbering and characters are not intended and should not be made to indicate the order of the elements and/or steps in the claim. The summary of the invention is provided to allow the readers to determine the nature and gist of the technical publication. It is presented with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or explain the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims have been fully disclosed in the detailed description, with each claim standing separately as an independent alternative.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a respiratory protection device for human 100 from the negative impacts from the external environment such as air pollution, fire, environment with a high possibility of infection, etc. At the same time, the device Vihelm 100 is also used for people with respiratory infections to prevent the spread of the disease to the community. The users of the Vihelm 100 can have their temperature checked without having to disassemble/dismount the device. This helps to keep the user safe in a highly contaminated environment such as COVID19. In addition, the users of the device Vihelm 100 can also have basic biological activities such as scratching the head, scratching the face, eating/drinking without having to disassemble/dismount the device, helping to bring maximum efficiency to the user in case of a long operation/operation.

NOTES ON THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1 the reference numbers are as follows:

100- respiratory protector for human;

101- position under the user's chin _;

102- The location after the scruff of the neck of the user;

103- Position of the user’temple;

110- The air blowing system PAPR;

111- Hook/hang;

120- Clean air supply hose;

130- Coupler;

140- Sealed helmet;

141- The top of the helmet;

141a -Large ridge;

141b - Leaf-shaped depression;

141c- Clean air hose;

14 Id- The forehead bar;

14 le- Hole;

142- Shield;

142a -The temperature check glass ring;

143- The brim;

143a- Base frame;

143al- The first step;

143a2- The second step; a3- The third step;b- Empty box; - Base plate; a- Soft area; al- Thumb; c- Brim; d- The second pad;- The second pad;- The user’s head.