Technical Field

The present invention relates to a respiration assist device and a mask including the same.

Background Art

With recent industrialization, as various air pollution problems have occurred, various harmful substances are included in the air. These harmful substances may include not only various fumes or fine dust, which has recently become a serious social issue, but also pollen and various bacterial substances that cause allergies.

On the other hand, when the harmful substances permeate into the respiratory tract of the human body, the harmful substances may cause various respiratory diseases, resulting in serious problems. In particular, when the air quality is poor, like as a yellow dust phenomenon, it is necessary to wear a mask, and a user who is likely to be exposed to a polluted air environment for a long time in a place with a lot of fine dust wears a mask to prevent respiratory diseases.

In general, the mask is in close contact with a user’s face, thereby preventing germs, dust, or the like in the atmosphere from permeating into user’s nose and mouth. Particularly, a mask equipped with a filter on the mask may allow a user to inhale air introduced through the filter. In the mask equipped with such a filter, a face junction part is made of a non-permeable material, and when the user inhales air, external air is introduced into the face junction part by passing through the filter, thereby assisting the respiration of the user.

Technical Problem

In a conventional mask equipped with a filter, when a user inhales air, external air is introduced through a filter, so that the user using the mask may feel stuffiness. Accordingly, there is a need for a device capable of improving the flowability of air between the filter and the mask.

Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention have been invented based on the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a respiration assist device capable of assisting the user’s respiration in a mask equipped with a filter. Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a respiration assist device included in a mask including: a body part provided with an air passage formed for flowing of air toward the inside of the mask; and a fan unit which includes one or more blades provided to rotate along a rotation path and allows the air to flow to pass through the air passage when each blade rotates to be closer to the air passage in a part of the rotation path and to be far away from the air passage in the other part of the rotation path while the one or more blades rotate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mask including: a face cover part provided to be wearable on a user’s face; and a respiration assist device coupled to the face cover part, wherein the respiration assist device includes a body part provided with an air passage formed for flowing of air between the face cover part and the user’s face; and a fan unit which includes one or more blades provided to rotate along a rotation path and allows the air to flow to pass through the air passage when each blade rotates to be closer to the air passage when rotating on a first path of the rotation path and to be far away from the air passage when rotating on a second path of the rotation path while the one or more blades rotate.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiments of the present invention, there is an effect of assisting the user’s respiration in a mask equipped with a filter.

Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mask according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mask of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a respiration assist device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the respiration assist device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the respiration assist device is coupled to a face cover part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A’.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagram of part B of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along line C-C\

Modes for the Invention

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the spirit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Moreover, in describing the present invention, a detailed description of related known configurations or functions will be omitted when it is determined to make the gist of the present invention blur.

In addition, when it is mentioned that a certain component is ‘connected’, ‘supported’, ‘coupled’, or ‘flows’ to the other component, it should be understood that the component may be connected, supported, coupled, or flow directly to the other component, but other components may also exist therebetween.

Terms used in the present specification are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular form may include a plural form unless otherwise explicitly meant in the context.

In addition, in this specification, the expressions of an upper side, a lower side, a side surface, and the like are described based on the illustration in the drawings, and it is noted in advance that the expressions may be varied when a direction of the corresponding object is changed. For the same reason, in the accompanying drawings, some components are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect an actual size.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used for describing various components, but the corresponding components are not limited by these terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one component from other components.

The term “including” used in the specification means that a specific feature, region, integer, step, operation, element and/or component is embodied, but presence or addition of other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups is not excluded.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of a mask 1 including a respiration assist device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, the mask 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used in close contact with a user’s face, and prevent pollutants, germs, dust, etc. in the air from permeating into user’s nose and mouth. In addition, the mask 1 may assist the respiration of the user wearing the mask 1. Accordingly, the user may comfortably respire (inhale) even while wearing the mask 1. The mask 1 may include a respiration assist device 100, a face cover part 200, and a filter 300.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the respiration assist device 100 may assist the respiration of a user wearing the mask 1. Such a respiration assist device 100 may provide a passage through which air passing through the filter 300 flows into the face cover part 200, and the respiration assist device 100 may allow the air passing through the filter 300 to flow toward the face cover part 200. The respiration assist device 100 may include one side selectively coupled with the face cover part 200 and the other side selectively coupled with the filter 300. The respiration assist device 100 may include a body part 110, a spacer 120, and a fan unit 130.

The body part 110 may support the spacer 120 and the fan unit 130. The body part 110 may be connected to the face cover part 200 and the filter 300 between the face cover part 200 and the filter 300. In other words, one side of the body part 110 may be coupled with the face cover part 200 through a mask connector 111 to be described below, and the other side of the body part 110 may be coupled with the filter 300 through a filter fastening part 124 to be described below. In addition, the body part 110 may be disposed between a rotation center of blades 132 to be described below and the face cover part 200.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mask connector 111 to be selectively coupled with the face cover part 200 may be provided on one side surface of the body part 110, and the body part 110 may be selectively coupled with the face cover art 200 through the mask connector 111. The mask connector 111 may be supported on one surface of the body part 110. In addition, a connector groove 111a into which a port protrusion 231 of an intake port 230 to be described below may be inserted may be formed in the mask connector 111. The port protrusion 231 may be inserted into the connector groove 111a, and the shape of the connector groove 111a may be formed to correspond to the shape of the port protrusion 231. When the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230 are coupled with each other, the fan unit 130 may discharge air from an air passage 112 in a direction passing through the intake port 230 and the mask connector 111. Hereinafter, a process of coupling the body part 110 to the face cover part 200 in order to mount the respiration assist device 100 on the face cover part 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, the body part 110 is positioned in the intake port 230 so that the port protrusion 231 is placed at a position corresponding to the connector groove 11 la. The intake port 230 is inserted into an inner direction (e.g., a left side of FIG. 6) of the body part 110 so that the port protrusion 231 passes through the connector groove 11 la. At this time, when the body part 110 is rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to the face cover part 200 in one direction (for example, clockwise in FIG. 5), the port protrusion 231 may be supported on the inside of the mask connector 111. As such, when the port protrusion 231 is supported by the mask connector 111, the respiration assist device 100 may be mounted on the face cover part 200. In this way, when the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230 are coupled with each other, the mask connector 111 may communicate with the intake port 230. In addition, air introduced into the body part 110 may flow into the face cover part 200 through the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230.

On the other hand, in order to remove the respiration assist device 100 from the face cover part 200, the body part 110 is rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to the face cover part 200 in the other direction (e.g., counterclockwise in FIG. 5) so that the port protrusion 231 is placed at a position corresponding to the connector groove 11 la. At this time, when the port protrusion 231 is placed in a position corresponding to the connector groove 111a, the body part 110 is moved so that the port protrusion 231 passes through the connector groove 11 la to move in an outward direction (e.g., a right side of FIG. 6) of the body part 110. In addition, when the port protrusion 231 is separated from the mask connector 111, the respiration assist device 100 may be removed from the face cover part 200.

As such, the body part 110 may be coupled with the face cover part 200 by coupling the mask connector 111 with the intake port 230. In addition, when the intake port 230 is coupled to the mask connector 111, the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230 may communicate with each other. Accordingly, the air introduced into the body part 110 may flow into the face cover part 200 through the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230. Meanwhile, the air passage 112 through which the air passing through the filter 300 flows into the body part 110 may be formed inside the body part 110. The air passage 112 may be formed through the body part 110 and may be formed to communicate with the mask connector 111. In addition, the air passage 112 may communicate with an inlet 123 to be described below. Accordingly, the air passing through the filter 300 may flow into the air passage 112 through the inlet 123. In addition, at least a part of the fan unit 130 may be disposed inside the air passage 112. As such, since the fan unit 130 is disposed inside the air passage 112, the air introduced into the air passage 112 may flow into the body part 110 by the fan unit 130. The air passage 112 may be opened to face the filter 300 or face the face of the user wearing the mask 1. In addition, the air passage 112 may have a circular cross-section.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 6 together with FIG. 7, the spacer 120 may be supported on one side of the body part 110 and may be configured to be fastened to the filter 300. When the spacer 120 is fastened to the filter 300, at least a part of the spacer 120 is inserted into the filter 300. In addition, the spacer 120 may be inserted into any one of a first filter layer 310 and a second filter layer 320 to separate the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 to be described below from each other. For example, the spacer 120 may be inserted through the second filter layer 320 to support the first filter layer 310, so as to separate the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from each other.

In addition, the spacer 120 may maintain a space in the filter 300 to be described below. For example, the air passing through the filter 300 by the user’s respiration (inhalation) and remaining in the filter 300 for a predetermined time flows to the face cover part 200 through the respiration assist device 100. If the mask 1 does not have the spacer 120, the air in the filter 300 is discharged to the respiration assist device 100, so that the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 are in close contact with each other. At this time, when the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 are in close contact with each other, the respiration of the user may be disturbed. However, the spacer 120 is inserted into any one of the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 to separate the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from each other, so that it is possible to prevent the first filter layer 310 from being in close contact with the second filter layer 320. Accordingly, a predetermined space in the filter 300 may be maintained by the spacer 120 without removal, and the spacer 120 may prevent the respiration of the user from being disturbed by the contact between the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320.

In addition, the spacer 120 may be configured to be removable from the body part 110. The spacer 120 may include a supporter 121, a connection part 122, and a filter fastening part 124.

Referring back to FIG. 6, one or more supporters 121 may be provided, and may support the first filter layer to prevent the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from coming into close contact with each other. At least some of the supporters 121 may be inserted into the filter 300 when the filter fastening part 124 is fastened to the filter 300. In addition, one or more supporters 121 are inserted through the second filter layer 320 to support the first filter layer 310, so as to separate the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from each other. For example, one ore more supporters 121 may be formed to protrude from the filter fastening part 124 in a direction (e.g., the left side of FIG. 6) inserted into the filter 300.

In addition, one or more supporters 121 may include a plurality of supporters 121, and when the plurality of supporters 121 are provided, ends of the plurality of supporters 121 may be connected to the connection part 122. For example, one end of the supporter 121 may be connected to the filter fastening part 124, and the other end of the supporter 121 may be connected to the connection part 122. In addition, the plurality of supporters 121 may include a first supporter 121a and a second supporter 121b. The first supporter 121a and the second supporter 121b may be spaced apart from each other to provide a space for the fan unit 130 to be disposed. As such, the fan unit 130 may be interposed between the first supporter 121a and the second supporter 121b, and may be supported by the first supporter 121a and the second supporter 121b. In addition, a pair of each of the first supporter 121a and the second supporter 121b may be further provided. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7, at least some of the plurality of supporters 121 may be blocked by the fan unit 130, and at least others of the plurality of supporters 121 are opened to form the inlet 123 to be described below.

The connection part 122 may prevent the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from being in close contact with each other by separating the first filter layer 310 from the second filter layer 320. In other words, when one or more supporters 121 are inserted through the second fdter layer 320, the connection part 122 is spaced apart from the second filter layer 320 to prevent the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 from coming into contact with each other. For example, the connection part 100 may be in close contact with the first filter layer 310 when the spacer 120 is inserted through the second filter layer 320. In addition, the connection part 122 may cover one surface of the fan unit 130.

The connection part 122 may be supported on the supporter 121 to be spaced apart from the filter fastening part 124 by a predetermined distance. In addition, the connection part 122 may be supported on the supporter 121 to face the inner surface of the filter 100. For example, the connection part 122 may contact the inner surface of the filter 100.

In addition, the connection part 122 may have a plate shape and may have a smooth surface. When the spacer 120 is inserted into the filter 300 and the filter 300 rotates with respect to the respiration assist device 100 for fastening the filter 300, the friction between the end of the supporter 121 and the inner surface of the filter 300 may be reduced.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the inlet 123 may be formed in the spacer 120. The air passing through the filter 300 is introduced into the spacer 120 through the inlet 123, and the air introduced into the spacer 120 may flow into the air passage 112 through the fan unit 130. The inlet 123 may communicate with the inside of the filter 300 and may communicate with the air passage 112. In addition, the air passing through the inlet 123 may flow toward the fan unit 130 disposed inside the air passage 112 through the filter fastening part 124, and may flow into the body part 100 by the fan unit 130. The inlet 123 may be formed between at least some of the plurality of supporters 121. In other words, the inlet 123 may be formed between at least some of the plurality of supporters 121 that are not blocked by the fan unit 130. Meanwhile, the air flowing into the inlet 123 through the filter 300 may flow into the body part 110 through the inlet 123 and the air passage 112 even when the fan unit 130 is not driven. In addition, a plurality of inlets 123 may be provided.

The inlets 123 may include a first inlet 123a and a second inlet 123b. As such, the first inlet 123a and the second inlet 123b are formed on both sides of the spacer 120, so that the air passing through the filter 300 may flow into the body part 100 from both sides of the spacer 120 (for example, the upper and lower sides of FIG. 6). In addition, a part of the air passing through the filter 300 flows to the fan unit 130 through the first inlet 123a, and the other part of the air passing through the filter 300 flows to the fan unit 130 through the second inlet 123b. For example, the first inlet 123a and the second inlet 123b may be formed between at least some of the plurality of supporters 121 and may be formed symmetrically to each other from the center of the spacer 120.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the filter fastening part 124 may fasten the filter 300 and the respiration assist device 100. The filter fastening part 124 may have a shape that may be inserted and coupled to a fixture 330 of the filter 300. Accordingly, the filter fastening part 124 may be coupled with the fixture 330 of the filter 300, thereby coupling the spacer 120 and the filter 300 to each other. One side of the filter fastening part 124 may be supported by the body part 110, and the other side of the filter fastening part 124 may support the plurality of supporters 121. In addition, the filter fastening part 124 may be removed from the body part 110. Accordingly, the filter fastening part 124 is removed from the body part 110, so that the spacer 120 may be selectively coupled to the body part 110.

As such, while the filter 300 is coupled to the filter fastening part 124, the user may use integrally the respiration assist device 100, the face cover part 200, and the filter 300 by coupling the body part 110 to the intake port 230. However, the shape of the filter fastening part 124 may be provided the same as the shape of the intake port 230.

Therefore, the user can directly couple the filter 300 to the face cover part 200, and integrally use the filter 300 and the face cover part 200 without the respiration assist device 100.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fan unit 130 may allow the air introduced to the inlet 123 through the filter 300 to flow into the body part 100. A part of the fan unit 130 may be disposed inside the air passage 112, and the air introduced into the air passage 112 may flow into the body part 100. For example, the fan unit 130 discharges the air in a direction opposite to the face of the user wearing the mask 1, but may receive the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the air. In other words, a flowing direction of the air in the filter 300 and a flowing direction of the air discharged by the fan unit 130 may be vertical to each other. In addition, the fan unit 130 may be disposed so that a part thereof is placed in the air passage 112. Meanwhile, a part of the fan unit 130 may be inserted into the filter 300 and may be disposed inside the filter 300. The other part of the fan unit 130 may be disposed inside the filter 300 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the filter 300 extends (e.g., the vertical direction in FIG. 6). The fan unit 130 may be supported by the body part 100 and the spacer 120. In addition, the fan unit 130 may be disposed inside the spacer 120. The fan unit 130 may be surrounded by the plurality of supporters 121 and the connection part 122. Since at least a part of the fan unit 130 is disposed inside a space surrounded by the plurality of supporters 121 and the connection part 122 to prevent interference between the fan unit 130 and the filter 300. Accordingly, the fan unit 130 is disposed in the filter 300 to allow the air passing through the inlet 123 from the filter 300 to flow into the body part 110 without interference from the filter 300.

In addition, when the fan unit 130 is driven, a higher flow rate of air may flow into the body part 110 than the flow rate of air flowing into the body part 110 through the air passage 112 when the fan unit 130 is not driven. As such, the fan unit 130 may allow a larger amount of air to flow into the face cover part 200, thereby assisting the respiration of the user. The fan unit 130 may include a fan body 131, blades 132, and a rotation shaft 133.

The fan body 131 may support at least one of the blades 132 and the rotation shaft 133. The fan body 131 may be disposed inside the spacer 120 and the air passage 112, and may be supported by at least one of the plurality of supporters 121 and the connection part 122. In addition, the fan unit 130 may be fixed to the spacer 120 by interposing the fan body 131 between the plurality of supporters 121 of the spacer 120. In addition, a part of the fan body 131 may be disposed between at least some of the plurality of supporters 121, and may block at least some of the plurality of supporters 121. In addition, the fan body 131 may guide the air so that the flow of the air by the blades 132 faces the inside of the mask 1. In other words, the air may be guided between the face cover part 200 and the user’s face by the fan body 131.

The blades 132 are provided to rotate along a predetermined rotation path, and may allow air introduced into the spacer 120 through the inlet 123 to flow into the body part 110. The blades 132 rotate with respect to a predetermined rotational shaft 133 extending in one direction, thereby allowing air to flow to pass through the air passage 112. In addition, the blades 132 may discharge the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the rotation shaft 133 extends. The fan unit 130 may be disposed such that the rotation shaft 133 is placed at a position spaced apart from the face cover part 200 by a predetermined distance. For example, the fan unit 130 may be disposed so that the rotation shaft 133 of the blades 132 is placed outside the air passage 112, and in this case, the rotation center of the blades 132 may be placed in the filter 300. The blades 132 may be disposed inside the fan body 131.

Meanwhile, one or more blades 132 may be provided. While one or more blades 132 are rotated, each blade 132 may rotate so as to be closer to the air passage 112 in a part of the rotation path and to be far away from the air passage 112 in the other part of the rotation path. As such, the one or more blades 132 rotate so that a part of the rotation path is closer to the air passage 112 and the other part thereof is far away from the air passage 112, thereby allowing the air to flow to pass through the air passage 112. When the plurality of blades 132 are provided, some of the plurality of blades 132 may be covered by the connection part 122. In this case, the connection part 122 may prevent the blades 132 from interfering with the inner surface of the filter 300.

These blades 132 may be arranged to extend side by side along the rotation center. In other words, the blades 132 may be oriented in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft 133. In addition, the blades 132 may be bent and extended from the center of rotation to the outside of the rotation path. The blades 132 may have a shape in which a radius of curvature at one side of the rotation center is the same as a radius of curvature at the other side of the rotation center. In other words, the blades 132 may be formed to be plane- symmetric with respect to a virtual plane passing through the center of the plurality of blades 132.

The rotation shaft 133 may support the blades 132 and may be a shaft extending along the rotation center of the blades 132. This rotation shaft 133 may extend along an axial direction. For example, the axial direction may be a direction in which the rotation shaft 133 extends in FIGS. 3 and 7. The rotation shaft 133 may be formed to extend in a direction (e.g., the vertical direction of FIG. 6) perpendicular to the direction (e.g., the right direction of FIG. 6) in which the air introduced into the spacer 120 through the inlet 123 flows into the air passage 112 on average.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the face cover part 200 may be provided to be worn on the user’s face, and may be in close contact with the user’s face to cover the user’s nose and mouth. The face cover part 200 may be made of a non-permeable material, and may have a shape corresponding to the user’s face in order to be more easily in close contact with the user’s face. In addition, a separate strap (not illustrated) may be provided on the face cover part 200 to be coupled to the user’s face. The face cover part 200 may include a junction member 210, an air inlet 220 and an intake port 230.

The junction member 210 may provide a portion to be worn on the user’s face, and may be in close contact with the user’s face to cover the user’s nose and mouth. This junction member 210 may prevent pollutants, germs and dust in the atmosphere from permeating into the user’s respiratory tract.

The air inlet 220 may provide a passage through which air is introduced into the junction member 210 from the outside of the junction member 210. The air inlet 220 may be provided on one side of the junction member 210. However, in this specification, the air inlet 220 is illustrated to be formed on one side of the face cover part 200, but this is only an example, and the air inlet 220 may be formed on both sides of the face cover part 200, and may be formed on a center line C of the face cover part 200.

The intake port 230 may provide a portion in which the respiration assist device 100 is coupled to the face cover part 200. The intake port 230 may protrude from the air inlet 220. In addition, a port protrusion 231 may be formed on the intake port 230. The port protrusion 231 may be formed to protrude from the intake port 230 and may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the connector groove 11 la. In addition, the port protrusion 231 may be inserted into the mask connector 111 through the connector groove 11 la, and when the body part 110 rotates at a predetermined angle with respect to the face cover part 200, the port protrusion 231 may be supported by the mask connector 111. Accordingly, when the port protrusion 231 is supported on the mask connector 111, the respiration assist device 100 may be supported on the face cover part 200. Meanwhile, the intake port 230 may be configured to be engaged with the fixture 330 of the filter 300. Accordingly, the face cover part 200 may be directly coupled with the filter 300 without the respiration assist device 100 by engaging the intake port 230 with the fixture 330.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the filter 300 may filter pollutants, bacteria, and dust from air in the atmosphere. When the user inhales the air, the filter 300 may filter air introduced from the outside and provide the filtered air to the respiration assist device 100. In addition, the filter 300 may be selectively coupled with the spacer 120 provided in the respiration assist device 100. The filter 300 may include a first filter layer 310, a second filter layer 320, and a fixture 330.

The spacer 120 may be inserted into any one of the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320. For example, the first filter layer 310 may be in close contact with the connection part 122, and one or more supporters 121 may be inserted through the second filter layer 320. The first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 may be spaced apart from each other by the spacer 120. In other words, the spacer 120 is inserted through the second filter layer 320 and disposed between the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320, so that the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 may be spaced apart from each other without being in close contact with each other. Meanwhile, edges of the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 may be connected to each other, and the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 may be connected to each other to form a predetermined space. Air passing through any one of the first filter layer 310 and the second filter layer 320 may stay inside this space for a predetermined time.

The fixture 330 may fasten the filter 300 and the respiration assist device 100 to each other. The fixture 330 is fastened with the filter fastening part 124 of the respiration assist device 100, so that the filter 300 and the respiration assist device 100 may be coupled with each other. The fixture 330 may be supported on the second filter layer 320. In addition, the shape of the fixture 330 may be provided the same as the shape of the mask connector 111 of the body part 110. Accordingly, the fixture 330 may be coupled with the port protrusion 231 of the face cover part 200, and the filter 300 may be directly coupled to the face cover part 200 without the respiration assist device 100.

Hereinafter, operations and effects of the mask 1 and the respiration assist device 100 having the above-described configuration will be described.

The user first inserts the spacer 120 of the respiration assist device 100 through the filter 300, and then fastens the filter fastening part 124 and the fixture 330, thereby mounting the respiration assist device 100 on the filter 300. When the respiration assist device 100 and the filter 300 are coupled with each other, in order to couple the face cover part 200 and the respiration assist device 100, the intake port 230 of the face cover part 200 may be coupled with the mask connector 111 of the respiration assist device 100. At this time, the user inserts the port protrusion 231 of the intake port 230 into the connector groove 11 la of the mask connector 111, and then rotates the body part 110 with respect to the face cover part 200 at a predetermined angle, thereby mounting the respiration assist device 100 on the face cover part 200. The user may wear the mask 1 when the face cover part 200 and the respiration assist device 100 are coupled with each other.

When the user wears the mask 1, while inhaling the air, external air passes through the fdter 300 to filter fine dust, pollutants, bacteria, etc. The air that has passed through the filter 300 to filter fine dust, etc. may flow into the air passage 112 through the first inlet 123a and the second inlet 123b. The air introduced into the air passage 112 may flow to the fan unit 130. The fan unit 130 may allow the air introduced through the inlet 123 to flow into the body part 110. The air introduced into the body part 110 may be discharged inside the face cover part 200 through the mask connector 111 and the intake port 230.

The user may use clean air discharged to the inside of the face cover part 200 when inhaling.

As such, the respiration assist device 100 and the mask 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention have an effect of providing the user with clean air from which fine dust, pollutants, bacteria, etc. are filtered while the user respires.

In addition, since a higher flow rate of air flows into the face cover part 200 through the fan unit 130 in the respiration assist device 100, there is an effect of assisting the user’s respiration.

In addition, there is an effect that air can smoothly flow from the filter 300 to the inside of the face cover part 200 even when the fan unit 130 is not operated.

The embodiments of the present invention are listed as follows.

Item 1 is a respiration assist device included in a mask including: a body part provided with an air passage formed for flowing of air toward the inside of the mask; and a fan unit which includes one or more blades provided to rotate along a rotation path and allows the air to flow to pass through the air passage when each blade rotates to be closer to the air passage in a part of the rotation path and to be far away from the air passage in the other part of the rotation path while the one or more blades rotate.

Item 2 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit discharges the air in a direction opposite to the user’s face of the mask, and receives the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the air is discharged. Item 3 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit further rotates about a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, the one or more blades are configured to rotate about the rotation shaft, and the axial direction and the direction in which the air is discharged by the fan unit are orthogonal to each other.

Item 4 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit further rotates about a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, and the fan unit is disposed so that the rotation shaft is placed outside the air passage formed in the body part.

Item 5 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit is disposed so that the rotation shaft is placed in a filter provided in the mask to allow the air in the filter to flow toward the air passage.

Item 6 is the respiration assist device further comprising a spacer which is connected to the body part and includes one or more inlets, wherein the air introduced into the spacer through the one or more inlets flows toward the fan unit.

Item 7 is the respiration assist device, wherein the spacer includes a plurality of supporters for forming the one or more inlets, and the fan unit is interposed between the plurality of supporters to be fixed to the spacer.

Item 8 is the respiration assist device, wherein the spacer includes a connection part connected to the plurality of supporters, and one surface of the fan unit is covered by the connection part.

Item 9 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit further includes a fan body, and the fan body guides the air so that the flow of air faces the inside of the mask by the one or more blades.

Item 10 is the respiration assist device, wherein the fan unit further rotates about a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, and the one or more blades are oriented in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft.

Item 11 is a mask comprising: a face cover part provided to be wearable on a user’s face; and a respiration assist device coupled to the face cover part, wherein the respiration assist device includes a body part provided with an air passage formed for flowing of air between the face cover part and the user’s face; and a fan unit which includes one or more blades provided to rotate along a rotation path and allows the air to flow to pass through the air passage when each blade rotates to be closer to the air passage when rotating on a first path of the rotation path and to be far away from the air passage when rotating on a second path of the rotation path while the one or more blades rotate.

Item 12 is the mask, wherein the fan unit further rotates about a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, the one or more blades are configured to rotate with respect to the rotation shaft, and the body part is disposed between the rotation shaft and the face cover part.

Item 13 is the mask, wherein the face cover part includes an intake port, the body part includes a mask connector to which the intake port is selectively coupled on one surface of the body part, the fan unit discharges air in a direction passing through the air passage, the intake port, and the mask connector when the intake port is coupled to the mask connector, the fan unit further rotates about a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction, and the one or more blades are configured to rotate with respect to the rotation shaft which is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the air is discharged by the fan unit.

Item 14 is the mask further comprising a filter which is selectively coupled to the respiration assist device to filter air, wherein the fan unit allows the air in the filter to flow toward the face.

Item 15 is the mask, wherein the fan unit discharges the air in a direction perpendicular to the flowing direction of the air facing the fan unit in the filter.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described as specific examples, this is merely illustrative and it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto and has a widest range according to basic spirit disclosed in the present specification. Those skilled in the art may implement a pattern having a non- described shape by combining/substituting the disclosed examples, but this does not also depart from the scope of the present invention. Besides, it is apparent that those skilled in the art may easily change or modify the examples disclosed based on the present specification and these changes or modifications also belong to the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols

1: Mask 100: Respiration assist device

110: Body part 111: Mask connector

11 la: Connector groove 112: Air passage 120: Spacer 121: Supporter 121a: First supporter 121b: Second supporter 122: Connection part 123: Inlet 123a: First inlet 123b: Second inlet 124: Filter fastening part 130: Fan unit

131: Fan body 132: Blade 133: Rotation shaft 200: Face cover part 210: Junction member 220: Air inlet 230: Intake port 231 : Port protrusion 300: Filter 310: First filter layer

320: Second filter layer 330: Fixture