The present application is a cognate patent application of the Indian Patent Application No. 201921037881 dated September 19, 2019 and the Indian Patent Application No. 201921050897 dated December 10, 2019, under section 9 (2) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of wearable respiratory filtration devices.

DEFINITIONS

The present disclosure relates to the field of respiratory masks.

As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.

Respiratory mask - The term “respiratory mask” hereinafter refers to a mask used by an individual to filter the air being inhaled and to protect the individual from dust, pathogens, harmful gases, unpleasant odor, and other suspended particles.

N95 - The term “N95” hereinafter refers to the capability of a respiratory mask to block at least 95% of small (0.3 micron) test particles, wherein ‘N’ stands for ‘not oil resistant’.

N99 - The term “N99” hereinafter refers to the capability of a respiratory mask to block at least 99% of small (0.3 micron) test particles, wherein ‘N’ stands for ‘not oil resistant’.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Typically, respiratory masks are often designed to cover a portion of a user's face, for example, the user's mouth and/or the user's nose to seek protection of the user’s respiratory system. These masks protect the users from air-borne diseases, unpleasant smell, hazardous and noxious environments. However, in conventional mask the filtering element is secured to the mask and gets contaminated. Since, the filtering element is permanently secured to the face piece of the mask the entire mask needs to be disposed, thereby resulting in hazardous waste. Different masks are used for different environments or applications, wherein each mask is having a particular type of filtering element secured therein.

Though the conventional masks are designed to protect the user from airborne diseases, these masks fail to avoid the spread of disease from the patient to nearby people when the patient coughs or sneezes with the mask in place. Further, the conventional masks fail to filter the forcefully exhaled air while coughing or sneezing, which eventually results in the spread of the airborne diseases.

There is, therefore, felt a need of a respiratory filtration device that can be reused and that alleviates the above mentioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device that ensures N95 filtration efficacy during normal breathing.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device that filters forcefully exhaled air.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device that prevents the spread of airborne diseases.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device that ensures close to N99 filtration efficacy for the forcefully exhaled air during coughing and sneezing.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY

The present disclosure envisages a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device. The device is used for allowing outflow of fresh air free of contagious germs and bacteria to be discharged therefrom. The device comprises a face piece, a first frame, a first filter screen, a second frame, and a second filter screen. The face piece has an inner chamber and is configured to cover mouth and nose portion of a user. The face piece has a plurality of inhalation windows and a plurality of cough windows configured thereon. The first frame is configured to be disposed on the inner chamber and is further configured to receive the first filter screen therein. The first filter screen is configured to be in contact with the nose and the mouth portion of the user to cover each of the inhalation windows and each of the cough windows from the operative inner side of the face piece. The second frame has a second filter screen and is configured to be detachably secured on the operative outer surface of the face piece to allow the second filter screen to cover each of the cough windows. The first filter screen and the second filter screen are configured to provide a multi-tier filtration of the forcefully exhaled air discharged while sneezing and coughing via each of the cough windows.

In an embodiment, the first filter screen covers a plurality of perforations configured on the top and bottom portion of the face piece to allow the air to pass therethrough.

In an embodiment, the face piece has a plurality of air flow windows configured thereon to facilitate passage of air therethrough during inhalation and exhalation.

In an embodiment, the face piece includes a border configured to facilitate cushioning of the region around the nose and the mouth of the user.

In an embodiment, the border is being configured to facilitate snug fitment of the face piece on the nose and the mouth portion of the user.

In an embodiment, the device includes a nasal adjustable clip being removably placed on top of the face piece to snug the nose portion of the user.

In an embodiment, the nasal adjustable clip facilitates snug fitment via a pinch to facilitate proper sealing between the face piece and the nose portion of the user.

In an embodiment, the face piece includes top ears and bottom ears extending from either side. Each of the top ears and the bottom ears has a slot configured thereon. In an embodiment, each of the slots of the top ears is configured to receive a head band. Each of the bands is configured to be fastened to each other behind the head of the user to secure the device against the face of the user.

In an embodiment, each of the slots of the bottom ears is configured to receive a neck band. Each of the bands is configured be fastened to each other behind the neck of the user to secure the device against the face of the user.

In an embodiment, the second frame is configured to be detachably secured on the outer surface of the cough windows via a plurality of locking elements.

In an embodiment, the device includes a mini exhaust fan removably coupled near the cough windows to exhaust the exhaled air. The mini exhaust fan is further configured to cool air near the inhalation windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a face piece of a multi-tier respiratory filtration device; Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of the face piece of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the face piece of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a bottom view of the face piece of Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of the face piece of Figure 1;

Figure 6 illustrates an isometric view of a first filter screen of the multi-tier respiratory filtration device;

Figure 7 illustrates a side view of the first filter screen of Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a first frame of the multi-tier respiratory filtration device; Figure 9 illustrates a rear isometric view of the first frame of Figure 8;

Figure 10 illustrates a front isometric view of the first frame of Figure 8; Figure 11 illustrates a top view of the first frame of Figure 8;

Figure 12 illustrates a bottom view of the first frame of Figure 8;

Figure 13 and Figure 14 illustrate an exploded view of the first filter screen and the first frame together being assembled in the face piece; Figure 15 illustrates a rear view of a completely assembled face piece with the first filter screen and the first frame;

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an exploded view of a second filter screen and a second frame being connected on outer surface of the face piece of Figure 13;

Figure 18 illustrates a half cut section of the wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device; Figure 19 illustrates a rear isometric view of the completely assembled multi-tier respiratory filtration device;

Figure 20 illustrates a front isometric view of the completely assembled multi-tier respiratory filtration device of Figure 19;

Figure 21 illustrates a front view of the wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device of Figure 19; and

Figure 22 illustrates a side view of the wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device of

Figure 19.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING 100 - Wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device

101 A - First chamber 101B - Second chamber 102 - Face piece

102 A - Boundary 102B - Ventilating perforations

102C - Inhalation windows 102D - Cough windows 102E - Air flow windows 104A - First filter screen

104B - Second filter screen 106 A - First frame 106B - Second frame 108 - Nasal adjustable clip 110 - Top ears

112 - Bottom ears 114A, 114B - Slots 120A - First locking elements 120B - Second locking elements DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail. The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element is referred to as being "mounted on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.

Terms such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.

At present many respiratory masks are available in the market. These are single use masks and hence cannot be reused resulting in hazardous waste and burden of the environment. Typically, conventional masks are provided with exhalation valves to provide breathing comfort to the users, however, these valves do not assure filtration of forcefully exhaled air during cough and sneeze. The exhaled air from coughing and sneezing is dangerous, harmful, and results in the contamination of the commonly shared atmospheric air.

The present disclosure therefore envisages a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device. The wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device (herein after referred to as “device 100”) is now described with the help of Figure 1 through Figure 22.

The device 100 is a respiratory mask provided with a double chamber or multi-tier filtration arrangement. The multi-tier filtration arrangement ensures dual function, viz., filtration of air during normal breathing and the filtration of forcefully exhaled air during cough and sneezing. The forcefully exhaled air contains thousands of the respiratory contagious aerosols carrying many harmful viruses and bacteria which are harmful for the society and which result in the spread of airborne diseases like Tuberculosis with its dreaded forms, such as MDR-TB (Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis), XDR-TB (Extensively drug resistant TB), and TDR (Totally drug resistant TB). It is to be noted that Tuberculosis is a high morbidity and mortality leading killer disease in India and worldwide.

The other deadly contagious airborne diseases like swine flu, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), different Influenza viruses, and the like are being spread as the coughed and sneezed air is not being effectively filtered by the conventional masks. The chain of disease transmission needs to be broken to control these deadly diseases.

The device 100 provides a filtration efficacy of ‘N95’ for air being inhaled, thus protecting the user from harmful airborne pathogens. Further, the device 100 provides a cumulative filtration efficacy of around ‘N99’ for the forcefully exhaled air, thus preventing the spread of airborne diseases. The double chamber respirator arrangement of the device 100 ensures efficient filtration of the forceful exhaled air.

The device 100 comprises a face piece 102, a first filter screen 104A, a second filter screen 104B, a first frame 106A, a second frame 106B, top ears 110, bottom ears 112, and nasal adjustable clip 108. The ears 110 and 112 are provided with slots (114A, 114B) to receive bands for placing the device 100 around the face of the user.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the face piece 102 comprises a plurality of ventilating perforations 102B configured thereon, to facilitate passage of air in and out therefrom. A border 102A of the face piece 102 is configured to cushion the nose and mouth portion of the user to facilitate comfortable fitment to the user. The border 102 A is covered with silicon nasal and facial cushion. The face piece 102 snugly fits around the nose and the mouth portion of the user and permits flow of air for breathing through the first filter screen 104A placed therein. The face piece 102 has a plurality of inhalation windows 102C and a plurality of cough windows 102D configured thereon. The plurality of inhalation windows 102C and a plurality of cough windows 102D are further configured to facilitate filtration of the forcefully exhaled air while coughing/sneezing. The face piece 102 has a plurality of air flow windows 102E that facilitates filtration of air during normal inhalation and exhalation. In an embodiment, the inner portion of the face piece 102 is having a concave shape. In another embodiment, the material of face piece 102 is selected from the group of medical grade silicon, polymer or TPA material and other medical grade material. In another embodiment, the face piece 104 can be flexible and is foldable.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the first filter screen 104A is a small piece of medical grade fabric which is disposed in the inner portion of the face piece 102. The first filter screen 104A is configured to cover each of the inhalation windows 102C, and the cough windows 102D to facilitate filtration of forcefully exhaled air while coughing or sneezing. The first filter screen 104A is made from a single fabric or different pieces of fabric are stitched together at two the regions to facilitate proper filtration. In an embodiment, different fabrics are used at 102C and 102D regions. The first filter screen 104A is specially designed to provide high efficacy at the cough/sneeze region to give the highest bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) & particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) for effective filtration of the forcefully exhaled contaminated air. The contaminated air may contain bacterial or viral aerosols. The following points depict the efficacy of the first filter screen 104A:

• The first filter screen 104A provides particulate filtration efficacy (PFE) of 95% to particle size of about 0.3 microns. The first filter screen 104A assures protection to the user against all sorts of dusts (i.e. organic or inorganic) in any type of working environment;

• The first filter screen 104A prevents air leak and provides filtration of the contagious aerosols to nearly 100%; and

• The first filter screen 104A has air permeability of 3.24 to 3.72 cm of H ₂ 0/cm which is as per American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) norms.

In an embodiment, the first filter screen 104A can be disposed-off or discarded after a single use, typically after 24 hours to 48 hours of use. In an embodiment, the first filter screen 104A is made of a poly propylene material. The first filter screen 104A can be designed as per the requirement.

Referring to Figures 8 to 12, the first frame 106A has a mesh structure and is placed in the inner portion of the face piece 102. The first frame 106A is also having a concave shape and is designed in such a way that it accommodates the inner geometry of the face piece 102. Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the first frame 106A is configured to be disposed on the inner chamber and is further configured to receive the first filter screen 104A therein.

Referring to Figure 3, the nasal adjustable clip 108 is placed at portion of the face piece 102 such that it snugs to the nose of the user. The nasal adjustable clip 108 is configured to be adjusted as per the size of nose of a user. The nasal adjustable clip 108 when properly snugged holds the first filter screen 104A in the inner portion of the face piece 102 such that the first filter screen 104A remains in contact with the nose and mouth of the user. The nasal adjustable clip 108 is connected to the arch of the face piece 102, around the nose portion. The nasal adjustable clip 108 provides a “nose pinch” to ensure a good seal between the first filter screen 104A, face piece 102 and the nose. In an embodiment, the nasal adjustable clip 108 is made of aluminum.

The second frame 106B is detachably fastened to face piece 102 on the outer surface. A first pair of locking elements 120 A and a second pair of locking elements 120B are configured on the inner surface of the second frame 106B, for connecting the second frame 106B to the face piece 102. The second filter screen 104B is mounted between the face piece 102 and the second frame 106B. The second frame 106B has the second filter screen 104B and is configured to be detachably secured on the operative outer surface of the face piece 102 to allow the second filter screen 104B to cover each of the cough windows 102D.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate exploded views of the multi-tier respiratory filtration device 100. The first filter screen 104A is detachably fixed to the first frame 106 A and the second filter screen 104B is detachably fixed to the second frame 106B. In an embodiment, the filter screens (104A and 104B) include a single layer or multiple layers of same or different filter medium(s). The locking elements (120 A and 120B) are configured to be fixed on the ribs of the face piece 102, such that to hold the second frame 106B at the cough windows 102D of the face piece 102.

The first filter screen 104 A and the second filter screen 104B are configured to provide a multi-tier filtration of the forcefully exhaled air discharged while sneezing and coughing via each of the cough windows 102D. This ensures outflow of fresh air free of contagious germs and bacteria to be discharged from the device 100.

Referring to Figures 18 to 22, the device 100 provides a two-tier filtration arrangement, wherein a first chamber 101 A is defined on the inner side of the device/mask between the first filter screen 104A and the face of the user. The first chamber 101A covers the nose, mouth, chin portion. The first chamber 101 A assures particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) of N95 and Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of 100%.

The device 100 has a first chamber 101 A and a second chamber 101B. The first chamber 101A of the device 100 is defined inside the face piece 102 i.e. the first filter screen 104A and the first frame 106 A and the second chamber 101B is defined in the outer surface of the face piece 102 and the inner surface of the second filter screen 104B. The second chamber 101B covers the cough windows 102D from the outer side. The second chamber 101B covers and seals the cough windows 102D of the device 100 and mostly addresses the filtration of the forcefully exhaled air while coughing and sneezing. The second chamber 101B can help to achieve a cumulative filtration efficacy close to N99 level/standard and a BFE of 100%.

The second filter 104B is made up of medical grade materials such as polypropylenes, and thermoplastics. The material of second filter 104B is soft, flexible, and washable and can be treated for disinfection. The first filter screen 104A can be used for 24 to 48 hours and should be replaced after specified time. The face piece 102 is disinfected by a suitable means and is reused.

The device 100 is designed to cover the nose and the mouth of a user. The face piece 102 has top ears 110 and bottom ears 112 to hold the device 100 securely on the face of the user. Each of the top ears 110 and the bottom ears 112 is having a slot (114A, 114B) configured thereon to receive an elastic band i.e. a head band 116 and a neck band 118 respectively. The head band 116 passes through each of the slots 114A of the top ears 110 & extends around the back of the head of the user. The neck band 118 passes through each of the slots 114B of the bottom ears 112 and extends around the back of the neck portion of the user. The head bands 116 and the neck bands 118 facilitate easy securing of the device 100 against the face. The head bands 116 and the neck bands 118 facilitate comfortable seating and reliable holding of the device 100 over the nose portion and the mouth of the user.

The device 100 of the present disclosure is a multi-filtration mask for safe breathing and provides a high efficacy filtration of forcefully exhaled air while coughing and sneezing. The device 100 is designed for safe breathing and to break the chain of transmission of airborne diseases. The device 100 is washable, can be processed for disinfection. A cover, catch and trap method used by the device 100 facilitates to provide a multitier filtration mask system. The device 100 is designed taking in consideration of the cough and sneeze aerodynamics the air flow pressures, flow rates, and the flow volume. The device 100 will sustain against high- level air flow velocity in the range of 80 miles/hour to 100 miles/hour while coughing or sneezing. Only the first filter screen 104A is changed according to type of environment or application whereas the face piece 102 and the first frame 106 A, the second filter screen 104B, and the second frame 106B remain the same. The face piece 102 the first frame 106A, the second filter screen 104B, and the second frame 106B are sterilized after the use and only the first filter screen 104A is disposed as compared to the conventional masks.

The device 100 protects the user from various airborne contagious diseases like Tuberculosis, SARS, Influenza, H1N1, and more other bacterial and viral contagious airborne diseases. Special care is taken for disinfection of the used first frame 106 A, the second frame 106B and the face piece 102 by providing home base disinfection system.

The device 100 of the present disclosure has application as following:

• automobile, cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, and food processing industries; and

• sweepers, carpenters, traffic police, bikers, auto drivers, and road side employees.

The device 100 also finds its application in medical industries/field as follows:

• for patients of tuberculosis, their close contacts like house hold relatives and the hospital service providers; and

• people having HIV & AIDS, people having diabetes, persons on various drugs which suppresses the persons immunity, cancer patients, patients getting steroids, patients of various organ transplants - specially patients with renal and liver transfers who are on drugs and having suppressed immunity to contagious airborne diseases.

The device 100 is comfortable to use and assures breathability as per norms laid by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) for respirator masks.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery operated mini exhaust fan (not shown in figures) is installed in the second chamber of the device 100 for exhausting the breathed out air. The exhaust fan (not shown in figures) provides comfortable breathing by maintaining cool air in the breathing zone. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, both the chambers (101A, 101B) are clubbed to form a multi-tier respiratory filtration device 100. The advantage of using the multi-tier filtration device 100 is that, the patient as well as people in the vicinity such as nurses, relatives, and the general public is protected from airborne diseases.

The use of the device 100 of the present disclosure ensures safety of the doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, other patients, and close contacts of the patient infected with airborne disease.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a wearable multi-tier respiratory filtration device that:

• filters forcefully exhaled air;

• breaks the chain of disease transmission of various airborne diseases by filtering air exhaled during coughing and sneezing; and

• is reusable.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, or group of elements, but not the exclusion of any other element, or group of elements.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.