Filtering face-piece respirator having rounded perimeter

Abstract

A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that includes a harness 14 and a mask body 12. First and second bond lines 30 a, 30 b are located on opposing sides of the mask body 12 and join a top portion 18 of the mask body 12 to the bottom portion 20. The first and second bond lines 30 a, 30 b extend from the frontal line of demarcation 22 to upper and lower perimeter segments 24 a, 24 b. The upper and lower perimeter segments 24 a, 24 b have an upper linear segment 32 a and a lower linear segment 32 b, respectively, located between first and second curved portions 34 a, 34 b. The first and second curved portions 34 a, 34 b each extend from the respective upper or lower linear segment 32 a, 32 b to the first and second bond lines 30 a, 30 b. The invention provides a more rounded finish to the mask body perimeter, which enables the mask body to exhibit a more comfortable fit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filtering face-piece respirator that comprises:
 (a) a harness; and   (b) a mask body that comprises a filtering structure that has a top portion, a bottom portion, an upper perimeter segment, a lower perimeter segment, a frontal line of demarcation, and first and second bond lines, the first and second bond lines being located on opposing sides of the mask body and joining the top portion of the mask body to the bottom portion, the first and second bond lines extending from the frontal line of demarcation to the upper and lower perimeter segments, the upper and lower perimeter segments, when the mask body is laid flat, comprising an upper linear segment and a lower linear segment, respectively, located between first and second curved portions located at opposing ends of the upper and lower linear segments, the first and second curved portions in each of the upper and lower perimeter segments each extending from the respective upper or lower linear segment to the first and second bond lines.   
     
     
         2 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a generally constant curvature. 
     
     
         3 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a radius of about 10 to 70 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a radius of about 20 to 60 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a radius of about 30 to 50 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower perimeter segments can be folded away from each other in butterfly fashion. 
     
     
         7 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , being a horizontal flat-fold respirator. 
     
     
         8 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower segments are each 10 to 20 cm long. 
     
     
         9 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower segments are each 13 to 19 cm long 
     
     
         10 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower segments are each 15 to 18 cm in length. 
     
     
         11 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a varying radius. 
     
     
         12 . A filtering face-piece respirator that comprises:
 (a) a harness; and   (b) a mask body that comprises a horizontally foldable filtering structure that has a top portion, a bottom portion, an upper perimeter segment, a lower perimeter segment, a frontal line of demarcation, and first and second bond lines, the first and second bond lines being located on opposing sides of the mask body and joining the top portion of the mask body to the bottom portion, the first and second bond lines extending from the frontal line of demarcation to the upper and lower perimeter segments, the upper and lower perimeter segments, when the mask body is laid flat, comprising an upper linear segment and a lower linear segment, respectively, located between first and second curved portions located at opposing ends of the upper and lower linear segments, the upper and lower linear segments being about 13 to 19 cm in length, the first and second curved portions in each of the upper and lower perimeter segments each having a radius of curvature 10 to 70 millimeters and extending from the respective upper or lower linear segment to the first and second bond lines, wherein the upper and lower perimeter segments can be folded away from each other in butterfly fashion when the respirator is placed in a flat folded condition.   
     
     
         13 . The filtering face-piece respirator of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second curved portions have a radius of about 20 to 60 millimeters, and wherein the upper and lower segments are each 15 to 18 cm in length.