Half facepiece

Abstract

A half facepiece respirator has a shaped support piece supporting and fixing the position of a particle or paper filter insert or outsert with either the support piece or the particle filter incorporating a face sealing component. Placed within the shaped support piece, a grille may be placed in the lower section of the shaped support piece. Additionally the half facepiece includes a head harness having a release mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A half facepiece, comprising:
 a support piece;   a head harness detachably connected to the support piece;   at least one filter removably adjacent to the support piece, wherein the support piece fixes the position of the filter thereto, the support piece and filter; and,   a sealing edge molded to either the support piece or filter.   
     
     
         2 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing edge is molded to the filter. 
     
     
         3 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing edge is molded to the support piece. 
     
     
         4 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the composition of the sealing edge is selected from the group consisting of silicone, TPE and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the support piece is at least partially transparent. 
     
     
         6 . The half facepiece of  claim 5 , wherein the support piece is fully transparent. 
     
     
         7 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the head harness is connected to the support piece with a quick release mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover for each of the exhaust valves. 
     
     
         9 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one exhaust valve, the exhaust valve positioned to transmit exhaust air through the support piece. 
     
     
         10 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the head harness includes a net head crown support. 
     
     
         11 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter includes laterally fixed filters selected from the group consisting of pancake filters and conformal filters. 
     
     
         12 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter includes a peel-off filter with glue joint. 
     
     
         13 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame member for supporting the filter within the support piece. 
     
     
         14 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising goggles removably attached to the support piece. 
     
     
         15 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor, impeller and power source effective to cool the volume defined within the mask when worn. 
     
     
         16 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter is supported against the user's face with the compressive force of the support piece. 
     
     
         17 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter is fixed inside of the support piece and the upper section of the support piece includes at least one opening for airflow therethrough and into the filter. 
     
     
         18 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the support piece includes a grille. 
     
     
         19 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter includes an exhaust valve port. 
     
     
         20 . A method of decontaminating a half facepiece, comprising the steps of:
 providing a support piece, a head harness detachably connected to the support piece, at least one filter removably adjacent to the support piece, wherein the support piece fixes the position of the filter thereto, the support piece and filter, at least one exhaust valve, the exhaust valve positioned to transmit exhaust air through the support piece and a sealing edge molded to either the support piece or filter;   disconnecting the support piece from the head harness;   separating the filter from the support piece;   washing the support piece, head harness and exhaust valve; and,   insert a new filter into the support piece for renewed use.