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.

1 . A half facepiece, the half facepiece comprising:
 a support piece;   a head harness detachably connected to the support piece;   at least one laterally positioned filter removably adjacent to the support piece, the support piece fixing the position of the at least one filter to the half facepiece, the at least one filter allowing air to pass therethrough and separating contaminants from the air; and   a sealing edge molded to either the support piece or filter.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the head harness includes a net head crown support. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame member for supporting the filter within the support piece. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of decontaminating a half facepiece, comprising:
 providing a non-porous support piece, a head harness detachably connected to the support piece, at least one porous filter removably adjacent to the support piece, the support piece fixing the position of the at least one filter to the half facepiece, at least one exhaust valve, the at least one exhaust valve being positioned to transmit exhaust air through the support piece and a sealing edge, and a grille of slotted overlays in the support piece, the grille being configured to deflect spray and prevent splashed liquids from passing through the grille and into contact with the at least one 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   inserting a new filter into the support piece for renewed use.   
     
     
         21 . A method of decontaminating a half facepiece, the method comprising:
 providing a support piece, a head harness including a head support and support straps, and a filter removably attached to the support piece, the filter being a peel-off filter paper including a glue border and a peel-off backing, the support piece including a sealing edge and an exhaust grille to prevent contamination from splash hazards;   disconnecting the support piece from the support straps;   peeling the filter from the support piece;   washing the support piece, head harness and exhaust valve;   remove a peel-off backing from a new peel-off filter paper to expose a glue border; and   adhering the new peel-off filter paper onto the support piece to create an air-tight glue joint.   
     
     
         22 . The half facepiece of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one laterally positioned filter includes a first laterally positioned filter on a first side of the half facepiece and a second laterally positioned filter on a second side of the half facepiece. 
     
     
         23 . The half facepiece of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second laterally positioned filters are pancake-type filters. 
     
     
         24 . The half facepiece of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second laterally positioned filters are attached to the half facepiece by quick attachment/release clips. 
     
     
         25 . The half facepiece of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second laterally positioned filters are conformal filters. 
     
     
         26 . The half facepiece of  claim 22 , wherein the support piece includes an exhaust valve, the exhaust valve positioned to transmit exhaust air through the support piece, the exhaust valve being positioned between the first and second laterally positioned filters. 
     
     
         27 . The half facepiece of  claim 26 , wherein the exhaust valve is positioned behind a cover. 
     
     
         28 . A half facepiece, the half facepiece comprising:
 a support piece, the support piece forming an opening therein;   at least one filter removably attached to the support piece, the at least one filter being at least partially located within the support piece; and   a frame member, the frame member removably sealing the at least one filter to the support piece.   
     
     
         29 . The half facepiece of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a first exhaust valve on a first side of the at least one filter; and   a second exhaust valve on a second side of the at least one filter, each of the first and second exhaust valves being located behind a cover.   
     
     
         30 . The half facepiece of  claim 28 , wherein the support piece includes:
 a hard plastic body; and   a soft molded sealing edge, the hard plastic body and the soft molded sealing edge being molded together.   
     
     
         31 . The half facepiece of  claim 28 , further comprising goggles removably attached to the support piece. 
     
     
         32 . The half facepiece of  claim 31 , wherein the goggles are removably attached to the support piece by a quick release mechanism.