Impression wheel for making respiratory face masks

Abstract

An improved impression wheel for use within respiratory face mask manufacturing machines that includes a first, second, and third series of spaced helicoidal teeth shaped and adapted to more efficiently and securely interconnect respective layers of respiratory face masks.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . In a respiratory face mask manufacturing machine including a series of wheels, connector mechanisms, and transfer mechanisms adapted to form respiratory face masks, the improvement comprising:
 an impression wheel including:
 a main cylindrical body including:
 a length; 
 a width; 
 a perimeter; 
 a central axis; 
 a proximal end section; 
 a distal end section; and 
 an outer surface;
 wherein said outer surface extends along said length and around said perimeter of said cylindrical body; 
 
 
 a first series of spaced helicoidal teeth, each including:
 a whole depth; 
 a face width; and 
 a top land; 
 wherein said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth are formed having a slanted tooth trace; and 
 wherein said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth extend from and around said perimeter of said proximal end section of said outer surface of said main cylindrical body; 
 
 a second series of spaced teeth, each including:
 a whole depth equal to said whole depth of said first series of spaced teeth; 
 a face width; and 
 a top land; 
 wherein said second series of spaced helicoidal teeth are formed having a slanted tooth trace equal to said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth; and 
 wherein said second series of spaced helicoidal teeth extend from and around said perimeter of said distal end section of said outer surface of said main cylindrical body; and 
 
 a third series of spaced teeth, each including:
 a whole depth equal to said whole depth of said first series of spaced teeth; 
 a face width; and 
 a top land; 
 wherein said third series of spaced helicoidal teeth are formed having a slanted tooth trace equal to said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth; and 
 wherein said third series of spaced helicoidal teeth extend from and along a substantial portion of said length of said main cylindrical body, and extend between said first and second series of spaced helicoidal teeth; 
 
   wherein said impression wheel is adapted to press and interconnect together four side portions of respective layers of said respiratory face masks.   
     
     
         2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said teeth of said first, second, and third series of spaced helicoidal teeth are respectively spaced from one another a distance of 0.32 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said slanted tooth trace of said first, second, and third series of spaced helicoidal teeth are formed at a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         4 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said face width of said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 0.25 inches;   said face width of said second series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 0.125 inches; and   said face width of said third series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 0.83 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said arc length of said first series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 0.3697 inches;   said arc length of said second series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 0.1849 inches; and   said arc length of said third series of spaced helicoidal teeth is 1.157 inches.   
     
     
         6 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the length of said third series of spaced helicoidal teeth is greater than the distance between said first and second series of spaced helicoidal teeth, to thereby form a pattern of interconnectivity between said four side portions of respective layers of said respiratory face masks that results in one side of said four side portions being interconnected a distance away from an edge of said one side of said respiratory face masks, and wherein a nose piece section is thereby formed along said one side of said four side portions that includes opposite end portions thereof that are interconnected to thereby enclose said nose piece section. 
     
     
         7 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said impression wheel is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of steel, ceramic, aluminum, and copper. 
     
     
         8 . The improvement of  claim 6 , wherein said impression wheel further comprises:
 two spaced nose piece members;
 wherein said two spaced nose piece members are connected to said outer surface of said main cylindrical body adjacent to said second series of spaced helicoidal teeth, and are adapted to further enclose said nose piece section. 
   
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein said two spaced nose piece members are spaced 235.37 degrees apart. 
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein said two spaced nose piece members are spaced 290 degrees apart. 
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said impression wheel further comprises:
 a first cylindrical connector including:
 a length; 
 a width; 
 a perimeter; 
 a central axis; 
 a proximal end section; 
 a distal end section; 
   wherein said proximal end section is connected to and extends from said proximal and section of said main cylindrical body;   wherein said central axis is coaxial with said central axis of said main cylindrical body; and   wherein said first cylindrical connector is adapted to connect with and be rotated by rotary members within said respiratory face mask manufacturing machine, to thereby rotate said impression wheel; and   a second cylindrical connector including:
 a length; 
 a width; 
 a perimeter; 
 a central axis; 
 a proximal end section; 
 a distal end section; 
   wherein said proximal end section is connected to and extends from said distal and section of said main cylindrical body;   wherein said central axis is coaxial with said central axis of said main cylindrical body; and   wherein said second cylindrical connector is adapted to connect with and be rotated by rotary members within said respiratory face mask manufacturing machine, to thereby rotate said impression wheel.   
     
     
         12 . The improvement of  claim 11 , wherein said first cylindrical connector further includes:
 a first section including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; and 
 a width; 
 wherein said first section is formed having a width smaller than said width of said main cylindrical body; and 
 wherein said proximal end is attached to said proximal end section of said main cylindrical body; and 
   a second section including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; and 
 a width; 
 wherein said second section is formed having a width smaller than said width of said first section; and 
 wherein said proximal end is attached to said distal end of said first section. 
   
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 11 , wherein said second cylindrical connector further includes:
 a first section including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; and 
 a width; 
 wherein said first section is formed having a width smaller than said width of said main cylindrical body; and 
 wherein said proximal end is attached to said distal end section of said main cylindrical body; and 
   a second section including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; and 
 a width; 
 wherein said second section is formed having a width smaller than said width of said first section; and 
 wherein said proximal end is attached to said distal end of said first section; and 
   a third section including:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; and 
 a width; 
 wherein said third section is formed having a width smaller than said width of said second section; and 
 wherein said proximal end is attached to said distal end of said second section. 
   
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein said third section of said second cylindrical connector includes:
 an elongated slot:
 wherein said elongated slot extends from said proximal end to said distal end and is adapted to form a more secure connection between said impression wheel and said rotary members within said respiratory face mask manufacturing machine.