Rapidly deployable, cough and sneeze, aerosol containment apparatus

Abstract

A rapidly deployable, pressure sealed, cough and sneeze aerosol, containment apparatus and a system to virtually eradicate the cold, the flu, and Covid-19. A face mask having a rigid first section configured to hold a filter and a pliable second section configured to fit on a person's face; a face mask seal formed on an edge of the pliable second section of the face mask; a curved surface on the face mask seal configured to fold inward to form a seal on the person's face when pressed on the person's face.

1 . An apparatus for containing a cough and sneeze aerosol, the apparatus comprising:
 a face mask characterized by a rigid first section configured to hold a filter and a pliable second section configured to fit on a person's face;   an air tight face mask seal formed on an outer edge of the pliable second section of the face mask having a curved surface on the face mask seal configured to fold inward to form a seal on the person's face when pressed on the person's face forming a positive pressure seal that contains positive pressure inside of the face mask, so that the cough and sneeze aerosol does not leak out edges of the face mask and the aerosol is forced though a low pressure drop aerosol filter.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the low pressure drop aerosol filter is inside of a removable filter holder. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the removeable filter holder is removably attached inside of the rigid first section of the face mask. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the face mask is designed to have firm hand pressure applied to press the face mask against a person's face during the cough and sneeze to create a seal strong enough to contain a transient positive pressure inside of the face mask generated by the cough and sneeze for a duration of the cough and sneeze. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of claim  33 , wherein a stiffness property of the pliable section of the face mask is stiff enough to support firm hand held pressure applied to the face mask and soft enough to be pliable so as to mold around variation of the face and maintain the air tight seal, 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , a first face mask holder arm ramp and a second face mask holder arm ramp formed on the rigid first section of the face mask,
 a first toggle surface formed on a first end of first face mask holder arm ramp and second toggle surface formed on a first end of second face mask holder arm ramp; a face mask holder configured to hold the face mask.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of claim  36 , a first and second face mask holder arm rotationally attached to the face mask holder and configured to hold the face mask on the face mask holder. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , a first face mask holder arm having a first end hinged to the face mask holder and a second face mask holder arm having a first end hinged to the face mask holder. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , a toggle mechanism on the face mask holder configured to rotate a first and second face mask holder arm inward to engage a first and second mask holder arm ramp on the face mask when the face mask is inserted into the face mask holder and rotate a second end of the first face mask holder arm and a second end of the second face mask holder arm outward and disengage a first and second face mask holder arm ramp toggle surface on the face mask when the face mask is removed from the face mask holder. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all a virus is stuck to the aerosol wherein capturing the aerosol in the aerosol filter indirectly captures the virus by capturing the aerosol in the aerosol filter wherein the aerosol filter is lower cost than a HEPA filter. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a viral load sufficient to cause an infection in a human being is only generally found in cough and sneeze aerosols larger than 5 microns in diameter, wherein a low MERV filter reduces pressure drop of the aerosol traveling through the filter and eliminated a need for non-washable filter pleated filter and non-washable electrostatic charging which allows use of a washable low MERV filter, wherein the washable low MERV filter lowers cost of filtration by enabling a purchase of low MERV filter material in low cost large rolls, conserves global material supplies and support an environment. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a face mask seal engagement member on the toggle mechanism configured to engage the face mask seal and cause the toggle mechanism to rotate a first and second face mask holder arm inward to engage the first and second face mask holder arm ramp and hold the face mask in the face mask holder, wherein the face mask holder is located out of a way to perform daily activities but close enough to be deployable at a moment's notice.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a filter holder front section having air exit ports that are large enough to easily allow large airflow rates with minimum aerodynamic resistance. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face mask and filter holder are manufactured from low cost, readily available materials, using widely available, low cost manufacturing techniques including but not limited  25  to injection molding wherein the materials are chosen for longevity. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an effectivity of the face mask is not affected by mutations in a virus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein permanent straps are not attached to the face mask to avoid the straps accidentally falling under and break the air tight seal, wherein temporary straps are used including but not limited to Velcro. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a filter holder air intake screen matter expelled with a cough or sneeze including but not limited to mucous and food particles. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face mask does not extend over a bridge of a nose of a mask wearer to make it easier to for the face mask to be used while wearing glasses. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face mask holder is a hygienic cover plate that covers an open back part of the face mask while the face mask is docked in the face mask holder, wherein the hygienic cover plate adds stability and support to the face mask and helps hold the face mask in place. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face mask holder further comprises an angled extension that behave like a funnel to make docking of the face mask in the face mask holder easier.