Quick-donning full face oxygen mask with inflatable harness and soft foldable lens

Abstract

A mask and harness system for use in providing breathing oxygen and protection from pollutants for the eyes and respiratory system as might be encountered in high altitude aviation environments. In one preferred embodiment, the mask system has a face seal, a soft flexible lens, a pneumatically-actuated harness, and a regulator with microphone to control the flow of oxygen and to facilitate communications in aircraft flight decks and other aircraft compartments. The system is designed for required five-second donning with one hand and because of the flexible lens, is capable of storage in the relatively preferred on crowded flight decks. It is connected to an oxygen source and, optionally, with aircraft communications. The regulator controls the flow rate of oxygen to the wearer based on altitude and physiological requirements. The regulator includes a valve for purging the condensation-prone moist gases from the lens area and provides positive pressure in the mask. A second preferred embodiment molds the lens and mask seal of a single material having sufficient optical quality and flexibility to accomplish both purposes.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A quick-donning full face oxygen mask for use in oxygen depleted environments and environments contaminated by smoke or other pollutants comprising: 
 a flexible face seal, said flexible face seal including an interior, and a pliable, flexible periphery conformable to a wearer's face, said flexible face seal further including a plurality of mounting points for an inflatable harness attached to said flexible face seal, said flexible face seal further including an oxygen supply regulator removably attached to said flexible face seal;    a flexible optical lens of optical quality disposed in said flexible face seal, said flexible face seal having means for mounting said flexible optical lens in a region of the mask adapted to overlie the eyes of the wearer, said flexible optical lens surrounded by said face seal, said flexible optical lens having a rolled configuration for storage and an unrolled configuration capable of deflecting to conform to a wearer's face and to said rolled configuration;    said flexible optical lens sealingly attached to said flexible face seal at its periphery to thereby bond and seal said flexible optical lens to said face seal;    said inflatable harness including at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube connected to said oxygen regulator and supplied oxygen by said oxygen regulator, said at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube extending around the rear of the head of the wearer and attached to said flexible face seal by said plurality of mounting points;    said oxygen regulator being connected to the interior of said flexible face seal to provide breathing gas to said wearer, a portion of said breathing gas being conducted to an interior surface of said flexible optical lens to prevent fogging, said flexible face seal and said flexible optical lens being of sufficient flexibility to allow said mask to be rolled for storage.    
     
     
         23 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible optical lens is formed of clear silicone.  
     
     
         24 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible optical lens is coated with a scratch resistant additive.  
     
     
         25 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 24 , wherein said flexible optical lens is coated with a scratch resistant coating of clear urethane.  
     
     
         26 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible optical lens is formed of a clear peroxide cured molding grade silicone.  
     
     
         27 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible mask assembly is formed of a flexible, optically transparent plastic.  
     
     
         28 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible mask assembly is formed of a flexible, optically transparent silicone.  
     
     
         29 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible mask assembly comprises a face seal formed of silicone.  
     
     
         30 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible mask assembly comprises an inflatable harness formed of silicone tubing.  
     
     
         31 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible mask assembly and said flexible optical lens are formed as a single piece of transparent silicone.  
     
     
         32 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 31 , wherein said flexible mask assembly and said flexible optical lens are formed of an optical quality clear silicone.  
     
     
         33 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 32 , wherein said flexible optical quality lens is coated with an abrasion resistant material.  
     
     
         34 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said flexible optical quality lens provides a wide field of view to the wearer.  
     
     
         35 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said inflatable harness further comprises adjustable straps attached to said at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube and to said flexible face seal at positions which allow the adjustment of the inflatable harness for size and comfort by the wearer.  
     
     
         36 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said inflatable harness comprises a central circular elastomeric tube connected to said at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube.  
     
     
         37 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube comprises a plurality of connectors to form a central circular portion of said at least one lateral wrap-around elastomeric tube.  
     
     
         38 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said inflatable harness comprises top and bottom lateral wrap-around elastomeric tubes.  
     
     
         39 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 38 , further comprising a vertical tube connecting said top and bottom lateral wrap-around elastomeric tubes.  
     
     
         40 . The quick-donning full face oxygen mask of  claim 22 , wherein said inflatable harness comprises first and second lateral wrap-around elastomeric tubes held in place in a cross-configuration by a retainer.