Stretcher of elastic material, air filter unit capable of controlling air permeability including same, and mask including the air filter unit

12005,385

17/267871

November 17, 2020

A mask according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may adjust permeability thereof by including and using an air filter unit which is capable of expanding or contracting, in at least one direction, a filter for filtering particles contained in air passing through the mask by pores.

SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION (Seoul, KR)

SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION (Seoul, KR)

1. A stretcher capable of expanding an elastic material located at a center thereof, the stretcher comprising: a variable part installed around the elastic material and configured to pull at least one side of the elastic material and expand the elastic material, wherein the variable part comprises: a first wall connected to the elastic material and having elasticity; a second wall constituting a hollow hole together with the first wall; a partition wall configured to partition the hollow hole into a first space and a second space; one or more connection holes formed in the partition wall so that air is able to move between the first space and the second space; and a sealing member installed in the first space and configured to seal the first space and the second space from an outside, wherein the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole as air escapes from the hollow hole, and the first wall expands the elastic material as the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole, and wherein at least a portion of the second space is formed by the first wall, the first wall is extended toward the second space by injection of air from the second space to the first space according to a movement of the sealing member in one direction, and the first wall expands the elastic material as the first wall is extended toward the second space.

2. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein the first wall is contracted in a reverse direction from the second space as air in the second space is introduced into the first space according to the movement of the sealing member in the reverse direction of the one direction, and as the first wall is contracted in the reverse direction from the second space, the elastic material is recovered to an original state while a force expanding the elastic material is lowered.

3. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein a lever connected to the sealing member is installed outside the variable part, and the movement of the sealing member is controlled by an operation of the lever.

4. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein the partition wall vertically or horizontally partitions the hollow hole.

5. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein as an entire outer circumference of the elastic material is connected to the first wall or an outer circumference of the elastic material is connected to the first wall at equal intervals, and as the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole, the elastic material is isotropically expanded.

6. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein the second wall is formed so that a movement thereof is restricted according to air injected into the hollow hole.

7. The stretcher of claim 1 , wherein a fixing wall or a fixing frame for restricting a movement of the second wall due to air injected into the hollow hole is installed inside or outside the second wall.

8. An air filter unit capable of adjusting permeability comprising: a filter configured to filter particles contained in passing air by pores and a stretcher capable of expanding or contracting the filter in at least one direction, wherein: the filter is formed of an elastic material and has pores, sizes of which vary according to an operation of the stretcher; the stretcher comprises: a membrane in which the filter is installed; and a variable part installed around the membrane and configured to pull at least one side of the membrane and expand the elastic material, wherein the variable part comprises: a first wall connected to the membrane and having elasticity; a second wall constituting a hollow hole together with the first wall; a partition wall configured to partition the hollow hole into a first space and a second space; one or more connection holes formed in the partition wall so that air is able to move between the first space and the second space; and a sealing member installed in the first space and configured to seal the first space and the second space from an outside, wherein the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole as air escapes from the hollow hole, the first wall expands the membrane as the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole, and the pores of the filter are expanded depending on an expansion of the membrane, and wherein at least a portion of the second space is formed by the first wall, the first wall is extended toward the second space by injection of air from the second space to the first space according to a movement of the sealing member in one direction, and the first wall expands the membrane as the first wall is extended toward the second space.

9. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein the membrane comprises one or more holes which are formed in a central portion thereof and through which air passes.

10. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein a central portion of the membrane is formed in a mesh shape, and the filter makes close contact with the mesh-shape portion.

11. The air filter unit of claim 8 , further comprising: a lid installed on a front surface of the filter and spaced apart from the filter; and a lamp installed inside the lid and configured to irradiate the filter with ultraviolet.

12. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein the first wall is contracted in a reverse direction from the second space as air in the second space is introduced into the first space according to the movement of the sealing member in the reverse direction of the one direction, and as the first wall is contracted in the reverse direction from the second space, the membrane is recovered to an original state while a force expanding the membrane is lowered.

13. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein a lever connected to the sealing member is installed outside the variable part, and the movement of the sealing member is controlled by an operation of the lever.

14. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein the partition wall vertically or horizontally partitions the hollow hole.

15. The air filter unit of claim 8 , wherein as an entire outer circumference of the membrane is connected to the first wall or an outer circumference of the membrane is connected to the first wall at equal intervals, and as the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole, the membrane is isotropically expanded.

16. A mask comprising: a mask body configured to cover the nose and mouth of a wearer; an air filter unit installed to the mask body; and a fixing member formed on both sides of the body and configured to fix the body to a face of the wearer, wherein: the air filter unit comprises a filter configured to filter particles contained in passing air by pores and a stretcher capable of expanding or contracting the filter in at least one direction, the filter, the filter is formed of an elastic material and has pores, sizes of which vary according to an operation of the stretcher, the stretcher comprises: a membrane in which the filter is installed; and a variable part installed around the membrane and configured to pull at least one side of the membrane and expand the elastic material, the variable part comprises: a first wall connected to the membrane and having elasticity; a second wall constituting a hollow hole together with the first wall; a partition wall configured to partition the hollow hole into a first space and a second space; one or more connection holes formed in the partition wall so that air is able to move between the first space and the second space; and a sealing member installed in the first space and configured to seal the first space and the second space from an outside, the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole as air escapes from the hollow hole, the first wall expands the membrane as the first wall is extended toward the hollow hole, and the pores of the filter are expanded depending on an expansion of the membrane, and at least a portion of the second space is formed by the first wall, the first wall is extended toward the second space by injection of air from the second space to the first space according to a movement of the sealing member in one direction, and the first wall expands the elastic material as the first wall is extended toward the second space.

17. The mask of claim 16 , wherein the mask body has a permeability and is formed of a material capable of filtering particles.

18. The mask of claim 16 , further comprising: a sensor configured to detect a state of peripheral air; and a pump configured to inject air into or absorb air from the hollow hole, whereinthe pump injects air into the hollow hole or absorbs air from the hollow hole according to the state of peripheral air, and increases or lowers permeability of the air filter unit.

20170050056 February 2017 Xu
2012-130827 July 2012
2012130827 July 2012
10-0813114 March 2008
10-2014731 August 2019
10-2020-0020747 February 2020

Translation of JP-2012130827-A. Accessed from Espacenet on Jan. 18, 2024. (Year: 2012). cited by examiner

edspgr.12005385