IP Library › Granted Patent US 12697512

Granted Patent B2

US 12697512 · App. 17/222,867 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Z-shield™ filtered air protective system

Inventors: William Pachoud (Boulder, CA); Steve Chapel (Iliff, CO)

A62B7/12 A61L9/014 A61L9/16 A61M16/105 A62B9/00 A62B18/006 A62B18/02 A62B18/08 A62B23/02 B01D46/0032 B01D46/0043 B01D46/4245 B01D46/58 B03C3/025 B03C3/34 B63J2/02 F24F7/003 A61L2209/14 A61L2209/22 B01D2273/16 B01D2273/30 B01D2279/50 B03C2201/26

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12697512
App. No.: 17/222,867
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Personal protective equipment systems and methods of use are presented. In various embodiments, air enters the apparatus and passes through an optional pre-filter and through a one-way air “check” valve. The incoming air then enters a counter-flow heat exchange path and proceeds towards a heating chamber. The incoming air is heated to a desired temperature and exits via a return path. The air is cooled to a desired exit temperature suitable to be delivered to a user. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a mask worn by a patient or an isolation chamber at least partially enclosing a patient, e.g., a patient room(s) or a tent erected over a patient gurney or bed.

Claims (54)

1 . A personal protective equipment (PPE) system, comprising:

a facemask assembly comprising:

a head band to allow said facemask assembly to attach to a user's head, wherein said head band surrounds at least a portion of the front of the head and at least a portion of the back of the head, without entirely encompassing the top of the head; and

a shield, formed from transparent, air impermeable material, configured to extend over a portion of a face of the user including eyes, a nose, and a mouth of the user to define a breathing space over the eyes, nose and mouth of the user within an interior of said facemask assembly and operable to allow input air to flow over eyes, nose and mouth of the user, down the inside of the shield, and out the bottom of the shield; wherein the shield is curved to expose side portions of the user's head;

a gaiter for extending between one or more ends of said shield and a body of a user, wherein at least one of said shield and said gaiter extend over the nose and mouth of said user to define a breathing space within said interior of said facemask assembly; and

a positive pressure air supply assembly, including:

an air inlet;

a conduit assembly extending between said air inlet and said facemask assembly; and

at least one air accelerator for forcing air through said conduit assembly from said air inlet to said facemask assembly.

2 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said shield is mounted on headgear.

3 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said headgear comprises said headband.

4 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said headgear comprises a cap.

5 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said shield is movable from a first position, wherein said shield extends over said eyes of said user, and a second position wherein said shield is outside of a line of sight of said user.

6 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said shield is formed from polycarbonate material.

7 . The system is set forth in claim 1 , wherein said gaiter is removably attachable to said facemask assembly.

8 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said positive pressure air supply assembly is mounted on headgear.

9 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said positive pressure air supply assembly is mounted on a body pack and interconnected to said facemask assembly by tubing.

10 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said positive pressure air supply assembly comprises at least one filter for removing contaminants from air.

11 . The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said at least one filter comprises an electrostatic filter.

12 . The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said electrostatic filter comprises an electrostatic element formed as a spiral of conductive material.

13 . The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said electrostatic filter further comprises a filter medium.

14 . The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said at least one filter comprises a plurality of filters disposed in series relative to an air flow path.

15 . The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said at least one filter comprises a plurality of filters disposed in parallel to filter separate air flow paths.

16 . The system as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising a selector device, movable between different positions, that is operative for selecting to use one or more of said plurality of filters.

17 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a port for receiving power from an external source.

18 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising mounting structure for receiving a portable power source.

19 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a portable power source.

20 . The system as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said portable power source is mounted in headgear.

21 . The system as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said portable power source is mounted in a body pack.

22 . The system as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said portable power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

23 . The system as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said portable power source comprises a rechargeable battery pack and a port for recharging said rechargeable battery pack.

24 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one air accelerator provides a volumetric airflow sufficient to maintain positive pressure at said facemask assembly throughout a breathing cycle of said user.

25 . The system is set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one air accelerator provides a volumetric airflow rate of at least about 30 L per minute.

26 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one air accelerator provides a volumetric airflow rate of at least about 60 L per minute.

27 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one air accelerator comprises a fan having a diameter of no more than about 3 inches.

28 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one air accelerator comprises a fan having a diameter of no more than about 2 inches.

29 . A facemask system, comprising:

a facemask assembly comprising:

a head band to allow said facemask assembly to attach to a user's head, wherein said head band surrounds at least a portion of the front and at least a portion of the back of the head, without entirely encompassing the top of the head;

a shield, formed from transparent, air impermeable material, configured to extend over a portion of a face of the user including eyes, a nose, and mouth of said the user to define a breathing space over the eyes, nose and mouth of the user within an interior of the shield and operable to allow input air to flow over eyes, nose and mouth of the user, down the inside of the shield, and out the bottom of the shield; wherein the shield is curved to expose side portions of the user's head; and

a gaiter for extending between one or more ends of said shield and a body of the user, wherein at least one of said shield and said gaiter extend over a nose and a mouth of said user to define a breathing space within an interior of said facemask assembly.

30 . An apparatus for use in a personal protective equipment (PPE) system, said system including an assembly comprising a head band to allow said assembly to attach to a user's head, wherein said head band surrounds at least a portion of the front of the head and at least a portion of the back of the head, without entirely encompassing the top of the head, and a shield, formed from transparent, air impermeable material, configured to extend over a portion of a face of the user including the user's eyes, a nose, and a mouth of the user to define a breathing space over the eyes, nose and mouth of the user within an interior of the shield, wherein the shield is curved to expose side portions of the user's head and operable to allow input air to flow over eyes, nose and mouth of the user, down the inside of the shield, and out the bottom of the shield, said apparatus comprising:

a connector for removably attaching said gaiter to said shield.

31 . A personal protective (PPE) system, comprising:

a facemask assembly, comprising:

a shield, formed from transparent, air impermeable material, configured to extend over a portion of a face of the user including the user's eyes, a nose, and a mouth of the user to define a breathing space over the eyes, nose, and mouth of the user within an interior of the facemask assembly and operable to allow input air to flow over eyes, nose and mouth of the user, down the inside of the shield, and out the bottom of the shield; wherein the shield is curved to expose side portions of the user's head;

an air inlet for providing air to an interior of said facemask assembly; and

a filtered air supply assembly, including:

a filter for removing contaminants from air;

a conduit assembly, extending between said filter and said air inlet of said facemask assembly; and

a fan for forcing air through said conduit assembly from said filter of said filtered air supply assembly to said air inlet of said facemask assembly.