Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a mask and a method of manufacturing the same. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a mask and a method of manufacturing
the same that intercept a virus.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] A mask is a stuff for covering respiratory organs such as a nose and a mouth in order
to intercept a scattering material such as a dust and a virus, and a general mask
is formed in a simple structure having a filter of a simple structure in order to
conveniently carry, unlike an antigas mask.
[0003] Generation of an environment contamination material continuously increases according
to industrialization, and as a threat of various viruses rises, a hygiene equipment
of a higher level is requested. Particularly, nowadays, as a new type virus such as
a corona virus of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), swine influenza (SI),
and avian influenza (AI) occurs, a demand of a mask for preventing infection thereof
increases.
[0004] Most viruses have a size of about 10nm to about 300nm, and particularly, a corona
virus of SARS has a size of about 100nm, and SI has a size of about 80nm to about
120nm.
[0005] However, a size of a particle that can be intercepted by an N95 mask that is encouraged
by World Health Organization (WHO) is merely about 300nm. Further, an existing widely
used dust-proof mask filters by an adsorption method using permanent electrostatic
fiber and activated carbon, and by such a method, a material of about 300nm or more
can be intercepted and thus perfect interception of a virus including a new type virus
is impossible.
[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement
of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information
that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person
of ordinary skill in the art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL OBJECT
[0007] The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a mask having advantages
of intercepting a virus of a micro size.
[0008] The present invention further provides a mask that can intercept a virus by a simple
method.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
[0009] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a mask including: a mask
body; an exhalation module that is formed at one surface of the mask body; and an
inhalation module that is formed at the one surface of the mask body and that includes
an inhalation filter. The inhalation filter includes an anodized aluminum oxide film.
[0010] A plurality of holes may be formed in the aluminum oxide film, and the plurality
of holes each may have a diameter of 18nm to 40nm.
[0011] The aluminum oxide film may be formed in a honeycomb structure.
[0012] The inhalation filter may further include a fiber that is disposed at both surfaces
of the aluminum oxide film; and a net-shaped partition that is disposed between the
aluminum oxide film and the fiber.
[0013] The inhalation module may include an inhalation housing that houses the inhalation
filter. The exhalation module may include an opening and closing film; a net-shaped
partition that is disposed at one surface of the opening and closing film; and an
exhalation housing that houses the opening and closing film and the partition.
[0014] The mask may further include an adhesive module that is formed along an edge of the
mask body at the other one surface of the mask body in which the inhalation module
and the exhalation module are not formed.
[0015] The adhesive module may be a double-sided adhesive tape.
[0016] The exhalation module may be formed in a central portion of the mask body, and the
inhalation module may be formed in a pair in symmetry about the exhalation module.
[0017] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a
mask, the method including: preparing a mask body; forming an inhalation module inserting
port and an exhalation module inserting port in the mask body; and mounting an inhalation
module including an inhalation filter and an exhalation module in the inhalation module
inserting port and the exhalation module inserting port, respectively. The inhalation
filter may be formed by forming an aluminum oxide film by forming a hole by anodizing
aluminum and by disposing a net-shaped partition and fiber at both surfaces of the
aluminum oxide film.
[0018] The method may further include forming the aluminum oxide film and performing an
etching process in order to adjust a size of a hole that is formed in the aluminum
oxide film.
[0019] The method may further include anodizing the aluminum and removing an unoxidized
aluminum layer.
[0020] The method may further include forming a double-sided adhesive tape along an edge
of the other one surface of the mask body in which the inhalation module and the exhalation
module are not formed.
[0021] The exhalation module may be formed in a central portion of the mask body, and the
inhalation module may be formed in a pair in symmetry about the exhalation module.
[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a virus of several
ten nm sizes can be effectively intercepted.
[0023] Further, by manufacturing a mask having a high virus interception effect by a simple
method, a production cost is reduced, and productivity can be improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mask according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mask body according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an inhalation module of a mask according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating operation of an exhalation module
of a mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing an inhalation
filter of a mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mask according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mask body
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a mask 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes
a mask body 10, an inhalation module 20, and an exhalation module 30.
[0028] The inhalation module 20 performs a function of an inflow passage in which outside
air is injected when inhaling upon using the mask 100, and the exhalation module 30
performs a function of a discharge passage in which air is discharged to the outside
when exhaling. Further, the mask body 10 performs a function of supporting the inhalation
module 20 and the exhalation module 30, and the mask body 10 is formed to have a predetermined
curvature to close contact with a face when using the mask 100, thereby enabling outside
air not to be injected to a periphery of the mask 100.
[0029] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the exhalation module 30 is formed
in a central portion of the mask 100, and the inhalation module 20 is formed in symmetry
at both sides of the mask 100 based on the exhalation module 30. By such a configuration,
when a user wears the mask 100, the exhalation module 30 is disposed adjacent to respiratory
organs, i.e., a nose and a mouth, when the user exhales, discharge air does not stay
for a long time period within the mask 100 and is rapidly discharged to the outside
of the mask 100.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, in the mask body 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment,
an inhalation module inserting port 12 and an exhalation module inserting port 13
for inserting the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30, respectively,
are formed. Diameters of the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation
module inserting port 13 are formed identical to exterior diameters of the inhalation
module 20 and the exhalation module 30, and thus the inhalation module inserting port
12 and the exhalation module inserting port 13 are inserted by forced insertion. Alternatively,
after diameters of the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation module
inserting port 13 are formed larger than exterior diameters of the inhalation module
20 and the exhalation module 30, respectively, when the inhalation module 20 and the
exhalation module 30 are inserted, the remaining space may be filled with an adhesive
member and thus the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30 may be fixed
to the mask body 10.
[0031] By such a structure, after the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30
are inserted into the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation module
inserting port 13, respectively, the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module
30 are stably fixed. After the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30 are
inserted into the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation module inserting
port 13 and are fixed to the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation
module inserting port 13, respectively, a sealing member may be additionally formed
to fill a micro gap that may occur by a tolerance of the inhalation module 20, the
exhalation module 30, or each of the inserting ports 12 and 13 thereof.
[0032] In the mask body 10, in order not to inject or discharge air as well as a virus of
a micro size, a pore is not formed. For this purpose, the mask body 10 is made of
a material such as plastic and rubber. That is, when the user wear the mask 100 and
breathes, inhalation and exhalation are injected and discharged through the inhalation
module 20 and the exhalation module 30, respectively, and air is not injected and
ejected through the mask body 10 and thus a virus can be effectively intercepted.
[0033] The mask body 10 includes an adhesive module 11 that is formed along an edge of the
mask body 10. The adhesive module 11 is formed with a double-sided adhesive tape that
may be easily attached to and removed from a skin, and the mask 100 close contacts
with a face through the adhesive module 11. Because outside air is not injected into
or ejected from the periphery of the mask 100 due to a configuration of the adhesive
module 11, air is injected and discharged through the inhalation module 20 and the
exhalation module 30. A string that may be hooked to ears instead of the adhesive
module 11 of the present exemplary embodiment is connected to both sides of the mask
body 10 to enable the mask 100 to close contact with a face. Alternatively, the adhesive
module 11 may be formed in the mask body 10, and at both sides of the mask body 10,
a string may be simultaneously additionally formed.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an inhalation module of a mask according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration of the inhalation
module 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference
to FIG. 3.
[0035] The inhalation module 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an
inhalation filter 21 and an inhalation housing 23. The inhalation filter 21 is formed
to intercept a virus of a micro size of a nano scale, and the inhalation housing 23
is inserted into the inhalation module inserting port 12 of the mask body 10 to be
fixed to the inhalation module inserting port 12 while housing the inhalation filter
21.
[0036] The inhalation module 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment performs a
function of filtering injected air when generally inhaling, but performs a function
of a discharge passage of exhalation when exhaling together with the exhalation module
30, thereby enabling breathing to be smoothly performed.
[0037] A configuration of the inhalation filter 21 will be specifically described with reference
to a right portion of FIG. 3. The inhalation filter 21 according to the present exemplary
embodiment includes an aluminum oxide film 21a, dust-free fibers 21 c that are disposed
at both surfaces of the aluminum oxide film 21 a, and partitions 21 b that are disposed
between the aluminum oxide film 21 a and the dust-free fiber 21 c.
[0038] The aluminum oxide film 21a is formed by anodizing aluminum, and a plurality of holes
of a nano scale are formed in the aluminum oxide film 21 a according to the present
exemplary embodiment. In order to prevent a virus such as a corona virus of SARS and
SI from passing through, each hole that is formed in the aluminum oxide film 21a has
a diameter of about 18nm to about 40nm. In this case, the aluminum oxide film 21a
is formed in a honeycomb form that is formed in a plurality of hexagonal pillars having
the hollow center. A specific method of manufacturing such an aluminum oxide film
21a will be described later.
[0039] At both surfaces of the aluminum oxide film 21 a, the dust-free fibers 21 c are disposed.
The dust-free fiber 21 c is made of fabric, knitwear, and non-woven fabric, and may
be formed using the fabric, the knitwear, and the non-woven fabric as a single material
or may be formed in a structure in which a non-woven fabric layer is disposed between
the fabric or the knitwear. In this way, the dust-free fiber 21 c that is made of
fabric, knitwear, and non-woven fabric is disposed at an inlet and an outlet of the
aluminum oxide film 21a to perform a function of filtering a dust that may be included
in inflow air and discharge air.
[0040] The partitions 21 b are each disposed between the aluminum oxide film 21a and the
dust-free fibers 21 c that are disposed at both surfaces of the aluminum oxide film
21 a. The partition 21 b prevents damage from occurring when the aluminum oxide film
21a contacts with the dust-free fiber 21c and is made of plastic in consideration
of protection and strength security of the aluminum oxide film 21 a. Further, in order
to prevent inflow air or discharge air, having passed through the dust-free fiber
21c and the aluminum oxide film 21a from be intercepted, the partition 21 b is formed
in a net-shaped partition having a void of an enough size.
[0041] As described above, the inhalation filter 21 including the aluminum oxide film 21
a, the dust-free fiber 21 c, and the partition 21 b is housed in and is fixed to the
inhalation housing 23. The inhalation housing 23 is made of plastic to have enough
strength to protect the inhalation filter 21.
[0042] When the user wears the mask 100 and breaths according to the present exemplary embodiment,
inhalation is injected through the inhalation module 20 of the above-described configuration,
and thus a virus of a micro size, specifically, about 50nm as well as a dust can be
effectively intercepted.
[0043] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating operation of an exhalation module
of a mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration
of the exhalation module 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0044] The exhalation module 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an
opening and closing film 31, a partition 32, and an exhalation housing 33 that houses
the opening and closing film 31 and the partition 32.
[0045] In the opening and closing film 31, a pore is not formed and thus in a breathing
process, the opening and closing film 31 is formed not to penetrate air. For this
purpose, the opening and closing film 31 is made of a material such as rubber. The
partition 32 supports the opening and closing film 31 and is formed to enable air
to penetrate the opening and closing film 31 in a breathing process, particularly,
an exhaling process. For this purpose, the partition 32 is formed in a net shape using
a material such as plastic. The exhalation housing 33 houses the opening and closing
film 31 and the partition 32, and in order to protect the opening and closing film
31 and the partition 32, the exhalation housing 33 is made of plastic to have enough
strength, and the exhalation housing 33 is inserted into and is fixed to the exhalation
module inserting port 13 of the mask body 10.
[0046] One end of the opening and closing film 31 is fixed to the housing 33, and the other
end of the opening and closing film 31 that is not fixed to the housing 33 is formed
to move in a vertical direction (see FIG. 4A). Further, the partition 32 is fixed
within the housing 33 along a circumference thereof to support the opening and closing
film 31.
[0047] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating operation of an exhalation module in an inhaling
process, and referring to FIG. 4A, as an inhaling force is applied in a mask direction
(a direction A), the opening and closing film 31 moves in a mask direction (a direction
A). Because the partition 32 is fixed within the housing 33, the opening and closing
film 31 close contacts with the partition 32, and by the opening and closing film
31 in which a pore is not formed, air is not injected in the mask direction (the direction
A) through the exhalation module 30.
[0048] Accordingly, when the user wears the mask 100 and inhales, air is not injected by
the exhalation module 30 but is injected only by the inhalation module 20 and thus
a virus of a micro size as well as a dust can be effectively intercepted.
[0049] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating operation of an exhalation module in an exhaling
process, and referring to FIG. 4B, as a pressure is applied in a direction opposite
to the mask direction (the direction A), the other end of the opening and closing
film 31 that is not fixed to the housing 33 moves in a direction opposite to the mask
direction (the direction A). That is, the other end of the opening and closing film
31 that is not fixed to the housing 33 is separated from the partition 32 and moves
to an upper part (see FIG. 4B) within the housing 33.
[0050] Accordingly, when the user wears the mask 100 and exhales, exhalation is discharged
to a gap that is formed when the net-shaped partition 32 and the opening and closing
film 31 move to an upper part within the housing 33.
[0051] Air may be discharged through a configuration of such an exhalation module 30, and
particularly, as the exhalation module 30 is formed in a central portion of the mask
100, the exhalation module 30 enables the air to be smoothly discharged to the outside
of the mask 100. Further, because air may be discharged through the inhalation module
20, air is rapidly discharged.
[0052] As described above, the mask 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention can effectively intercept a virus of a micro size of about 50nm and thus
secures safe activity of the user without a limitation to an outside environment.
[0053] FIG. 5 is a diagram sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing an inhalation
filter of a mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and
hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a mask according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
[0054] The method of manufacturing the mask 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment
includes steps of preparing the mask body 10, forming the inhalation module inserting
port 12 and the exhalation module inserting port 13 in the mask body 10, and mounting
the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30 in the inhalation module inserting
port 12 and the exhalation module inserting port 13, respectively.
[0055] The mask body 10 is made of a material such as plastic and rubber in which a pore
is not formed, and the inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30 are mounted
in the inhalation module inserting port 12 and the exhalation module inserting port
13, respectively, by a forced insertion method, or are mounted using an adhesive member.
In this case, in order to fill a micro gap that may occur by a tolerance between the
inhalation module 20 and the exhalation module 30 and between the inhalation module
inserting port 12 and the exhalation module inserting port 13, a sealant may be additionally
applied.
[0056] The inhalation module 20 is formed to house the inhalation filter 21 within the inhalation
housing 23 that is made of a plastic material. The inhalation filter 21 is formed
by sequentially stacking the partition 21 b and the dust-free fiber 21c at both surfaces
of the aluminum oxide film 21a, and by fixing them within the inhalation housing 23,
the inhalation module 20 is formed.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, a method of forming an aluminum oxide film according to the
present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail. In order to form the aluminum
oxide film 21a, an aluminum substrate 50 is prepared, and by anodizing the aluminum
substrate 50, an aluminum oxide layer 51 and an unoxidized aluminum layer 52 are formed.
[0058] Anodization is technology that makes metal oxide by electrochemically oxidizing a
metal, and when generally anodizing aluminum, aligned porous aluminum oxide is obtained.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the aluminum oxide layer 51 that is formed through
anodization has a porous structure in which a plurality of holes are regularly formed,
and the aluminum oxide layer 51 is formed in a honeycomb structure, which is an aggregate
of a hexagonal pillar having the hollow center.
[0059] In this way, after the aluminum oxide layer 51 is formed through anodization, in
order to adjust a size of a hole that is formed in the aluminum oxide layer 51, an
etching process is performed. When a portion of the aluminum oxide layer 51 is etched,
an aluminum oxide pillar 51a and an aluminum oxide lower layer 51 b are formed, and
thus a hole of an appropriate size is formed according to use of the mask 100.
[0060] Thereafter, by selectively etching the aluminum layer 52 that is formed in a lower
portion of the aluminum oxide lower layer 51 b, the aluminum layer 52 is removed,
and by removing the aluminum oxide lower layer 51 b through etching, the aluminum
oxide film 21 a having opened both sides is formed.
[0061] The aluminum oxide film 21a that is used for the inhalation filter 21 is formed by
a simple method through such a process. Further, because a size of a hole that is
formed in the aluminum oxide film 21 a may be adjusted in a process, the mask 100
that can intercept dusts or virus of various sizes according to a use purpose and
a use environment is produced.
[0062] The exhalation module 30 is formed by housing the opening and closing film 31 and
the partition 32 in the exhalation housing 33 that is made of a plastic material.
In this case, the partition 32 is formed in a net shape of a plastic material and
is fixed to the housing 33 not to move within the housing 33. Further, the opening
and closing film 31 is made of rubber in which a pore is not formed, one end thereof
is fixed to the housing 33, and in a breathing process, the other end that is not
fixed to the housing 33 may be moved.
[0063] In this way, by a method of manufacturing the mask 100 according to the present exemplary
embodiment, the mask 100 that can effectively intercept a virus of a micro size as
well as a dust can be produced by a simple method and thus a production cost can be
reduced, and productivity can be improved.
[0064] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered
to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope
of the appended claims.
1. A mask, comprising:
a mask body;
an exhalation module that is formed at one surface of the mask body; and
an inhalation module that is formed at the one surface of the mask body and that comprises
an inhalation filter,
wherein the inhalation filter comprises an anodized aluminum oxide film.
2. The mask of claim 1, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the aluminum oxide
film, and the plurality of holes each have a diameter of 18nm to 40nm.
3. The mask of claim 1, wherein the aluminum oxide film is formed in a honeycomb structure.
4. The mask of claim 1, wherein the inhalation filter further comprises
a dust-proof fiber that is disposed at both surfaces of the aluminum oxide film; and
a net-shaped partition that is disposed between the aluminum oxide film and the fiber.
5. The mask of claim 1, wherein the inhalation module comprises an inhalation housing
that houses the inhalation filter.
6. The mask of claim 1, wherein the exhalation module comprises
an opening and closing film;
a net-shaped partition that is disposed at one surface of the opening and closing
film; and
an exhalation housing that houses the opening and closing film and the partition.
7. The mask of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive module that is formed along an
edge of the mask body at the other one surface of the mask body in which the inhalation
module and the exhalation module are not formed.
8. The mask of claim 7, wherein the adhesive module is a double-sided adhesive tape.
9. The mask of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the exhalation module is formed in a central
portion of the mask body, and the inhalation module is formed in a pair in symmetry
about the exhalation module.
10. A method of manufacturing a mask, the method comprising:
preparing a mask body;
forming an inhalation module inserting port and an exhalation module inserting port
in the mask body; and
mounting an inhalation module and an exhalation module comprising an inhalation filter
in the inhalation module inserting port and the exhalation module inserting port,
respectively,
wherein the inhalation filter is formed by forming an aluminum oxide film by forming
a hole by anodizing aluminum and by disposing a net-shaped partition and fiber at
both surfaces of the aluminum oxide film.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the aluminum oxide film and performing
an etching process in order to adjust a size of a hole that is formed in the aluminum
oxide film.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising anodizing the aluminum and removing an
unoxidized aluminum layer.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a double-sided adhesive tape along
an edge of the other one surface of the mask body in which the inhalation module and
the exhalation module are not formed.
14. The method of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the exhalation module is formed in a
central portion of the mask body, and the inhalation module is formed in a pair in
symmetry about the exhalation module.