Plastic face mask designed to fit the face snugly, limiting air entering/escaping around the edges; filtered (HEPA or N95) intake air is pulled in by a small 12V 1.8A cpu-type fan. Air exits via a second, filtered (also HEPA or N95) port that is larger than the intake. Power is supplied by a rechargeable 12V 7200mAh battery pack, carried in a waist pack.
-- whlanteigne, May 06 2020

US5404874 https://patents.goo...atent/US5404874A/en
[xaviergisz, May 06 2020]

[marked-for-deletion] Baked and WKTE.
-- 8th of 7, May 06 2020


Filtered exhausts are Baked on some HAZMAT equipment, particularly that used in pharma manufacturing where it is necessary to protect the werer from the product, and the product from contamination by the wearer. Operators of BFS equipment normally wear such respirators, and to reduce fatigue they're now powered. Semiconductor cleanrooms are the same.

Positive pressure masks generally aren't used; the objective is neutral pressure. Positive pressure masks obviate the point of the exhaust filter as it results in peripheral leakage unless the mask is tightly strapped, which is uncomfortable.

This idea has been done to death.
-- 8th of 7, May 06 2020


No, we like others being done to death, while we cackle smugly on the sidelines.
-- 8th of 7, May 07 2020


More fun would be a cyclonic filter. Accelerate the air to about 80000 rpms and scream like a tank filtration system.
-- RayfordSteele, May 07 2020



random, halfbakery