BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of personal protective equipment for infectious diseases such as airborne viruses.

Description of the Related Art

With the recent worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, there has been intense interest in personal protective equipment. Although the prior art contains numerous examples of various types of biohazard suits, such suits tend to be uncomfortable for prolonged periods. Thus, alternative personal protective equipment (PPE) designs that are more comfortable to wear are desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was inspired, in part, by the insight that prior art facemasks and biohazard suits, at least with regards to the face mask portion, tend to be “one size fits all.” However, in addition to differences in height and weight, different users also have quite differing facial structures. The length and width of the human face can vary. This variation can include differences in the size and position of the nose, mouth, and eyes. The structures of the forehead size, jaw size, and other features can also differ. Additionally, some users wear glasses (which themselves can have varying sizes and shapes), and some do not.

Another problem is that prior art facemasks generally bind tightly to various regions of the user's face, causing discomfort on prolonged use. Face shields, on the other hand, tend to trap moisture in the user's breath, leading to fogging and excess condensation.

The invention was also inspired, in part, by the insight that what is needed is an improved biohazard suit type PPE that allows a user to switch between different face shield designs rapidly. According to the invention, if the user is wearing glasses, the user may rapidly configure the PPE device to a face mask side to minimize fogging. If the user has a face with unusual contours, the user may wish to use a face mask side configured to provide ample room. If the user intends to eat or drink, the user may wish to use a face mask side configured to open and shut again as desired.

Thus, as will be discussed, in some embodiments, the invention comprises a PPE device configured with a rotating face cover assembly with a plurality of mask sides. These different mask sides can be configured for different user faces or other use cases. This rotating face cover assembly can be further configured to attach to a zip-up bodysuit that covers the user's entire body, enabling the user to avoid contamination while exposed to airborne infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. However, by rotating the rotating face cover assembly, the user can rapidly select the mask side best optimized for a given user.

Embodiments that enable the device to be more comfortable, convenient, and have improved user protection in difficult environments are also discussed.

