Business Case

BACKGROUND

Description of product, service or area of expertise: The product is a working grade face mask for essential non-medical workers.

• It is a food grade plastic with filter holder. Filter is replaceable. Mask can be washed with soap and water and re-used.

Mask was designed using 3D computer CAD technology, 3D printers, cnc machining and vacuum forming technology. Easy to scale by the food packaging industry.

• The mask is super light weight at 28 grams including filter. It is designed to flare out to reduce condensation. The mask has a good seal on the face and an excellent seal to the filter. The filter is easy to replace with any flat sheet material.
• The mask meets the face above the chin so that when you speak it does not break the seal.
• Attachment of the mask can be made with readily available materials, such as stretchy shoe laces, elastic, ties or a multiple of products.
• A key benefit is the number of masks that can be created.
• Manufacturing material is readily available for face mask and filter material.

Description

I have created a prototype, a manufacturing design and we have a manufacturer who can produce 20,000 molded masks in an 8 hour shift. This does not include adding the filter and the ties. We have also spoken with a supplier who can supply the filter material. The FTR241 filter material meets MERV 14 performance. Another option is the FTR182 filter material which is 99.97% efficient for 0.3 - 0.5 micron size. These have ISO certified test specifications. I have a CNC machine and a 3D printer to continue developing the design.

Concept

Furnace filters contain HEPA material that claims to trap very small particles. This material is readily available. Can we make a mask that uses this material to filter out viruses? PET is a food safe material used in food packaging and bottle manufacturing. Can we reuse this material to make the mask and filter holder?

   3d print or CNC the form.
   Cut apart pop bottles to get sheets of PET.
   Tape sheet to frame with packing tape.
   Heat the PET in Oven
   Form the PET using your vacuum cleaner.
   Cut out the parts with scissors.
   Cut apart a furnace filter.
   Fold the filter media.
   Place media in filter.
   snap cover on filter.
   Attach to face with elastic material (shoe strings will work)
   Remove and dispose of filter. Wash with warm soapy water.
   Reuse

Risks

• Created a false sense of safety that causes people to avoid or ignore other measures.
• Concentrates the virus (or other diseases) that allows it to survive longer, or be transmitted easier.
• Takes resources away from more pressing matters.
• The distribution of masks spreads the virus.
• PET against the skin may cause problems.