Shoot, they all appear to be face shields, not masks. I can’t see any filtering going on there. But I’m on my phone, so maybe I just can’t see it.
I’m on an iPad Pro. I’m not seeing any filtering either. Would deflect snot or spittle but virus-laden air can still flow in and out.
I’m waiting for a Kickstarter that’s a transparent mask with n95 filtering. It’s made of soft silicone and sticks to your face (in theory). If it works, I’ll be excited to use it.
I mean, I’m going to trust them that the filter tested as n95 or n99 or whatever. But I can tell whether it actually sticks to my face or leaks, and how easy it is to breathe, and whether it fogs it your can actually see through it.
Interesting. Keep us updated.
Now that is an interesting design. It claims to seal all the way around the face and be soft so it flexes as you move your face like talking. If so, and it provides N95 filtering, it’s revolutionary.
Though I notice it won’t work well with facial hair. Might still improve the glasses fogging situation with a good skin seal across the nose.
I wonder how comfortable it will be. I’m reluctant to use any kind of adhesive to seal my mask around my nose because I’m afraid of it annoying my cheeks and constant use irritating it to sores. I get this isn’t supposed to be like tape or a bandaid, more like rubber gloves. Still.
They claim both that it can work with (smaller) beards and that the adhesive is something that’s used to help damaged skin heal or something. I guess I’ll find out how it works for me if it ever shows up.
(They are currently shooting for March, which is of course a lot later than initially planned. Kickstarters are like that. They are currently citing hold-ups with the first batch of mass-produced masks and separately holdups with the independent labs they have lined up to test and certify their product (MIT’s Lincoln Labs and SGS Labs.)
I’m also waiting for another kickstarter mask that’s supposed to have a UV feature in addition to a filter. That’s being held up because the battery needs to be certified to be imported. I think they thought the battery was approved, but it turns out that there’s a separate level of testing required for batteries that are part of a medical device, and this got classified as such.
(Did I mention that I’m a big believer in masks to reduce the spread of disease?)
One issue I see with a lot of the clear masks on kickstarter is that the actual filter itself is pretty small, which means it may be hard to breathe through. I don’t doubt the filters themselves are N95-100, but that kind of filter can be pretty hard to breathe through even in a standard-sized mask. If instead the filter is just a little strip of material, it may be more like breathing through a straw. With such a small filter area, I would think there would have to be some kind of fan to force the air through or else it would be too uncomfortable to wear for long periods.
One mask that may work is this clear mask from Razer:
It has powered ventilators in addition to bonus goodies like voice amplification and customizable LEDs. This kind of powered mask is likely what would be needed for a clear mask that could be worn for long periods of time.
Yes, I wonder about that. I picked up some of these:
and they include an enormous expanse of filter. And even so, their descriptive material says they chose to go with an n90 filter instead of n95 so it’s easier to breath. Admittedly, this was originally designed for exercising in polluted air, and the company pivoted to “virus protection” when it became obvious that would be a large market. A mask for grocery shopping or waiting to see the doctor doesn’t need to be as breathable as a mask for running. But still – even with that huge filter, they worried about breathability.
(This mask is easy to breath through, by the way, but I don’t find the hard plastic frame very comfortable, as it’s designed for someone with a flatter nose. It seals well, due to the silicone, but the bridge of my nose gets sore if I wear it for very long.)
Interesting. But looking at the pics, the face visibility isn’t as good as they imply, and this is going to be expensive.
Some movement in this area.
Ford Motor Co. has designed and created clear N95 face masks so that hearing impaired people can read lips while protecting themselves from COVID-19, the company announced Tuesday.
A patent is pending for the new design, which is awaiting federal approval to qualify for N95 status from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The low-cost, reusable respirators may supplement or replace the use of cloth masks that block facial expression and lips from view as mask wearers seek protection from the increased threat of new coronavirus variants. In addition to the hearing impaired, these masks could be used by people who depend on facial expressions to better do their jobs, like teachers.
Face masks many people wear today are not tight. Respirators are airtight on the face and protect both the wearer and the people nearby. This new design by Ford filters exhalation, protecting the people around the face mask user.
…
In related news, I got an ad for this transparent mask in my email yesterday:
It claims an n100 HEPA filter to breathe in, and an exhale valve that is protects others with an n95 filter.
I’ve never heard anyone claim n100 before, and I know nothing about this company other than that they sent me an email. But the basic design looks feasible, and it may well be real.
Hmm, no preview picture. It looks somewhat similar to the above, only it fits a little closer to the face, has a big piece at the bottom for a fan-folded hepa filter, and two valves at the side for easier exhalation. They claim it’s easier to breath through than a surgical mask, but they also sell an expensive upgrade with a fan to force air through it, so there’s some inconsistency there.
From your link:
Just want to come back and say that after doing a little internet research, it is, if not a scam, at least a little scammy. They claim “FDA registered” which is a status that doesn’t actually mean anything. And a lot of their claims, especially about the UV feature, just don’t make sense.
Super cool!