Reversible face mask with replaceable air filter insert

Claim 1

An air filtering breathing mask for wear during adverse environmental conditions, said mask comprising, a main member of conical configuration and of semirigid construction which may be turned inside out to a reversed conical configuration during changing of a filter element, said mask main member having a continuous inner edge defining an opening, a frontal marginal area of the main member extending about said opening, head attachment means on said main member, a mesh member in place on said main member and overlying said frontal marginal area of the main member and extending across said opening, means joining said mesh member and said main member along a course offset from said inner edge of the main member, a filter element normally having one side overlapped by said mesh member and overlapped on its remaining side by said frontal marginal area of the main member to retain the filter element in place, and said main member upon being turned inside out having its frontal marginal area displaced away from the marginal area of the filter element to expose same to facilitate grasping of the filter element with the fingertips and subsequently permitting unobstructed insertion of a replacement filter element.