Molded head harness

Claim 1

A process for making a head harness which is adapted for use in securing a respirator mask to the face of a wearer, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a moldable web into a mold, the web comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion extending at least partially around the central portion, the mold being adapted to receive the web as an insert and having a mold cavity shaped to permit the molding of a plurality of elastomeric fastening straps formed integrally with the peripheral portion of the web; b) positioning and securing the web within the mold so that the peripheral portion of the web can extend into the mold cavity during the molding process; c) clamping the blocks of the mold together at a suitable clamping pressure to thereby clamp the central portion of the web; d) contacting the peripheral portion of the web with a molten elastomeric resin in a quantity sufficient to embed the peripheral portion of the web in the molten resin and form a plurality of elastomeric fastening straps which are integral with the peripheral portion of the web; e) maintaining suitable pressure and temperature in the mold for a time sufficient to cure the resin and thereby form the head harness; f) releasing the clamping pressure of the mold blocks; and g) removing the head harness from the mold.