Improved Meiden mouth shield protects against COVID-19, eases discomfort in heat
A new improved Meiden Mouth Shield which not only protects manual workers against COVID-19 infection but also eases heat-related discomfort is to go on sale on August 30.
Meidensha Corporation (Meiden) started selling the original Meiden Mouth Shield in September 2020 amid growing demand for such products as an alternative to masks, which the government recommends wearing to prevent infection, among workers who wear helmets and toil in hot conditions.
Most conventional mouth shields leave the area above the mouth exposed, but Meiden’s product is only open below the mouth, preventing the wearer’s saliva droplets from spreading upward as well as stopping those from others falling in. Using the product together with air-conditioned clothing enhances their cooling effects by allowing wearers to breathe air supplied by an electric fan. For the new improved product, the company has modified the original mouth shield based on feedback from its employees and site workers.
■Improved points
Items | Original mouth shield | Improved mouth shield |
Type | Clipped to helmet’s chin strap | Clip replaced with adjustable rubber straps over ears to make it easier to put on and take off |
Shield size | Semicircular shape | Shield made smaller by 20 percent to enhance the wearer’s free movement and make it easier to put on and take off |
Color | Transparent only | Changed to black and white to better conceal unpleasant droplet marks on mouth shield’s surface |
Meiden conducted experiments* like those done for the original product, which confirmed that the new product effectively prevented droplets from dissipating in the air.
Spread of droplets when a person sneezing is not wearing a mouth shield.
Spread of droplets when a person sneezing is wearing the improved mouth shield with air-conditioned clothing.
*In the experiments, the spread of droplets was compared when the person sneezing wore Meiden Mouth Shield II with air-conditioned work clothing and when not wearing either.
Photos taken using Shin Nippon Air Technologies Co., Ltd.’s Fine Particle Visualization System.
Meiden continues to dedicate itself enhancing health and safety among construction and manufacturing workers by providing products that help prevent infection of COVID-19 and deal with heat-related discomfort.
■Product details
Name: MEIDEN Mouth Shield II
Items per unit: One mouth shield, one nose pad, two rubber straps, two adjusters, and one threader
Price: ¥280 per unit for white mouth shield (¥308 including consumption tax)
¥330 per unit for black mouth shield (¥363 including consumption tax)
Available for purchase with shipping charge upon order of 10 or more units
Sales agent: Meiden Shoji Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer: Toyo-Nameplate Inc.
Press contacts:
Corporate Communications & PR Promotion Division
e-mail: kouhou@mb.meidensha.co.jp