Respirator Including Transversely-Extending Pleat And Method Of Forming Same

Various embodiments of a respirator and a method of making such respirator are disclosed. The respirator includes a mask body and a harness connected to the mask body. The mask body includes a filtering structure having a central panel, an upper panel separated from the central panel by a first line of demarcation, and a lower panel separated from the central panel by a second line of demarcation. The mask body further includes a bisecting fold, and a transversely-extending three-layer pleat disposed in a central panel of a filtering structure of the mask body. The transversely-extending three-layer pleat is formed in the mask body and is sealed to itself at a first seal location disposed on a right side of the mask body and a second seal location disposed on a left side of the mask body.