ANTI-FOG SURGICAL MASK WITH A MIDDLE VAPOR BARRIER
A surgical mask having a surgical body for covering the nose and mouth of a wearer, and a surgical mask include a surgical mask body, a middle vapor barrier, and middle tie(s) or ear loop(s). The vapor barrier is positioned between a mouth and a nose of a wearer's face to inhibit vapor, e.g., the moisture in exhale.
The present invention pertains in general to surgical mask and, more particularly pertains to a surgical mask which reduce or eliminate fogging that may occur on eye wear or an eye-shield worn by a user of the surgical mask.
2. Background of the InventionThe present invention relates to surgical face masks and more particularly to a mask having a vapor barrier for preventing clouding or fogging of optical aids used by a wearer of a surgical mask.
Surgical masks are worn by surgeons and others in operating and the like to substantially prevent contamination or infection from airborne bacteria exhausted from the breath of the wearer. Surgical masks are generally lightweight in construction and contain several features designed for adaption to an individual wearer's features.
The surgical mask is comprised of a rectangular shaped surgical mask body (not shown) of pleated or non-pleated material, an ear loop attached to one side and an ear loop attached to the other side. The ear loops are designed to fit over the ears of the wearer. In this manner, the surgical mask therefore provides some conformation to the face of the wearer to prevent contaminants from entering the environment due to the inhaling and exhaling of the wearer.
One type of mask is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,792 entitled face mask with enhanced facial seal, issued on Dec. 23, 1997 to Barumann et al.
Although a variety of facial shapes to most closely approximate the wearer's features, it is inadequate to prevent the wearer's breath from being vented between the face of the wearer and the surgical mask. Since these masks are not designed to prevent from fogging by mouth breathing, some breath exhausts through the lower portion of the mask into the vicinity of the wearer's eyes. The breath, being warm and moist, holds fluid vapor which readily condenses on cooler objects. Such cooler objects may be present in the airconditioned operating rooms in the form of glass lenses of optical aids used by the surgeons and assistants. Such optical aids include spectacles, surgical loupes and surgical microscopes.
The exhaust of exhaled breath is resisted to some degree by the surgical mask itself, promoting flow of breath under the surgical mask. Because warm air rises, the wearers breath also has a natural tendency to rise under the surgical mask and through the upper surgical mask surface area producing fogging of the optical aids positioned in the vicinity of the wearer's eyes. This obscuration of the wearer's vision is a nuisance at best and a hazard at worst. This shortcoming of the prior art mask often requires the surgeon to pause to clear the lenses of condensation interfering with his or her vision.
The necessity for clear vision during surgical procedures as well as the time expediency element has fostered a need for preventing such fogging.
SUMMARYAn aspect of the present invention provides a surgical mask that is more breathable.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a surgical mask that prevents fogging of a user's eyes or eyewear.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it is comfortable to wear and has a portion with a reduced fogging to the eye glasses by preventing from flowing of air to the eye glasses.
It is another advantage of the present invention that the flow of air is directed away from a user's eyes or eyewear.
It is a feature of the present invention that a portion of the surgical mask adjacent a user's mouth or nose has a reduced resistance to the flow of air relative to the remaining portion of the face mask.
It is another feature of the present invention that a shield extends over a portion of the face mask having a reduced resistance to the flow of air.
It is yet another feature of the present invention that a middle tie(s) or ear loop(s) provides securing between the surgical mask and a wear's face by incorporating with a vapor barrier or conformable member, attached to a surgical mask body.
One aspect the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for preventing the fogging of optical aids used by wearer of a surgical mask.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for substantially reducing the amount of wearer's breath which rises through a surgical face mask in the vicinity of the wearer's eyes.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved surgical mask for sealing a surgical face mask against the wearer's face to prevent the rise of the wearer's breath in the vicinity of the wearer's eyes.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a surgical mask with a contouring seal between a nose and mouth of the wearer which substantially prevents the rising of the wearer's breath from beneath the face mask around the vicinity of the wearer's eyes.
A new and improved surgical mask, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, includes a vapor barrier, positioned between a nose and mouth, where an area philtrum is located, of the wearer, which can tightly secure the wearer's face to retain its shape upon deformation and compress the surgical mask to form a seal between the surgical mask and the face of the wearer.
The vapor barrier may stop or reduce exhale air from a mouth of the wearer going up to an eye glasses, thereby preventing or reducing fogging on the glasses of the wearer according to aspect of the present invention. The vapor barrier may be a conformable member.
In accordance with the present invention, an improved surgical mask is provided to substantially reduce or eliminate the shortcomings previously associated with surgical style face masks. Ear loops or ties and additional middle ear loops or ties may be attached to the surgical mask in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
A aspect of the present invention provides a surgical mask which inhibits the passage of fluids between the periphery of the mask and the wearer's face while wearing the surgical mask. The present invention may be used with pleated or non-pleated style surgical masks, off-the-face style masks, or molded cone style masks. For some applications, a pair of ear loops may be used to secure a mask incorporating the present invention with the head and/or face of the wearer.
For other applications, a surgical mask incorporating the present invention may be secured to the head and/or face of the wearer with either a pair of surgical ear loops or four separate surgical ties. In addition to the pair of ear loops or four separate ties, two more ear loops or ties attached at the both middle sides of the surgical mask for securing the surgical mask to the wearer's face. the fluid seal between the periphery of the mask and the face of the wearer can be achieved.
One aspect of the present invention provides a surgical mask having a surgical mask body for covering the nose and mouth of a wearer. The surgical mask body may be in a rectangular shape and has upper and lower edges with the upper edge arranged to extend across the bridge of the nose of the wearer and the lower edge arranged to extend under the wearer's chin. Resilient strips of material may be attached to and extend along each side of the surgical body for use in attaching the mask to the wearer's face and to provide an enhanced fluid seal between the periphery of the mask and the wearer's face. Surgical ties, ear loops or other suitable securing means may be attached to the respective resilient strips adjacent to each side of the filter body.
In addition to the above ear loops or tie, according to an aspect of the present invention, middle tie(s) or ear loop(s) are provided for tightening edges and middle portion of the of the surgical mask, where a vapor barrier positioned, with the wearer's face to prevent undesired fluid flow between the surgical mask and the wearer's face.
A significant technical advantage of the present invention includes a surgical mask having a surgical mask body with a vapor barrier which cooperates with either middle tie(s) and/or ear loops to allow the surgical mask to conform to the contours of the face of a wearer.
An anti-fog surgical mask, the anti-fog surgical mask may include a surgical mask body; a vapor barrier attached to a middle potion of the surgical mask body; and a first ear loops and a second ear loops attached to the surgical mask body for the anti-fog surgical mask configured to tightly secure to a wearer's face according to aspect of the present invention.
The anti-fog surgical mask may further include a left middle tie attached to a left-side middle edge of the surgical mask body; and a right middle tie attached to right-side middle edge of the surgical mask body.
The anti-fog surgical mask may include the surgical mask body is in a shape of rectangular.
The anti-fog surgical mask may include the conformable member is in a shape of strip.
The anti-fog surgical mask may include the middle vapor barrier is in a shape of wire.
The anti-fog surgical mask may include the conformable member is a cushion Member, which is made of soft foam materials.
The anti-fog surgical mask may include the middle vapor barrier is a cushion Member, which is made of soft foam materials.
According to aspect of the present invention, an anti-fog surgical mask may further include a third ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third ear loop attached to a left middle edge portion of the surgical mask body; and a fourth ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fourth ear loop attached to a right middle edge portion of the surgical mask body.
An anti-fog surgical mask may include the first ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the first ear loop attached to a left upper edge portion the surgical mask body and the second end of the first ear loop attached to a left lower edge of the surgical mask body; the second ear loop having a first end and a second end, and the first end of the second ear loop attached to a right upper edge portion of the surgical mask body and the second end of the second ear loop attached to a right lower edge of the surgical mask body according to aspect of the present invention.
An anti-fog surgical mask may include the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the third ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the fourth ear loop is attached.
An anti-fog surgical mask may include the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the first ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the second ear loop is attached.
An anti-fog surgical mask may include the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point where the second end of the first ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point where the first end of the second ear loop is attached.
An anti-fog surgical mask may include a surgical mask body; a vapor barrier attached to a middle potion of the surgical mask body; a first tie attached to a left upper edge portion the surgical mask body; a second tie attached to a left lower edge of the surgical mask body; a third tie attached to a right upper edge of the surgical mask body; a fourth tie attached to a right lower edge of the surgical mask body; a left middle tie attached to a left middle edge of the surgical mask body; and a right middle tie attached to right middle edge of the surgical mask body.
An aspect of the present invention allows optimizing the filtration capability of the mask for resistance to the passage of liquids and/or aerosols while allowing for a substantially improved fit between the periphery of the mask and the contours of a wearer's face.
The present invention provides significant technical advantages by forming a vapor barrier which prevents the passage of smog, steam, or fog between the periphery of the mask and the wearer's face.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims.
Features that are in common with surgical mask 10 shown in
Referring to
The surgical mask body 20 typically includes a plurality of layers, generally at least three layers (not shown), although some mask bodies may have only one or two layers.
Typically, at least one of the layers includes a thermoplastic material, for example, polypropylene. In some embodiments, the layers include an outer cover web, a filtering material, and a shaping layer. The outermost layer of the surgical mask is typically an outer cover web that is exposed to the exterior atmosphere when the mask is positioned on a wearer's face. If no cover web is present, an outer shell, for example, may be the outermost layer. A soft inner liner or shell may also be included on the surface of the mask body opposite the outermost layer or cover web to provide a smooth, soft surface for contact with the skin. When a wearer inhales, air is drawn from the mask exterior through the various layers into the mask interior. In most surgical mask bodies 20, at least one layer includes a filtering material.
Referring to
The two upper sides ties 41, are attached to both upper corner of the surgical mask body 20 at a point 60 and to an opposite corner on the same upper edge thereof to a point 70. Two lower side ties 42 are attached on a diametrically opposite side of the surgical mask body 20 from the two upper ties 41 with one end thereof attached to a point 80 on one corner of the surgical mask body 20 and to a point 90 on the opposite corner thereof. In addition, two left and right middle ties, 50L, 50R, are attached to at points, 51L and 51R, respectively.
The tie(s) allow to extend generally about head of the wearer for securing the surgical mask to the wearer.
Positioning the two left and right middle ties 50L, 50R in this manner results in securing tightly the vapor barrier 30 with the face of wearer when wearing the surgical mask as shown in
The vapor barrier 30 can be positioned in a middle of the surgical mask body 20 as shown in
However, it is understood that the position of the vapor barrier 30 may be varied in accordance with the mask types and/or size according to an aspect of the present invention.
The vapor barrier 30 can be attached on the surgical mask or positioned in the surgical mask in a variety of configurations including, e.g., positioned between layers of the mask portion or on the exterior surface of the mask. Suitable materials for the vapor barrier 30 may include, e.g., metal strips, bands, or wires, and plastic-coated metal strips, bands, cushion member made of soft foam or wires. However, it is not limited thereto.
When wearing, the vapor barrier 30 is positioned between a mouth and a nose of the wearer to inhibit vapor, e.g., the moisture in exhaled breath, from passing between the surgical mask 10 and the wearer's face. When the vapor barrier 30 is positioned between the wearer's the nose and the mouth, as shown in
In addition to two pair of corner ties, 41 and 42, one more pair of middle ties, 50L and 50 R, by attaching near the vapor barrier 30, may be used to secure the surgical mask incorporating the present invention with the face of the wearer according to an aspect of the present invention.
Referring to
The left side ear loop 40L is attached to the surgical mask body 10 by one end of the ear loop 40L at a left upper corner of the surgical mask body 10, a point 60 and the other end of the ear loop 40L at a left lower corner thereof, a point 80. The right-side ear loop 40R is attached in the same manner on a diametrically opposite side of the surgical mask body 20 from the left side ear loop 41L with one end thereof attached to a point 70 and with another end thereof attached to a point 90 on the opposite corner. In addition, two left and right middle ties, 50L, 50R, are attached to at points, 51L and 51R, respectively.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a surgical mask 10 may include a surgical mask body 20, and a vapor barrier 30. The vapor barrier 30 is positioned between a mouth and a nose of a wearer face to inhibit vapor, e.g., the moisture in exhaled breath, from passing between the surgical mask 10 and the wearer's face.
In addition to two pairs of (corner) ear loops, 40L and 40R, one more pair of middle ties, 50L and 50 R, by attaching near the vapor barrier 30, may be used to secure the surgical mask 20 incorporating the present invention with the face of the wearer according to an aspect of the present invention.
It is understood that a length, width, size, and/or materials of ear loop(s) and/or tie(s) can be varied according to aspects of the invention.
Referring to
A left side ear loop 40L is attached to a left upper corner of the surgical mask body 20 at a point 60 and to a left lower corner on the same side thereof to a point 80. A right-side ear loop 40R is attached on a diametrically opposite side of the surgical mask body 20 from the left side ear loop 40L with one end thereof to a point 70 on one corner of the surgical mask body 20 and with the other end thereof to a point 90 on the opposite corner thereof. In addition, two left and right middle ear loops, 50LP, 50RP, are attached to at areas, 51LA and 51RA, respectively, according to an aspect of the present invention. However, it is limited thereto.
Referring to
A left side ear loop 40L is attached to left upper corner of the surgical mask body 20 at a point 60 and to a left lower corner on the same side thereof to a point 80. A right side ear loop 40R is attached on a diametrically opposite side of the surgical mask body 20 from the left side ear loop 40L with one end thereof attached to a point 70 on one corner of the surgical mask body 20 and to a point 90 on the opposite corner. In addition, a left middle loop 50LP is attached at a point 51L and at the point 60 or near the point 60 and a right middle loop 50RP is attached at a point 51R and at the point 70 or near the point 70, respectively.
Referring to
A left side ear loop 40L is attached to left upper corner of the surgical mask body 20 at a point 60 and to a left lower corner on the same edge thereof to a point 80. A right-side ear loop 40R is attached on a diametrically opposite side of the surgical mask body 20 from the left side ear loop 40L with one end thereof attached to a point 70 on one corner of the surgical mask body 20 and with the other end thereof attached to a point 90 on the opposite corner. In addition, a left middle loop 50LP is attached at a point 51L and at the point 80 or near the point 80 and a right middle loop 50RP is attached at a point 51R and at the point 90 or near the point 90, respectively.
However, it is not limited thereto.
Referring now back to
Due to the properties of the ties or ear loops, 41, 50L, 50R, 40L, 40R, 50LP, and 50RP, heat bonding techniques such as radio frequency (RF) heat bonding can be used. Given our invention, persons skilled in the art would realize that the use of a synthetic fabric, such as the lycra spandex/polyester fabric of the invention, allows the use of a high-frequency heat bonding technique to attach the fabric to another synthetic fabric, and further would understand that heat bonding cannot be used with conventional rubber or thread-coated rubber loops because their structural integrity would be destroyed. Further, persons skilled in the art would realize, given our invention, that ear loops made out of a lycra spandex/polyester fabric have more “flecxibility” than conventional rubber or thread-coated rubber ear loops, and as such are much more comfortable to the sensitive skin behind the ear of the wearer.
According to an aspect of the present invention, to attach the ear loops 41, 40L at the point 60, it is necessary to apply suitable amounts of heat and pressure thereto.
The band or bands that are used for the ear loops to support a surgical mask on a wearer's face include a combination of an elastic constituent and a fibrous thermoplastic constituent to provide a band with some elastic characteristics and to allow the strap to be attached to the surgical mask body by the application of heat and pressure.
Generally, the width of a band, for use on filtering face masks, ranges from about 1/16 inch to one inch, typically from about ⅛ to ½ inch. The most common bands for use with filtering face masks range about 3/16 to ¼-inch wide. However, it is not limited thereto. The width of the band can be varied.
The width of the band can be adjusted by using a varying number of threads when braiding the band. For example, six threads will typically provide a wider band than a band that has only four threads of the same size. Both the width and thickness of the band can be adjusted by using different sizes of threads. Threads having a larger diameter or cross-sectional area will generally provide a band thicker and wider than threads having a smaller diameter or cross-sectional area. Similarly, the width and thickness of the band can be adjusted by using varied sizes of fibrous thermoplastic yarns. However, it is not limited thereto.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the band, having the elastic constituent and the thermoplastic constituent, is permanently attached to the surgical mask body by the application of heat and pressure to the point where the band and body adjoin.
The combination of the heat and pressure is generally sufficient to partially or fully melt a portion of the band and/or a portion of the surgical mask body, thereby creating a bond between the tie(s), ear loop(s) or band and the surgical mask body. Depending on the construction of the surgical mask body, the outermost layer may or may not be the portion of the surgical mask body that melts. Rather, in some embodiments, an interior layer of the surgical mask body, for example, the filtering material, may be the layer that melts.
Ear loops, ties, or band may be formed from various types of material. Ear loop(s) and/or tie(s) are preferably formed from thermally bonded polypropylene having a basis weight of 1.5 to 1.65 ounces per square yard. This particular type of material can be ultrasonically welded, stitched or heat and pressure bonded in various patterns to provide a resilient securing means for use in attaching the tie(s) or ear loop(s) to the surgical mask body 20 according to an aspect of the present invention.
Referring back to
While aspects of the present have been described in connection with what are presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment are interchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from a depicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments in any combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. Thus, while the present disclosure has described certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An anti-fog surgical mask comprising:
- a surgical mask body;
- a vapor barrier attached to a middle potion of the surgical mask body; and
- a first ear loops and a second ear loops are attached to the surgical mask body for the anti-fog surgical mask configured to tightly secure a wearer's face.
2. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 1, further comprising:
- a left middle tie attached to a left middle edge of the surgical mask body; and
- a right middle tie attached to right middle edge of the surgical mask body.
3. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 2, wherein the surgical mask body is in a shape of rectangular.
4. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 2, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of strip.
5. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 2, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of wire.
6. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 2, wherein the vapor barrier is a cushion member, which is made of soft foam materials. An anti-fog surgical mask of claim 1, further comprising:
- a third ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third ear loop attached to a left middle edge portion of the surgical mask body; and
- a fourth ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fourth ear loop attached to a right middle edge portion of the surgical mask body.
8. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 7, wherein the first ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the first ear loop attached to a left upper edge portion the surgical mask body and the second end of the first ear loop attached to a left lower edge of the surgical mask body;
- wherein the second ear loop having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second ear loop attached to a right upper edge portion of the surgical mask body and the second end of the second ear loop attached to a right lower edge of the surgical mask body.
9. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 7, wherein the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the third ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the fourth ear loop is attached.
10. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 7, wherein the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the first ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point of the first end of the second ear loop is attached.
11. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 7, wherein the second end of the third ear loop attached to an adjacent point where the second end of the first ear loop is attached and the second end of the fourth ear loop attached to an adjacent point where the first end of the second ear loop is attached.
12. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 7, wherein the surgical mask body is in a shape of rectangular.
13. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 7, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of strip.
14. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 7, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of wire.
15. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 7, wherein the vapor barrier is a cushion member, which is made of soft foam materials.
16. An anti-fog surgical mask, comprising:
- a surgical mask body;
- a vapor barrier attached to a middle potion of the surgical mask body;
- a first tie attached to a left upper edge portion the surgical mask body;
- a second tie attached to a left lower edge of the surgical mask body;
- a third tie attached to a right upper edge of the surgical mask body;
- a fourth tie attached to a right lower edge of the surgical mask body;
- a left middle tie attached to a left middle edge of the surgical mask body; and
- a right middle tie attached to right middle edge of the surgical mask body.
17. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 16, wherein the surgical mask body is in a shape of rectangular.
18. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 16, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of strip.
19. The anti-fog surgical mask of the claim 16, wherein the vapor barrier is in a shape of wire.
20. The anti-fog surgical mask of claim 16, wherein the vapor barrier is a cushion member, which is made of soft foam materials.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 12, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2018
Inventor: Ingee KIM (Burke, VA)
Application Number: 15/702,704