FACE MASK

Abstract

Illustrated views of an exemplary face mask device for use to prevent the spread of viruses is presented. The face mask device is useful for providing a comfortable, tight fit. The face mask device provides coverage of a face of a user over a nose, a mouth and wrapping around a chin of the user. The face mask device is washable and reusable. The face mask device is cost efficient and provides easy replacement of one or more straps that keep the face mask device in a predetermined position on the face of the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to face masks. More particularly, it relates to efficient and cost-effective face masks.

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been employed as a public and personal health control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Their use is intended as personal protection to prevent infection and as source control to limit transmission of the virus in a community or healthcare setting. The use of masks has received varying recommendations from different public health agencies and governments. The World Health Organization and other public health organizations agree that masks can limit the spread of respiratory viral diseases such as COVID-19. However, the topic has been a subject of debate, with some public health agencies and governments initially disagreeing on a protocol for wearing face masks.

As of early May 2020, 88% of the world's population lives in countries that recommend or mandate the use of masks in public; more than 75 countries have mandated the use of masks. Debates have emerged regarding whether masks should be worn even when social distancing at 2 meters (6 feet), and whether they should be worn during exercise. Additionally, public health agencies of some countries and territories have changed their recommendations regarding face masks over time. Face masks have been a subject of shortages, and not all have been certified. Moreover, substandard masks were reported on the market with significantly reduced performance.

There are different types of face masks including: cloth face masks, loose-fitting medical or surgical masks, face-sealing filtering facepiece masks, including uncertified dust masks as well as certified respirator masks (with respirator certifications such as N95 masks, N99 masks, and FFP masks), and other respirators, including elastomeric respirators, some of which are also N95/FFP/N99 etc.

Other protective face masks including transparent face shields, medical goggles and other types of personal protective equipment are sometimes used together with face masks.

Current face masks provide a service for the public but have shortcomings. The current face masks often times do not fit, are too loose and fall off. Further, the current ear loops, securing the face mask to a person, are uncomfortable and not adjustable. Also, the current face masks are not customizable and made of a latex material, which many people are allergic to and are found to be hard to breathe through when wearing.

Accordingly, and in light of the foregoing, there is a need for a face mask that is cost efficient, adjustable, comfortable, customizable and is not made of a material that many people are allergic to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are illustrated views of an exemplary face mask device.

FIG. 1C is an illustrated view of a strap holder of the exemplary face mask device shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask shown in FIG. 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.

“Above,” “adhesive,” “affixing,” “any,” “around,” “both,” “bottom,” “by,” “comprising,” “consistent,” “customized,” “enclosing,” “friction,” “in,” “labeled,” “lower,” “magnetic,” “marked,” “new,” “nominal,” “not,” “of,” “other,” “outside,” “outwardly,” “particular,” “permanently,” “preventing,” “raised,” “respectively,” “reversibly,” “round,” “square,” “substantial,” “supporting,” “surrounded,” “surrounding,” “threaded,” “to,” “top,” “using,” “wherein,” “with,” or other such descriptors herein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense, not as terms of degree, unless context dictates otherwise.

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described in connection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is no intent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, or combinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined, without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are illustrated views of an exemplary face mask device 100 for use to prevent the spread of viruses is presented. The face mask device 100 is useful for providing a comfortable, tight fit. The face mask device 100 provides coverage of a face of a user over a nose, a mouth and wrapping around a chin of the user. The face mask device 100 is washable and reusable. The face mask device 100 is cost efficient and provides easy replacement of one or more straps that keep the face mask device 100 in a predetermined position on the face of the user.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C are substantially the same as they share common features and are presented together. Where FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B differ, the difference is highlighted to each of the specific FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

The face mask device 100 has a mask 110 and one or more straps 150, 151. The mask 110 has a top 111, a bottom 112, a first end 113, a second end 114, a front 115 and a back 116. The top 111 of the mask 110 is preferably a pointed shape, thereby covering over the nostrils of a user and thereby fitting onto substantially near a bridge of the user's nose. The mask 110 is preferably made of a cloth material, however other materials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, paper, nylon, plastic, a tight-knitted mesh, etc. The face mask device 100 is preferably washable and reusable. The face mask device 100 is reversible.

The bottom 112 of the mask 110 is preferably an extended half circle shape, thereby fitting under the user's chin and providing additional security that the face mask device 110 covers any and all entry/exit points of the user when in a location with other people.

Each of the first end 113 and the second end 114 has a plurality of coupling devices 117. The coupling devices 117 are preferably snap couplers, however other types of coupling devices are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro® fasteners, buttons, clips, etc. The coupling devices 117 are configured to couple to a receiving end, see FIG. 1C, to securely hold one of the one or more straps 150.

The second end 114 has a plurality of coupling devices 117. The coupling devices 117 are preferably snap couplers, however other types of coupling devices are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro® fasteners, buttons, clips, etc. The coupling devices 117 are configured to couple to a receiving end 118, see FIG. 1C, to securely hold one of the one or more straps 150.

In FIG. 1C, each of the coupling devices 117 has a receiving end 118 and a connecting end 119. The connecting end 119 is configured substantially near the first end 113 or second end 114 of the mask 110 as one or more of the coupling devices 117 are configured for each of the first end 113 and the second end 114 of the mask 110.

FIG. 1A presents a face mask device 100 wherein one (1) strap 150 is utilized and coupled to the second end 114 of the mask 110. After the mask 110 has been placed over the nose, the mouth and the chin of the user, the strap 150 is placed around a head of the user and coupled to the second end 114 utilizing the coupling devices 117.

In FIG. 1B, presents a face mask device 100 wherein two straps 150, 151 are utilized and coupled to the first end 113 of the mask 110 and a second strap 151 is coupled to the second end 114 of the mask 110. One of the two straps 150, 151 is coupled to a first ear and another of the straps 150, 151 is coupled to a second ear.

When to be in storage or the user has inserted one of the one or more straps 150, the user couples the connecting end 119 of the coupling device 117 to the receiving end 118 of the coupling device, thereby securing one of the one or more straps 150 to the mask 110.

The straps 150, 151 are preferably made of an elastic material, such as a rubber band, however other types of materials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, string, elastic straps, etc. The elastic material is preferably not made of a latex material. The straps 150, 151 are replaceable and interchangeable.

Moving now to FIG. 2A, an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask device 100 shown in FIG. 1A is presented. The exemplary face mask device 100 is configured having one (1) strap 150.

The user 500 has a face 501 and two (2) ears 502, only one of which is viewable however the second ear is identical to the description that follows.

The user 500 wishes to use the face mask device 100 to fulfill the requirements of the CDC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The user 500 has elected to use a one (1) strap 150 version. The user 500 configures the mask 100 to have the strap 150 by placing the strap 150 onto the second end 114 of the mask 110 and utilizing the coupling devices 117. The face mask device 100 is the placed over the face 501 of the user 500 and the strap 150 is brought around a back 503 of the head 501 and coupled utilizing the coupling devices 117 (not shown) of the first end 113 (not shown) of the mask 110.

In FIG. 2B, an illustrated view of a use of the exemplary face mask shown in FIG. 1B is presented.

The user 500 has a face 501 and two (2) ears 502, only one of which is viewable however the second ear is identical to the description that follows.

The user 500 wishes to use the face mask device 100 to fulfill the requirements of the CDC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The user 500 has elected to use a two (2) strap 150, 151 version. The user 500 configures the mask 100 to have one of the straps 150 by placing the strap 150 onto the second end 114 of the mask 110 and utilizing the coupling devices 117. The user 500 then adds another of the straps 150 onto the first end 113 of the mask 110 utilizing the coupling devices 117 (not shown). The face mask device 100 is the placed over the face 501 of the user 500 and each of the straps 150, 151 is coupled to one of the ears 502 of the user 500.

In the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects and embodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.) more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they refer or other features described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies are representative of more general processes and/or devices and/or technologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filed herewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A face mask device for protecting a user from contagious viruses, the device comprising:

a mask, the mask having a first end, a second end, a front, a back, a top and a bottom;

a plurality of coupling devices, wherein each of the coupling devices have a receiving end and a connecting end, at least one of the connecting ends being coupled substantially near the first end of the mask, at least one of the receiving ends being configured between the first end of the mask and the front of the mask, at least one of the connecting ends being configured to substantially near the second end, and at least one of the receiving ends being configured between the front of the mask and the second end of the mask, at least one of the receiving ends being configured between the second end of the mask and the front of the mask; and

one or more straps, the straps being coupled to one of the coupling devices of the second end of the mask and the strap being coupled to the coupling devices of the first end of the mask.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mask being made of a breathable material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the straps being made of an elastic material.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the elastic material being a rubber band.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling devices being a snap coupler.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling devices being a hook and loop fastener.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device being reversible.