Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FACE MASK HAVING TRANSPARENT PLASTIC PIECE
BACKGROUND
[1] A face mask is commonly worn by health professionals during events such
as
surgeries and other medical procedures, dental procedures, and the like to
protect both the wearer
and the surrounding parties from contamination. The masks are designed to
catch liquid droplets
and aerosolized particles from the wearer's mouth and nose, and to stop bodily
fluids and other
splashes from reaching the covered portions of the wearer's face. Face masks
are typically made
from paper or other non-woven material, and often have three layers (i.e., 3-
ply). Typically,
these layers consist of a melt-blown material that is placed between non-woven
fabrics. The
melt-blown material acts as a filter that prevents contaminants from entering
or exiting the mask.
Most face masks include pleats or folds that enable the expansion of the
mask's surface area, so
that it covers the area of the wearer's face from the nose to the chin. Face
masks used for
surgical procedures typically have four straps that are tied behind the head.
Other variations
include those that are affixed to the wearer's face via ear loops, where a
string-like material is
attached to the mask and placed behind the ears, and masks that have an
elastic headband strap
that is placed behind the head.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[2] According to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter, a face
mask may
include a transparent plastic piece having a front side, a back side, a top
side, a bottom side, a left
side, and a right side. A first conformable member may be affixed to a first
portion of the back
side and disposed parallel to the top side. A second conformable member may be
affixed to a
second portion of the back side and disposed parallel to the bottom side. At
least one first strap
may have a first strap portion including a first end and a second strap
portion including a second
end, where portions of the first strap portion and the second strap portion
are affixed parallel to
the top side of the plastic piece. At least one second strap may have a first
strap portion
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including a first end and a second strap portion including a second end, where
portions of the
first strap portion and the second strap portion are affixed parallel to the
bottom side of the
plastic piece.
[3] According to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter, a face
mask may
include a transparent plastic piece having a front side, a back side, a top
side, a bottom side, a left
side, and a right side. A conformable member may be affixed to a second
portion of the back
side and disposed parallel to the bottom side. The face mask may include an
elastic band, where
a portion of the elastic band is affixed parallel to the top side of the
plastic piece. A first strap
portion may have a first end and a second strap portion may have a second end,
where portions
of the first strap portion and the second strap portion are affixed parallel
to the bottom side of the
plastic piece.
[4] According to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter, a
transparent plastic
piece having a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a left
side, and a right side. A
first conformable member may be affixed to a first portion of the back side
and disposed parallel
to the top side. A second conformable member may be affixed to a second
portion of the back
side and disposed parallel to the bottom side. A first elastic strap may have
a first end and a
second end, where the first end and the second end are affixed to different
portions of the left
side to form a first loop. A second elastic strap having a first end and a
second end, wherein the
first end and the second end are affixed to different portions of the right
side to form a second
loop.
[51 Additional features, advantages, and implementations of the disclosed
subject matter
may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed
description, drawings,
and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary
and the following
detailed description are illustrative and are intended to provide further
explanation without
limiting the scope of the claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[6] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding
of the disclosed subject matter, are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification. The
drawings also illustrate implementations of the disclosed subject matter and
together with the
detailed description serve to explain the principles of implementations of the
disclosed subject
matter. No attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than may
be necessary for a
fundamental understanding of the disclosed subject matter and various ways in
which it may be
practiced.
[7] FIG. lA shows a view of a face mask according to an implementation of
the disclosed
subject matter.
[8] FIG. 1B shows a view of back side of the face mask of FIG. 1A,
including
conformable members affixed to portions of the back side, according to an
implementation of the
disclosed subject matter.
[91 FIG. 1C shows a side view of the face mask of FIG. 1A according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[10] FIG. 1D shows a top view of the face mask of FIG. 1A according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[11] FIG. lE shows another view of back side of the face mask of FIG. 1B,
including a
first conformable member and a second conformable member affixed to portions
of the back
side, according to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[12] FIG. 1F shows a view of the front side of the face mask of FIG. 1A
according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[13] FIGS. 1G-1H show views of an extension of a plastic piece of the face
mask
according to implementations of the disclosed subject matter.
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[14] FIG. 11 shows an extension of a plastic piece, where portions of the
extension angle
outwards away from the left and right sides of the plastic piece according to
an implementation
of the disclosed subject matter.
[15] FIGS. 1J-1K show face masks with extension of a plastic piece, where
the face masks
include a headband according to implementations of the disclosed subject
matter.
[16] FIG. 1L shows a face mask having a single conformable member according
to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[17] FIG. I M shows a face mask having straps that form first and second
loops according
to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[18] FIG. 2A shows a view of portion of the first conformable member that
is towards the
face of a wearer according to an implementation of the disclosed subject
matter.
[19] FIG. 2B shows another view of the first confirmable member according
to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[20] FIG. 2C shows a top view of the first confirmable member according to
an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[21] FIG. 3A shows a view of the second conformable member according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[22] FIG. 3B shows a view of portion of the second conformable member that
is not
affixed to the back side of the face mask of FIG. lA according to an
implementation of the
disclosed subject matter.
[23] FIG. 3C shows a top view of the second conformable member according to
an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[24] FIG. 4 shows a view of a plastic piece of the face mask of FIG. lA
according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
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[25] FIG. 5A shows a face mask having angled side edges and top edges
according to an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[26] FIG. 5B shows a face mask having straight side edges and angled top
edges according
to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[27] FIG. 6A shows a plastic piece of the face mask of FIG. SA according to
an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
[28] FIG. 6B shows a plastic piece of the face mask of FIG. 5B according to
an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[29] Miscommunication is a leading cause of medical errors. The potential
for
miscommunication may be especially compounded in deaf and hard of hearing
medical patients
when standard face masks, such as a surgical mask, are used. It is estimated
that approximately
55% of communication is nonverbal. Standard surgical masks block the wearer's
face and
prevent the ability of others to see facial expressions and read lips of the
mask wearer.
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter may provide a mask with full-
face visibility.
The mask may provide protection, and may provide comfort and breathability to
the wearer. The
face mask of the disclosed subject matter may allow patients and other
individuals to see more of
the wearer's face and facial expressions, while the mask may provide safety,
comfort, and
breathability to the wearer.
[30] Although many people may benefit from whole face communication, it may
be
especially important for: deaf and hard of hearing patients, medical staff,
medical students,
laboratory technicians, and scientists; limited English Proficiency patients;
sign language
interpreters and agencies; dentists, dental hygienists, and other dental
health professionals;
patients prone to or experiencing stress and anxiety; pediatric patients;
immunosuppressed
patients; cancer patients; HIV/AIDS patients; organ transplant recipients;
medical staff who
cannot receive seasonal flu vaccinations and must wear masks; and all medical
staff so that they
can see their colleagues' faces and better understand dialogue in dental
and/or medical
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environments, such as an operating room, and/or in noisy environments. People
in non-medical
settings that use face masks may also benefit from whole face communication.
[31] Implementations of the disclosed subject matter may include a mask
having a
transparent viewing area. In some implementations, the viewing area may be
translucent,
opaque, or the like. The transparent viewing area may be coated with an anti-
fog or fog-resistant
coating to provide full-face visibility. The mask may include features that
provide for comfort
and breathability.
[32] Implementations of the disclosed subject matter may provide a face
mask having a
transparent plastic piece and/or extended plastic piece, and conformable
members affixed to a
back side of the plastic piece. The plastic piece may provide improved
visibility to whole face of
the user of the face mask, such that others may observe the full facial
expressions and/or lip
movements of the user. The plastic piece may act as an impermeable barrier for
air and/or other
particulates and may provide increased protection compared to conventional
face masks made
from cloth-like materials. The conformable members of the face mask may
provide better fit,
less slipping, increased stability, and/or increased breathability for a user
of the face mask,
compared to conventional face masks. The conformable member may push the
transparent
plastic piece away from the user's face and/or lips to prevent them from
touching the transparent
plastic piece and/or to increase comfort and breathability by allowing for air
to flow in and/or out
from the sides of the face mask, and/or the back of the face mask. That is,
the conformable
members may seal the top and bottom of the mask and/or create a "pocket" for
air flow along
with the plastic piece by preventing air flow from going forward and/or out of
the top and/or
bottom of the face mask.
[33] FIGS. 1A-1M show views of a face mask 100 according to implementations
of the
disclosed subject matter. In particular, FIG. 1B shows a view of back side of
the face mask 100
of FIG. 1A, including conformable members affixed to portions of the back
side. FIG. 1C shows
a side view of the face mask 100, and FIG. 1D shows a top view of the face
mask 100. FIG. 1E
shows another view of back side of the face mask 100 of FIG. 1B, including a
first conformable
member and a second conformable member affixed to portions of the back side.
FIG. 1F shows
a view of the front side of the face mask 100. FIGS. 1G-1K show difference
views and
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implementations of the face mask 100 that includes an extension of a plastic
piece above a
conformable member. FIG. IL shows the face mask 100 having a single
conformable member,
and FIG. 1M shows an implementation of the face mask 100 having straps that
form first and
second loops.
[34] The face mask 100 of FIGS. 1A-1M may include a transparent plastic
piece 102
having a front side 104, a back side 106, a top side 108, a bottom side 110, a
left side 112, and a
right side 114. The transparent plastic piece 102 of FIGS. 1A-1M is shown in
greater detail and
discussed below in connection with FIG. 4. The transparent plastic piece 102
may, in some
implementations, include extension 102a as shown in FIGS. 1G-1K as described
below. The
extension 102a may cover the eyes and/or upper head region of a user. In some
implementations, the viewing area of the transparent plastic piece 102 and/or
extension 102a
may be translucent, opaque, or the like. The transparent viewing area of the
transparent plastic
piece 102 and/or extension 102a may be coated with an anti-fog or fog-
resistant coating to
provide full-face visibility, where the coating may prevent the condensation
of water in the form
of small droplets on a surface of the mask which resemble tog. That is, the
anti-fog or fog-
resistant coating may minimize moisture collection (e.g., from the breath of a
wearer of the face
mask 100) on the back side 106 of the transparent plastic piece 102 and/or
extension 102a.
[35] A first conformable member 116 may be affixed to a first portion 118
of the back side
106 of the transparent plastic piece 102 and disposed parallel to the top side
108 of the
transparent plastic piece 102. The first conformable member may be formed,
molded, and/or
constructed from foam or any other suitable material. The first conformable
member 116 may be
shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2A-2C and described below.
[36] A second conformable member 120 may be affixed to a second portion 122
of the
back side 106 of the transparent plastic piece 102 and disposed parallel to
the bottom side 110 of
the transparent plastic piece 102. The second conformable member 120 may be
formed from
foam or any other suitable material that may conform to a portion of the face
of the wearer of the
face mask 100.
[37] At least one first strap 124 may have a first end 126 and a second end
128. As used
throughout, the at least one first strap 124 may be a single strap, or may
include two or more
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straps. When the at least one first strap 124 is a single strap, a portion of
the at least one first
strap 124 may be affixed parallel to the top side 108 of the transparent
plastic piece 102 between
the first end 126 and the second end 128 on either the front side 104 or the
back side 106 of the
plastic piece 102. In implementations where the at least one first strap 124
is two or more straps,
a portion of one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic piece 102
opposite the first end 126,
and a portion of another one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic piece
102 opposite the
second end 128. The two or more straps of the at least one first strap 124 may
be affixed to the
front side 104 or the back side 106 of the plastic piece 102. The portion of
the at least one first
strap 124 may be affixed parallel to the top side 108 using an adhesive, by
bonding, by using
ultrasonic welding, stitching, or any other suitable method of affixing the at
least one first strap
124 to the plastic piece 102. At least one second strap 130 may have a first
end 132 and a second
end 134. As used throughout, the at least one second strap 130 may be a single
strap, or may
include two or more straps. When the at least one second strap 130 is a single
strap, a portion of
the second strap 130 is affixed to the bottom side 110 of the plastic piece
between the first end
132 and the second end 134 on either the front side 104 or the back side 106
of the plastic piece
102. In implementations where the at least one second strap 130 is two or more
straps, a portion
of one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic piece 102 opposite the
first end 132, and a
portion of another one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic piece 102
opposite the second
end 134. The two or more straps of the at least one second strap 130 may be
affixed to the front
side 104 or the back side 106 of the plastic piece 102. The portion of the at
least one second
strap 130 may be affixed to the bottom side 108 using an adhesive, by bonding,
by using
ultrasonic welding, stitching, or any other suitable method of affixing the at
least one second
strap 130 to the plastic piece 102. The portions of the at least one first
strap 124 and the at least
one second strap 130 may be affixed to the transparent plastic piece 102 so
that a portion, such as
50%-95%, of the front side 104 and/or the back side 106 of the transparent
plastic piece 102 is
uncovered. The first strap 124 and the second strap 130 may be formed of a
fabric, such as a
woven fabric or a knitted fabric, and/or any other suitable material. In some
implementations,
the fabric may include elastic material, or may be elastic.
[38] In some implementations where the at least one strap 124 and/or the
at least one strap
130 are affixed to the back side 106 of the plastic piece 102, the at least
one first strap 124 may
be disposed between the transparent plastic piece 102 and the first
conformable member 116, and
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the at least one second strap 130 may be disposed between the transparent
plastic piece 102 and
the second conformable member 120. In this implementation, the at least one
first strap 124 may
be affixed to the transparent plastic piece 102 and the first conformable
member 116, and may be
affixed the at least one second strap 130 to the transparent plastic piece 102
and the second
conformable member 120.
[39] In some implementations where the at least one strap 124 and/or the at
least one strap
130 are affixed to the front side 104 of the plastic piece 102, the at least
one first strap 124 may
be affixed to the front side 104 of the plastic piece 102 so as to be parallel
to the top side 108,
and the at least one second strap 130 may be affixed to the front side 104 of
the plastic piece 102
so as to be parallel to the bottom side 110.
[40] The left side 112 and the right side 114 of the transparent plastic
piece 102 may be
unsealed, and/or may not have any parts attached to them, except at the points
where they meet
the top side 108 and the bottom side 110 of the transparent plastic piece 102
(e.g., where the first
strap 124 and he second strap 130 are attached). Alternatively, the left side
112 and right side
114 of the transparent plastic piece 102 may have cloth-like materials
attached to them in a
manner sufficient to protect the wearer from particulates or bacteria from
entering the face mask
100.
[41] The at least one first strap 124 and the at least one second strap 130
may have a width
of 0.2 inches to 2 inches. In some implementations, the width may be between
0.3 inches to 1
inch, or between 0.3 inches to 0.5 inches. The at least one first strap 124
and the at least one
second strap 130 may have a thickness of 0.004 to 0.3 inches, or any suitable
thickness. The
ends 126 and 128 of the at least one first strap 124 may each be 12-16 inches
(e.g., as measured
from the left side 112 or the right side 114 of the transparent plastic piece
102). The ends 132
and 134 of the at least one second strap 130 may each be 12-16 inches (e.g.,
as measured from
the left side 112 or the right side 114 of the transparent plastic piece 102).
That is, the at least
one first strap 124 and the at least one second strap 130 may have a length
that allows a wearer to
tie them to each other around the back of the head of the wearer. For example,
ends 126 and 128
of the at least one first strap 124 may be tied together, and ends 132 and 134
of the at least one
second strap 130 may be tied together. In some implementations, such as those
discussed below
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in connection with FIG. 1M, the at least one first strap 124 and the at least
on second strap 130
may be connected to form first loop 124a and second loop 130a, or the first
loop 124a and the
second loop 130a may be formed from an elastic material. The first loop 124a
and the second
loop 130a may be of a sufficient length (e.g., 6 inches to 12 inches) so that
they may be fitted
behind a user's ears so as to affix the face mask 100 to the user's face.
[42] FIGS. 2A-2C show more detailed views of the first conformable member
116 shown
in, for example, FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1E. FIG. 2A shows that the first
conformable member
116 may have a width 201, which may be 0.33 inches, or any other suitable
distance between
0.2-0.8 inches. FIGS. 2A-2B show that the first conformable member 116 may
have at least one
surface that has a concave section 202, 204. The first conformable member 116
may have a
surface having a first protrusion 206 and a second protrusion 208. An
indentation 210 may be
disposed between surfaces 212 and 214, so as to be disposed between the first
protrusion 206 and
the second protrusion 208. The first conformable member 116 may have a surface
215 that may
be continuously curved. In some implementations, the surface 215 of the first
conformable
member 116 may be straight. In some implementations, the surface 215 may be
affixed to back
side 106 of the transparent plastic piece 102.
[43] FIG. 2C shows a top-down view of the first conformable member 116. A
distance
220 may be between opposite ends of the first conformable member 116 (e.g., at
the ends of the
concave sections 202 and 204). The distance may be 6.25 inches, or any other
suitable distance,
such as between 4-8 inches. A distance 222 may be a distance between an end of
the concave
section 202 and the indentation 210. In some implementations, the distance 222
may be 3.13
inches, or may be any other suitable distance between 2-5 inches. A similar
distance may be
between an end of the concave section 204 and the indentation 210. A distance
224 between the
indentation 210 and second protrusion 208 may be 0.5 inches, or any other
suitable distance,
such as between 0.25-1 inches. A similar distance may be between the
indentation 210 and the
first protrusion 206. A differential distance 226 between inner and outer
points of the concave
section 202 may be 0.14 inches, or any other suitable distance, such as 0.1-
0.8 inches. An angle
228 between surfaces 212 and 214 may be, for example 125.7 degrees, or any
other suitable
angle between 90 and 180 degrees. A radius 230 of the concave section 204
may be 5.24
inches, or any other suitable radius, such as 4-8 inches. A radius of the
concave section 202 may
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be similar to or the same as that of the radius 228. A radius 232 of the
surface 215 of first
conformable member 116 may be 6.17 inches, or any other suitable radius, such
as 5-10 inches.
A radius 234 may be a radius for a surface disposed between the surfaces 212
and 214, where the
radius may be 0.1 inches, or any suitable radius, such as 0.05-0.5 inches.
[441 FIGS. 3A-3C show detailed views of the second conformable member 120
shown in,
for example, FIGS. 1A-1M. The second conformable member 120 may have a surface
121 that
is continuously curved. The second conformable member 120 may have a surface
122, where at
least a portion of the surface 122 is concave. The second conformable member
120 may have a
surface 123, where at least a portion of the surface 123 is convex. In some
implementations, the
surface 123 may be continuously curved. In some implementations, the surface
123 of the
second conformable member 120 may be straight.
[45] As shown in FIG. 3B, the second conformable member 120 may have a
length 300,
which may be 6 inches, or any other suitable length, such as 4-8 inches. The
second
conformable member 120 may have a height 302, which may be 0.6 inches, or any
suitable
height, such as 0.4-1.0 inches.
[46] As shown in FIG. 3C, the surface 121 of the conformable member 120 may
have a
curvature radius 304 of 12.19 inches, or any other suitable radius, such as 8-
15 inches. The
surface 123 of the conformable member 120 may have a curvature radius 306 of
3.75 inches, or
any other suitable radius, such as 2-5 inches.
[47] As shown in, for example, FIGS. 1B, 1D, and 1E, the first conformable
member 116
and the second conformable member 120 may be affixed to the back side 106 of
the transparent
plastic piece 102 with adhesive. In some implementations, the first
conformable member 116
and the second conformable member 120 may be bonded, molded, stitched,
ultrasonically
welded, or any other suitable method of forming and/or affixing the first
conformable member
116 and the second conformable member 120 to the back side 106 of the
transparent plastic piece
102.
[48] The transparent plastic piece 102 may be planar prior to affixing,
molding, stitching,
ultrasonically welding, and/or forming at least one of the first conformable
member 116 and the
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second conformable member 120. That is, prior to affixing at least one of the
first conformable
member 116 and the second conformable member 120, the transparent plastic
piece 102 may lay
flat and may not have pleats. When the first conformable member 116 and the
second
conformable member 120 are affixed, molded, stitched, ultrasonically welded,
and/or formed to
the transparent plastic piece 102, they cooperate to shape a curvature of the
transparent plastic
piece 102. In some implementations, a vertical midline of the transparent
plastic piece 102 may
retain a radius of curvature greater than 1 inch. In some implementations, the
transparent plastic
piece 102 may greater than 2 inches, and in some implementations, the radius
of curvature of the
transparent plastic piece 102 may be greater than 3 inches. A horizontal
midline of the
transparent plastic piece 102 may have a radius of curvature greater than 0.5
inch. In some
implementations, the horizontal midline of the transparent plastic piece 102
may have a radius
greater than 1 inch, and in some implementations, may have a radius that is
greater than 2 inches.
The transparent plastic piece 102 may extend away from the wearer's face, but
may not protrude
outwards more than 3 to 5 inches. In some implementations, transparent plastic
piece 102 may
extend away from the wearer's face between 2 to 4 inches, and in some
implementations,
between 0.1 to 2 inches.
[49] As shown in FIG. 4, the top portion 108 of the transparent plastic
piece 102 may have
length 400, which may be 6.5 inches, or any other suitable length, such as
between 4-15 inches.
In some implementations, the length 400 of the transparent plastic piece 102
be between 5 to 13
inches long, and in some implementations, between 6 and 12 inches long. The
side portion 114
of the transparent plastic piece 102 may have a length 402, which may be 2.75
inches, or any
other suitable length, such as between 2 to 7 inches. In some implementations,
the length 402
may be between 2 to 6 inches wide, and in some implementations, between 3 to 5
inches. The
side portion 112 of the transparent plastic piece 102 may have length that is
similar to or the
same as length 402. A length 404 between the top portion 108 and the bottom
portion 406 of the
transparent plastic piece 102 may be 3.75 inches, or any other suitable
length, such as 2.5-5.5
inches. In implementations such as those shown in FIG. 11, the length 404 may
be increased
when the face mask 100 includes an extension 102a for the plastic piece 102,
as discussed below.
A radius 406 of the bottom portion 110 of the transparent plastic piece 102
may be 7.8 inches, or
any other suitable radius, such as 6-10 inches.
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[50] The transparent plastic piece 102 and/or the extension 102a may be
between 1 and 10
mils in thickness. In some implementations, the transparent plastic piece 102
and/or the
extension 102a may be between 1 to 8 mils in thickness. In some
implementations, the
transparent plastic piece 102 and/or the extension 102a may be between 3 to 7
mils in thickness.
[51] FIG. 1G show a front view and FIG. 1H shows a side view of the face
mask 100
having the extension 102a of the plastic piece 102. The extension 102a may be
a portion of the
plastic piece 102 which extends above a portion where the first conformable
member 116 and/or
at least one first strap 124 may be affixed, molded, stitched, ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed
to the plastic piece 102. The top portion 108 may be the top of the extension
102a of the plastic
piece 102.
[52] FIG. 11 shows the extension 102a of the plastic piece 102, where
portions 102b and/or
102c of the extension 102a angle outwards away from the left and right sides
of the plastic piece
102 according to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter. The
extension 102a may
have a height 150 that is the distance between a top of the first conformable
member 116 to the
top portion 108, which may be have a range of 1-8 inches. The portions102b may
have a width
151 and portion 102c may have a width 152, where each width 151, 152 may have
a range of 0-6
inches.
[53] FIGS. 1J-1K show examples of the face mask 100 that include the
extension 102a of
the plastic piece 102, where the face mask 100 may include a headband 160
according to
implementations of the disclosed subject matter. As shown in FIG. 1J, a
portion of the headband
160 may be affixed, molded, stitched, ultrasonically welded, and/or formed to
the top portion
108 of the extension 102a of the plastic piece 102. The headband 160 may be
made from an
elastic material, and may be used to secure the face mask 100 on the head of a
user. The
headband may be 4-16 inches in length, or any suitable length to fit around
the user's head. The
face mask 100 shown in FIG. 1J may include the at least one first strap 124
and the at least one
second strap 130, which may be used to secure the face mask 100 to the head of
the user, along
with the headband 160. As shown in FIG. 1K, the face mask 100 may be include
the headband
160 and the at least one second strap 130, which may be used to secure the
face mask 100 to the
head of the user. As shown in FIGS. 1J-1K, a conformable member 117 may be
affixed to the
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back side 106 parallel to the top portion 108 of the extension 102a of the
plastic piece 102. The
conformable member 117 may be affixed, molded, stitched, ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed
to the extension 102a of the plastic piece 102. The conformable member 117 may
be foam or
any suitable material, and may have a curved, straight, concave, and/or any
suitably shaped
surface that may conform to a user's head. The conformable member 117 may be
similar to the
first conformable member 116 as described throughout.
[54] FIG. IL shows the face mask 100 having a single conformable member 120
according to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter. The face mask
100 may include
the plastic piece 102 and the extension 102a, and may be fitted and/or secured
to the head of the
user with the at least one first strap 124, the at least one second strap 130,
and/or the second
conformable member 120.
[55] FIG. 1M shows the face mask 100 that is similar to the implementations
shown in
FIGS. 1A-1F, but the face mask 100 of FIG. 1M has the first end 126 of the at
least one first
strap 124 connected to the first end 134 of the at least one second strap 130
to form a first loop
124a, and the second end 128 of the at least one first strap 124 connected to
the second end 134
of the at least one second strap 130 to form second loop 130a. The at least
one first strap 124
and the at least one second strap 130 may be formed from a material that
includes elastic. In
some implementations, the first loop 124a may be an elastic strap that may be
affixed, molded,
stitched, ultrasonically welded, and/or formed to side portion 112, and the
second loop 130 may
be an elastic strap that is affixed, molded, stitched, ultrasonically welded,
and/or formed to the
side portion 114. The first loop 124a and the second loop 130 may be fitted
around the ears of
the user to secure the face mask 100 to the user.
[56] FIGS. 5A and 6A show components of a face mask 100a, and FIGS. 5B and
6B show
components of a face mask 100b, which may be alternative implementations to
the face mask
100 having components shown in FIGS. 1A-4. The face mask 100a and the face
mask 100b
may include the first conformable member 116 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C and
described above, and
the second conformable member 120 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C and described above.
[57] FIG. 5A shows a face mask 100a having angled side edges 112a and 114a
according
to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter. The face mask 100a may
include a
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transparent plastic piece 102b having a top side 108, a bottom side 110, a
left side 112a, and a
right side 114a. The transparent plastic piece 102b may have a front side and
a back side, which
may be similar to the front side 104 and the back side 106 of the transparent
plastic piece 102
shown in FIG. 1A and described above. The top side 108 of the face mask 100a
may have a
plurality of edges 108a, 108b. The bottom side 110 of the face mask 100a may
have a curved
edge.
[58] A first conformable member, which may be similar to first conformable
member 116
described above and shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, may be affixed, molded, stitched,
ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed to a first portion of the back side of the transparent
plastic piece 102b and
disposed parallel to the top side 108 of the transparent plastic piece 102b.
The first conformable
member may be formed from foam or any other suitable material.
[59] The transparent plastic piece 102b is shown in greater detail in FIG.
6A. In some
implementations, the viewing area may be translucent, opaque, or the like. The
transparent
viewing area may be coated with an anti-fog or fog-resistant coating ft)
provide full-face
visibility, where the coating may prevent the condensation of water in the
form of small droplets
on a surface of the mask which resemble fog. That is, the anti-fog or fog-
resistant coating may
minimize moisture collection (e.g., from the breath of a wearer of the face
mask 100a) on the
back side of the transparent plastic piece 102b.
[60] A second conformable member may be affixed molded, stitched,
ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed to a second portion of a back side of the transparent
plastic piece 102b
and disposed parallel to the bottom side 110 of the transparent plastic piece
102b. The second
conformable member may be similar to the second conformable member 120 shown
in FIGS.
3A-3C and described above, and may be formed from foam or any other suitable
material that
may conform to a portion of the face of the wearer of the face mask 100a.
[61] Similar to the face mask 100 shown in FIG. 1A, the face mask 100a
shown in FIG.
5A may include the at least one first strap 124, having the first end 126 and
the second end 128.
A portion of the at least one first strap 124 may be affixed, molded,
stitched, ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed to the top side 108 of the transparent plastic piece
102b between the first
end 126 and the second end 128. The portion of the at least one first strap
124 may be affixed to
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the top side 108 with an adhesive, or may be molded, stitched, ultrasonically
welded, and/or
formed to the top side 108. In implementations where the at least one first
strap 124 is two or
more straps, a portion of one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic
piece 102b opposite the
first end 126, and a portion of another one of the straps may be affixed to
the plastic piece 102b
opposite the second end 128. The at least one second strap 130 may have the
first end 132 and
the second end 134. A portion of the at least one second strap 130 may be
affixed, molded,
stitched, ultrasonically welded, and/or formed to the bottom side 110 of the
plastic piece 102b
between the first end 132 and the second end 134. The portion of the second
strap 130 may be
affixed to the bottom side 110 with an adhesive, or may be molded, stitched,
ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed to the bottom side 110. In implementations where the at
least one second
strap 130 is two or more straps, a portion of one of the straps may be affixed
to the plastic piece
102b opposite the first end 132, and a portion of another one of the straps
may be affixed to the
plastic piece 102b opposite the second end 134.
[62] FIG. 5B shows a face mask 100b having straight side edges according to
an
implementation of the disclosed subject matter. The face mask 100b may include
a transparent
plastic piece 102c having a top side 108, a bottom side 110, a left side 112b,
and a right side
114b. The transparent plastic piece 102c may have a front side and a back
side, which may be
similar to the front side 104 and the back side 106 of the transparent plastic
piece 102 shown in
FIG. lA and described above. The top side 108 of the face mask 100b may have a
plurality of
edges 108a, 108b. The bottom side 110 of the face mask 100b may have a curved
edge.
[63] A first conformable member may be affixed, molded, stitched,
ultrasonically welded,
and/or formed to a first portion of the back side of the transparent plastic
piece 102c and
disposed parallel to the top side 108 of the transparent plastic piece 102c.
The first conformable
member may be formed from foam or any other suitable material. The first
conformable
member may be similar to the first conformable member 116 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C
and
described above.
[64] The transparent plastic piece 102c is shown in greater detail in FIG.
6B. In some
implementations, the viewing area may be translucent, opaque, or the like. The
transparent
viewing area may be coated with an anti-fog or fog-resistant coating to
provide full-face
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visibility, where the coating may prevent the condensation of water in the
form of small droplets
on a surface of the mask which resemble fog. That is, the anti-fog or fog-
resistant coating may
minimize moisture collection (e.g., from the breath of a wearer of the face
mask 100b) on the
back side of the transparent plastic piece 102c.
[65] A second conformable member may be affixed, molded, stitched,
ultrasonically
welded, and/or formed to a second portion of a back side of the transparent
plastic piece 102c
and disposed parallel to the bottom side 110 of the transparent plastic piece
102c. The second
conformable member may be similar to the second conformable member 120 shown
in FIGS.
3A-3C and described above, and may be formed from foam or any other suitable
material that
may conform to a portion of the face of the wearer of the face mask 100a.
[66] Similar to the face mask 100 shown in FIG. 1A, the face mask 100b
shown in FIG.
58 may include the at least one first strap 124, having the first end 126 and
the second end 128.
A portion of the at least one first strap 124 may be affixed to the top side
108 of the transparent
plastic piece 102c between the first end 126 and the second end 128. In
implementations where
the at least one first strap 124 is two or more straps, a portion of one of
the straps may be affixed
to the plastic piece 102c opposite the first end 126, and a portion of another
one of the straps may
be affixed to the plastic piece 102c opposite the second end 128. The portion
of the at least one
first strap 124 may be affixed to the top side 108 with an adhesive. The at
least one second strap
130 may have the first end 132 and the second end 134. A portion of the at
least one second
strap 130 may be affixed to the bottom side 110 of the plastic piece 102b
between the first end
132 and the second end 134. The portion of the second strap 130 may be affixed
to the bottom
side 108 with an adhesive. In implementations where the at least one second
strap 130 is two or
more straps, a portion of one of the straps may be affixed to the plastic
piece 102c opposite the
first end 132, and a portion of another one of the straps may be affixed to
the plastic piece
opposite the second end 134.
[67] FIG. 6A shows the transparent plastic piece 102b used in connection
with the
implementation of the face mask 100a shown in FIG. 5A. As shown in in FIG. 6A,
a transparent
plastic piece 102b may have the top side 108, having edges 108a1 and 108b1. An
angle between
the edges 108a1 and 108b1 may be between 100-180 degrees. In some
implementations, the
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angle between the edges 108a1 and 108b1 may be 120-180 degrees, and in some
implementations, may be between 160-180 degrees with its vertex at the highest
point of the
vertical midline of the transparent plastic piece 102b.
[68] The transparent plastic piece 102b may have a left side 112a that has
a first plurality
of edges 112al, 112a2, 112a3 and a right side 114a that includes a second
plurality of edges
114a1, 114a2, 114a3. In some implementations, the first plurality of edges
112a1, 112a2, 112a3
may be symmetrical to the second plurality of edges 114a 1 , 114a2, 114a3. The
first plurality of
edges 112a1, 112a2, 112a3 may include a first plurality of angled edges (e.g.,
edges 112a1,
112a2, 112a3 are angled with respect to one another) and the second plurality
of edges 114a 1 ,
114a2, 114a3 comprises a second plurality of angled edges (e.g., edges 114a 1
, 114a2, 114a3 are
angled with respect to one another).
[69] Bottom side 110a of the transparent plastic piece 102b may have a
radius of curvature
greater than 0.5 inch. In some implementations, the radius of curvature of the
bottom side 110a
may be greater than 2 inches, and in some implementations; may be greater than
3 inches.
[70] FIG. 68 shows the transparent plastic piece 102c used in connection
with the
implementation of the face mask 100b shown in FIG. 5B. The transparent plastic
piece 102c
may include the left side 112b and the right side 114b.
[71] As shown in in FIG. 6B, the transparent plastic piece 102c may have
the top side 108,
having edges 108a1 and 108b1. An angle between the edges 108a1 and 108b1 may
be between
100-180 degrees. In some implementations, the angle between the edges 108a1
and 108b1 may
be 120-180 degrees, and in some implementations, may be between 160-180
degrees with its
vertex at the highest point of the vertical midline of the transparent plastic
piece 102c.
[72] Similar to FIG. 6A, the bottom side 110a of the transparent plastic
piece 102c shown
in FIG. 6B may have a radius of curvature greater than 0.5 inch. In some
implementations, the
radius of curvature of the bottom side 110a may be greater than 2 inches, and
in some
implementations, may be greater than 3 inches.
[73] The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been
described with
reference to specific implementations. However, the illustrative discussions
above are not
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intended to be exhaustive or to limit implementations of the disclosed subject
matter to the
precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in
view of the above
teachings. The implementations were chosen and described in order to explain
the principles of
implementations of the disclosed subject matter and their practical
applications, to thereby
enable others skilled in the art to utilize those implementations as well as
various
implementations with various modifications as may be suited to the particular
use contemplated.
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