Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ADJUSTABLE FACE MASK
FIELD
The invention relates to the field of masks, and more specifically
to an adjustable face mask.
1
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments of
features of the disclosure. These figures are illustrative and
are not intended to be limiting.
Figure 1 is a front view of an adjustable face mask in a first
configuration, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
Figure 2 is a front view of the adjustable face mask of Figure 1
in a second configuration, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a facepiece of the
adjustable face mask of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the facepiece of Figure 3,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fastener of the adjustable
face mask of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure; and,
Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the connection between
the fastener and the facepiece, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
2
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not
intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various
modifications and/or alterations to the embodiments described
herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any
modifications and/or alterations are within the scope of the
contemplated disclosure.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, and according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure, an adjustable face mask 5 is shown, the
face mask 5 preferably comprised of a facepiece 10 securable to a
user's face and first and second fasteners 15, 17. The facepiece
is generally comprised of a first side 20, a second side 22, a
vent 25 and a nose portion 30. The vent 25 projects downwardly
from the facepiece and is shaped to optimize airflow from the nose
and mouth out of the mask through an opening (not shown). As shown,
Figure 1 shows the adjustable face mask 5 in a first configuration,
whereas Figure 2 shows the adjustable face mask 5 in a second
configuration. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that
the face mask 5 is made of a rigid yet flexible material such as
rubber to better conform to a user's face. Although two fasteners
15, 17 are shown, a single fastener 15 could also be possible.
With reference to Figures 3 and 4 and according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure, the facepiece 10 is shown in greater
detail. The vent 25 is shown further comprised of ribs 35a, 35b
and an aperture 40. The ribs 35a, 35b are positioned in the
aperture 40 and extend from the vent 25 to the facepiece 10. A
purpose of the ribs 35a, 35b is to help prevent unwanted airflow
obstruction of the aperture 40 of the vent 25 when breathing in
the facepiece 10. Indeed, it is a problem in the art that vent
apertures, especially those in rigid face masks, may be blocked by
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the chin of an operator. As such, ribs 35a, 35b prevent chin
features such as hair or excess skin from completely blocking the
aperture 40 of the vent 25 and therefore improving airflow in the
adjustable face mask (not shown). Although only two ribs 35a, 35b
are shown, a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that any
number of ribs can be used provided that they help prevent the
obstruction of the aperture 40 of the vent 25. A worker skilled in
the art would also appreciate that any other suitable structure
known in the art may be used in lieu of ribs 35a, 35b. In another
embodiment, the aperture 40 may be comprised of guides (not shown)
configured to receive and secure a filter (not shown) thereto.
Indeed, although the present embodiment is not configured to filter
air particles, a filter (not shown) or other suitable device may
be inserted within the aperture 40 of the vent 25 to filter
unwanted particles.
With further reference to Figures 3 and 4 and according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the nose portion 30 is shown
configured to cover at least a portion of the nose. In all cases,
the nose portion 30 must at least cover the nostrils so that any
breathing from the nose is expelled into the facepiece 10. In a
preferred embodiment, the nose portion 30 is comprised of flanges
45 positioned at an upper end of the nose portion 30. A purpose of
the flanges 45 is to increase the rigidity of the facepiece 10 in
the nose area and better sit flushly against the skin of a user,
thereby preventing the unwanted escape of air from the nose area.
Indeed, when the facepiece 10 is tightened over the face, the nose
portion 30 does not always sit flushly against the skin, thereby
allowing air to escape. As such, the flanges 45 reduce or eliminate
such unwanted air escape. In another embodiment, the flanges 45
may be further comprised of slits (not shown) positioned therein,
or another suitable adapter such as clips or fasteners, which would
4
be adapted to receive protective eyewear. The facepiece 10 is also
further comprised of a plurality of openings 50. As shown, five
openings 50 are positioned on the first side 20 of the facepiece
and five openings 50 are positioned on the second side 22 of
the facepiece 10. Although the present facepiece 10 has five
openings 50 on each of the first side 20 and the second side 22,
a worker skilled in the art will appreciate that each of the first
side 20 and the second side 22 can have any number of openings 50,
provided that there are at least two openings 50. Each one of the
openings 50 is comprised of a narrow portion 55 and a wide portion
60.
With reference to Figure 5 and according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the first fastener 15 is shown, the first
fastener 15 comprised of a cord portion 65 beginning at a first
end 70 and terminating at a second end 75. The cord portion 65 has
a plurality of locking members 80 spaced along the length of the
cord portion 65. The locking members 80 are shown as spheres,
although a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that other
shapes are possible. A flat tab 82 is also shown, the tab 82 to be
pulled by an operator to easily and comfortably remove or otherwise
loosen the fastener 15 from the head. Indeed, the cord portion 65
can be tight against the skin or hair, so the tab 82 protrudes
outwardly to easily grasp it and loosen the fastener 15. In an
exemplary embodiment, the tab 82 or the cord portion 65 on each
one of the first fastener 15 and second fastener (not shown) can
be labelled (e.g. "TR" for top right and "BL" for bottom left).
Such labelling is helpful when the first fastener 15 and second
fastener (not shown) are cut to the appropriate length to secure
the facepiece (not shown) to the face, it easy for each subsequent
user to relocate the first fastener 15 and second fastener (not
shown) upon reassembly of the face mask (not shown).
5
With reference to Figure 6 and according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the locking members 80 are configured to
cooperate with the openings 50 of the facepiece 10 to secure the
fastener 15 to the facepiece 10. The width of the locking member
80 is larger than the width of the narrow portion 55, but smaller
than the width of the wide portion 60. The fastener 15 can be
secured to the opening 50 by threading the cord portion 65 and the
locking members 80 of the fastener 15 through the wide portion 60
of the opening 60. The user then laterally shifts the cord portion
65 of the fastener 15 over to the narrow portion 55 of the opening
50. In this locked position, the narrow portion 55 of the opening
50 is aligned between two adjacent locking members 80, thereby
securing one end of the fastener 15 to the opening 50 of the
facepiece 10. A worker skilled it the art would appreciate that an
operator can adjust the length of the fastener 15 to a desired
length before locking the fastener 15 to the facepiece 10, thereby
optimally securing the face mask (not shown) to the face. A worker
skilled in the art would also appreciate that although the locking
members 80 are spheres, other shapes are possible provided that
they have a width that is smaller than the width of the wide
portion 60 but larger than the width of the narrow portion 55, to
ensure that the fastener 15 can be attached to the facepiece 10.
With further reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6 and according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the adjustable face mask 5
can be secured to a user's face by securing the first and second
fasteners 15, 17 to the facepiece 10 in one of two desired
configurations. In a first configuration illustrated in Figure 1,
the first end 70 of the first fastener 15 is secured to an opening
50 on the first side 20 of the facepiece 10. Similarly, the second
end 75 of the first fastener 15 is secured to the opening 50 on
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the second side 22 of the facepiece 10. Meanwhile, a first end 85
of the second fastener 17 is secured to an opening 50 on the first
side 20 of the facepiece 10. A second end 90 of the second fastener
17 is secured to the opening 50 on the second side 22 of the
facepiece 10. In this first configuration, the first and second
fasteners 15, 17 each extend around a user's head and/or neck.
Although Figure 1 illustrates first and second fasteners 15, 17
secured to facepiece 10, a worker skilled in the art would
appreciate that any number of fasteners 15, 17, including a single
fastener 15, could be secured to facepiece 10, so long as there is
an adequate number of openings 50 to secure the fasteners 15, 17.
In a second configuration specifically illustrated in Figure 2,
the first end 70 of the first fastener 15 is secured to one of the
openings 50 on the first side 20 of the facepiece 10 and the second
end 75 of the second fastener 17 is secured to another opening 50
on the first side 20 of the facepiece 10. Meanwhile, a first end
85 of the second fastener 17 is secured to one of the openings 50
on the second side 22 of the facepiece 10 and the second end 90 of
the second fastener 17 is secured to another opening 50 on the
second side 22 of facepiece 10. In the second configuration, the
first side 20 of the facepiece 10 is secured to the second fastener
17 while the second side 22 of the facepiece 10 is secured to the
first fastener 15. In the second configuration, each one of the
first and second fastener 15, 17 are looped around the user's ears.
Although the present disclosure describes securing first and
second fasteners 15, 17 to a facepiece 10 through openings 50, a
worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the first and
second fasteners 15, 17 can be adjustably secured to facepiece 10
through other ways known in the art such as VelcroTM, clasps, hooks,
or any other suitable fastening and/or securing method known in
the art.
7
Many modifications of the embodiments described herein as well as
other embodiments may be evident to a person skilled in the art
having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing
description and associated drawings. It is understood that these
modifications and additional embodiments are captured within the
scope of the contemplated disclosure which is not to be limited to
the specific embodiment disclosed.
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