Patent Application
20220015469
The present invention generally relates to a system for removably attaching a face mask to a user while the face mask is not being worn on the user's face.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyday life for most, if not everyone in the United States and around the world. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, which are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. As COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, one method of reducing the transmission of COVID-19 is wearing a face mask over a user's mouth and nose. As such, wearing a face mask has quickly become one of the primary and widely accepted methods of reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Wearing a face mask in public has become a necessity for many people living through the pandemic.
As more users use face masks in their everyday lives, contamination of and transfer of germs and other potentially dangerous microbes to the face masks have become a major concern. When face masks are not being worn, they are generally placed in locations that may not have been sanitized, or may have been exposed to COVID-19 or other potentially dangerous microbes, germs, viruses, and/or diseases. For example, people may place their face masks in their pockets, backpacks, or purses, or on public surfaces. By doing so, the face mask may be contaminated or misplaced, thus rendering the purpose of the face mask ineffective.
As face masks are generally contaminated with a user's aerobic microbes from being worn over the user's face and nose, placing a face mask onto these foreign surfaces similarly contaminates the foreign surface with the user's aerobic microbes, which have the potential to be dangerous. This puts other individuals who subsequently come into contact with that foreign surface at high risk of contacting those microbes. This may further the spread of the virus as well.
Another way potentially dangerous microbes are transferred to the face mask is when a user touches the mask portion of the face mask with their hands, which may or may not be sanitized. When a user touches the mask portion with unsanitized hands, especially when donning or doffing the face mask, the user risks contamination of the mask or their hands with foreign microbes. This additionally renders the face mask ineffective at preventing the transfer of these potentially dangerous microbes and germs.
Systems of securing other items to a user, such as eyeglasses, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,913 to Sugarman discloses a strap for glasses. The strap for glasses in Sugarman uses a loop system to removably secure the strap to the frame of glasses. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. D225,782 to King discloses a mask strap utilizing a beaded strap system. However, these systems as disclosed are not adaptable to the face masks currently being widely used to fight infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Thus, there is a need for a system to secure a face mask to a user while the face mask is not being worn. Additionally, there is a need of for a system that reduces the transfer of germs and microbes, reduces the risk of misplacement, and reduces the risks of contamination from the face mask to foreign surfaces and vice versa when the face mask is not being worn. Additionally, there is a need for a system that reduces the transfer of microbes and germs from the face mask to the user's own hands and vice versa when the face mask is not being worn.
The present invention relates to a mask leash system for removably securing a face mask to a user while the face mask is not being worn on the user's face. It is an object of the invention to removably secure the face mask to a user while the face mask is not being worn. The invention thus prevents the face mask from being contaminated by foreign surfaces or the user's hands while not being worn, and vice versa. It is another object of the invention to provide a system that is easily washable and sanitized. It is another object of the invention to provide a system that is easily attached and removed to a number of different styles of face masks. It is another object of the invention to provide a system that permits the quick and efficient donning and doffing of the face mask due to the easily accessible nature of the face mask. It is another object of the invention to provide a system that permits a user to freely don and doff the face mask to their face by only touching the mask leash and the ear straps, thereby not touching the mask portion and risking contamination of the face mask itself.
The mask leash has an elongated textile and at least two fastening ends. The elongated textile is made up of a left textile portion and a right textile portion. The mask leash has a breakaway clasp securing the left textile portion to the right textile portion. The at least two fastening ends are configured to removably attach to the ear strap of any face mask which uses ear straps. The fastening ends are made up fastening mechanisms including but not limited to snap fastener systems and hook and loop systems.
A method of manufacturing and utilizing the mask leash is also disclosed herein. The method generally includes cutting the elongated textile to size, installing a fastening mechanism to each end of the elongated textile, cutting the elongated textile in half, creating a left textile portion and a right textile portion, and installing a breakaway clasp to the end of the right textile portion and left textile portion opposing the fastening mechanisms. Next, a user attaches the fastening mechanism to each ear strap of a face mask. A user may subsequently detach the fastening mechanism from each ear strap of the face mask to remove the mask leash from the face mask. Thus, a user may freely attach and remove the mask leash from the face mask, and may do so by only touching the mask leash and/or the ear strap and not contaminating the face mask itself.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated, as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings herein:
The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present there between. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” and “have” and/or “having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” and “upper” or “top,” and “inner” or “outer,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another elements as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
A mask leash system for removably securing a face mask to a user while the face mask is not being worn on the user's face is provided.
In the preferred embodiment, the elongated textile 22 is made of a polyester material. The polyester material permits the mask leash 20 to be sanitized, cleaned, and/or laundered. This is an important feature, as the purpose of the mask leash 20 is to reduce the opportunity for germ transfer from foreign surfaces to the face mask 10 and vice versa when not in use. Thus, the mask leash 20 must be capable of being sanitized, cleaned, and/or laundered. While a polyester material is provided in the preferred embodiment, a number of different textile materials, such as nylon or a narrow cord, may be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein so long as the material is capable of being cleaned, sanitized, and/or laundered.
The preferred size of the elongated textile 22 is 32 inches long by ⅜ inches wide by 1/25 inches thick. While the preferred size is provided, the elongated textile 22 may be any length sufficient to loosely surround the nape of a user's neck when attached to a face mask. The width and/or thickness of the elongated textile 22 may vary without departing from the concepts disclosed. The general shape (i.e. rectangular, cylindrical, etc.) of the elongated textile 22 may additionally vary without departing from the concepts disclosed.
In an alternative embodiment, the textile-to-clasp connector 32 is a snap-style connection piece. In this alternative embodiment, each textile-to-clasp connector includes a base piece extending from the breakaway clasp 30 and a snap piece extending perpendicularly outward from the base piece. The snap piece and base piece are connected by a hinge-type mechanism, thereby permitting the snap piece to be placed over the base piece and snap into the base piece, similar to the jaws of an animal. The left textile portion 22a and right textile portion 22b are inserted into the base piece, and the snap piece snaps into the base piece, thereby securing the left textile portion 22a and right textile portion 22b into each of the textile-to-clasp connectors. This jaw-like snap-style connection piece thereby secures the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to the breakaway clasp 30. For additional security, glue may be used to permanently affix the snap piece to the base piece, thereby permanently securing the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to the breakaway clasp 30.
In other alternative embodiments, alternate ways of affixing the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to the breakaway clasp 30 may be utilized, such as utilizing a metal crimp to secure the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to themselves after being threaded through the textile-to-clasp connector 32. These alternative ways of affixing the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to the breakaway clasp 30 are provided solely for exemplary purposes.
Preferably, the snap fastener end 60 is manufactured out of a laundry-safe metal such as brass or stainless steel. Additionally, the snap fastener end 60 may be manufactured out of a plastic material, so long as the material is considered laundry safe or is capable of being washed and desanitized. Similar to the material used for the elongated textile 22, any material for the snap fastener end 60 may be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein so long as the material is capable of being cleaned, sanitized, and/or laundered.
While the preferred embodiment discloses a snap fastener end 60 as the preferred mechanism of fastening the mask leash 20 to the ear strap 12 of a face mask 10, other configurations of the fastening ends 24 may be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed. In an alternative embodiment, the fastening ends 24 may be hook and loop mechanisms. In this alternative embodiment, the hook piece would replace the female snap socket 60a while the loop piece would replace the male snap stud 60b. Thus, when the fastening ends 24 surround the ear straps 12 of the face mask 10, the hook piece is pushed together with the loop piece, thereby removably attaching the mask leash 20 to the face mask 10. While these two embodiments are described in detail, alternative fastening ends may additionally be used, including but not limited to clip mechanisms, swivel lobster claw clip mechanisms, and general hook mechanisms, among other configurations. Any fastening end mechanism may be utilized so long as the mechanism allows for the repeated attachment, removal, and reattachment of the fastening end 24 to the ear strap 12 of a face mask 10.
A method of manufacturing and utilizing the mask leash 20 is also disclosed. First, the elongated textile 22 is cut to a predetermined size, preferably 32 inches from end to end. Next, the selected fastening mechanism for each fastening end 24 are installed onto each end of the elongated textile 22. The fastening mechanism is installed using different methods depending on the type of fastening mechanism is being utilized for the fastening end 24. For example, when snap fastener ends 60 are utilized, a snap installation machine is utilized to install the snap fastener ends 60 onto the elongated textile 22. Alternatively, if a hook and loop fastening mechanism is utilized, the hook and loop mechanisms may be sewn onto the elongated textile 22. Generally, each fastening mechanism will be installed by sewing and/or crimping the fastening mechanism onto the fastening end 24.
Once the fastening mechanism is installed, the elongated textile 22 is cut into two portions, a left textile portion 22a and a right textile portion 22b. Preferably, the elongated textile 22 is cut in half during this step, such that the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b are the same size. Alternatively, the elongated textile 22 may be cut at different locations, thus creating asymmetrical elongated textile portions 22a and 22b without departing from the method disclosed.
Once the elongated textile 22 is cut, the breakaway clasp 30 is then installed onto the end of the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b opposing the fastening ends 24. The breakaway clasp 30 is preferably installed by threading the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b through each textile-to-clasp connector 32 of the breakaway clasp 30 and then sewing the elongated textile 22 to itself. Alternatively, the breakaway clasp 30 may be secured to the textile-to-clasp connector 32 by using a metal crimp to secure the elongated textile 22 to itself after threading through the textile-to-clasp connector 32 of the breakaway clasp 30.
In the alternative embodiment using a snap-style textile-to-clasp connector, the breakaway clasp 30 is installed by inserting the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b between the base piece and snap piece of the snap-style textile-to-clasp connector. Then the snap piece is snapped into the base piece, thereby securing the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b to the snap-style textile-to-clasp connector. Glue may be used to permanently affix the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b to the snap-style textile-to-clasp connector as well. Alternative means of installing the breakaway clasp 30 to the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b may be utilized as well without departing from the concepts disclosed herein.
Once the mask leash 20 has been manufactured utilizing the above method, the mask leash 20 may be removably attached to each ear strap 12 of a face mask 10. This is performed by surrounding the ear strap 12 with the fastening end 24 of the elongated textile 22, and attaching the fastening mechanism to itself. An example of this is shown in
Importantly, this method can be performed by only touching the mask leash 20 and ear straps 12 of the face mask 10, and thereby preventing contact with the mask portion of the face mask 10. Thus, the mask leash 20 will removably secure the face mask 10 around the nape of the neck of a user, preventing contamination by foreign surfaces, while allowing a user to don and doff the face mask 10 without contacting the front piece of the face mask 10, thereby preventing contamination by the user's hands and vice versa.
For a user to utilize the mask leash 20, the user will first attach the fastening ends 24 of the mask leash 20 to the ear straps 12 of a face mask 10 as described above. Next, the user may hang the mask leash 20 from the nape of their neck by placing the mask leash 20 and face mask 10 over the user's head to hang on the nape of the user's neck. Alternatively, the user may open the breakaway clasp 30 and re-clasp the breakaway clasp 30 at the nape of the user's neck. Once the user hangs the mask leash 20 and face mask 10 from the nape of their neck, the user then attaches the face mask 10 to their face by touching only the ear straps 12 of the face mask 10 and the mask leash 20 itself.
Alternatively, a user may utilize the mask leash 20 by first hanging the mask leash 20 around the nape of the user's neck, then attaching the mask leash 20 to the ear straps 12 of the face mask 10. As previously described, once the user hangs the mask leash 20 and face mask 10 from the nape of their neck, the user then attaches the face mask 10 to their face. This can similarly be accomplished by only touching the mask leash 20 and the ear straps 12 of the face mask 10.
While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood to persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.
