Patent Grant
11253051
Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to protective cases for face masks. Certain embodiments relate to protective cases for face masks including mechanisms for retaining the face mask within the case.
Protective face masks can prevent the spread of illness by providing a barrier between the external environment and a mouth and nose of a user. Protective face masks may also filter the air breathed by the user. Protective face masks often cover the lower portion of the user's face and are secured with a strap(s) and/or tie(s). The strap(s) and/or tie(s) may go around a user's head, or may secure around the user's ears. Protective face masks may be worn by healthcare workers, anyone working in an environment with large amounts of particulate matter in the air (e.g., firefighters, construction workers, etc.), and anyone in the general public who desires protection from pollution and/or illness.
When not in use, face masks may be at risk of getting dirty and/or damaged. Protective cases can hold face masks to prevent the accumulation of bacteria, pocket lint, and other elements of the surrounding environment, and help to reduce the chance of face masks getting damaged when not being worn. Protective cases may include hard shell-like exteriors or soft exteriors. Protective cases can have a variety of mechanisms for closing each case and retaining the face mask(s) within.
The disclosure includes a protective case, which, in some embodiments, includes a first portion, a second portion rotatably coupled to the first portion at a first point, a latching mechanism configured to detachably couple the first portion to the second portion at a second point located opposite the first point, and a cable configured to retain at least one object within an interior portion of at least one of the first portion and the second portion. The protective case may further comprise a plurality of gangways located on the interior portion of at least one of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the gangways may be configured to couple the cable to at least one of the first portion and the second portion.
In some embodiments, the protective case includes a belt clip located on a back portion of the second portion, wherein the belt clip is configured to receive at least one of a belt and a waistband to thereby enable a user to wear the protective case. The belt clip may comprise a plurality of tooth-like projections located on an interior portion of the belt clip such that when the belt clip receives at least one of the belt and the waistband, the tooth-like projections are configured to contact a surface of the at least one of the belt and the waistband that is opposite a surface of the at least one of the belt and the waistband located adjacent the back portion of the second portion. In some embodiments, the protective case further comprises a belt loop located on a back portion of the second portion, wherein the belt loop is configured to receive a belt to thereby couple the protective case to the belt.
The first portion of the protective case may comprise a channel located adjacent an outer edge of the first portion, the channel configured to receive an outer edge of the second portion. In some embodiments, when the channel of the first portion receives the outer edge of the second portion, a seal is created between the first portion and the second portion. The seal may comprise a seal that is substantially waterproof.
In many embodiments, at least one of the first portion and the second portion comprise a material configured to impart at least one of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties to the protective case. The material may comprise silver nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the cable comprises a material that is configured to stretch. The cable may further comprise a material configured to impart at least one of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties to the cable. The material may comprise silver nanoparticles.
In some embodiments, the first portion defines a first depth and the second portion defines a second depth, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth. The second depth may comprise a tapered depth such that a depth adjacent the first point is less than a depth adjacent the second point.
In many embodiments, the first portion couples to the second portion at the first point via a hinge. The latching mechanism may comprise a draw latch. In some embodiments, the draw latch comprises a loop and a retaining tab, wherein the loop is coupled to the first portion and the retaining tab is coupled to the second portion.
The at least one object may comprise at least one of a protective face mask and at least one replaceable filter. In some embodiments, the first portion is configured to retain the protective face mask and the second portion is configured to retain the at least one replaceable filter.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.
Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. Additionally, the structures, systems, and/or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.
For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein.
In some embodiments, the cable 22 is configured to knot, clamp, or the like around the first and last gangways in the plurality of gangways 28, and simply run through, without attaching to, the middle gangway(s) in the plurality of gangways 28. This may enable a user to more easily insert an object(s) in the first and/or second portions 12, 14 of the case 10, by providing more slack in the cable 22 such that the cable 22 is easily able to move and flex to allow insertion of an object(s). As shown in
In some embodiments, the first portion 12 comprises a channel 40 located adjacent an outer edge 42a of the first portion 12, where the channel 40 is configured to receive an outer edge 42b of the second portion 14 to thereby form a seal between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. The seal may be substantially waterproof. As the first portion 12 is configured to receive the second portion 14 via the channel 40, the channel 40 may be considered a female end of the channel 40 and the outer edge 42b of the second portion 14 may be considered a male end of the channel 40. In some embodiments, the outer edge 42a of the first portion 12 encircles the outer edge 42b of the second portion 14. The first portion 12 may include a raised perimeter configured to fit over and around the outer edge 42b of the second portion 14. The raised perimeter is visible in
In many embodiments, the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 comprise an at least semi-flexible material, such as plastic. In some embodiments, the plastic is bisphenol A (“BPA”) free for user safety. The first portion and second portion 12, 14 may comprise polypropylene (“PP”) plastic. In many embodiments, the first portion and second portion 12, 14 comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) plastic. Whether comprising PP or ABS plastic, or a combination thereof, in some embodiments the material of the first portion and second portion 12, 14 includes embedded silver nanoparticles. In many embodiments, the integration of silver nanoparticles into the first portion and second portion 12, 14 imparts at least one of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties to the protective case 10. In addition, the case 10 may be able to be washed, such as with warm water and soap, or rinsed, such as with rubbing alcohol, and re-used without breakdown of the material. In some embodiments, the cable 22 is also comprised of a material configured to impart at least one of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties to the cable 22. Similar to the material of the first and second portions 12, 14, the material of the cable 22 may include embedded silver nanoparticles and may be able to be washed with soap and water and/or rinsed with rubbing alcohol.
Other elements of the protective case 10, such as the latching mechanism 18 and the hinge 48, may be comprised of a different material than the cable 22 and first and second portions 12, 14. For example, at least one of the latching mechanism 18 and the hinge 48 may be comprised of a metallic material, a different plastic material, or any other suitable material. The latching mechanism 18 and the hinge 48 may be comprised of the same material(s) or different material(s). In some embodiments, the material(s) that comprise the latching mechanism 18 and the hinge 48 are resistant to rust and/or other environment-related degradation. In some embodiments, the plurality of gangways 28 are comprised of the same silver nanoparticle-embedded plastic as the first portion and second portion 12, 14. The plurality of gangways 28 may be comprised of a different material(s) than the first portion and second portion 12, 14.
It should be noted that the protective case 10 may include a variety of elements not shown in the figures or previously described in the disclosure. For example, the case 10 may be available in a variety of colors and/or patterns. In some embodiments, customizability of the case 10 is available via a removable cover(s). The case 10 may also be painted or otherwise decorated. The protective case 10 may also include a battery pack configured to enable charging of external devices from the case 10. In such an embodiment, the case 10 may include at least one charging port.
In some embodiments, the protective case 10 is configured for self-cleaning. The case 10 may include at least one of an antiseptic spray and a UV light configured to sanitize at least one of an interior and exterior of the case 10. For example, the case 10 may include a small cartridge of antiseptic (or other sanitizing) spray located on an interior of the case 10 that is configured to discharge the sanitizing spray upon the press of a button. The sanitizing spray may also be activated upon the occurrence of at least partially closing and/or latching the case 10. In some embodiments, the button is located on an exterior of the case 10. The button may be a button on a mobile application communicatively coupled to the protective case 10 through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or other wireless connection. In some embodiments, the case 10 includes a power source configured to provide power to, and enable the operation of, the sanitizing spray cartridge and associated elements (e.g., power button).
In addition to or instead of the sanitizing spray, the case 10 may include a UV light configured to sanitize at least one of an interior and exterior of the case 10. In some embodiments, the UV light is located on an interior portion of the case 10 that is configured to activate upon at least one of the press of a button and at least partially closing and/or latching of the case 10. Similar to the antiseptic spray, the button for activating the UV light may be located on an exterior of the case 10. The button may also be a button on a mobile application communicatively coupled to the protective case 10 through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or other wireless connection. In an embodiment with both a sanitizing spray and a UV light, the cleaning options may share a button. There may be separate buttons for the sanitizing spray and the UV light. The case may include a power source configured to provide power to, and enable the operation of, the UV light and associated elements (e.g., the power button). The protective case 10 may have other additional elements, including different cleaning elements, than those shown in the figures and described in the disclosure.
Interpretation
None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, or example in this specification can be combined or used with or instead of any other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart, or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.
The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” may include embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodiments described in other sections may apply to and be combined with embodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.
Some of the devices, systems, embodiments, and processes use computers. Each of the routines, processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computers, computer processors, or machines configured to execute computer instructions. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or tangible computer storage device, such as hard drives, solid state memory, flash memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile or non-volatile storage.
The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the order specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.
The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or” applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments can include A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.
The term “substantially” is used to mean “completely”, “nearly completely”, “exactly”, or “nearly exactly”. For example, the disclosure includes “the belt clip 30 may have a length that is substantially the same length as the belt loop 38.”. In this context, the term “substantially” indicates that the length of the belt clip is completely/exactly or nearly completely/exactly the same length as the belt loop.
The term “about” is used to mean “approximately”. For example, the disclosure includes “the depth of the whole protective case 10 may be about 82 mm.” In this context, the depth of the whole protective case is approximately 82 mm. A depth between 65 and 100 mm may fall into the range of “about 82 mm” in the context of this disclosure.
While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein.
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| Filters Fast—Reusable Mesh Particulate Respirator Mask Meets N95 N99 Standard—Downloaded Apr. 8, 2020 from <URL: https://www.filtersfast.com/p-RZ-Mask-M2-Black-Mesh-Mask.asp>. |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20210401157 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |
