The application relates to face masks and, more particularly, to face masks that cover the user's eyes, nose, and mouth.
Face masks are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is commonly worn by a user to protect the user from harmful, or otherwise undesired, foreign particulate matter. This may include, for example, pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungus, etc.), dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. In effect, face masks may also prevent the spread of particulate matter (e.g., respirable particulate matter) from the user to the user's environment.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the importance of wearing PPE, especially in public places. As a result, the global stock of face masks has come into short supply, prompting those in search of PPE to improvise ways of fabricating their own face masks, many of which are ill-fitting or not effective, or to go without. Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of PPE.
Disclosed are face masks that include glasses, nosepieces, and mouth coverings.
In one embodiment, the protective eye-ware of the present invention may comprise glasses configured to be worn by a user and may include a nose bridge. A face mask extends from the glasses and may include a nosepiece preferably having a curved body portion, and an attachment portion disposed along the top of the body portion. The attachment portion may include an attachment feature configured to securely attach the nosepiece to the bridge of the glasses. A mouth covering may extend from the bottom of the body portion and substantially cover the user's mouth.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the attachment feature may include a clip that receives a portion of the bridge. Further, the mouth covering may include a filter portion and an outer edge portion that extends along the perimeter of the filter portion. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the mouth covering includes a transparent mouth shield within the center of the filter portion to facilitate visibility of mouth movements by the user.
Other examples of the disclosed face mask will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific examples described by the disclosure. Other examples having different structures and operations do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals may refer to the same feature, element, or component in the different drawings.
Illustrative, non-exhaustive examples, which may be, but are not necessarily, claimed, of the subject matter according to the present disclosure are provided below. Reference herein to “example” means that one or more feature, structure, element, component, characteristic and/or operational step described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment and/or implementation of the subject matter according to the present disclosure. Thus, the phrase “an example” and similar language throughout the present disclosure may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same example. Further, the subject matter characterizing any one example may, but does not necessarily, include the subject matter characterizing any other example.
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Any structurally sound type of glasses 20 may be utilized. This may include, for example, safety glasses (e.g., “goggles”), prescription eyeglasses, conventional sunglasses, and the like. In preferred embodiments, the glasses 20 may include a bridge 22 (e.g., between the lenses 24) that, as discussed below, may facilitate the attachment of the nosepiece 40.
The nosepiece 40 includes a body 42 and an attachment portion 50 disposed along the top 44 of the body 42. The attachment portion 50 further includes an attachment feature 52 that enables the nosepiece 40 to be attached to the glasses 20. As shown, the attachment portion 50 may be configured to overlay on top of the glasses 20, along the center. The attachment portion 50 may be curved inwards along the vertical dimension of the attachment portion 50 so as to minimize, if not eliminate, any obstruction to the user's vision. Further, considering as how glasses 20 of varying dimensions may be used, it is generally contemplated that the size and shape of the attachment portion 50, including the attachment feature 52, may also vary commensurate with the dimensions of the glasses 20 actually used.
The nosepiece 40 may be fabricated out of any suitable material such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polylactic acid (PLA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET), nylon, carbon fiber, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polycarbonate, polypropylene, metal, wood, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), combinations thereof, and/or the like.
In one or more examples, the attachment feature may be configured to attach to the bridge 22 of the glasses 20. In effect, doing so may secure the nosepiece 40 and the mouth covering 60 to the glasses 20, while also transferring the weight of the nosepiece 40 and mouth covering 60 to the user at the bridge 22 and the temples 26 of the glasses 20. This attachment may be removeable or permanent, and may be achieved in one or more of a variety of different ways. In one example, the attachment feature 52 may include a clip 54 that may receive a portion of the bridge 22 in a press fit, friction fit, snap fit, some combination thereof, or the like arrangement (
In one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the nosepiece 40 (including the body 42 and the attachment portion 50) and the mouth covering may be fabricated (e.g., molded) with the glasses 20 as a single monolithic piece.
The body 42 of the nosepiece 40 may be sized and shaped as appropriate to receive the nose of the user. As shown, the body 42 may define a generally concave, triangular shape that protrudes outward relative to the face of the user. Further, the body 42 may form an arcuate shape that substantially matches the curvature of the user's dorsum nasi. When worn by the user, the body 42 of the nosepiece 40 may be closely received over at least a portion of the dorsum nasi and preferably, may also cover the apex of the nose, as well as both alae (plural of ala).
In one embodiment, the mouth covering 60 may be attached to the bottom 46 of the nosepiece 40, extending downwards such that it covers at least a portion of the user's mouth (e.g., the user's philtum, lips, and mentolabial sulcus). In preferred embodiments, the mouth covering 60 may cover the user's mouth entirely in addition to portions of the user's chin and cheeks. As shown, the mouth covering 60 may include a gas permeable filter portion 62 and an outer edge portion 64 that encompasses the perimeter of the filter portion 62.
The outer edge portion 64 may be connected to the nosepiece 40 by any suitable means. For example, the outer edge portion 64 may be connected to the nosepiece 40 by way of an adhesive. In another example, the outer edge portion 64 may be connected to the nosepiece 40 by way of a mechanical fastener. In yet another example, the outer edge portion 64 may be integral with the nosepiece 40 (i.e., formed as a single monolithic piece).
The filter portion 62 may be sized and shaped to cover at least a majority of the user's mouth, and possibly also a portion of the user's nose (particularly around the apex and the alae). Ideally, the filter portion 62 should be gas permeable, so as to enable the user to breath, while also filtering out undesired particulate matter. Various materials may be used to fabricate the outer edge portion 64 such as, for example, silicone, neoprene, rubber, combinations thereof, and/or the like. The actual filter material of the filter portion 62 may be cloth or filter paper material, or layers thereof, or other filtering materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art of breathing filters.
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It is to be noted that the face mask 100 of the present disclosure may be worn with (i.e., in addition to) conventional face masks, or a conventional face mask may form a part of (i.e., be built into) the face mask 100. Examples of conventional face masks may include basic cloth face masks, surgical face masks, N95 respirators (e.g., the 3MTM Particulate Respirator 07048 available from 3M Corp. of Saint Paul, Minn.), KN95 respirators, and the like. Depending on the conventional face mask, the user may either put on the conventional face mask first, and then face mask 100 over it; or the user may drape the conventional face mask over face mask 100, most likely covering the mouth covering 60 and portions of the nosepiece 40.
Specifically in regards to N95 and KN95 respirators (as well as other types of conventional face masks that may have a shaped, relatively rigid structure), the attachment portion 50 and/or the nosepiece 40 may be raised relative to the face of the user such that a gap is present between the user's face and the nosepiece 40 and/or mouth covering 60. The N95/KN95 respirator may then be attached to face mask 100 (at any point along the attachment portion 50, nosepiece 40, and mouth covering 60) such that it is close to the user's face, but only touches very little of it, if any. This attachment may occur either over or under the nosepiece 40 and/or mouth covering 60, and by way of any suitable method of attachment (e.g., bendable metal clip/strips 84, adhesives, etc.). It is generally contemplated that by raising the attachment portion 50 and/or nosepiece 50 in this way, the user may be afforded greater airflow to and from the user's mouth while still providing some degree of protection from particulate matter. Such a configuration may be preferable to those with claustrophobia, or who are prone to anxiety attacks. Further, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, such a configuration may enable the N95/KN95 respirator to be worn without strings and/or straps.
In embodiments where both windows and conventional face masks are provided, holes or gaps 86 may be provided in the conventional face mask so as to not obstruct the view of the user's mouth. Of course, these holes or gaps 86 may ideally correspond in size, shape, number, and location to the window(s) provided in the mouth covering 60.
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In one or more examples, mouth shields 66 having different shapes, such as hemispherical, polygonal, and/or planar shapes, may also be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the mouth shield 66 may be fabricated with the nosepiece 40 and the glasses 20 as a single monolithic piece.
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The additional face shield 400 may be fabricated from a transparent or semi-transparent material, such as glass and/or a polymeric material. The additional face shield 400 may be curved or straight, and may be configured to cover at least a portion of the user's face. The size and shape of the additional face shield 400 are design considerations that may be varied as desired.
The inner rim 460 includes a body 462 that is curved to correspond with the curvature of a human forehead. The bottom portion 464 of the body 462 may be shaped to align with the top of a pair of glasses, and may define a channel 466 extending along the length of the body 462 within which the top of the glasses may be received. This configuration enables the inner rim 460 to be received over the user's forehead without uncomfortably abutting against it. In some embodiments, however, the inner rim 460 may be configured to rest against the user's forehead, though such is not required. Further, the attachment portions 50 of the nosepieces show in
The outer rim 440 includes a body 442 that extends past the inner rim 460 in an arcuate shape, though other shapes are also contemplated. This configuration enables the additional face shield 400, once attached, to prevent transmission and receipt of particulate matter, while also preventing the user's face from fogging or inadvertently contacting the additional face shield. Like with the inner rim 460, the body 442 of the outer rim 440 may be curved as appropriate to correspond with the shape of the additional face shield 400 (more specifically, an edge 402 of the additional face shield 400). The outer rim 440 may also include one or more clips 448 spaced along the length of the outer rim 440 to facilitate attachment of the additional face shield 400.
The temple attachment 480 may be configured to receive, or otherwise attach to, the temple 26 of the glasses 20. As shown, the temple attachment 480 may be fabricated as a hollow cylinder, though other shapes are also contemplated. In practice, the temples 26 of the glasses 20 may first be inserted through the temple attachments 480, and then raised into the channel 466 of the inner rim 460.
The inner rim 460, the outer rim 440, and the temple attachments 480 may be connected at end portions 490, 492. These end portions 490, 492 may be disposed proximate the temple of the user. In one example, the inner rim 460, the outer rim 440, and the temple attachments 480 may be fabricated as a single monolithic piece, converging at the end portions 490, 492. In another example, inner rim 460, the outer rim 440, and the temple attachments 480 may be fabricated as separate pieces and affixed together at the end portions 490, 492. Various other configurations may also be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Alternatively, in one or more examples, the additional face shield 400 and the mount 420 (including any components thereof), in part or in its entirety, may be fabricated with the glasses 20 as a single monolithic piece.
The various components of the mount may be fabricated out of any suitable material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polylactic acid (PLA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET), nylon, carbon fiber, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polycarbonate, polypropylene, metal, wood, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), combinations thereof, and/or the like.
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The 3D printer 100 may be any type of 3D printer including, but not limited to, stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), electronic beam melting (EBM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), binder jetting (BJ), material jetting (MJ), some combination thereof, or the like.
Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
Certain operations described herein may be performed by one or more electronic devices. Each electronic device may comprise one or more processors, electronic storage devices, executable software instructions, and the like configured to perform the operations described herein. The electronic devices may be general purpose computers or a specialized computing device. The electronic devices may comprise personal computers, smartphone, tablets, databases, servers, or the like. The electronic connections and transmissions described herein may be accomplished by wired or wireless means. The computerized hardware, software, components, systems, steps, methods, and/or processes described herein may serve to improve the speed and automation of the computerized hardware, software, systems, steps, methods, and/or processes described herein.
Although various examples of the disclosed face mask 100 have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
This application is a nonprovisional patent application and makes a priority claim to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/044,751, filed Jun. 26, 2020.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63044751 | Jun 2020 | US |