Safety Face Mask

Abstract

A breathing protective face mask worn over the users face to prevent disease transmission is disclosed. In particular, the present invention pertains to face masks that are used episodically. The face mask comprises a screen for covering the wearer's nose and mouth; and a lanyard connectable to the screen so as to hang freely below the worn screen for the wearer to episodically pull the screen off and on their head, wherein the lanyard is disconnect-able by a preselected tension.

Claims

1. A face mask for inhibiting the spread of airborne substances to and from a wearer, comprising: a screen for covering the wearer's nose and mouth; and a lanyard connectable to the screen so as to hang freely below the worn screen for the wearer to episodically pull the screen off and on their head, wherein the lanyard is disconnect-able by a preselected tension.

2. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard disconnects by breaking away.

3. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard has a tensile load capacity to sustain up to the preselected tension between 10 and 40 N.

4. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard comprises a weakest portion to sustain up to the preselected tension.

5. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is arranged to disconnect at a location proximate the screen.

6. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard disconnects by breaking away and said lanyard is reconnectable by the wearer.

7. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is connectable and disconnect-able at the same location.

8. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is connectable to the screen at two locations so as to form a loop to hang freely below the worn screen.

9. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is connectable proximate to the screen corners of the worn screen for covering the wearer's right and left cheek respectively.

10. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is connectable proximate to the screen corner of the screen for covering the wearer's right or left check.

11. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the lanyard is connectable to the screen proximate an edge the worn screen across the wearer's chin.

12. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension.

13. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension wherein the connector comprises a pair of magnets which break away from each other and are reconnectable.

14. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension wherein the connector comprises a reconnect-able snap connector.

15. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension wherein the connector comprises a hook and loop fastener commonly called Velcro which rips apart by the pre-selected tension in the lanyard.

16. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension where the lanyard comprises the connector.

17. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension wherein the lanyard comprises a first part of the connector and the screen comprises a second part of the connector which is disconnect-able from the first part and reconnectable to the first part.

18. The face mask according to claim 1 comprising a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension wherein the screen comprises the connector.

19. The face mask according to claim 1 wherein the screen comprises a pouch for a reusable filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a face mask according the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and use the invention.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a perspective view of a face mask 100 for inhibiting the spread of airborne substances to and from a wearer who is not shown.

[0028] The face mask comprises a screen 120 for covering the wearer's nose and mouth. The face mask also comprises a lanyard 150 connectable to the screen 120 so as to hang freely below the worn screen 120 for the wearer to episodically pull the screen 120 off and on their head. Especially the lanyard is useful for pulling the screen off the wearer's face while the head straps 110, 115 let the screen 120 hang from the wearer's head or ears. The lanyard has a first magnet 140 at first end. The screen 120 has a second magnet 130 located at a corner 123 of the screen 120 which covers the wearer's cheek below an ear. The lanyard 150 is disconnect-able by a preselected tension which pulls apart the first and second magnets 130, 140.

[0029] The lanyard 150 is of suitable length for use in suspending the face mask below the face upon the wearer's neck or chest when the face mask is not in position over the mouth and nose for the purpose of inhibiting the spread of airborne transmittable communicable diseases.

[0030] Head straps 110, 115 are ear straps. First ear strap 110 holds the face mask 100 to the wearer's left ear. Second ear strap 115 holds the face mask 100 to the wearer's right ear. The ear straps 110, 115 are used to hold the face mask (120) in position over the wearers mouth and nose.

[0031] A first end 113,118 of each ear strap 110, 115 is connected to the screen 120 proximate a corner of the screen 121, 122 which covers a corner of the wearer's cheek above the wearer's ears. A second end 112,117 of each ear strap 110, 115 is connected to the screen 120 proximate a corner of the screen 123, 124 which covers a corner of the wearer's cheek below the wearer's ears.

[0032] Second magnet 130 is located in an outer edge corner of the screen 120 proximate the corner 123 that can magnetically couple with the paired lanyard end magnet 140.

[0033] The magnets 130, 140 are sized so as to provide sufficient hold strength to ensure that the face mask 120 and the lanyard 150 remains connectively attached when the weight of the screen 120 is not in use over the mouth and nose and is suspended from the lanyard 150 about the neck or chest of the wearer. The magnets 130, 140 are permanent magnets that magnetically couple (connectively attach to each other) when the poles of each magnet naturally attract each other bringing and keeping the magnets in contact with each other.

[0034] The strength of the coupling of the magnets is determined by the dimensions and shape of the magnets. As used in the apparatus of the present invention the magnets are sized so as to yield to decoupling under any force pulling the screen 120 and the lanyard 150 apart from each other or away from the body of the wearer amounting to no more force than needed to suspend the weight of the screen 120 securely from the lanyard 150.

[0035] Other optional means and methods of securing the screen 120 and the lanyard 150 together include, but are not limited to, attaching the lanyard 150 to the screen 120 with such other connective attachment means and methods as snaps, hook-and-loop connectors, and bendable metal tabs positioned where the magnets 130, 140 are located to enable the quick release for safety of the connection between the screen 120 and the lanyard 150.

[0036] While the face mask 100 may be provide without the capacity to insert breathing filter media into the screen 120, the preferred embodiment further comprises an opening and or positioning elements on the face side of the face mask 120 to add or remove breathing filter media for the purpose of filtering the air being breathed by the wearer's mouth or nose. This opening can be any size or configuration needed for enabling breathing filter media to be securely connectively attached by the screen (120) over the wearers mouth and nose depending upon the breathing filter media to be used in combination with apparatus of the present invention.

[0037] The apparatus of the present invention may be comprised of any human use suitable fabric for the screen 120, ear straps 110, and lanyard 150, to include, but not be limited to, fabrics and materials that are washable, disposable, and recyclable. The material of the screen (120) is suitable for human use in breathing through so as to not inhibit or unduly prevent normal breathing.

[0038] Although the invention has been explained in relation to various embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.