Protective Face Covering System

Abstract

A protective face covering system is provided, which includes one or both of a substantially transparent face shield and an air filtering face mask. Both the face shield and face mask are removably positionable in front of the face of the user without straps or bands. A dual adhesive engagement holds the face mask in a sealed contact with the face of the user, and one of a secondary adhesive engagement or a slit engaged to the eyewear of the user holds the face shield in front of the face of the user.

Claims

1. A protective face covering apparatus, comprising: a substantially transparent face shield, said face shield having a shield body, said shield body having a first side opposite a second side, said body having a first end opposite a second end; a first mounting area on said first side of said shield body; said first mounting area having a first strapless connector thereon, said first strapless connector positionable to a first connection with a face of a user; a second mounting area on said second side of said shield body; said second mounting area having a second strapless connector thereon, said second strapless connector positionable to a second connection with a face of a user; and said first connection with said face of said user in combination with said second connection with said face of said user removably holding said face shield to an as-used positioning with said body in front of the eyes and mouth of said user.

2. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said first strapless connector being a first adhesive section positioned on said first mounting area; said second strapless connector being a second adhesive section positioned on said second mounting area; said first connection with said face of said user being a first adhesive engagement thereto, of said first adhesive section; and said second connection with said face of said user being a second adhesive engagement thereto, of said second adhesive section.

3. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said first strapless connector being a first slit formed through said body at said first mounting area; said second strapless connector being a second slit formed through said body at said second mounting area; said first connection with said face of said user being an engagement of said first slit around a first temple of eyewear worn by said user; said second connection with said face of said user being an engagement of said second slit around a second temple of said eyewear worn by said user.

4. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said first mounting area being a first projecting portion of said shield body extending from said first side of said shield body; and said second mounting area being a second projecting portion of said shield body extending from said second side of said shield body.

5. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: said first mounting area being a first projecting portion of said shield body extending from said first side of said shield body; and said second mounting area being a second projecting portion of said shield body extending from said second side of said shield body.

6. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising: a plurality of said face shields positioned on a roll of adjacently positioned shield bodies, each shield body having said first end thereof in a frangible engagement with a second end of a said adjacently positioned shield body, whereby a user can remove one of said plurality of face shields for positioning to said as-used position, by a tearing of said frangible engagement.

6. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: a plurality of said face shields positioned on a roll of adjacently positioned shield bodies, each shield body having said first end thereof in a frangible engagement with a second end of a said adjacently positioned shield body, whereby said user can remove one of said plurality of face shields for positioning to said as-used position, by a tearing of said frangible engagement.

8. A face mask apparatus comprising: a face mask having a face mask body formed of air filtration material; a first adhesive area having an inner edge thereof, said inner edge substantially surrounding a central area of said face mask body; a second adhesive area, said second adhesive area forming a ring substantially surrounding all of said first adhesive area; said first adhesive area having a first cover thereon, said first cover being removable from said first adhesive area; said second adhesive area have a second cover thereon, said second cover being removable; and said face mask body being engageable in a first adhesive engagement of said first adhesive area to the face of a user, to an as-used positioning thereon, with said first cover removed from said first adhesive area, and with said second cover being positioned upon said second adhesive area.

9. The face mask apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising: said face mask body being engageable in a second adhesive engagement of said second adhesive area to the face of a user, subsequent to a disengagement of said first adhesive engagement, by removal of said second cover from said second adhesive area, and a repositioning said mask to said as-used position.

10. The face mask apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising: a recess depending into said inner edge of said first adhesive area adjacent a top end of said face mask body; a length of said recess defining a central portion of said first adhesive area adjacent said top end of said face mask body; and said central portion of said first adhesive area positionable to a sealed engagement with a bridge area of a nose of said user with said mask in said as-used position, whereby exhaled air from said user is blocked by said sealed engagement from exhausting said top portion of said face mask.

11. The face mask apparatus of claim 9, additionally comprising: a recess depending into said inner edge of said first adhesive area adjacent a top end of said face mask body; a length of said recess defining a central portion of said first adhesive area adjacent said top end of said face mask body; and said central portion of said first adhesive area positionable to a sealed engagement with a bridge area of a nose of said user with said mask in said as-used position, whereby exhaled air from said user is blocked by said sealed engagement from exhausting said top portion of said face mask.

12. The protective face covering apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: the face mask apparatus of claim 9; said face covering apparatus of claim 1 forming a substantially transparent shield positioned in front of an area of a face of said user, said area including the eyes, nose, and mouth of said user; and said face mask apparatus of claim 9 forming an air filtering covering in contact with said face of said user in a filtering area, said filtering area covering said nose and said mouth of said user.

Description

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts the face shields of the system herein which are adapted for adhesive engagement to a face of a user, which are sequentially positioned in a roll, which is adapted for operative engagement within a conventional roll dispenser.

[0030] FIG. 1A shows an overhead view of a stack of face shields of the system herein, which are dispensed from the stack thereof, which may be dispensed from a container, such as a box or the like.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the face shields of FIG. 1 showing an alternative non-strap engagement using slits defining apertures located in mounting areas and showing a frangible connection between adjacent shields, which renders the plastic easily separable without damaging either of the adjacent shields.

[0032] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of a face shield of the system herein, as in FIG. 1, having a particularly favored shape and configuration, providing mounting locations which projected from side edges which have slits to achieve a frictional non slip engagement upon temples of eyewear worn by the user.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a view of a face shield, as in FIG. 1, but with adhesive sections positioned in the mounting locations projecting from the side edge of the shield, which will hold them to or adjacent the temples of the face of a user to form the strapless engagement.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a strapless engagement of the shield, of FIG. 4, to the face of the user where adhesive sections form the strapless connectors to the temple areas of the face of the user holds the face shield in a curved configuration in front of the face of the user.

[0035] FIG. 6 depicts the face shield device of FIG. 4 wherein slits defining apertures are formed in the mounting areas projecting from the side edge of the shield and form a strapless connector which forms a frictional contact on opposing sides of eyewear temples worn by the user.

[0036] FIG. 7 depicts the system herein having air filtering face masks which are configured on a rear surface for a strapless adhesive engagement to a user, where the face masks can be torn from a roll positioned on a dispenser.

[0037] FIG. 7A shows an overhead view of a stack of individual air filtering face masks as in FIG. 7 but which are dispensed from the stack of face masks which may be positioned in a container such as a box.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a rear side surface of the air filtering face mask herein, showing removable adhesive coverings which cover two different areas encircling the perimeter area of the filtering face mask and showing an arched area of the adhesive configured for sealed engagement on the bridge of the nose of the user.

[0039] FIG. 9 depicts the filtering face mask of FIG. 8 showing a first cover on the first adhesive area on the rear surface of the filtering face mask, whereby the first adhesive area my be exposed and engaged to the face of the user, as in FIG. 10.

[0040] FIG. 10 shows the rear of the air filtering face mask of FIG. 8-9 where the first adhesive area forming a first adhesive connection with the face of the user is exposed, once the first covering is removed, and a second covering on a second adhesive area on the rear of the face mask is shown being removed.

[0041] FIG. 11 shows both the filtering face mask of FIGS. 8-10 where the first adhesive area exposed as well as the second adhesive area being exposed once the respective protective coverings thereon have been removed.

[0042] FIG. 12 shows the face masks of FIGS. 8-11 operatively engaged in an adhesive connection to the face of the user wherein a seal if formed around a perimeter area of the face mask and over the bridge area of the nose of the user to prevent airflow causing eyeglass fogging and dry eyes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0043] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. They are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0044] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-12, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a first mode of the system 10 herein wherein face shields 14 having a shield body 15 formed of substantially clear plastic or polymeric material are configured for a strapless engagement to the face of the user as shown in FIG. 5-6.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the shield body 15 of the face shields 14 is configured in a shape adapted for an adhesive engagement to a face of a user. Each of the face shields 14 has a shield body 15 which is sequentially positioned in a roll 18, which is adapted for operative engagement within a conventional roll dispenser housing 20.

[0046] The dispensed face shields 14, as shown in FIG. 1 or 1A, preferably have the configuration of the shield body 15 of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 which include mounting areas 32 which project from the perimeter edge defining the shield body 14 on opposing sides thereof. The strapless connection to the face of the user is achieved either by the slits 40 shown in FIG. 3 which frictionally engage with two sides of an eyeglass temple 41 as in FIG. 6, or the strapless connection may be achieved by the adhesive sections 34 positioned on the mounting areas 32 of the shield body 15 on the opposing sides thereof as in FIG. 4.

[0047] The face shields 14 may be dispensed from a plurality thereof, such as a stack of face shields 14 of the system 10 herein, which may be dispensed from such a stack held in a container, such as a box 17 or the like. Alternatively, and as noted and preferred, to keep the face shields 14 from sticking together, such as with static attraction in a stack, the face shields 14 may be dispensed from a roll 18 thereof, which has a plurality of face shields 14 having a tearable or frangible connection 22 between a first end of one face shield 14 and a second end of the engaged face shield 14.

[0048] The roll configuration of FIG. 1 is shown enlarged in the depiction of FIG. 2. As shown, the frangible portion 22 located between a first end of one face shield 14 and a second end of the other, has a gap 21 and a plurality of connectors 23 formed of the same polymeric or plastic material forming the substantially transparent shield body 15 of the face shields 14. Currently, three connections 23 have been found in experimentation to allow for a secure engagement but also allow for easy detachment of the shields 14 from each other.

[0049] This ease of detachment was found best when the three connectors 23 were between 0.5 mil to 1.5 mils wide, and the transparent plastic or polymeric material forming the shield body is between 4-10 mils in thickness. While a lesser number of connectors 23 may be employed, or another frangible or tearable attachment to achieve the roll 18 dispensing of the face shield 14, the easiest defacement with the least damage or folding or creasing of the adjacent shield bodies 15 was achieved with the three connectors 23 and gap 21 as described.

[0050] In FIGS. 3-4 is shown a front view of the transparent shield body 15 of a face shield 14 of the system 10 herein as in FIGS. 1-2. As shown is the particularly favored shape and configuration of the shield body 15 which has mounting areas 32 which project from the perimeter edge of the shield boy 15 on opposing sides thereof. The mounting areas have a connector thereon, which forms a strapless engagement to the face and person of the user. This strapless connector can be provided by either the slits 40 formed into the projecting mounting areas 32, or by adhesive sections 34 positioned thereon which would be covered by a peelable cover 35. Either will form a strapless connection to the head of the user with the shield 14 in an as-used positioning, shown in FIGS. 5-6.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the slits 40 formed through the projecting mounting areas 32 of the shield body 15 are preferred. This is because the slit 40, as cut, positions the opposing edges 40A and 40B of each slit 40 touching or almost touching each other, with a separation distance such that the two side edges of each slit 40, which will contact against side edges of an eyeglass temple 41, such as shown in FIG. 6. The separation between the two sides of the slit would best be a distance less than a thickness of an eyeglass temple 41 such as between 1/32 to 1/16 of an inch. This contact of the two side edges 40A and 40B of the slit 40, thus, forms a biased frictional engagement on each side of the temple 41, because the polymeric or plastic material forming the shield body 15 will bend slightly to accommodate insertion of the temple 41, and then contact it biasly.

[0052] As noted, in FIG. 4 is shown the face shield 14, as in FIG. 1, but with the strapless connector to the head of a user formed by adhesive sections 34 positioned in the mounting areas 32 which are formed to project from the opposing side edges of the shield body 15. Once the peelable cover 35 is removed from the adhesive section 34, a strapless connection provided by strapless connectors to the face of the user can be achieved by adhering the adhesive sections 34 to the skin of the face of the user. The strapless connection of such adhesive sections 34, positioned on the mounting areas 32, is shown in FIG. 5. As shown a strapless connection is formed by the two adhesive sections 34 to the temple areas of the face of the user.

[0053] The face shield 14, in an as-used positioning, in front of the face of a user 46, is shown in both FIGS. 5-6, as noted. In FIG. 5, the strapless connector, as noted, is formed by the adhesive sections 34 engaged with the face of the user 46. In FIG. 6, the as-used positioning is maintained by the strapless connector in the form of the slit 40, where the two side egises 40A and 40B biasly engage the temple 41 (FIG. 3).

[0054] Shown in FIG. 7 is a secondary personal protective component of an air filtering face mask 16 of the system 10 herein which, as noted, may be employed individually or in combination with the face shield 14. As shown, an air filtering body 19 of the face mask 16 is formed of fabric or paper or other material which will filter particulate and pathogens from air breathed by the user 46. Such materials are well known in the art and generally can be layered or pleated or otherwise formed to have passages through the material sized to prevent particulate and pathogens therethrough. The face body 19 is formed currently 3 and ¾ inches tall and 7 inches in width, to allow for good facial coverage but such may vary, and small, medium, and larger sizes can be made.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 7A, the face masks 16 may be dispensed from a roll 18 where separable areas 33, such as by perforation between the perimeter edge of the face mask body 19, allow for separating each face mask 16 in the roll 18. Just as preferred, the face masks 16 can be individually dispensed from a stack thereof, such as in FIG. 7A which are positioned on a support surface or in a container such as a box 27.

[0056] In FIGS. 8-11 are shown a rear side surface of the face mask body 19 for filtering air which passes therethrough which is opposite the front surface shown in FIG. 7. As shown, positioned substantially around the entire perimeter area of the mask body 19, are the strapless connector therefor in the form of a first adhesive area 38 and a second adhesive area 39. The first adhesive area 38 is covered initially by a first cover 48 and the second adhesive area 39 is covered by a second cover 50, both of which can be peeled away to expose the underlying adhesive area 38 or 39. One or both of the first adhesive area 38 and second adhesive area 39 form the strapless connector to hold the face mask 16 to the face of a user 46. Such is shown in FIG. 11, where the face mask 16 is held in a strapless but substantially sealed engagement of the perimeter area 54 upon the face of a user 46.

[0057] Each of the first adhesive area 38 and second adhesive area 39 are configured to form an annular or ring-like seal around substantially an entire perimeter area of the face mask 16 face body 19 to form a sealed attachment to the face of a user 46. The face mask 16 can be straplessly connected in a first configuration, such as in FIG. 10, where only the first adhesive area 38 is exposed, and will hold the face mask 16 on the user 46 as in FIG. 11.

[0058] The user 46, thus, removes the face mask 16 temporarily such as for a work break or eating or such, and if the face mask 16 will not adequately form a seal around the perimeter area 54, the second cover 50 may be removed from the second adhesive area 39, and the face mask 16 can be reengaged with substantially a sealed engagement to the face of the user 46 around the perimeter areas 54 provided by the second adhesive area 39 in combination with the first adhesive area 38. This mode of the face mask 16 is especially preferred as a means to use less face masks 16 at venues using them since the sealed engagement around the perimeter area 54 can be renewed.

[0059] While shown as annular or ring like formations completely encircling the perimeter areas 54 of the face mask body 19 of air filtering material, to thereby prevent air from circumventing it, there could be small gaps therein and still yield a strapless connector to the face of a user 46 which allows for removal and re engagement once the second cover 50 is removed from the second adhesive area 38. However, where such may occur or be configured, the second adhesive area 39, surrounding the interior located first adhesive area 38, will generally still provide a sealed engagement to the face of a user 46 that will prevent passage of air around the filtering fabric forming the face mask body 19.

[0060] Additionally preferred, in all modes of the protective face mask 16 portion of the system 10, whether used alone or in combination with a shield, is the curved recess 56 formed into the interior edge of and defining a central portion of the first adhesive area 38. An enhanced sealed engagement of the first adhesive area 38, over and around the bridge 60 of the nose of a user, was found after much experimentation to be yielded by this curved recess 56 formed into the interior edge of the first adhesive area 38.

[0061] As can be seen in FIGS. 10-11 this interior edge 52 surrounds the filtering material forming the face mask body 19. The interior edge 52 angles downward from the top two corners of the mask body 19 to form the central portion of the first adhesive area 38 wider than the first adhesive area 38 adjacent and along the opposing sides. The relief area provided by the curved recess 56 formed into the interior edge 52 made the central area defined by the area of the recess 56 more flexible and better engaged over the bridge 60 area of the nose. The two wider areas of the first adhesive area 38 formed by the downward angling interior edge 52, position wider portions on opposing sides of the nose of the user. The formed sealed engagement allows the face mask 16 to eliminate the uncomfortable wires used in conventional masks to achieve a sealed engagement over the nose which prevents exhaled are from moving upward and from fogging glasses and the like.

[0062] As noted, FIG. 12 shows the face mask 16 of FIGS. 8-11 operatively engaged in an adhesive connection to the face of the user. As shown, a seal is formed around a perimeter area 54 of the face mask body 19, and also over the bridge area 60 of the nose of the user 46. If the second adhesive area 39 has not been exposed, the face mask 16 can easily be removed from this as-used engagement for a duration of time, and then reattached with a significantly better seal which is afforded by the second adhesive area 39 once the second cover 50 is removed before such re attachment.

[0063] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the protective face covering system have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are considered included within the scope of the protective face covering system invention as defined herein and by the following claims.