Mask Leash

Abstract

The present invention is for mask leash. The mask leash is a system for removably securing a face mask to a person while the face mask is not being worn on the person's face. The mask leash includes an elongated textile made up of a left textile portion and a right textile portion, and at least two fastening ends. The mask leash also includes a breakaway clasp securing the left textile portion to the right textile portion. A method of manufacturing and utilizing the mask leash is also described.

Claims

1. A system for securing a face mask to a person, the system comprising: an elongated textile; and at least two fastening ends; wherein each of the fastening ends are located at each end of the elongated textile; and wherein each of the fastening ends are configured to removably attach to a left ear strap and right ear strap of a face mask.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a breakaway clasp; wherein the elongated textile includes a left textile portion and a right textile portion; wherein the breakaway clasp removably attaches the left textile portion to the right textile portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastening ends are made up of snap fastener ends, wherein the snap fastener ends include a female snap socket and a male snap stud.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fastening ends are made up of snap fastener ends, wherein the snap fastener ends includes a female snap socket and a male snap stud.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastening ends are made up of hook and loop fasteners.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the fastening ends are made up of hook and loop fasteners.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the breakaway clasp is sewn onto the left textile portion and the right textile portion.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the breakaway clasp includes a left base piece and a right base piece, and a left snap piece and a right snap piece, wherein the breakaway clasp attaches to the left textile portion by snapping the left snap piece into the left base piece while the left textile portion is positioned between the left snap piece and left base piece, and wherein the breakaway clasp attaches to the right textile portion by snapping the right snap piece into the right base piece while the right textile portion is positioned between the right snap piece and right base piece.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated textile is 32 inches long by ⅜ inches wide by 1/25 inches thick.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the left textile portion is 16 inches long by ⅜ inches wide by 1/25 inches thick, and the right textile portion is 16 inches long by ⅜ inches wide by 1/25 inches thick.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated textile is a flat rectangular polyester material.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated textile is a cylindrical cord.

13. A system for securing a face mask to a person, the system comprising: an elongated textile; at least two fastening ends; and a breakaway clasp; wherein the elongated textile includes a left textile portion and a right textile portion; wherein the breakaway clasp includes a male end and a female end; wherein one end of the left textile portion includes one of the fastening ends and the opposing end of the left textile portion includes the female end of the breakaway clasp; wherein one end of the right textile portion includes one of the fastening ends and the opposing end of the right textile portion includes the male end of the breakaway clasp; wherein the male end of the breakaway clasp removably attaches to the female end of the breakaway clasp to removably secure the right textile portion to the left textile portion; and wherein each of the fastening ends are configured to removably attach to a left ear strap and right ear strap of a face mask.

13. The system of claim 13, wherein the fastening ends are made up of snap fastener ends, wherein the snap fastener ends include a female snap socket and a male snap stud.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the fastening ends are made up of hook and loop fasteners.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the breakaway clasp is sewn onto the left textile portion and the right textile portion.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the breakaway clasp further comprises: a left base piece and a right base piece, and a left snap piece and a right snap piece; wherein the left base piece and left snap piece are located on the opposite end of the breakaway clasp from the female end of the breakaway clasp; wherein the right base piece and right snap piece are located on the opposite end of the breakaway clasp from the male end of the breakaway clasp; wherein the breakaway clasp attaches to the left textile portion by snapping the left snap piece into the left base piece while the left textile portion is positioned between the left snap piece and left base piece; and wherein the breakaway clasp attaches to the right textile portion by snapping the right snap piece into the right base piece while the right textile portion is positioned between the right snap piece and right base piece.

17. A method of manufacturing and utilizing an apparatus for securing a face mask to a person, the method comprising: cutting an 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; installing a breakaway clasp to the end of the right textile portion and left textile portion opposing the fastening mechanisms; and attaching the fastening mechanism to each ear strap of a face mask.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: removing the fastening mechanism from each ear strap of a face mask.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the fastening mechanism are snap fastener ends.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the fastening mechanisms are hook and loop fasteners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] 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:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the mask leash secured to a face mask in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the mask leash of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a breakaway clasp of the mask leash of FIG. 1 in a coupled configuration.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the breakaway clap of the mask leash of FIG. 1 in a disconnected configuration.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a fastening end of the mask leash of FIG. 1 in a disconnected configuration.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a fastening end of the mask leash of FIG. 1 in a connected configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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. FIGS. 1-6 depict the preferred embodiment of the mask leash 20. FIG. 1 depicts the mask leash 20 removably attached to a face mask 10. The mask leash 20 is made of an elongated textile 22 with at least two fastening ends 24, each located at an end of the elongated textile 22. Each of the fastening ends 24 removably attaches to each of the ear straps 12 of a face mask 10. The fastening ends 24 loosely surround each of the ear straps 12 such that the ear straps 12 may freely move within the loop created by the fastening ends 24, which provides additional comfort and ease of use while the face mask 10 and mask leash 20 is being worn by a user. As the mask leash 20 may be worn around the nape of a user's neck, the elongated textile may include a breakaway clasp 30. The breakaway clasp 30 separates into two clasp pieces under external forces, allowing the elongated textile 22 to separate into two portions if pulled on. This mechanism reduces the risk of accidental strangulation while the mask leash 20 is hung on the nape of a user's neck, and is thus an important safety feature.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the mask leash 20 detached from a face mask 10. In the preferred embodiment, the mask leash 20 includes the elongated textile 22 that is separated into a left textile portion 22a and a right textile portion 22b by the breakaway clasp 30. A left fastening end 24a is positioned at the end of the left textile portion 22a opposing the breakaway clasp 30. A right fastening end 24b is positioned at the end of the right textile portion 22b opposing the breakaway clasp 30. When the breakaway clasp 30 is connected, the mask leash 20 has a fastening end 24 at each end of the elongated textile 22. Each fastening end 24 is configured to removably attach to any ear strap 12 of a face mask 10. As discussed in detail in FIGS. 5-6, the preferred fastening ends 24 utilize a snap end 60 to secure the mask leash 20 to the ear strap 12 of a face mask 10. Alternatively, a hook and loop fastening end may be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of the breakaway clasp 30 in a connected configuration. On each end of the breakaway clasp 30 is a textile-to-clasp connector 32. In the preferred embodiment, the textile-to-clasp connector 32 is a circular piece configured to allow the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b to be threaded through. In this embodiment, the left textile portion 22a and the right textile portion 22b are threaded through the textile-to-clasp connector 32 and sewn to themselves. This affixes the breakaway clasp 30 to each elongated textile portion 22a and 22b such that when the breakaway clasp 30 is connected, the full elongated textile 22 is formed.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts an enlarged view of the breakaway clasp 30 in a detached configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the breakaway clasp 30 is made up of a female end 46b and a male end 46a. As shown in the displayed embodiment, the male end 46a is attached to the left textile portion 22a by threading the left textile portion 22a through the textile-to-clasp connector 32 and sewing the left textile portion 22a to itself. The female end 46b is attached to the right textile portion 22b by threading the right textile portion 22b through the textile-to-clasp connector 32 and sewing the right textile portion 22b to itself. The breakaway clasp 30 is configured such that when force is applied to the elongated textile portions 22a and 22b, the female end 46b of the breakaway clasp 30 separates from the male end 46a of the breakaway clasp 30, thereby creating separation 44. This configuration reduces the risk of accidental strangulation or other potential harms when the mask leash 20 is worn around the nape of a user's neck. Additionally, the breakaway clasp 30 may be reconnected by pushing the male end 46a into the female end 46b, thereby reconnecting the right textile portion 22b to the left textile portion 22a. While the preferred embodiment depicts this breakaway clasp 30, other similar breakaway mechanisms may be utilized without departing from the spirit of this invention. For example, a general clip or hook-end may be utilized as the breakaway clasp 30.

[0033] FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged view of the preferred fastening ends 24 of the mask leash 20 in an open configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening ends 24 are snap fastener ends 60. The snap fastener ends 60 are made up of a female snap socket 60a and a male snap stud 60b. In the embodiment depicted, the male snap stud 60b is located on the elongated textile 22 adjacent to the end of the elongated textile 22, while the female snap socket 60a is located on the elongated textile 22 a short distance from the male snap stud 60b. Preferably, the male snap stud 60b is located ¾ inches from the end of the elongated textile 22, while the female snap socket 60a is located 4 inches from the end of the elongated textile 22. This configuration permits the fastening end 24 to encircle an ear strap 12 of a face mask 10. Once the male snap stud 60b is snapped into the female snap socket 60a, as shown in FIG. 6, the fastening end 24 detachably loops around the ear strap 12 of the face mask 10, thereby removably attaching the mask leash 20 to the face mask 10. Pulling the snap fastener end 60 apart thereby disconnects the mask leash 20 from the face mask 10.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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 FIG. 5. Once the fastening end 24 is attached, the mask leash 20 is removably attached to the face mask 10. To remove the mask leash 20, detach the fastening mechanism of the fastening end 24, thereby detaching the fastening end 24 from surrounding the ear strap 12 of the face mask 10.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.