METHOD FOR PROTECTING SKIN FROM ABRASION DURING PROLONGED WEARING OF A FACE MASK

Abstract

A new use for a previously known snap fastener protects against raw ears or other uncomfortable abrasion during face mask use, particularly prolonged use of one mask or uninterrupted sequential use of multiple masks. A user selects two locations on a piece of headwear that would be near the ears, and puts snap fasteners at those locations. The snap fasteners have “wiggle,” and therefore can receive the elastic loops of the face mask and hold them securely. This removes the force load from the back of the ears, thus encouraging proper face mask use and significantly eliminating discomfort.

Claims

1. A method of donning a medical face mask comprising: (a) selecting a location on an interior of a headwear item that would be near an ear when the headwear item is worn; (b) aligning a back piece of a first two-piece snap fastener to the selected location; (c) aligning a front piece of the first two-piece snap fastener to an exterior of the headwear item opposite the location of the aligned back piece; (d) bringing the back and front pieces together to securely but removably fasten the first two-piece snap fastener; (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) at a location that would be near the other ear for a second two-piece snap fastener; (f) donning the headwear item comprising the two snap fasteners; (g) donning a face mask that comprises a first and second elastic loop by placing the first loop around the first two-piece snap fastener and placing the second loop around the second two-piece snap fastener.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each two-piece snap fastener comprises a back piece having a hole surrounded by a flexible lip, and a front piece having a stud terminating with a knob, such that closure of the snap fastener occurs by the knob passing beyond the flexible lip into the hole, and opening of the snap fastener occurs by the knob passing outside the flexible lip out of the hole.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each stud has a length sufficient to permit wiggle of the front piece with respect to the back piece while the snap fastener is in a fastened condition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the headwear is a baseball cap.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the headwear is a surgical cap.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the headwear is a headband.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each two-piece snap fastener comprises a front piece that comprises a plane configured for receiving the printing of imagery or text.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: (h) removing the face mask by removing the elastic loops from around each two-piece snap fastener; and (i) unsnapping the front and back pieces of each snap fastener, to result in separated snap fastener front and back pieces that may be re-applied in a future use.

9. A method of donning a medical face mask comprising: (a) selecting a location on an interior of a headwear item that would be near an ear when the headwear item is worn; (b) aligning a back piece of a first two-piece fastener to the selected location; (c) aligning a front piece of the first two-piece fastener to an exterior of the headwear item opposite the location of the aligned back piece; (d) bringing the back and front pieces together to securely but removably fasten the first two-piece fastener; (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) at a location that would be near the other ear for a second two-piece fastener; (f) donning the headwear item comprising the two fasteners; (g) donning a face mask that comprises a first and second elastic loop by placing the first loop around the first two-piece fastener and placing the second loop around the second two-piece fastener.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each two-piece fastener comprises a back piece having a hole and a front piece having a stud, such that closure of the fastener occurs by the stud passing into the hole, and opening of the fastener occurs by the stud passing outside of the hole.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein each stud has a length sufficient to permit wiggle of the front piece with respect to the back piece while the fastener is in a fastened condition.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the headwear is a baseball cap.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the headwear is a surgical cap.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the headwear is a headband.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein each two-piece fastener comprises a front piece that comprises a plane configured for receiving the printing of imagery or text.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: (h) removing the face mask by removing the elastic loops from around each two-piece fastener; and (i) separating the front and back pieces of each fastener, to result in separated fastener front and back pieces that may be re-applied in a future use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 (prior art) depicts a plan view of BIBBOARDS® 100, front and back pieces.

[0012] FIG. 2 (prior art) depicts the placement of BIBBOARDS® 100 on each of the four corners of a racing bib to attach it to a racing garment.

[0013] FIG. 3 (prior art) shows a plan view of the back piece of BIBBOARDS® 100 in situ, how the knobby end of the stud on the front piece connects through the garment's fabric through the hole with flexible lip of the back piece.

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts the result of the method of the present invention, showing a face mask hooked through BIBBOARDS® 100 on each side of a cap near the ears.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of the method of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a person wearing a face mask 200 that has an elastic loop 300 ordinarily designed for placement around the ears, such that the elastic remains in constant contact with the back of the ear. What distinguishes the invention from common use of such face masks is (as depicted in FIG. 4) the use of a snap fastener that leaves space between it and the fastened garment (e.g., BIBBOARDS® 100) to bear the force of such elastic band, instead of the back of the ear. Though not shown, it is understood that the other side of the face mask is similarly equipped with a snap fastener. In FIG. 4, the wearer is shown wearing a surgical cap. However, the method of the claimed invention works as well with any type of headwear known in the art that is made of a fabric or woven material, such as bands or even baseball caps.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting an embodiment of a method for practicing the invention. At step 400, a user will detach and have available two fasteners, one to replace the back of each ear in receiving the force of an elastic face mask band. Each fastener (preferably a snap fastener) will have two fronts and two backs. The use of a snap fastener is advantageous because it allows for customized and optimized placement of the hook location each time, and also allows for separate sanitation and sterilization of the fasteners apart from the headwear.

[0019] At step 410, the user arranges the headwear away from the body for easy access to its inside and outside, and for proper handling.

[0020] At step 420, the user selects a location that would be near an ear when the headwear is worn. The user places a back piece of the fastener there, ready to receive a front piece's knobby end.

[0021] At step 430, from the exterior of the headwear, the user snaps the front piece into the back piece, sandwiching the fabric material. At this point, if using BIBBOARDS® 100, the fastener is highly secure yet easily removable, yet has “wiggle” that makes the front piece advantageously separate slightly at will from the headwear fabric.

[0022] At step 440, steps 420 and 430 are repeated on the other side, near the other ear.

[0023] At step 450, the user now dons the headwear, whatever type it may be.

[0024] Finally, at step 460, the user dons the face mask. Rather than conventionally hooking the elastic loops around the ears, where the backs of the ears carry the force load, the user hooks the elastic loops around the front piece of the snap fasteners (such as BIBBOARDS® 100). There, because of the “wiggle,” the elastic material fits well within the fastener assembly, and gets sandwiched there. In this way, the snap fastener, and not the back of the ear, carries the force load of the elastic straps. The method thereby prevents raw ears, and encourages proper mask use during pandemics or other situations requiring face masks, especially prolonged or sequential uninterrupted use.

[0025] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.