APPARATUS FIXED TO FACE

Abstract

The invention of the present application relates to an apparatus fixed to the face. Particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which is fixed to the face by bringing, in close contact with a specific part of the face, at least one from among a mask, hat, helmet, portable sound equipment, glasses or goggles, eye patch, VR device, chin strap and cosmetic facial mask.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus fixed to a face, the apparatus comprising: a main body located at a front surface or a rear surface of a head of a user; and a first fixing member connected to the main body, the first fixing member being brought into tight contact with at least a part of a first fixing region of the user in order to fix the main body, wherein in the face of the user, the first fixing region comprises at least one of: 1) a 1-1 fixing region as a lower facial region comprising a range from a position comprising a styloid process of the user to a premolar of the user in consideration of a movement range of a sagittal or anteroposterior axis and comprising a temporal process of the user in consideration of a movement range of a longitudinal or craniocaudal axis; 2) a 1-2 fixing region as a lower facial region comprising a range from a position comprising a parotid gland of the user to a region left by excluding a region in which a funiculus anterior is located from two branches of a medial pterygoid of muscles of mastication of the user in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and comprising the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis; 3) a 1-3 fixing region as a lower facial region comprising a range from the position comprising the styloid process of the user to a masseter muscle of the muscles of mastication of the user in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and comprising the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis, wherein a muscle belly, which is a most protruding portion of the masseter muscle, is excluded; 4) a 1-4 fixing region as a lower facial region comprising a range from a front end of a tragus of the user to a region in which a rear surface of a zygomaticus major of the user is not pressed in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and comprising the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis; 5) a 1-5 fixing region as an interior of a square provided based on the face of the user, wherein the square provided based on the face of the user is a square having an angle of mandible and a zygomatic process of the user as one surface, and wherein the square provided based on the face of the user has the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis as a width and a length, respectively, and a distance from the angle of the mandible to the zygomatic process along the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis is a length of one side; and 6) a 1-6 fixing region configured such that values of (x,y) based on the face of the user are (−1,−1), (1,−1), (2,−1), (3,−1), (4,−1), (−1,1), (1,1), (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (5,1), (−1, 2), (1,2), (2,2), (3,2), (−1,3), (1,3), (2,3), (−1,4), (1,4), (−1,5), (1,5), and (2,5), wherein (x,y) provided based on the face of the user is selected based on coordinates of each small square formed when a width and a length of the square provided based on the face of the user are divided into five equal parts, x is designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 from the rear surface to the front surface of the head of the user and y is designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 from an upper surface to a lower surface of the head of the user as a result of division into five equal parts, x of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis of the rear surface of the head of the user is designated as a negative value, y of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on a lateral axis of the upper surface of the head of the user is designated as a negative value, and x and y of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on apexes of the upper surface and the rear surface of the head of the user are designated as negative values.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising: a second fixing member connected to the main body, the second fixing member being brought into tight contact with at least a part of a second fixing region of the user in order to fix the main body, wherein the second fixing region comprises at least one of a nasolabial fold area of the user, a levator labii superioris or a levator labii superioris alaeque nasi of the user, and an outer circumferential part of an alar crease of the user.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the second fixing region comprises the outer circumferential part of the alar crease of the user.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the styloid process, the premolar, and the temporal process are excluded from the first fixing region.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising an additional fixing member brought into tight contact with an additional fixing region of the face of the user other than the first fixing region and/or the second fixing region in order to fix the main body.

31. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: a first connection portion configured to connect the main body and the first fixing member to each other; and a second connection portion configured to connect the main body and the second fixing member to each other.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first connection portion and/or the second connection portion has an adjustable length.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first connection portion and/or the second connection portion is elastic.

34. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising an auxiliary fixing member fixed to an auxiliary fixing region located at at least one of a nose, jaws, a mastoid bone, a back of a neck, and a parietal bone or an occipital bone of the head in order to fix the main body.

35. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the main body is at least one of a mask, a hat, a helmet, a portable sound device, glasses or goggles, an eye bandage, a VR device, a jaw assist device, and a cosmetic facial support.

36. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein in order to fix the main body as a result of being brought into tight contact with the first fixing region and/or the second fixing region, 1) the first fixing member and/or the second fixing member presses at least a part of the first fixing region of the user and/or at least a part of the second fixing region of the user so as to be fixed, or 2) a separate fixing patch is attached to the at least a part of the first fixing region and/or the at least a part of the second fixing region, and the fixing patch and the at least a part of the first fixing region and/or the at least a part of the second fixing region are fixed by at least one of a Velcro tape, magnetic force, a hook, adhesion, pressing, a button, a coupling protrusion, a clip, tongs, sliding, binding applied to snowboard shoes, a cable tie, a rail, a button, docking, a bolt and nut, and a string.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first fixing member and/or the second fixing member presses the first fixing region and/or the second fixing region of the user at a pressure of 40 kPa or less.

38. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first fixing member and/or the second fixing member comprises a material capable of transmitting electrical stimulation to a human body or a material capable of generating electrical stimulation.

39. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the main body has a weight of 1 kg or less.

40. A method of fixing the apparatus according to claim 26 to the head of the user.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0084] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing positions at which pain depending on wearing of a mask was observed.

[0085] FIG. 2 is a side view of a skull including a styloid process.

[0086] FIG. 3 is an anatomical chart simultaneously showing a skeleton and a muscle in order to simultaneously show a temporal process and a medial pterygoid.

[0087] FIG. 4 is an anatomical chart simultaneously showing a skeleton and a muscle in order to simultaneously show muscles of mastication and a medial pterygoid.

[0088] FIG. 5 is an anatomical chart simultaneously showing a skeleton and a muscle in order to simultaneously show a zygomaticus major and a medial pterygoid.

[0089] FIG. 6 is a view including a square and small squares formed by dividing the interior of the square provided based on a face of a user having an angle of the mandible and a zygomatic process as one surface.

[0090] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing values of (x,y) based on the face of the user according to the present invention.

[0091] FIG. 8 is an illustrative photograph showing that the square provided based on the face of the user including the small squares on the face of the user is actually applied to the face of a person in order to conduct an experiment.

[0092] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an apparatus configured to measure a PPT.

[0093] FIG. 10 is a view showing experimental results on a PPT for first to fifth fixing regions according to a first example of the present invention.

[0094] FIG. 11 is a view showing experimental results on a VAS for first to fifth fixing regions according to a first example of the present invention.

[0095] FIG. 12 is a view showing analysis results on a PPT/VAS for first to fifth fixing regions according to a first example of the present invention.

[0096] FIG. 13 is a view showing experimental results on a PPT for first to sixth fixing regions according to a second example of the present invention.

[0097] FIG. 14 is a view showing an apparatus configured to measure the degree of fixing when a frame is fixed to a specific region of an actual user at a specific pressure.

[0098] FIG. 15 is a view showing a frame having a second fixing member added thereto.

[0099] FIG. 16 is a photograph showing that the second fixing member is located above alar creases, on the alar creases, and under the alar creases.

[0100] FIGS. 17 to 22 are views showing various examples of a fixing region and a fixing member configured to press the fixing region in an apparatus fixed to a face according to the present invention.

BEST MODE

[0101] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the principle of operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, however, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

[0102] In addition, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to parts that perform similar functions or operations. In the case in which one part is said to be connected to another part in the entire specification, not only may the one part be directly connected to the other part, but also, the one part may be indirectly connected to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is included does not mean that other elements are excluded, but means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise.

[0103] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments. However, the embodiments are provided merely to illustratively describe the present invention, and therefore the scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.

[0104] The present invention provides an apparatus fixed to a face. Specifically, a main body of the apparatus fixed to the face provided by the present invention includes at least one of a mask, a hat, a helmet, a portable sound device, glasses or goggles, an eye bandage, a VR device, a jaw assist device, and a cosmetic facial support.

[0105] In the present invention, the mask covers a lower end of a front of the face, the hat covers at least a part of an upper end of a head, the helmet protects at least a part of the upper end of the head, the portable sound device is a device that transmits sound to ears or the vicinity of the ears using sound waves or a microphone, the glasses or the goggles are provided to correct eyesight or protect eyes, the VR device is a device that enables a user to experience virtual reality using sight and hearing, the jaw assist device is a device that continuously applies pressure to a part of the jaws for medical or cosmetic purposes, and the cosmetic facial support is provided to hide or decorate the face.

[0106] FIGS. 2 to 7 are anatomical charts related to a human body provided to describe fixing regions according to the present invention.

[0107] The present invention provides an apparatus fixed to a face using a common improvement method in which various kinds of devices fixed to the face can be fixed to the face of the human body.

[0108] Hereinafter, fixing regions will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0109] A fixing region according to FIG. 2 is a lower facial region including a range from a position including a styloid process of a user to a premolar of the user in consideration of a movement range of a sagittal or anteroposterior axis and including a temporal process of the user in consideration of a movement range of a longitudinal or craniocaudal axis.

[0110] Here, the sagittal or anteroposterior axis corresponds to an x axis or a lateral axis in FIGS. 2 to 7, and the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis corresponds to a y axis in FIGS. 2 to 7. Specifically, a dotted region illustrated in FIG. 2 may be a 1-1 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0111] A 1-2 fixing region according to FIG. 3 is a lower facial region including a range from a position including a parotid gland of the user to a region left by excluding a region in which a funiculus anterior is located from two branches of a medial pterygoid of muscles of mastication of the user in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and including the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis. When compared to FIG. 2, the same movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis is provided, and there is a difference in that the fixing region includes the range from the position including the parotid gland of the user to the region left by excluding the region in which the funiculus anterior is located from the two branches of the medial pterygoid of the muscles of mastication of the user in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis.

[0112] In FIG. 3, two medial pterygoids are finally designated, and a portion corresponding to the front of the face is a region in which the funiculus anterior is located, which is excluded. A dotted region illustrated in FIG. 3 may be the 1-2 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0113] A 1-3 fixing region according to FIG. 4 is a lower facial region including a range from the position including the styloid process of the user to a masseter muscle of the muscles of mastication of the user in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and including the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis, wherein a muscle belly, which is the most protruding portion of the masseter muscle, is excluded. An apparatus fixed to a face having the above characteristics is provided.

[0114] In FIG. 4, the masseter muscle of the muscles of mastication is included; however, the user may easily feel pain in the muscle belly, which is the most protruding portion of the masseter muscle, when pressure is applied thereto, and therefore it is preferable to exclude the muscle belly.

[0115] A quadrangular dotted region illustrated in FIG. 4 excluding a circular dotted region is a preferable region of the 1-3 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0116] A 1-4 fixing region according to FIG. 5 is a lower facial region including a range from a front end of a tragus of the user to a region in which a rear surface of a zygomaticus major of the user is not pressed in consideration of the movement range of the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and including the temporal process of the user in consideration of the movement range of the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis.

[0117] A dotted region illustrated in FIG. 5 may be the 1-4 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0118] FIG. 6 shows a 1-5 fixing region according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows a 1-6 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0119] FIG. 6 is a view including a square and small squares formed by dividing the interior of the square provided based on the face of the user having an angle of the mandible and a zygomatic process as one surface, wherein the largest square including 25 small squares may be the 1-5 fixing region according to the present invention.

[0120] FIG. 7 shows a 1-6 fixing region according to the present invention, which is an extension of the 1-5 fixing region, wherein values of (x,y) based on the face of the user applied to the 1-5 fixing region and the −6 fixing region are shown.

[0121] Specifically, in the 1-5 fixing region, the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user are (1,1), (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (1,2), (2,2), (3,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), and (2,5), preferably (2,2), (4,2), (1,3), (3,3), (4,3), (5,3), (1,4), (2,4), (3,4), (4,4), (5,4), (1,5), (2,5), (4,5), and (5,5), more preferably (2,1), (2,2), (1,3), (4,3), (5,3), (1,4), (2,4), (4,4), (5,4), (1,5), (2,5), and (5,5), yet more preferably (2,2), (1,3), (2,4), (1,5), and (2,5), most preferably (2,2) and (1,3).

[0122] In the 1-6 fixing region, the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user are (−1,−1), (1,−1), (2,−1), (3,−1), (4,−1), (−1,1), (1,1), (2,1), (−1, 2), (1,2), (−1,3), and (1,3).

[0123] Here, the square provided based on the face of the user is a square having an angle of the mandible and a zygomatic process of the user as one surface, wherein the square provided based on the face of the user has the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis as a width and a length, respectively, and the distance from the angle of the mandible to the zygomatic process along the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis is the length of one side.

[0124] Here, (x,y) provided based on the face of the user is the position of each small square formed when the width and the length of the square provided based on the face of the user are divided into five equal parts, wherein x is designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 from a rear surface to a front surface of the head of the user, and y is designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 from an upper surface to a lower surface of the head of the user.

[0125] x of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis of the rear surface of the head of the user is designated as a negative value, y of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on the lateral axis of the upper surface of the head of the user is designated as a negative value, and x and y of the small square of the square provided based on the face of the user further disposed in symmetry based on apexes of the upper surface and the rear surface of the head of the user are designated as negative values.

[0126] FIG. 6 shows a square provided based on the face of the user having the angle of the mandible and the zygomatic process as one surface, wherein the square provided based on the face of the user has the sagittal or anteroposterior axis and the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis as a width and a length, respectively, and the distance from the angle of the mandible to the zygomatic process along the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis is the length of one side. The square provided based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 6 includes small squares obtained by dividing the width and the length of the square into five equal parts, respectively.

[0127] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating values of (x,y) based on the face of the user according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, the square parts having no numbers are identical to the square provided based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, the numbers shown at the upper end along the lateral axis indicate x values, among the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user, and the numbers shown along the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis indicate y values, among the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user. A portion denoted by −1 has an x value of −1 and a y value of −1, and (x,y) based on the face of the user is (−1,−1). The values of (x,y) of the portions denoted by −1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 along the lateral axis based on the face of the user correspond to (−1,−1), (1,−1), (2,−1), (3,−1), (4,−1), and (5,−1), and the values of (x,y) of the portions denoted by −1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 along the longitudinal or craniocaudal axis based on the face of the user correspond to (−1,−1), (−1,1), (−1,2), (−1,3), (−1,4), and (−1,5). The other portions denoted by no numbers are combinations of x values and y values. For example, the value of (x,y) of the colored portion based on the face of the user is (3,2).

[0128] The following experiments were conducted in order to present definite criteria for user discomfort and fixing force depending on specific positions of the fixing regions.

First Example: Measurement of Fixing Force in 1-5 Fixing Region

[0129] The pressure at which the user feels pain (PPT) and the pain that the user feels under fixed pressure (VAS) were measured for the coordinates of values of (x,y) based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 6.

[0130] The reason that the pressure at which the user feels pain and the pain that the user feels under fixed pressure are separately measured is that, when pressure is increased, fixing force may be secured but the user may feel pain, or the user may feel no pain but fixing force may not be secured, depending on whether a muscle exists based on the position of the face of the user, the position of a skeleton, and the thickness of a skin.

[0131] The pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the user was measured for the coordinates of values of (x,y) based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 6. In this experiment, the pressure pain threshold (PPT) was defined as the maximum pressure value at which the user could endure pain.

[0132] FIG. 8 is an illustrative photograph showing that the square including the small squares on the face of the user is actually applied to the face of a person in order to conduct the experiment, and FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an apparatus configured to measure the PPT.

[0133] In order to measure distribution in pressure at which the user felt the pain, the pressure at which the user felt the pain (pressure pain threshold: PPT) was measured using an algometer. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured on a small square area corresponding to each of the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user according to the present invention located on a surface of a face of a subject using a PPT instrument. The unit of pressure at which the pain is felt is kg/cm.sup.2. Pressure values at which pain started to be felt were input to the respective coordinates, and the results of conversion of the pressure values into relative colors are shown in FIG. 10. The results shown in FIG. 10 are the averages of the pressure values measured for 19 people. In FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, upper tables show measured values depending on the positions of (x,y) based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 6, and lower graphs show the measured value using different colors. 1 to 5 marked at the square of each lower graph along the longitudinal axis correspond to y values of the coordinates of values of (x,y) based on the face of the user, and 1 to 5 marked at the square of each lower graph along the lateral axis correspond to x values of the coordinates of values of (x,y) based on the face of the user.

[0134] In order to measure distribution in pain that was felt under fixed pressure, discomfort scores (VAS) of the subject were measured using an algometer connected to the coordinates of the respective small squares via a spring in the state in which uniform tension was maintained. The pressure was fixed at 1 kg/cm.sup.2, discomfort scores were input to the respective coordinates, and the results of conversion of the input values into relative colors are shown in FIG. 11. A visual analog scale (VAS) is a method of setting the pain that patients perceive to levels ranging from 0 indicating “no pain” to 10 indicating “extreme pain” and directly displaying the level of pain for each patient, which is one of pain evaluation scales. The results of FIG. 11 are the averages of the values measured for 19 people.

[0135] Meanwhile, a novel pain index was derived based on the experimental results on the pressure at which the user felt pain and the pain that the user felt under fixed pressure. The novel pain index, which is a value obtained by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the pressure at which the user feels pain (PPT) by the value of pain that the user feels under fixed pressure (VAS) by 100, is used to select a region in which the user can feel less pain while enduring high pressure. The results of analysis on the coordinates of the respective small squares are shown in FIG. 12.

[0136] In the first example of the present invention for the 1-5 fixing region, definite fixing regions could be derived using the three methods. It was evaluated that fixing force could be secured while user discomfort was minimized when a value of 1.2 or more was applied in FIG. 10, when a value of 5.0 or more was applied in FIG. 11, and when a value of 25 or more was applied in FIG. 12.

Second Example: Measurement of Fixing Force in 1-6 Fixing Region

[0137] As described above, the 1-5 fixing region was selected through the first example. The 1-5 fixing region corresponds to the interior of the square provided based on the face of the user having the angle of the mandible and the zygomatic process of the user as one surface.

[0138] During research according to the present invention, it was found that a space from the front of an ear canal to the rear of a temporomandibular joint could be utilized as a fixing region. In the second example of the present invention, further evaluation on this region was performed. In extending a range of the fixing region to the rear of the face, it was recognized that utilization was possible unless the range of the fixing region exceeded the temporomandibular joint, the range of the fixing region was extended. In the same manner, the range of the fixing region was extended to the upper part of the face.

[0139] The pressure at which the user felt pain (PPT) was measured for the coordinates of values of (x,y) based on the face of the user shown in FIG. 7. A measurement method was identical to the measurement method in the first example.

[0140] The reason that the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the user is measured according to the coordinates of (x,y) based on the face of the user according to the present invention is that the degree of pain may be changed depending on whether a muscle exists based on the position of the face of the user, the position of the skeleton, and the thickness of the skin. That the pressure pain threshold (PPT) is high means that it is possible to increase pressure at which fixing force can be secured.

[0141] The unit of pressure at which the pain is felt is kg/cm.sup.2. The pressure pain threshold was input to each of the coordinates, and the results thereof are shown in FIG. 13. The results shown in FIG. 13 are the averages of the values measured for nine people. The upper part of FIG. 13 shows criteria based on which colors are changed depending on a range of pressure pain thresholds (PPT). Below 1.2 means an area that has too low a pressure pain threshold and that is not suitable to be used as a fixing region, and above 1.4 means an area that has the highest pressure pain threshold and that is most suitable to be used as a fixing region.

[0142] <Fixing Force Experiment>

[0143] Among the regions derived according to the first example of the present invention, particularly five regions evaluated to have a high ratio of fixing force to pain were selected, and the fixing force thereof was measured using various methods.

[0144] (1,5), (1,3), (2,5), (2,2), and (2,4), which were the values of (x,y) based on the face of the user, were designated as region 1, region 2, region 3, region 4, and region 5, respectively, and fixing force experiments were separately performed thereon. For region 1, region 2, region 3, region 4, and region 5, a frame-shaped semicircular frame (hereinafter referred to as a “frame”) that pressed only the coordinates of the small squares corresponding thereto while wrapping the face was manufactured, whether the semicircular frame was maintained in position when “a-e-i-o-u” were pronounced while the pressure at which the semicircular frame pressed the coordinates was changed (Verbal), whether the semicircular frame was maintained in a horizontal state when the semicircular frame was held horizontally, a neck of the user was bent by 30 degrees, and the neck of the user was returned to the original state (Flexion), and whether the semicircular frame got out of position when the user walked at a speed of 3 km/h and 5 km/h (Walking) were observed. The experimental results thereof are shown in Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3. These are the averages of the results of experiments performed for three people.

[0145] FIG. 14 is a view showing an apparatus configured to measure the degree of fixing when a frame is fixed to a specific region of an actual user at a specific pressure. Additionally, different levels of pressure applied to the face of the user when the elastic force of the apparatus was changed to 10 g, 30 g, and 50 g are schematized.

[0146] The pressure described in Table 1, which is elastic force or force that the frame applies to the user, and the unit of the pressure is g. Table 1 shows the minimum pressure necessary for the frame to be maintained in position during the verbal, flexion, and walking experiments, and it can be seen that, at position 2 and position 4, low levels of pressure were applied to the frame and the frame was maintained in position.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Minimum pressure necessary for frame to be maintained in position Position Task 1 2 3 4 5 Verbal 30 30 >50 10 50 Flexion >50 30 >50 50 >50 Walking 50 10 >50 10 30

[0147] Table 2 shows the number of people having frames deviated from the original positions according to the levels of fixing pressure during the verbal, flexion, and walking experiments. Similarly to Table 1, the frames did not deviate from the original positions at position 2 and position 4.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Number of people having frames deviated from original positions Positions Task 1 2 3 4 5 Verbal 10 G — — 2 — — 30 G — — — — — 50 G — — — — — Flexion 10 G 3 — 3 — 2 30 G — — 1 — — 50 G — — — — — Walking 10 G 1 — 3 — 1 30 G 1 — — — — 50 G — — — — —

[0148] Table 3 shows the region in which the frames did not move depending on the levels of pressure applied by the frames, and it can be seen that, at position 2 and position 4, the frame did not move even at low levels of pressure.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Regions in which frames did not move Position Task 1 2 3 4 5 Verbal 10 G ◯ 30 G ◯ ◯ ◯ 50 G ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ Flexion 10 G 30 G ◯ 50 G ◯ ◯ Walking 10 G ◯ ◯ 30 G ◯ ◯ ◯ 50 G ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯

[0149] For the five positions, weights having predetermined weights were suspended from the frame in order to measure whether the frame was fixed, and the results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Minimum pressure necessary for fall prevention (Pressure of mask) Weight Position 10 g 20 g 30 g 40 g 50 g 1 30 50 >50 >50 >50 2 10 10 50 50 >50 3 30 50 >50 >50 >50 4 10 10 50 >50 >50 5 10 50 50 >50 >50

[0150] As can be seen from Table 4, the heavy weights can be fixed even at low pressure at position 2 and position 4. It can be seen from the above experiment that, at position 2 and position 4, the highest fixing force is secured.

[0151] <Measurement of Fixing Force in Second Fixing Region>

[0152] A fixing force effect due to addition of a second fixing region was measured.

[0153] FIG. 15 is a view showing a second fixing member added to the frame in order to measure fixing force due to addition of a second fixing region. After the frame was fixed at position 2 and position 4, fixing force was observed while the second fixing member was added or not and while the second fixing member was located above the alar creases, on the alar creases, and under the alar creases.

[0154] FIG. 16 is a photograph showing that the second fixing member is located above the alar creases, on the alar creases, and under the alar creases.

[0155] In the same manner as the fixing force was measured with only the frame, whether the semicircular frame got out of position when “a-e-i-o-u” were pronounced (Verbal) and whether the semicircular frame got out of position when the user walked at a speed of 3 km/h and 5 km/h (Walking) were observed in the state in which separate weights of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g were added to the frame. The results are the averages of the results of experiments performed for three people.

[0156] As can be seen with reference to Table 2, when the fixing force of the frame was 30 g, the frame did not deviate from the fixing position for Verbal and Walking irrespective of whether the second fixing member was added, at position 2 and position 4.

[0157] In order to observe the effect based on the second fixing member, the support pressure of the frame was minimized and the pressure of the frame was reduced to 10 g or less. In this case, 10 g, which is the minimum weight, cannot be supported even at position 2 and position 4. Table 5 below shows the experimental results according thereto. The cases in which the frame did not deviate from the original position depending on the weight of the weights and the position of the second fixing member are denoted by ◯.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 With Without Above On Under — Weight/Position 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 10 g ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ 20 g ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ 30 g ◯ ◯ 40 g ◯ ◯ 50 g ◯ ◯

[0158] Referring to Table 5, for the frame having no second fixing member, the frame got out of position at position 2 and position 4. In addition, the extent to which the second fixing member deviated from the original position was changed depending on the position thereof, and it was observed that, when the second fixing member was located under the alar creases, the strongest fixing force was secured.

[0159] FIGS. 17 to 22 are views showing various examples of the fixing region and the fixing member configured to press the fixing region in the apparatus fixed to the face according to the present invention.

[0160] In FIGS. 17 to 22, gray regions indicate regions in which the fixing member can be brought into tight contact with the face of the user while directly facing the face of the user, a black solid line indicates an illustration of the fixing member, and various embodiments of a frame made of an elastic material are shown. In addition to the gray regions, the frame may be bent so as to directly press the face. In the figures, the frame is shown as only a line; however, change to an elastic surface is possible, and therefore a concrete illustration thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the portion of the frame that is bent so as to directly press the face may also be changed into a surface.

[0161] FIGS. 17 to 22 show only the section of the face; however, the frame is configured to wrap the face, and therefore the fixing member is also disposed at the portion that is not shown in the figures.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0162] The present invention may provide an apparatus fixed to a face as the result of being brought into tight contact with a specific region of the face. Compared to a conventional apparatus, including a mask, the apparatus fixed to the face is characterized in that 1) detachment and attachment of the apparatus are easy, 2) contact between the apparatus and the skin, including the face, during detachment and attachment of the apparatus is minimized, 3) skin irritation is low even though the apparatus is worn for a long time, 4) discomfort due to pain in other musculoskeletal systems, including ears, is minimized, 5) a pressed region is clearly specified and the region is optimized, whereby consistent fixing force is provided regardless of user, and 6) physical force for the ears is not applied to the specific region of the face that is pressed in the present invention, as previously described, whereby there are no problems of stress due to long-term wearing and concentration weakening.