Safety Face Mask

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to breathing protective face masks worn over the users face to prevent disease transmission. In particular, the present invention pertains to face masks that are used episodically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

The wearer inhales and exhales through the screen as they are breathing. The screen of the protective face mask may be connectively attached to the lanyard for the purpose of suspending the lanyard from the screen so that the lanyard hangs freely below the wearer's face and upon the users neck or chest in a position ready for reapplication and use of the screen as needed.

Using the lanyard the wearer can pull the screen on or off their face. There is tension in the lanyard as the wearer pulls on the lanyard to pull the screen on or off their face. This tension is less than the preselected tension which disconnects the lanyard. Preferably the preselected tension which disconnects the lanyard is at least 10 N (2.2 Lb), more preferably it is at least 20 N (4.4 Lb). Preferably the preselected tension which disconnects the lanyard is no more than 30 N (6.6 Lb), and more preferably it is no more than 40 N (8.8 Lb).

The screen and the lanyard may be connectively attached by a means that releases when force is applied to the lanyard or the screen or a head strap that would pull the lanyard or screen away from the body of the person wearing the face mask. The lanyard is disconnect-able by a preselected tension. Should the lanyard get caught by something that could pull it dangerously it would disconnect from the screen. So there is a reduction in risk of pulling the wearer's face into a dangerous object, or jerking the wearer's head violently creating a chocking hazard.

The mask wearer has the benefit of the lanyard to hold or suspend the face mask below the face when not in use, but remain eminently available for use as needed. For children and others who wear the face mask by episodic use there is less danger they may be subjected to getting the lanyard pulled or caught on something precipitating a chocking hazard mask.

The lanyard may disconnect by breaking away. There may be a permanent breakage such as a tearing of a portion of the screen or a breakage of the lanyard. The lanyard may a tensile load capacity to sustain up to the preselected tension and break apart as the tension in the lanyard exceeds the preselected tension. The lanyard may comprise a weakest portion to sustain up to the preselected tension.

There may be a temporary or repairable breakage such a release of a knot connecting the lanyard together or to the screen.

Preferably the lanyard comprises a weakest portion to sustain up to the preselected tension. For example the knot could form weak portion that only resist tension in the lanyard up to the preselected tension. The lanyard may have a notch or a link, possibly a chain link, where the lanyard breaks away when the lanyard is subjected to more than the preselected tension.

Preferably the lanyard is arranged to disconnect at a location proximate the screen. A majority of the lanyard may disconnect if something applies a tug to the majority portion, leaving only a minority portion connected to the screen.

Preferably the lanyard is connectable and disconnect-able at the same location, possibly by a connector at the location. Alternatively the lanyard is connectable at a first location and disconnect-able at a second location. For example the lanyard may disconnect by breaking away at a location where it is not subsequently reconnect-able due to a portion of the lanyard breaking away.

The lanyard is connectable to the screen at two locations so as to form a loop to hang freely below the worn screen. The loop is easy for the wearer to grab.

Preferably the lanyard is at least 1 cm long from a first end where it connects to the screen to a distal end. So the wearer may grab the lanyard between their thumb and fingers. The distal end may be a free hanging end or an end connected to the screen at a second location. More preferably the lanyard is at least 10 cm long. So the wearer may grab the lanyard with their hand. Preferably the lanyard is no more than 20 cm long, more preferably it is no more than 50 cm long, and more preferably it is no more than 100 cm long.

Preferably the face mask comprises a head strap attached to the screen, wherein the lanyard is connectable to the screen proximate where the is head strap is attached. The lanyard may be connectable to the screen proximate corners of the worn screen for covering the wearer's right and left cheek respectively. Preferably the lanyard is connectable to the screen proximate an edge the worn screen across the wearer's chin. So, the head strap and lanyard may be connected to the screen where they can pull the screen on or off the wearer's nose and mouth and pull the screen to spread it out to its full coverage area.

Preferably the face mask comprises a reconnectable connector by which the lanyard is disconnect-able by the preselected tension. Preferably the connector is situated so as to securely hold on to the suspended face mask in position about the neck or chest of the user and release its hold securing the face mask and lanyard together when force is applied pulling either the lanyard or face mask away from the body of the wearer creating a choking hazard potential.

The lanyard may be reconnectable by the wearer. Preferably the face mask is arranged for the wearer to be able to reconnect the lanyard while they are wearing the face mark. To aid the wearer to reconnect the lanyard the connector may be located at a visible place on the screen or the lanyard or the connector may have a shape or hardness which is recognize-able by touch compared to the pliable mask and string-like lanyard.

Preferably the connector comprises a pair of magnets which break away from each other and are reconnectable. The amount of force to break the magnets may be the preselected tension disconnect the lanyard. The magnets may be arranged to break away from each other in a direction normal magnetically connected magnet faces. This causes the lanyard to be disconnected in an instant for safety. Alternatively the magnets may be arranged to break away in a direction of the connected magnet faces sliding past each other. This gives the wearer some time to react as the magnets are sliding.

The connector may comprise a reconnect-able snap connector. So the lanyard snap connects to the screen and may snap disconnect also. A snap connect provides a reassuring click sound as it is connected and wearer then knows the lanyard is connected even if they cannot see the connector. The wearer also hears the lanyard disconnect and so is less likely to inadvertently lose it.

The connector may comprise comprises a hook and loop fastener commonly called Velcro which rips apart by the pre-selected tension in the lanyard. The face mask may be constructed of cloth or fabric for the screen, string or yarn or fabric or cloth for the head strap and lanyard and sewn together.

Preferably the lanyard comprises a first part of the connector and the screen comprises a second part of the connector which is disconnect-able from the first part and reconnectable to the first part. The first part may be a hook pad sewn to the screen and the second part may be a loop pad sewn to the lanyard. These pads may be alternatively attached by adhesive or other means. Alternatively lanyard may comprise fabric or cloth which inherently has a loop like construction which may be stuck to the hook pad by the wearer.

The lanyard may comprise the connector. Preferably the lanyard comprises the first and second parts which are reconnectable and disconnect-able to and from each other.

The screen may comprise the connector. So the lanyard may be a simple piece of yarn or string which reconnects and disconnects from the screen.

The lanyard and face mask combination of the present invention can thus be safely worn by a child or other person without the risk of chocking due to the pulling away from the body of the wearer either the lanyard or face mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

Referring toFIG. 1, shown is a perspective view of a face mask100for inhibiting the spread of airborne substances to and from a wearer who is not shown.

The face mask comprises a screen120for covering the wearer's nose and mouth. The face mask also comprises a lanyard150connectable to the screen120so as to hang freely below the worn screen120for the wearer to episodically pull the screen120off and on their head. Especially the lanyard is useful for pulling the screen off the wearer's face while the head straps110,115let the screen120hang from the wearer's head or ears. The lanyard has a first magnet140at first end. The screen120has a second magnet130located at a corner123of the screen120which covers the wearer's cheek below an ear. The lanyard150is disconnect-able by a preselected tension which pulls apart the first and second magnets130,140.

The lanyard150is of suitable length for use in suspending the face mask below the face upon the wearer's neck or chest when the face mask is not in position over the mouth and nose for the purpose of inhibiting the spread of airborne transmittable communicable diseases.

Head straps110,115are ear straps. First ear strap110holds the face mask100to the wearer's left ear. Second ear strap115holds the face mask100to the wearer's right ear. The ear straps110,115are used to hold the face mask (120) in position over the wearers mouth and nose.

A first end113,118of each ear strap110,115is connected to the screen120proximate a corner of the screen121,122which covers a corner of the wearer's cheek above the wearer's ears. A second end112,117of each ear strap110,115is connected to the screen120proximate a corner of the screen123,124which covers a corner of the wearer's cheek below the wearer's ears.

Second magnet130is located in an outer edge corner of the screen120proximate the corner123that can magnetically couple with the paired lanyard end magnet140.

The magnets130,140are sized so as to provide sufficient hold strength to ensure that the face mask120and the lanyard150remains connectively attached when the weight of the screen120is not in use over the mouth and nose and is suspended from the lanyard150about the neck or chest of the wearer. The magnets130,140are permanent magnets that magnetically couple (connectively attach to each other) when the poles of each magnet naturally attract each other bringing and keeping the magnets in contact with each other.

The strength of the coupling of the magnets is determined by the dimensions and shape of the magnets. As used in the apparatus of the present invention the magnets are sized so as to yield to decoupling under any force pulling the screen120and the lanyard150apart from each other or away from the body of the wearer amounting to no more force than needed to suspend the weight of the screen120securely from the lanyard150.

Other optional means and methods of securing the screen120and the lanyard150together include, but are not limited to, attaching the lanyard150to the screen120with such other connective attachment means and methods as snaps, hook-and-loop connectors, and bendable metal tabs positioned where the magnets130,140are located to enable the quick release for safety of the connection between the screen120and the lanyard150.

While the face mask100may be provide without the capacity to insert breathing filter media into the screen120, the preferred embodiment further comprises an opening and or positioning elements on the face side of the face mask120to add or remove breathing filter media for the purpose of filtering the air being breathed by the wearer's mouth or nose. This opening can be any size or configuration needed for enabling breathing filter media to be securely connectively attached by the screen (120) over the wearers mouth and nose depending upon the breathing filter media to be used in combination with apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention may be comprised of any human use suitable fabric for the screen120, ear straps110, and lanyard150, to include, but not be limited to, fabrics and materials that are washable, disposable, and recyclable. The material of the screen (120) is suitable for human use in breathing through so as to not inhibit or unduly prevent normal breathing.

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