Patent Publication Number: US-11044958-B1

Title: Face covering with interchangeable magnetic filter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This innovation relates, generally, to a face covering. More particularly, it relates to a face shield having a removable barrier layer with a filter in magnetic communication with a support frame. 
     2. Background Art 
     Currently, face coverings such as face shields and face masks in today&#39;s market are secured to a user&#39;s face with straps configured to wrap around a user&#39;s ears, resulting in a build-up of pressure at the ear and other pressure points on the face followed by pain. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the widespread use of face coverings in attempt to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission. Users such as healthcare professionals, students, business employees, patrons, factory workers, or any person required and/or volunteering to wear a face covering may have experienced pain and discomfort from wearing face coverings for short and/or long periods of time. Thus, there is a need for a face covering constructed to distribute the weight of the face covering throughout the frame support in an attempt to reduce the force of the face covering applied to pressure points on a user&#39;s face during use. 
     Further, many individuals wear accessories such as earbuds and glasses, which often shift out of alignment and/or fall off during use, which may result in damage to the accessory and render the device inoperable for its intended purpose. Some activities require the use of eyewear such as in the construction field or at industrial factories and the combination of wearing both eyewear and a face covering may cause discomfort and pain to the user especially when worn for a length of time being pressed on a user&#39;s face. There is a need for a face covering configured to connect to and to support accessories such as eyeglasses and/or earbuds to retain them on a user during use to minimize this discomfort. 
     However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a face covering having a support structure having a first magnet and a second magnet. The support structure of the face covering has a fastener mechanism configured to orient the support structure in an open orientation during installation and a closed orientation during use to retain the face covering onto a user&#39;s face. The support structure has a first protrusion having a first magnetic portion. The support structure has a second protrusion having a second magnetic portion. The support structure has a third protrusion having a third magnetic portion. The fastener mechanism of the support structure is formed from the magnetic connection between the first magnetic portion of the first protrusion, the second magnetic portion of the second protrusion, and the third magnetic portion of the third protrusion. A barrier member has a first filter layer connected to a layer of material. A magnetic snap rivet has a rivet portion removably connected to a post stud. The post stud retains a magnet. The first filter layer of the barrier member is connected to a first magnetic snap rivet. The layer of material of the barrier member is connected to a second magnetic snap rivet. The first magnetic snap rivet of the first filter layer of the barrier member is magnetically connected to the first magnet of the support structure. The second magnetic snap rivet of the layer of material of the barrier member is magnetically connected to the second magnet of the support structure. It is within the scope of this current invention for the face covering to have a first filter layer connected to a removable filter. In a preferred embodiment, the second protrusion and third protrusion are is surrounded by a magnetic coil, and which also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior art face coverings are now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the novel face covering having a support structure retaining a barrier member having a plurality of rivet portions of magnetic snap rivets connected thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the novel face covering having a support structure retaining a barrier member having a plurality of post studs retaining a magnet of magnetic snap rivets connected thereto; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded side view of the novel face covering having a support structure having a plurality of magnets configured to connect to a plurality of magnetic snap rivets of the barrier member; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the novel face covering having a support structure connected to a magnetic fastener mechanism oriented in an open configuration; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the novel face covering having a support structure connected to a magnetic fastener mechanism oriented in a closed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate face covering  1  having support structure  2  magnetically connected to removable barrier member  22  ( FIGS. 2-3 ). It is within the scope of this invention for support structure  2  to be made of any magnetic material including, but not limited to, a metal, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. Support structure  2  may be covered with layer of material  9 . Layer of material  9  ( FIG. 3 ) is any material such as rubber, a gel, silicone, fabric, foam, polypropylene, or any material capable of providing a comfortable barrier between support structure  2  and the skin of a user when being worn by a user. Removable barrier member  22  is made of first filter layer  6  connected to layer of material  5 A and  5 B. It is within the scope of this invention for first filter layer  6  and/or second filter layer  21  ( FIG. 3 ) to be made of any antiviral and/or antibacterial material including, but not limited to, a copper mesh, a copper screen, and/or polypropylene. In an example, first filter layer  6  may be positioned between first portion of layer of material  5 A and second portion of layer of material  5 B. First layer of material  5 A and second layer of material  5 B are connected at barrier member  22  portion that overlays a user&#39;s nose when in use. It is within the scope of this invention for layer of material  5 A and  5 B to be made of any material including, but not limited to, vinyl, fabric, cotton, polyester, spandex, metal, silicone, and/or rubber. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates support structure  22  having magnetic rivet connection points  7 A- 7 K having at least a portion of each section connected to an outer perimeter edge of barrier member  22 . In particular, magnetic rivet portions  7 A,  7 C, and  7 D each have two magnetic rivets that are connected to first layer of material  5 A. It is within the scope of this invention for magnetic rivet  7 A- 7 K to be made of any magnetic material including, but not limited to, any magnet such as N35 neodymium, and/or N52 neodymium. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of magnetic rivet  7 A- 7 K includes, but is not limited to, a cylinder, a plate, or a disc shape. At least one magnet of magnetic rivet section  7 B is connected to first layer of material  5 A and first filter layer  6 . Magnetic rivet section  7 K has two portions or two magnetic rivets that are both connected to first filter layer  6 . Magnetic rivet section  7 H has two portions or two magnetic rivets that are both connected to first filter layer  6 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , at least one magnet of magnetic rivet section  7 J is connected to second layer of material  5 B and first filter layer  6 . Magnetic rivet portions  7 F,  7 G, and  7 I each have two magnetic rivets that are connected to second layer of material  5 B. At least one magnet of magnetic rivet section  7 E is connected to first material layer  5 A and second layer of material  5 B. In this embodiment, weight distribution of the magnetic rivet portions are specifically positioned to overlay pressure points of a user&#39;s face when the novel face covering is worn by a user to reduce pain and discomfort during use. The pair of rivets achieve the ideal weight distribution throughout a plurality of connection locations on the barrier member  22 , when overlaying a user&#39;s face so that the majority of the weight of the face covering is not applied to one or two areas only. In particular, magnetic rivet section locations are predominantly configured to overlay support structure  2  which overlays a user&#39;s face cheeks, both sides of the jaw, chin, and nose. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate novel face covering  1  having support structure  2  removably connected to barrier member  22  with magnetic snap rivets  8 A- 8 I. Magnetic snap rivet  8  has post stud  10  having a first end located opposite a second end. The first end of post stud  10  has magnet  3 . Post stud  10  can have adhesive, projections  20 , or wings to retain magnet  3  within post stud  10 . The second end of post stud  10  has rivet  8  removably connected thereto. The shaft of post stud  10  penetrates barrier member  22  at various locations, such as through first layer of material  5 A, and is retained in place when rivet  8  is connected to second end of post stud. The rivet  8  is positioned on barrier member  22  at an orientation away from support structure  2  so that magnet  3  is positioned toward support structure  2 . Rivet  8  is magnetized and is configured to be in magnetic communication with at least one magnet of magnetic rivet section  7  for maximum weight distribution of support structure  2  when face covering  1  is in use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , second filter layer  21  is removably connected to an inner wall surface of first filter layer  6  of barrier member  22 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 A substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 A on barrier member  22  with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 M. Magnet  3 M is magnetically connected to magnet  3 C of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 B substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 B with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 L. Magnet  3 L is magnetically connected to magnet  3 B of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 C substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 C with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 Q. Magnet  3 Q is magnetically connected to magnet  3 D of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portions  7 D,  7 G, and  7 H substantially overlay the area of rivet  8 D with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 O. Magnet  3 O is magnetically connected to magnet  3 F of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 E substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 E with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 N. Magnet  3 N is magnetically connected to magnet  3 E of support structure  2 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , magnetic rivet portion  7 F (not shown) substantially overlays the area of a rivet with a post stud retaining a magnet connected to magnet  3 G of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 I (not shown) substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 G with post stud  10  retaining a magnet that is magnetically connected to magnet  3 H of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 J (not shown) substantially overlays the area of a rivet with a post stud retaining a magnet that is magnetically connected to magnet  3 J of support structure  2 . Magnetic rivet portion  7 K substantially overlays the area of rivet  8 I with post stud  10  retaining magnet  3 P. Magnet  3 P is magnetically connected to magnet  3 K of support structure  2 . It is within the scope of this invention for support structure  2  to have a plurality of magnets such as  3 A and  3 C that are configured to magnetically connect with magnet  3 M of barrier member  22 . It is within the scope of this invention for support structure  2  to have a plurality of magnets such as  3 H and  3 I that are configured to magnetically connect with a magnet of barrier member  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , face covering  1  has support structure  2  overlayed with layer of material  9  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Support structure  2  is connected to magnets  3 A- 3 K. Support structure  2  has first protrusion  15  extending from magnet  3 F overlaying the tip of a user&#39;s nose to magnet  3 K located overlaying a user&#39;s neck when being worn by a user. Support structure  2  has fastener mechanism  4  configured to orient support structure  2  in an open orientation ( FIG. 4 ) during installation and a closed orientation ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) during use. Support structure  1  has first protrusion  15  having first magnetic portion  3 K. Support structure  2  has second protrusion  19 A extending from magnet  3 B. Second protrusion  19 A has an end with at least one second magnetic portion  11  and  13 . Support structure  2  has third protrusion  19 B extending from magnet  3 J. Third protrusion  19 B has third magnetic portion  12  located on an end portion of third protrusion  19 B. 
     Fastener mechanism  4  of support structure  4  is formed from the magnetic connection between first magnetic portion  3 K of first protrusion  15  with second magnetic portion  11  and  13  of second protrusion  19 A, and with third magnetic portion  12  of third protrusion  19 B. In a preferred embodiment, second protrusion  19 A is surrounded by magnetic coil  14 A ( FIG. 3-5 ) and third protrusion  19 B is surrounded by magnetic coil  14 B ( FIGS. 4-5 ). Magnetic coils  14 A and  14 B therapeutically distribute the weight of face covering  1  onto support structure  2  and serve as a magnetic docking site for at least one rivet of magnetic rivet connection points  7 B,  7 J, and  7 K and/or magnets of post stud  10 . Magnetic coils  14 A and  14 B also serve to enhance the resiliency of the second protrusion  19 A and third protrusion  14 B so that they can more easily deform to orient fastening mechanism  4  in an open and closed orientation during installation and removal of face covering  1  onto a user&#39;s face. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , support structure  2  has border frame  16 A- 16 C of layer of material  5 A ( FIG. 3 ) and has border frame  17 A- 17 C of layer of material  5 B ( FIG. 3 ).  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate first radiused ear portion  18 A extends from magnet  3 A and ends through magnet  3 B of second protrusion  19 A. Second radiused ear portion  18 B extends from magnet  3 I and ends through magnet  3 J of third protrusion  19 B. The radiused structure of this ear portion  18 A- 18 B is significant in that it can fully surround a user&#39;s ear as a means to fasten face covering  1  onto a user&#39;s head. 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.