Patent Publication Number: US-2023136369-A1

Title: Wearable mask

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wearable mask. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Sanitary masks are being used for various purposes, such as the blocking of fine dust and harmful gases, protection against cold, or the prevention of bacterial penetration. 
     The bodies of masks are made of functional fibers that consist of non-woven fabrics that act as a filter. A user wears a mask by pulling strings connected to a body and then hanging them over the ears. 
     The conventional masks are disadvantage in that it is not easy to manufacture them and also it is inconvenient to carry them because the strings of the masks have to be made long so that they can be hung over the ears, in that there are many cases where the stings of the masks put a burden on the ears and thus a user feels uncomfortable because the stings of the masks are worn on the ears, and in that when the conventional mask is worn together with glasses, strings are hung over the ears while overlapping the temples of the glasses, thereby making it cumbersome to wear the conventional mask together with glasses. 
     In order to alleviate these disadvantages, the present applicant has proposed an adapter made of silicone so that both ends of a mask support come into close contact with a user&#39;s cheeks and a wearable mask provided with the adapter in Korean Utility Model Application Publication No. 20-2019-0003039 and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0490095. Products that embody the above patents have been put to use and have gained public favor. 
     The present invention is a further improvement over the above patents, and relates to a wearable mask that is improved such that a chin rest is introduced and also strings can be hung over the ears after the lengths thereof have been conveniently adjusted by taking into consideration the requests of actual consumers in the field where masks are worn. 
     Although various patents including Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2017-0119999 disclose the inventions in which the lengths of the strings of a mask are adjusted or connection portions between a mask body and strings are modified, they are problematic in that it is inconvenient to adjust the lengths of the strings and also frequent breakdowns occur due to the use of inflexible parts having complicated structures. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable mask that supports a wearer&#39;s chin, so that the wearing of the mask is stable even when the wearer&#39;s face or posture is changed. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable mask that allows the length of strings, hung over a wearer&#39;s ears from the mask, to be easily adjusted and can relieve the pain of the ears. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a wearable mask including a curved surface-shaped screen configured to cover the nose and mouth of a user, a thin curved plate-shaped frame configured to support the overall bottom portion of the screen, and connection portions formed at both ends of the frame, wherein a chin rest made of a soft material and configured to support a chin of the user is coupled to the central portion of the frame. 
     The chin rest may be intended to support a chin portion on the central portion of the lowermost part of the face of the user and include a first portion configured to support the upper portion of the chin exposed forward of the face and a second portion configured to cover the lower portion of the chin curved downward without being exposed forward of the face, and the first and second portions may be symmetrical with respect to a boundary line thereof and be formed to be slightly inclined from the front thereof to the rear thereof so that they come into close contact with and are tightened against the upper and lower portions of the chin of the user. 
     The chin rest may be made of silicone. 
     A flap long in leftward and rightward directions may be formed in a curved plate shape beneath the central portion of the frame, a slot may be formed inside the flap, a bridge may extend outward from a position near the boundary line between the first and second portions, and a coupling portion configured to be inserted into the slot may be formed on the front surface of the bridge. 
     String parts configured to be hung over the ears of the user may be fastened to the connection portions, each of the string parts may include a long string and a plurality of balls formed on the string, and each of the balls may be forcibly passed through an opening formed in a corresponding one of the connection portions, so that the length of the portion of the string hung over a corresponding one of the ears is adjusted. 
     The balls may be made of a silicone material, and may be movable along the string. 
     A cover wider than the string surrounding a corresponding temple of glasses of the user may be further formed on the side of the string opposite to the balls of the string. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The chin rest of the present invention can be manufactured and supplied as a separate unit according to the specifications of the mask, which exhibits the effects of being desirable for mass production and economically advantageous. The mask of the present invention provided with the chin rest enables the wearing of the mask to be more stable, and the mask does not move even when the face or posture is shaken or disturbed, so that it is convenient for daily work. 
     Furthermore, according to the mask of the present invention, the length of the parts hung over the ears can be easily adjusted, and also the pain applied to the ears can be relieved despite long-term use, so that the effect of improving marketability can be exhibited. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view illustrating a wearable mask according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view illustrating the wearable mask according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the wearable mask according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the wearable mask according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a string part; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing a state in which the string parts of  FIG.  5    are fastened to connection portions; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a string part according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view showing a state in which the string parts of  FIG.  7    are fastened to connection portions. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     However, the embodiments of the present invention may be modified to various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely describe the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The meanings of the terms to be described in the present invention should be understood as follows. 
     A singular expression should be understood as including a plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should be appreciated that terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of described features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. 
     All the terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, to which this invention pertains, unless otherwise defined. The terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with meanings in the context of the related art, and cannot be interpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present invention. 
     The term “mask” used herein may include a mask for keeping warm, a sanitary mask, a mask for preventing fine dust, and the like. 
       FIG.  1    is a front perspective view illustrating a wearable mask  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The basic shape and structure of the mask  1  are similar to those disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0490095 issued to the present applicant. 
     The mask  1  includes a curved surface-shaped screen  2  configured to cover the nose and mouth of a user, a thin curved plate-shaped frame  4  configured to support the overall bottom portion of the screen  2 , and connection portions  6  formed at both ends of the frame  4 . The screen  2  is made of colored or uncolored synthetic resin. The frame  4  is made of synthetic resin or plastic that is harder than the material of the screen  2 . A flap  40  long in the leftward and rightward directions is formed in a curved plate shape beneath the central portion of the frame  4 , and a long slot  42  is formed in the flap  40  along the shape of the flap  40 . The screen  2  and the frame  4  described above are examples, and the size, shape and material thereof do not limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The mask  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it has a chin rest  10  and connection portions  6 . The chin rest  10  is fitted in the slot  42 , and string parts  20  configured to be hung over the ears of the user according to the present invention are fastened to the connection portions  6 , as will be described later. 
       FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view illustrating the wearable mask  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The chin rest  10  is intended to support a chin portion on the central portion of the lowermost part of a wearer&#39;s face. The chin rest  10  includes a first portion  12  configured to support the upper portion of the chin exposed forward of the face, and a second portion  14  configured to cover the lower portion of the chin curved downward without being exposed forward of the face. The first and second portions  12  and  14  are symmetrical with respect to the boundary line thereof. The first and second portions  12  and  14  are both formed to be slightly inclined from the front thereof to the rear thereof so that they come into close contact with the upper and lower portions of a user&#39;s chin as much as possible based on the boundary line and give a feeling of tightening. A pair of bridges  16  extend outward from both sides near the boundary line between the first portion  12  and the second portion  14 . A coupling portion configured to be inserted into the slot  42  is formed on the front surfaces of the bridges  16 . The shape of the coupling portion  18  is similar to that of the slot  42 , and is fabricated in a size slightly larger than the slot  42  in order to be fixed after being forcibly pressed into the slot  42 . Although the bridges  16  have been described as a pair, only one bridge  16  may be formed at the center. 
     It is preferable that the chin rest  10  of the present invention is fabricated in an integrated form by injection molding. In addition, it is preferable that the material of the chin rest  10  is silicone. In the case of silicone material, the elasticity and deformation thereof are free and the restoring force thereof is excellent. Accordingly, even when a wearer speaks while the chin rest  10  is provided, the chin and the muscles around it can move relatively freely, thereby minimizing discomfort. In addition, the operation of inserting the coupling portion  18  into the slot  42  also becomes considerably simple. The chin rest  10  can be manufactured and supplied as a separate unit according to the specifications of the mask, which is desirable for mass production and economically advantageous. 
       FIG.  3    is a front view of the wearable mask  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     When the front surface of the mask  1  is viewed from the center, the second portion  14  is exposed. The coupling portion  18  made of silicone is press-fitted into the slot  42 . 
       FIG.  4    is a side view of the wearable mask  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to the present invention, the wearing of the wearable mask is made more stable by the chin rest  10 , and the mask  1  does not move even when the face or posture is shaken or disturbed, so that it is convenient for work. 
     Next, the string part  20  of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the string part  20 . The string part  20  includes a long string  24  configured to form a closed curved surface with rounded corners, and a plurality of balls  22  formed on the string  24 . The balls  22  may be moved by pushing or pulling them along the string  24  with a finger. The balls  22  are made of a silicone material. 
       FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing a state in which the string parts  20  of  FIG.  5    are fastened to the connection portions  6 . 
     The connection portions  6  include bases  60  formed in an integrated manner at both ends of the frame  4 . Openings  62  having a diameter smaller than that of the balls  22  are formed in the upper and lower portions of the side surface of each of the bases  60 . Each of the openings  62  is an open type with one side open as shown in the drawing, so that the string part  20  can be easily and selectively fitted and separated by inserting or removing the thin string  24  into or from the opening  62 . In this regard, the string part  20  can be separately manufactured and supplied as a separate unit according to the specifications of the mask, which is desirable for mass production and economically advantageous. 
     In order to reduce the length of the string part  20  of the mask  1  hung over the ear, the ball  22   b  inside the mask  1  is elastically deformed and forcibly passed through the opening  62  outward by pulling the ball  22   a  outside the mask  1  or the portion of the string  24  where the outer ball  22   a  is located. In contrast, in order to increase the length of the string part  20  of the mask  1  hung over the ear, the ball  22   b  outside the mask  1  is elastically deformed and forcibly passed through the opening  62  inward by pulling the ball  22   a  inside the mask  1  or the portion of the string  24  where the inner ball  22   a  is located. 
     The reason why that it is convenient to adjust the distance between the string part  20  and the ear is that the balls  22  ( 22   a , and  22   b ) are made of a silicone material, and also there is no risk of being damaged or broken despite long-term use. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a string part  20  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that a cover  26  made of rubber or silicone is further formed on the side of a string  24  opposite to balls  22  along the length of the string  24 . The cover  26  is a part that comes into direct contact with the ear. Since the cover  26  is wider than the string  24 , the area in contact with the skin is wide, so that the pressure normally applied by the string can be relieved. Also, the pain applied to the ear can be reduced using the characteristic of a soft material. 
       FIG.  8    is a perspective view showing a state in which the string parts  20  of  FIG.  7    are fastened to connection portions  6 . 
     As in the above-described embodiment, the lengths of the portions hung over the ears can be easily adjusted, and also the pain applied to the ears can be relieved despite long-term use, so that there is an advantage of excellent marketability. 
     In particular, the pain caused by the temples of glasses can be removed by softening the portions of the temples of the glasses caught on the ears when a user wears the glasses. 
     Although the specific embodiments according to the present invention have been described so far, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by not only the attached claims but also equivalents to the claims.