Patent ID: 8622059

Claim:
A face mask, comprising: a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user in order to isolate the mouth and the at least part of the nose of the user from the environment such that respiration air is drawn through said body portion and subsequently exhaled by the user through said body portion, wherein said body portion has an outer exposed surface facing away from the user when worn, wherein said body portion has an inner exposed surface facing towards the user and wherein said inner surface is configured to contact the face of the user when worn; a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for retaining said body portion onto the face of a user; and an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is configured for retaining liquid, and wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on said outer surface of said body portion.