Patent ID: 7963284

Claim:
A mask blank for using in forming a custom fitted mask, comprising a thin sheet of deformable material having a perimeter, the perimeter defining a first portion of a generic user'face to include only soft cartilaginous portions of the generic user's nose and portions of the generic user's face on either side of and below the soft cartilaginous portions of the generic user's nose and to exclude hard bony portions of the generic user's nose generally above the soft cartilaginous portions of the generic user's nose; wherein the thin sheet of deformable material is adapted to be: transitioned from a non-deformable state into a deformable state; applied against at least a first portion of a particular user's face surrounding the particular user's nostrils while the mask blank is in the deformable state; and deformed against the first portion of the particular user's face to cause the mask blank to conform substantially optimally to the particular user's unique facial features to form the custom fitted mask; and wherein: the thin sheet of deformable material includes a depression sufficient to accommodate at least a portion of the generic user's nose surrounding the generic user's nostrils; the thin sheet of deformable material is substantially flat on either side of and below the depression; and the thin sheet of deformable material is adapted to be deformed against at least a first portion of the particular user's face surrounding the user's nostrils.