Face mask with horizontal and vertical folds

• US 20060130841A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Kleman, Angela Marie, Reddy, Kiran K., Spence, Tameka
• Application Number:
  US11/020,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.190
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1107 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A face mask for reducing fogging of eyewear is provided. The face mask may include a body portion that is configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user. The body portion may have an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface opposite from the outer facing surface. The body portion may have at least one horizontal fold and a plurality of vertical folds which create a large breathing chamber when unfolded.

Claims

1. 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 the air of respiration is directed through said body portion, said body portion having an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface opposite from said outer facing surface, said body portion having a plurality of horizontal folds configured into a plurality of horizontal pleats for allowing adjustment of said body portion in a vertical direction, said body portion having a plurality of vertical folds configured into a plurality of vertical pleats intersecting said horizontal folds and for allowing adjustment of said body portion in a horizontal direction, wherein each horizontal pleat crosses at least two vertical pleats and each vertical pleat crosses at least two horizontal pleats and said horizontal and vertical pleats shape said inner facing surface such that said inner facing surface at least partially defines a chamber when said body portion is placed over the mouth and at least part of the nose of the user.

2. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said horizontal pleats extend across the entire horizontal length of said body portion, and wherein said vertical pleats extend across the entire vertical length of said body portion.

3. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion is made of a plurality of layers, and wherein said horizontal and said vertical pleats are present in all of said layers of said body portion.

4. The face mask as set forth in claim 3, wherein said body portion is made of a meltblown layer interposed between two spunbond layers.

5. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for attaching said body portion to the face of the user and sealing the periphery of said body portion to the face of the user.

6. The face mask as set forth in claim 5, wherein said fastening member is a pair of manual tie straps.

7. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion has binding on a pair of horizontal ends of said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said horizontal folds.

8. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion has binding running in a horizontal direction at two different vertical locations on said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said vertical folds.

9. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an anti-fog strip attached to said inner facing surface.

10. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user, said body portion having an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface opposite from said outer facing surface, said body portion having at least one continuous horizontal pleat extending between opposite lateral sides of said body portion and a plurality of vertical pleats extending between opposite top and bottom edges of said body portion, said horizontal pleat crossing said vertical pleats.

13. The face mask as set forth in claim 10, wherein said body portion is made of a plurality of layers, and wherein said horizontal and said vertical pleats are present in all of said layers of said body portion.

14. The face mask as set forth in claim 13, wherein said body portion is made of a meltblown layer interposed between two spunbond layers.

15. The face mask as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for attaching said body portion to the face of the user and sealing the periphery of said body portion to the face of the user.

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21. 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 the air of respiration is directed through said body portion, said body portion made from a plurality of layers and having an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface opposite from said outer facing surface, said body portion having a plurality of horizontal pleats in all of said layers and configured for allowing adjustment of said body portion in a vertical direction, said body portion having a plurality of vertical pleats in all of said layers and intersecting said horizontal pleats and configured for allowing adjustment of said body portion in a horizontal direction, wherein said body portion has binding on a pair of horizontal ends of said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said horizontal pleats, wherein said body portion has binding running in a horizontal direction at two different vertical locations on said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said vertical pleats, wherein said horizontal and vertical pleats are continuous between said bindings and shape said inner facing surface such that said inner facing surface at least partially defines a chamber when said body portion is placed over the mouth and at least part of the nose of the user;

a fastening member attached to said body portion and attaching said body portion to the face of the user and sealing the periphery of said body portion to the face of the user; and

an anti-fog strip attached to said inner facing surface.