Face mask with anti-fog folding

• US 20060137691A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O&M Halyard, Inc. (Owens and Minor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Reddy, Kiran K., Steindorf, Eric C., Kleman, Angela M., Spence, Tameka
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.190
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1115 with a horizontal pleated pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A face mask is provided that is configured to reduce or eliminate fogging that may occur on eye wear or an eyeshield worn by a user of the face mask. The face mask includes a body portion that has a layer with an inner surface configured for facing the face of the user. The layer has at least one fold that extends in a horizontal direction across at least a portion of the layer. The fold has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of the layer. The inner surface of the fold forming portion is in facing relationship with the inner surface of the vertically disposed lower primary portion.

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 respiration air is directed through said body portion;

said body portion has a layer with an inner surface a part of which is configured for contacting the face of the user, said layer has a plurality of folds that extend across the entire horizontal length of said layer;

each of said folds has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said layer, said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in facing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion;

said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in opposing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion; and

an anti-fog strip located on a top edge of said body portion.

2. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion has a second layer with an outer surface at least a part of which is configured for facing the environment, said second layer having a plurality of folds that extend across the entire horizontal length of said second layer, wherein each of said folds in said second layer has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said second layer, wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in facing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion of said second layer, and wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in opposing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion of said second layer.

3. The face mask as set forth in claim 2, wherein said body portion has a third layer disposed between said layer and said second layer.

4. The face mask as set forth in claim 3, wherein said layer is made of a wet laid material, wherein said second layer is made of a spunbond material, and wherein said third layer is made of a meltblown material.

5. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said anti-fog strip is located on said inner surface of said layer.

6. 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 onto the face of the user and sealing the periphery of said body portion to the face of the user.

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

8. 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 plurality of folds.

9. The face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of folds are configured to be at least partially unfolded so as to shape said body portion such that said inner 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.

17. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, further comprising an anti-fog strip located on a top edge of said body portion.

10. The face mask as set forth in cliam 1, wherein said layer is made of a medical grade material.

11. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion that has a layer with an inner surface configured for facing the face of a user, said layer having at least one fold that extends in a horizontal direction across at least a portion of said layer, wherein said fold has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said layer, and wherein said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in facing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion.

12. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in opposing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion.

13. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fold extends across the entire horizontal length of said layer.

14. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said body portion has a second layer with an outer surface at least a part of which is configured for facing the environment, said second layer having a plurality of folds that extend along at least a portion of the horizontal length of said second layer, wherein each of said folds in said second layer has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said second layer, wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in facing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion of said second layer.

15. The face mask as set forth in claim 14, wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in opposing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion of said second layer.

16. The face mask as set forth in claim 14, wherein said body portion has a third layer made of a meltblown material disposed between said layer and said second layer, and wherein said layer is made of a wet laid material, and wherein said second layer is made of a spunbond material.

18. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for attaching said body portion onto the face of the user and sealing the periphery of said body portion to the face of the user.

19. The face mask as set forth in claim 18, wherein said fastening member is a pair of manual tie straps.

20. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said body portion has binding on a pair of horizontal ends of said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said fold.

21. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fold is configured to be at least partially unfolded so as to shape said body portion such that said inner 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.

22. The face mask as set forth in claim 11, wherein said layer is made of a medical grade material.

23. 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, wherein said body portion has a layer with an inner surface a part of which is configured for contacting the face of the user, said layer having a plurality of folds that extend across the entire horizontal length of said layer, wherein each of said folds has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said layer, wherein said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in facing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion, and wherein said inner surface of said fold forming portion is in opposing relationship with said inner surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion;

wherein said body portion has a second layer with an outer surface at least a part of which is configured for facing the environment, said second layer having a plurality of folds that extend across the entire horizontal length of said second layer, wherein each of said folds in said second layer has a fold forming portion located between and attached to two primary portions of said second layer, wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in facing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed lower said primary portion of said second layer, and wherein said outer surface of said fold forming portion of said second layer is in opposing relationship with said outer surface of the vertically disposed upper said primary portion of said second layer;

wherein said body portion has a third layer disposed between said layer and said second layer;

wherein said body portion has binding on a pair of horizontal ends of said body portion so as to limit unfolding of said plurality of folds in said layer and said second layer; and

a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for attaching said body portion onto the face of the user.