Anti-fog surgical face mask

• US 3,888,246 A
• Filed: 11/01/1973
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Lauer
• Original Assignee: William Lauer
• Inventors: Lauer, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,873
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 128/146.2,146.3,146.4,146.5,146.6,146,142.4,136,132D,163 2/14K,9R,206
• US Class Current: 128/201.17
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1115 with a horizontal pleated pocket

Abstract

A surgical face mask which comprises a filtration medium and an air impervious element secured to the upper portion of the mask. The impervious element functions to prevent moist breath from rising over the upper portion of the mask and fogging eyeglasses of the wearer of the mask. The mask may also bear impervious elements around all the edges thereof.

Claims

1. A surgical face mask comprising:

a. a body portion having an upper part, a lower part, an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges and comprising a filtration medium for filtering bacteria;

b. means for securing the mask over the mouth and nose of the wearer; and

c. a sheet of air impervious material having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a pair of side edges, the upper edge of said air impervious material being secured to the upper part of said body portion, the lower edge of said air impervious material lying between said upper and lower edges of said body portion and being substantially free from attachment to said body portion, said sheet of air impervious material extending substantially from side to side of said body portion whereby, when the mask is worn, exhaled breath is directed downwardly from the upper part of the mask and away from the eyes of the wearer.

2. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is attached to the outer surface of said body portion.

3. A face mask according to claim 2 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is folded over the uppermost edge of the mask and is continued downwardly for a relatively short distance along the inner surface of the mask.

4. A face mask according to claim 2 wherein a second sheet of air impervious material is attached to the upper inner surface of said body portion.

5. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is disposed witHin said body portion.

6. A face mask according to claim 3 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is attached to the upper inner surface of said body portion.

7. A face mask according to claim 4 wherein elongated narrow strips of air impervious material are secured to the side and bottom edges of the inner surface of the mask.

8. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is a plastic film.

9. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is a nonwoven fabric.

10. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said sheet of air impervious material is paper.

11. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said body portion is contoured.

12. A face mask according to claim 1 wherein said body portion further comprises an air pervious facing material.

13. A face mask according to claim 1 further comprising a noseclip.

14. A face mask according to claim 13 wherein said body portion includes a facing material overlying both major surfaces of said filtration medium.

15. A surgical face mask comprising:

a. a body portion having an upper part, a lower part, an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges and comprising a filtration medium for filtering bacteria;

b. means for securing the mask over the mouth and nose of the wearer; and

c. a sheet of air impervious material having a lower edge and a pair of side edges, said air impervious material being secured to the upper part of said body portion, the lower edge of said air impervious material lying between said upper and lower edges of said body portion and being substantially free from attachment to said body portion, said sheet of air impervious material being folded over the uppermost edge of the mask and continued downwardly for a relatively short distance along the inner surface of the mask whereby, when the mask is worn, exhaled breath is directed downwardly from the upper part of the mask and away from the eyes of the wearer.

16. A surgical mask according to claim 15 further comprising elongated strips of air impervious material secured to the side and bottom edges of the inner surface of aaid body portion.