Face mask structure

• US 7,210,482 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Champak Enterprise Company Limited, Taiwan Textile Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Champak Enterprise Company Limited, Taiwan Textile Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Hung-En, Huang, Po-Hsiung, Lin, Jing-Tyr, Chu, Cheng-Kun, Lee, Jen-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPEZ, AMADEUS SEBASTIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/296,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.25, 128/205.29, 128/206.12, 128/206.13, 128/206.16, 128/206.19, 128/206.21, 2/9, 220/6
• US Class Current: 128/206.12
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1115 with a horizontal pleated pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1161 Means for fastening to the user's head
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A face mask structure has an upper mask portion, a middle mask portion, and a lower mask portion, which are formed integrally. The upper mask portion has an upper metal stripe disposed at a proper position thereof. The lower mask portion has a lower metal stripe disposed at a proper position thereof. The upper and lower mask portions are folded in opposite directions. When in use, the upper and lower mask portions are spread out to support the middle mask portion. In this way, the face mask structure becomes fitting in with the shapes of human faces. Furthermore, the middle mask portion has multiple folding portions. When in use, the folding portions are stretched out to increase filtering area. Thereby, the inner space of the face mask structure is increased, the air-invasion rate is reduced, and the filtering efficiency is thus improved.

Claims

1. A face mask structure, comprising:

an upper mask portion having beveled angles on opposing outer sides thereof to form a trapezoidal upper portion of the face mask structure and has a metal stripe disposed at an upper position thereof;

a middle mask portion that is located below the upper mask portion to form a middle portion of the face mask structure, the middle portion having a plurality of folding portions; and

a lower mask portion having beveled angles on opposing outer sides thereof to form a trapezoidal lower portion of the face mask structure and is located below the middle mask portion;

wherein the upper mask portion, the middle mask portion, and the lower mask portion are formed integrally in single piece formation, the upper mask portion and the lower mask portion being wider than a half of the width of the middle mask portion, the upper mask portion and the lower mask portion being folded in opposite directions over the middle portion when the mask is not in use, the upper mask portion and the lower mask portion are unfolded away from the middle mask portion when in use so that the metal stripe is located at a user'"'"'s nose, the folding portions being stretched out to increase a filtering area of the middle mask portion when the face mask structure is in use.

2. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle mask portion is made of a material composed of fibers or a fibrous composite.

3. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spreading out of the folding portions of the middle mask portion increases inner space of the face mask structure.

4. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two ropes.

5. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ropes are formed with a line shape, a stripe shape, or a plate shape for a user to hang on his ears or head or tie on his head.

6. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle mask portion further comprises a middle metal stripe, the middle metal stripe is located at a central position of the middle mask portion and used to support the middle mask portion.

7. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the middle metal stripe is disposed vertically or horizontally at the central position of the middle mask portion.

8. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower mask portion further comprises a lower metal stripe, and the lower metal stripe is located at a lower position of the lower mask portion.

9. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding portions are formed symmetrically.

10. The face mask structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding portions are formed asymmetrically.