Correlated magnetic mask and method for using the correlated magnetic mask

• US 7,823,224 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2010
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/728,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 227 Days
• Field of Search: 2 4- 9, 2 1/5, 241/0, 2426-454, 335/285
• US Class Current: 2/410
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1161 Means for fastening to the user's head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/02 Goggles breathing masks A62B18/00; swimming goggles A63B33/002; diving masks B63C11/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/027 Straps; Buckles; Attachment of headbands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/105 Fencing mask
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 33/004 comprising two separate lenses joined by a flexible bridge
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/12 Diving masks
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/128 Straps, or the like for fastening diving masks; Accessories therefor, e.g. buckles
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0215 Flexible forms, sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts

Abstract

A mask is described herein that uses correlated magnets which enable a person to easily secure and remove the mask to and from their head. Some examples of such a mask include a scuba mask, a welding mask, a fencing mask, a goalie mask, a paint mask, a paintball mask, a catcher'"'"'s mask, a ski mask, a goalie mask, an oxygen mask, a surgical mask, a face shield, a filter mask, a theatrical mask, a costume mask, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask.

Claims

1. A mask comprising:

a frame, where the frame has a first support with a first end of a strap attached thereto, where the strap has a second end which incorporates a first field emission structure, where the frame has a second support which incorporates a second field emission structure, where the second end of the strap is attached to the second support of the frame when the first and second field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, where each of said first and second field emission structures comprise an array of field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first field emission structure and a complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first field emission structure with said complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first field emission structure and said complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, each of said plurality of off peak spatial forces being less than half of said peak spatial force.

2. The mask of claim 1, wherein the second end of the strap is released from the second support of the frame when the first and second field emission structures are turned with respect to one another.

3. The mask of claim 2, wherein the second support of the frame further includes a release mechanism that turns the second field emission structure with respect to the first field emission structure so as to release or attach the second end of the strap from or to the second support of the frame.

4. The mask of claim 2, wherein the strap further includes a release mechanism that turns the first field emission structure with respect to the second field emission structure so as to release or attach the second end of the strap from or to the second support of the frame.

5. The mask of claim 1, wherein the second end of the strap has incorporated therein a plurality of the first field emission structures any one of which interacts with the second field emission structure attached to the second support of the frame.

6. The mask of claim 1, wherein the strap has incorporated therein a third field emission structure associated with the second end and a fourth field emission structure associated with another portion of the strap, where the third field emission structure interacts with the fourth field emission structure so that the second end of the strap can be attached to the another portion of the strap, where each of said third and fourth field emission structures comprise an array of field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a second spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the third and fourth field emission structures within a second field domain, said second spatial force function being in accordance with a second code, said second code corresponding to a code modulo of said third field emission structure and a complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, said second code defining a second peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said third field emission structure with said complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, said second code also defining a plurality of second off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said third field emission structure and said complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, each of said second plurality of off peak spatial forces being less than half of said second peak spatial force.

7. The mask of claim 1, wherein said positions and said polarities of each field emission source of each said array of field emission sources are determined in accordance with at least one correlation function.

8. The mask of claim 7, wherein said at least one correlation function is in accordance with said code.

9. The mask of claim 8, wherein said code is at least one of a pseudorandom code, a deterministic code, or a designed code.

10. The mask of claim 8, wherein said code is one of a one dimensional code, a two dimensional code, a three dimensional code, or a four dimensional code.

11. The mask of claim 1, wherein each field emission source of each said array of field emission sources has a corresponding field emission amplitude and vector direction determined in accordance with the spatial force function, wherein a separation distance between the first and second field emission structures and the relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures creates a spatial force in accordance with the spatial force function.

12. The mask of claim 11, wherein said spatial force comprises at least one of an attractive spatial force or a repellant spatial force.

13. The mask of claim 11, wherein said spatial force corresponds to a peak spatial force of said spatial force function when said first and second field emission structures are substantially aligned such that each field emission source of said first field emission structure substantially aligns with a corresponding field emission source of said second field emission structure.

14. The mask of claim 1, wherein said field domain corresponds to first field emissions from said array of first field emission sources of said first field emission structure interacting with second field emissions from said array of second field emission sources of said second field emission structure.

15. The mask of claim 1, wherein said polarities of the field emission sources comprise at least one of North-South polarities or positive-negative polarities.

16. The mask of claim 1, wherein at least one of said field emission sources comprises a magnetic field emission source or an electric field emission source.

17. The mask of claim 1, wherein at least one of said field emission sources comprises a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, an electret, a magnetized ferromagnetic material, a portion of a magnetized ferromagnetic material, a soft magnetic material, or a superconductive magnetic material.

18. A method for using a mask, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the mask on a head of a person, where the mask includes a frame, where the frame has a first support with a first end of a strap attached thereto, where the strap has a second end which incorporates a first field emission structure, where the frame has a second support which incorporates a second field emission structure; and

pulling the second end of the strap around the head of the person so the first field emission structure interacts with the second field emission structure, where the second end of the strap is attached to the second support of the frame when the first and second field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, and where each of said first and second field emission structures comprise an array of field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first field emission structure and a complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first field emission structure with said complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first field emission structure and said complementary code modulo of said second field emission structure, each of said plurality of off peak spatial forces being less than half of said peak spatial force.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of releasing the second end of the strap from the second support of the frame, where the second end of the strap is released from the second support of the frame when the first and second field emission structures are turned with respect to one another.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of attaching the second end of the strap to another portion of the strap, wherein the strap has incorporated therein a third field emission structure associated with the second end and a fourth field emission structure associated with the another portion of the strap, where the third field emission structure interacts with the fourth field emission structure, where each of said third and fourth field emission structures comprise an array of field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a second spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the third and fourth field emission structures within a second field domain, said second spatial force function being in accordance with a second code, said second code corresponding to a code modulo of said third field emission structure and a complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, said second code defining a second peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said third field emission structure with said complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, said second code also defining a plurality of second off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said third field emission structure and said complementary code modulo of said fourth field emission structure, each of said second plurality of off peak spatial forces being less than half of said second peak spatial force.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the mask is either a medical mask, a laboratory mask, a welding mask, a fencing mask, a goalie mask, a paint mask, a paintball mask, a catcher'"'"'s mask, a ski mask, a goalie mask, an oxygen mask, a surgical mask, a face shield, a filter mask, a theatrical mask, a costume mask, a continuous positive airway pressure mask, an industrial mask, a military mask, or a scuba mask.