- Number
- 12256792
- Published
- 2025-03-25
- Filed
- 2020-07-10
- Assignee
- DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
- Inventors
- Thacher; Sara Larissa et al.
- CPC
- A41D13/1107; A41D13/1161; A41D13/113; A41D13/1146
- Verdict
- Low Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Transparent multi-faceted costume face-mask hardware.
Abstract
A transparent face mask for enhancing communications while controlling release of respiratory droplets. The mask includes a body formed from a thin flexible plastic material such as polypropylene. The mask body has a center diamond shaped segment that cantilevers the mask body from the bridge of a wearer's nose. The body includes right and left side segments, which each extend outward from one of the four sides of a diamond-shaped center segment to form a segment-to-segment joint between adjacent side segment pairs that flexibly conforms the side portions to the wearer's face. The face mask includes risers formed of an elongate strip of flexible material with a cloth covering for comfort and ease of fit, and the risers each provides a contact point between the mask and the wearer's face adjacent to and inward of the ear from which the mask body is cantilevered away from the wearer's face.
Background
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present invention relates, in general, to face coverings designed and used to limit the spread of respiratory pathogens, and, more particularly, to a new face mask designed to be non-restrictive to the user, to be lightweight and comfortable for extended wear, and to provide a desired flow of air in to the wearer's nose and mouth and a desired flow of breath out of the mask. 2. Relevant Background (2) There are many environments in which it is desirable for people to wear face coverings when in public settings. Recently, there has been great concern with the spread of respiratory pathogens, and, as result, it is more common that people wear a face covering such as a face shield, which covers the entire wearer's face, or a face mask, which covers the wearer's face at least from the nose to the chin or below the chin. Face coverings help prevent or at least limit the spray of respiratory droplets from the wearer's nose and mouth. (3) While face masks and shields have been used for many decades, the designs were often uncomfortable for long term, outdoor, and active uses. However, there have been more recent demands for face coverings that can be worn for many hours, such as for a worker during their entire work shift, and in all environments including outdoors where it may be hot and humid or where users are active such as walking, running, cycling, and so on. As a result, there remains a need for face coverings that are less restr
Claims
1. A face mask, comprising: a body having a perimeter defined at least partially by an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein the body is formed of a flexible material, wherein the body includes a diamond-shaped center segment having a vertical height extending from the upper edge to the lower edge, wherein the vertical height coincides with an overall vertical height of the body, wherein the body further includes an upper left segment, a lower left segment, an upper right segment, and a lower right segment connected to sides of the diamond-shaped center segment, wherein the upper left and the lower left segments extend outward to the left edge at an angle and the upper right and lower right segments extend outward to the right edge at the angle, wherein the upper left segment is spatially separated from the lower left segment, and wherein the upper right segment is spatially separated from the lower right segment; and at least one strap coupled to the left and right edges of the body that is and configured to attach the body to a person's head with the body positioned over the person's nose and mouth. ||
12. A face mask, comprising: a diamond-shaped center segment having a vertical height extending from upper and lower edges defining a perimeter of the face mask, wherein the vertical height coincides with an overall vertical height of the face mask, and wherein the diamond-shaped center segment is defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface separated by a central horizontal bend; an upper left segment extending from a first side of the diamond-shaped center segment at a first downward angle to a first outer edge; a lower left segment extending from a second side of the diamond-shaped center segment at a second downward angle to a second outer edge; an upper right segment extending from a third side of the diamond-shaped center segment at the first downward angle to a third outer edge; a lower right segment extending from a fourth side of the diamond-shaped center segment at the second downward angle to a fourth outer edge; a first riser attached to and extending along the first and second outer edges to define a left outer edge; and a second riser attached to and extending along the third and fourth outer edges to define a right outer edge, the first and second risers extending outward to outer ends at a cantilever distance from an upper edge of the upper left and right segments, wherein the first and second risers are configured to lever the left and right outer edges away from a face of a person when the person wears the face mask, thereby creating airgaps between the first, second, third, and fourth outer edges and the face of the person, and wherein the diamond-shaped center segment and the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right segments are formed of a clear and flexible plastic. ||
19. A face mask, comprising: a body with a perimeter defined at least partially by an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein the body is formed of a clear and flexible plastic, wherein the body includes a diamond-shaped center segment having a vertical height extending from the upper edge to the lower edge, and wherein the vertical height coincides with an overall vertical height of the body; and at least one strap coupled to the left and right edges of the body and configured to attach the body of the face mask to the head of a person wearing the face mask with the body positioned over the nose and the mouth of the person, wherein the at least one strap is configured to pivot the face mask about the person's nose to urge the lower edge outward to define airgaps between the lower edge and the person's mouth, chin, and lower cheeks, such that the lower edge is not in contact with the person's face at the person's mouth, chin, and lower cheeks, wherein the diamond-shaped center segment is defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface separated by a central horizontal bend, and wherein the central horizontal bend defines an angle in a range of 120 to 160 degrees, wherein interior surfaces of the body define an arcuate bowl for use in directing breath exhaled from the person's nose and mouth downward to pass through the airgaps.