ES1261161U - Comfort hook for fastening masks (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Comfort hook for fastening masks (1) consisting of an accessory for masks that has the dual functionality of facilitating a comfortable coupling of the elastic cords in the ear pinna of the user and alternatively, behind his neck, characterized to be shown as a tube equipped with a through hole (5) run, in its entirety, by a longitudinal slot (4), presenting a series of flexure notches (2), evenly distributed, and two hooking notches (3) located in the vicinity of the ends of the coupling (1) where there are reinforced sections (3.1) that are equipped with retention holes (3.2). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Comfort clip for mask attachment

Technical object of the invention

The present invention refers to a small accessory for masks that has a dual functionality; On the one hand, using it in duplicate, it is used so that the rubber bands that are attached to the back of the auditory pinna do not cause discomfort and, on the other hand, using a single piece, it allows the rubber bands to be attached behind the user's neck which is more comfortable and guarantees a good fit of the mask on the face.

Technical sector to which the invention relates

The invention that is presented affects the Section of Current Needs of Life, of the International Patent Classification (CIP), in its section on Personal or Household Objects, chapter on Clothing and in the section on Health and Protection, chapter on Medical Sciences and Salvage.

From an industrial point of view, it affects the manufacture of pharmaceutical accessories for personal, surgical and health use.

Background of the invention

The pandemic that has afflicted, since the beginning of 2020, all the countries of the world, to a greater or lesser extent, has made the use of masks advisable, being even mandatory in some countries. For this reason, the use of masks is widely extended not only among healthcare personnel but also among all types of users.

Although abundant regulations have been issued on the characteristics that masks must meet in order to be effective, as regards both the protection of the user, against possible contagions, and the protection of the people around him, multiple solutions have been developed that have been registered in the Patent Offices around the world, being able to find almost a hundred models that focus on various aspects of design, level of protection, their repetitive use through washing and also on what affects certain people as, for example, those that are communicated by the movement of the lips.

Each of them has a hooking or anchoring device somewhere on the user's head, the most common being the one that uses elastic cords that are accommodated behind the ears, resulting in the fact that if the cord is very tight or when the mask is used for long periods of time, it causes discomfort and friction.

To avoid these annoying situations, the inventor proposes a solution that solves the problem in a very favorable and simple way, resulting in novelty in this field of masks.

Summary description of the invention

The invention describes a small accessory for masks in the form of a flexible tube made of soft plastic, silicone or material with similar characteristics that is provided with a slot longitudinal and a series of small notches or cuts that allow the tube, being in principle straight, can adapt to small radius curvatures. This arrangement makes it possible to introduce the elastic cords that the usual masks have inside the tube and to rest on the back of the ears without causing discomfort.

On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned small notches, which we will call flexion notches, it has others of different configuration at each of the ends of the tube, which we will call attachment notches, which facilitate the attachment of the mask cords by behind the neck of the wearer. In other words, it is a small accessory that has the aforementioned dual function and is manufactured at very low costs.

The following drawings allow an easy understanding of the advantages of the accessory of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Five figures are included, which are considered sufficient for the correct interpretation of the invention.

Figures 1, 2 and 3

They represent the accessory in side view (Fig. 1), in profile view (Fig. 2) and in top view (Fig. 3 having indicated the following:

1. - Hitch

2. - Bending notch

3. - Hook notch

3.1. - Reinforced section

3.2. - Retention hole

4. - Longitudinal groove

5. - Through hole

Figure 4

It shows any mask whose elastic cords have been inserted into the through hole thanks to the existence of the longitudinal groove, then proceeding to its coupling behind the ear.

6. - Mask

7. - Elastic cord

8. - Ear

Figure 5

It shows, schematically, the coupling of a mask, behind the neck of the user, using the hooking notches.

Detailed explanation of embodiments of the invention

Comfort hook for fastening masks (1) (Figs. 1 to 5) consisting of an accessory for masks that has the dual functionality of facilitating a comfortable coupling of the elastic cords in the ear pinna of the user and alternatively, from behind of his neck.

In a preferred embodiment by its inventor, the hook (1) is shown (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), as a flexible tube made of soft plastic, silicone or material with similar characteristics, equipped with its natural through hole (5) and a longitudinal groove (4) that affects the entire piece, with a series of bending notches (2), evenly distributed, and two hooking notches (3) located in the vicinity of the ends of the coupling (1) where there are reinforced sections (3.1) where the through hole (5) reduces its diameter following a frusto-conical shape so that the through hole has a constant diameter between the reinforced sections (3.1) presenting a smaller diameter on both ends of the hitch (1).

The configuration of the hook (1), as described, allows the introduction of the elastic cords (7) in the through hole (5) thanks to the existence of the longitudinal slot (4) which is achieved by exerting a slight pressure of the elastic cord (7) on the longitudinal groove (4) that opens easily when said pressure is applied. Once each of the elastic cords (7) have been inserted into the corresponding hooks (1), the user can proceed to accommodate them behind their ears (8), making a perfect coupling since the flexion notches (2) open facilitating that the hook (1) takes exactly the curvature of the back of the ear (8) as can be seen in (Fig. 4). In addition, as the end holes of the reinforced sections (3.1) have a smaller diameter than that of the elastic cord (7), which in turn has a smaller diameter than that of the through hole (7), the cord is trapped. elastic (7) leaving the hitch (1) immobilized.

As the hook (1) is made of soft material, pleasant to the touch, it is comfortable to use, alleviating the discomfort caused by the elastic cords (7) in prolonged use of the mask (6).

On the other hand, when the user chooses to secure the mask (6) behind their neck, as shown in (Fig. 5), they must insert the elastic cords (7) on each side into the corresponding notches on the hook (3), existing at the ends of the hook (1) of the invention, thus alleviating the discomfort of prolonged fastenings on the ears. In this case, the hooking notches (3) have their opening slightly smaller than the diameter of the elastic cords (7) so it is necessary to apply a certain force at the time of their introduction in said notches but at the bottom of each notch of hook (3) there are retention holes (3.2) where the elastic cords (7) are safely attached, avoiding possible unhooking.

The hook (1) of the invention is manufactured in any of the materials indicated above and in various colors including transparent patterns.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that an expert in the field can understand the scope and advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and put into practice its object. However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment by its inventor, although it may be susceptible to modifications provided that this does not affect or imply any alteration of the foundation of said invention. That is to say, the terms in which this preferred description of the invention has been set forth should always be taken broadly and not limitatively.

Claims (4)

1. Comfort hook for fastening masks (1) consisting of an accessory for masks that has the dual functionality of facilitating a comfortable coupling of the elastic cords in the ear pinna of the user and alternatively, behind his neck, characterized to be shown as a tube equipped with a through hole (5) run, in its entirety, by a longitudinal groove (4), presenting a series of bending notches (2), evenly distributed, and two hooking notches (3) located in the vicinity of the ends of the coupling (1) where there are reinforced sections (3.1) that are equipped with retention holes (3.2). 2. Comfort hook for fastening masks (1), according to claim one, characterized in that both reinforced sections (3.1) have a frusto-conical perforation whose larger diameter coincides with that of the through hole (5) decreasing towards the tips. 3. Comfort hook for fastening masks (1), according to claim one, characterized by being made of flexible plastic, silicone or material with similar characteristics. 4. Comfort hook for fastening masks (1), according to claim one, characterized in that it is manufactured in different colors.