WO2022087713A1

WO2022087713A1 - Portable face mask system

Info

Publication number: WO2022087713A1
Application number: PCT/CA2021/051371
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nikita SARJU-PERSAUD
Original assignee: Sarju Persaud Nikita
Priority date: 2020-10-26
Filing date: 2021-10-01
Publication date: 2022-05-05

Abstract

A face mask system includes a face mask, a housing, and a keyring attached to the housing. The face mask includes a face covering portion and an attachment means for attaching the face covering portion to a user. The face mask is manipulable between a folded position and an unfolded position and the housing is sized to store the face mask in the folded position. The keyring allows the user to fasten the housing to other keyrings and/or keys (for example car keys) and therefore provides the user with a means of compactly carrying and storing a face mask with them to prevent the inconvenience, and potential danger, of forgetting their face mask.

Description

PORTABLE FACE MASK SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 63/105,413 filed October 26, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of face masks of existing art and more specifically relates to a portable face mask system.

RELATED ART

[0004] Face masks or face coverings are used to cover the mouth and nose of a wearer in order to shield them and, in some cases, others around them, from certain harmful airborne particles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks were employed as a public health control measure to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Due to this pandemic, many countries recommended or even mandated the use of face masks in public.

[0005] Whilst there has been a remarkable rise in the amount of people wearing face masks, many are still trying to adapt to wearing face masks in their everyday life. As such, numerous people tend to forget to bring their masks on an outing, leaving them at home or in their vehicle. This is highly inconvenient as in many circumstances, individuals cannot enter a public building without a face mask or face covering. In addition to this, another problem that mask wearers are experiencing is that of mask storage. In certain instances, such as when eating or drinking, mask wearers remove their face mask. During this time, options for hygienically and conveniently storing the face mask are limited. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known face mask art, the present disclosure provides a novel portable face mask system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a holder and a face mask that is able to be folded and stored within the holder. The portable mask system may allow for the easy, convenient and hygienic transportation of a face mask.

[0007] A face mask system is disclosed herein. The face mask system includes a face mask and a housing. The face mask may include a face covering portion configured to cover at least a mouth and a nose of a wearer, and an attachment means configured to attach the face mask about a head of the wearer. The face mask may be easily manipulated to and from a folded position and an unfolded position.

[0008] The housing may include an outer shell defining an interior. The interior may be sized to receive and retain the face mask in the folded position. The housing may be defined by a first portion having a first fastener and a second portion having a second fastener. The first fastener and the second fastener may be configured to fasten the first portion and the second portion together and unfastening of the first portion and the second portion may allow removal of the face mask from the housing.

[0009] For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments for the present disclosure, a portable face mask system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a face mask system illustrating a housing thereof being opened by a user to reveal a face mask being stored therewithin, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the face mask system illustrating a first portion of the housing unfastened from a second portion of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the face mask system illustrating the first portion of the housing fastened to the second portion of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the face mask system illustrating the first portion of the housing fastened to the second portion of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the face mask system illustrating the first portion of the housing unfastened from the second portion of the housing and showing the face mask stored therewithin in a folded position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the face mask system, illustrating the housing and the face mask in an unfolded position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the face mask system, illustrating various styles of face masks, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to face masks and more particularly to a portable face mask system as used to provide a user with a holder that allows the face mask to be stored therewithin and is easily and conveniently carried. Generally disclosed is a face mask, a housing for storing the face mask, and a keyring for attaching the housing to a key or a set of keys. The portable mask system may provide a user with a means of compactly storing and carrying a face mask.

[0020] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, various views of a face mask system 100.

[0021] The face mask system 100 may include a face mask 110 and a housing 120. Preferably, as above, the face mask system 100 may be portable and used for easily transporting the face mask 110. Again, as above, the face mask system 100 may further include a keyring 130. In some embodiments, the keyring 130 may be configured to attach the housing 120 to a key, a set of keys and/or other keyrings. For example, the keyring 130 may attach the housing 120 to a user’s car keys, as shown in FIG. 1. This may allow the user to conveniently keep their face mask 110 with an object they commonly use when traveling (such as car keys), ensuring the face mask 110 is available when needed. It should be appreciated that whilst the term ‘keyring’ is used in the present disclosure, the keyring 130 is not limited for use with keys and may be contemplated to attach to any object or surface, such as a hook, a purse, a wallet, etc.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the housing 120 may include an outer shell 121 defining an interior 122. Preferably, the housing 120 may include a substantially cylindrical or tubular shape and may be made from a durable, sturdy material. For example, in some embodiments, the housing 120 may be made from a metal material, or a substantially metal material such as aluminum. In other embodiments, the housing 120 may be made from a plastic material. Further, as shown, the housing 120 may be compact to allow the housing 120 to easily fit inside the user’s pocket, bag/purse, etc. In some examples, the housing 120 may be 85mm in length and 25mm in width/diameter. It should be appreciated however that the housing 120 is not limited to these measurements. As shown in FIG. 5, the interior 122 may be sized to receive and retain the face mask 110 in a folded position 113.

[0023] The housing 120 may be defined by a first portion 123 and a second portion 124. The keyring 130 may be attached to one of the first portion 123 or the second portion 124. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the keyring 130 may be attached to the first portion 123. The first portion 123 may include a first closed end 323 opposite a first open end 423. The second portion 124 may include a second closed end 324 opposite a second open end 424. As shown, the keyring 130 may be attached to one of the first closed end 323 and the second closed end 324. For example, the keyring 130 may be attached to the first closed end 323. In some embodiments, the one of the first closed end 323 or the second closed end 324 may include an aperture and the keyring 130 may be attached thereto.

[0024] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first portion 123 may include a first fastener 223 and the second portion 124 may include a second fastener 224. The first fastener 223 and the second fastener 224 may be configured to fasten the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 together. As shown in FIG. 5 specifically, unfastening of the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 may reveal the face mask 110 and thereby allow removal of the face mask 110 from the housing 120. For example, the second portion 124 may be unfastened from the first portion 123. As shown, the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 may preferably be substantially equal in size. As such, unfastening of the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 may reveal (substantially) half of the face mask 110 (in the folded position 113), enabling the user to pull the face mask 110 out of the second portion 124 (or vice versa).

[0025] The first fastener 223 may be located about the first open end 423 and the second fastener 224 may be located about the second open end 424. As shown in FIGS. 2A, the first fastener 223 may be one of a female thread 523 and a male thread 524 or the second fastener 224 may be another one of the female thread 523 or the male thread 524. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first fastener 223 may be the female thread 523 and the second fastener 224 may be the male thread 524. In this embodiment, the user may unfasten the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 by manually unscrewing, for example, the first portion 123 from the second portion 124 in, for example, an anti -clockwise direction. The user may then fasten the first portion 123 to the second portion 124 by manually screwing the first portion 123 to the second portion 124 in, for example, a clockwise direction.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the face mask 110 may include a face covering portion 111 and an attachment means 112. The face covering portion 111 may be configured to cover at least a mouth and a nose of a wearer. The attachment means 112 may be configured to attach the face mask 110 about a head of the wearer. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, the attachment means 112 may include a left ear loop 115 and a right ear loop 116. Preferably, the left ear loop 115 and the right ear loop 116 may be elasticated. However, it should be appreciated that other attachment means 112 may be contemplated. For example, the attachment means 112 may include a headband. [0027] Preferably, the face mask 110 may be easily manipulated to and from the folded position 113 (FIG. 5) and an unfolded position 114 (FIG. 6). As such, the face mask 110 may be made from a flexible material. For example, preferably, the face covering portion 111 may comprise a silk material. The silk material may be breathable whilst at least substantially capturing particles, such as droplets and aerosols carrying pathogens. For example, the face mask 110 may be effective in capturing at least a portion of particles sized between 0.02- 1pm (it should be appreciated that this size range is given as an example and the face mask 110 may not be limited to having filtration efficiency for particles in only this size range). It should also be appreciated that the face mask 110 is not limited to a silk material or is not limited to being made entirely from the silk material. For example, the face mask 110 may include one or more filter layers.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 7, the face mask 110 may include a variety of styles, shapes and sizes. Further, whilst the preferred embodiment teaches the face mask 110 being provided with the face mask system 100, it may be contemplated that the housing 120 may be used for storing any face mask.

[0029] In some embodiments, a method of using a face mask system 100 may also be disclosed herein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method may include one or more components or features of the face mask system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method may include the steps of: unfastening the first portion 123 from the second portion 124 to reveal the face mask 110; removing the face mask 110 from the housing 120; unfolding the face mask 110 to place it in the unfolded position 114; positioning the face covering portion 111 over the mouth and nose of the wearer; attaching the face mask 110 to the head of the wearer via the attachment means 112; wearing the face mask 110; removing the face mask 110 when desired; folding the face mask 110 into the folded position 113; placing the face mask 110 into one of the first portion 123 or the second portion 124; placing another one of the first portion 123 or the second portion 124 over the face mask 110; and fastening the first portion 123 and the second portion 124 together. Preferably, the housing 110 may be attached to an object or surface, such as car keys, via the keyring 130.

[0030] It should be noted that some steps may be optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. It should also be noted that the steps described in the above method can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for using a face mask system are taught herein.

[0031] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A face mask system comprising: a face mask including a face covering portion configured to cover at least a mouth and a nose of a wearer and an attachment means configured to attach the face mask about a head of the wearer, the face mask being easily manipulated to and from a folded position and an unfolded position; and a housing including an outer shell defining an interior, the interior being sized to receive and retain the face mask in the folded position, the housing being defined by a first portion having a first fastener and a second portion having a second fastener, the first fastener and the second fastener being configured to fasten the first portion and the second portion together, and wherein unfastening of the first portion and the second portion allows removal of the face mask from the housing.

2. The face mask system of claim 1, further comprising a keyring attached to one of the first portion and the second portion of the housing.

3. The face mask system of claim 1, wherein the face covering portion comprises a silk material. The face mask system of claim 3, wherein the attachment means includes a left ear loop and a right ear loop. The face mask system of claim 4, wherein the left ear loop and the right ear loop are elasticated. The face mask system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a substantially cylindrical shape. The face mask system of claim 6, wherein the first portion includes a first closed end opposite a first open end, wherein the second portion includes a second closed end opposite a second open end. The face mask system of claim 7, wherein the first fastener is located about the first open end and the second fastener is located about the second open end. The face mask system of claim 8, wherein the first fastener is one of a female thread and a male thread, and wherein the second fastener is another one of the female thread and the male thread. The face mask system of claim 9, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially equal in size. The face mask system of claim 10, wherein the keyring is attached to one of the first closed end and the second closed end. A face mask system comprising: a face mask including a face covering portion configured to cover at least a mouth and a nose of a wearer and an attachment means configured to attach the face mask about a head of the wearer, the face covering portion comprising a silk material, the face mask being easily manipulated to and from a folded position and an unfolded position; and a housing including an outer shell defining an interior, the interior being sized to receive and retain the face mask in the folded position, the housing being defined by a first portion having a first fastener and a second portion having a second fastener, the first fastener and the second fastener being configured to fasten the first portion and the second portion together, and wherein unfastening of the first portion and the second portion allows removal of the face mask from the housing; and a keyring attached to one of the first portion and the second portion of the housing. The face mask system of claim 12, wherein the attachment means includes a left ear loop and a right ear loop, and wherein the left ear loop and the right ear loop are elasticated. The face mask system of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a substantially cylindrical shape.

-14- The face mask system of claim 14, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially equal in size. The face mask system of claim 15. wherein the first portion includes a first closed end opposite a first open end, and wherein the second portion includes a second closed end opposite a second open end. The face mask system of claim 16. wherein the first fastener is located about the first open end and the second fastener is located about the second open end. The face mask system of claim 17, wherein the first fastener is one of a female thread and a male thread, and wherein the second fastener is another one of the female thread and the male thread. The face mask system of claim 18, wherein the keyring is attached to one of the first closed end and the second closed end.

-15- ask system comprising: a face mask including a face covering portion configured to cover at least a mouth and a nose of a wearer and an attachment means configured to attach the face mask about a head of the wearer, the attachment means including a left ear loop and a right ear loop, the left ear loop and the right ear loop being elasticated, the face covering portion comprising a silk material, the face mask being easily manipulated to and from a folded position and an unfolded position; and a housing including a substantially cylindrical shape having an outer shell defining an interior, the interior being sized to receive and retain the face mask in the folded position, the housing being defined by a first portion and a second portion being substantially equal in size, the first portion having a first closed end opposite a first open end and a first fastener located about the first open end, the second portion including a second closed end opposite a second open end and a second fastener located about the second open end, the first fastener and the second fastener being configured to fasten the first portion and the second portion together, the first fastener being one of a female thread and a male thread, the second fastener being another one of the female thread and the male thread, and wherein unfastening of the first portion and the second portion allows for removal of the face mask from the housing; and a keyring attached to one of the first portion and the second portion of the housing; and

-16- wherein the keyring is attached to one of the first closed end and the second closed end.

-17-