Anti-Fog Medical Face Mask and A Device for Preventing Formation of Fog on Eyewear while Wearing Face Cover

Abstract

Toward prevention of the spread of COVID-19 virus and suppressing the pandemic caused by this outbreak, many local governments, states within the Unites States, and countries around the globe have mandated wearing of face covering masks. This mandate has introduced new challenges to the society. One of these challenges is formation of fog on the eyewear while wearing a mask. The direction of the leaked exhaled air from the upper edge of a face covering mask is upward. The location of the portion of the lens of the eyewear that is in front of the eye of the user is on top of the upper edge of the mask (because pulling up the mask further than the eye is not practically possible as the mask would block the eyesight). Hence, the leaked exhaled air (leaked from the top of the mask) moves over the surface of the lens of the eyewear and causes formation of fog on the surface of the lens of the eyewear. To solve the problem of formation of fog on the lens of an eyewear while wearing a face cover, this disclosure proposes a device that prevents the eyewear from getting exposed to the air of exhaling. For this aim, this device redirects the flow of the exhaled air that leaks from the top of the mask. Unlike the solutions in the prior art, the main embodiment of the device disclosed in this application is a standalone device. No modification to the eyewear is needed (although one embodiment of this invention is integrated in the eyewear during manufacturing the eyewear). No modification to the face covering mask is needed either (although one embodiment of this invention is integrated in the face covering mask during manufacturing the face covering mask). Hence, people in the society who need to wear mask, may use this device without needing to purchase new types of eyewear or new types of mask. This device prevents formation of fog on eyewear regardless of the type of eyewear or the type of the mask worn by a user. Hence, compared with the prior art, this device introduces the least amount of discomfort and financial burden on the users and on the society. A significant advantage of the disclosed invention is its contribution to the health of the society and reduction of the spread of viruses. Thanks to this invention a large portion of the society (who refuses wearing masks at all, or who wear masks improperly to avoid formation of fog on their eyewear) shall start using masks and shall wear masks properly. For example, people who may refuse wearing masks during pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, because of discomfort resulted by formation of fog on their eyewear, or people who may wear masks improperly (for example by not covering their noses) or those who may create vents in their masks, to prevent formation of fog on their eyewear, will start wearing their masks properly since the device disclosed in this disclosure prevents formation of fog on the eyewear.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 63 / 076,401, filed Sep. 10, 2020 by the present inventor and is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 17 / 030,410, filed Sep. 24, 2020 by the present inventor. Said application Ser. No. 17 / 030,410, filed Sep. 24, 2020 claims the benefit of said provisional application Ser. No. 63 / 076,401, filed Sep. 10, 2020 by the present inventor as well.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a device for preventing formation of fog on eyewear while wearing a face covering mask.[0003]Field of Search: 206.12, 206.13, 206.21, 205.25BACKGROUNDPrior Art[0004]The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appear relevant:U.S. PatentsU.S. Pat. No.Issue DatePatentee10,357,672 B2Jul. 23, 2019Bora4,209,234Jun. 24, 1980McCooeye4,944,294Jul. 31, 1990Borek, Jr.7.703,456 B2Apr. 27, 2010Yahiaoui et al.U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,500 B1Jan. 24, 2006CoxU.S. Pat. No. 6,354,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent proposes a device that prevents fogging on eyewear when wearing a mask. The device redirects the flow of exhaled air away from the eyewear, either by integrating it into the mask or the eyewear. This prevents fogging without requiring any modifications to the eyewear or mask. The device is comfortable and easy to use, and it contributes to the health of the society by promoting proper mask usage. It also helps prevent the spread of viruses and other health issues. The main advantage of this device is that it can be used with any type of eyewear or mask.

Problems solved by technology

One of these challenges is the fact that wearing mask causes the eyewear to be exposed to the air of exhaling.

The air of exhaling, while wearing a mask, causes formation of fog on the eyewear.

Hence, the leaked exhaled air moves on the surface of the eyewear and causes formation of fog on the surface of the eyewear.

However, it is impossible to pull up the mask higher than the eye because the mask will block the eye of the user.

Noteless, taping the mask on the skin of the face causes discomfort, and may also cause allergies and other issues related to the health of the skin of the face of the user.

In Addition, such method causes the flow of the air from the top of the mask to be blocked.

This blockage put more pressure on the other parts of the mask when inhaling and exhaling the flow of air.

This may also cause overheating the air inside the mask.

This method may also cause less fresh air and oxygen to enter the mask for the user to inhale.

The user may also need to put more force for inhaling and exhaling the air as there would be less opening around the mask to facilitate the flow of the air which may result in inconvenience for the user.

Hence, without taping with an adhesive material, complete sealing of the upper edge of the mask is not possible solely by use of pliable material.

Hence, these forces cannot push the pliable material and the upper edge of the mask over the dents of the face of the user directly.

However, taping the mask on the skin of the face is inconvenient.

Taping the mask on the skin of the face can also causes allergies and other issues related to the health of the skin of the face of the user.

In Addition, such method causes the flow of the air from the top of the mask to be blocked.

This blockage put more pressure on the other parts of the mask when inhaling and exhaling the flow of air.

This may also cause overheating the air inside the mask.

This method may also cause less fresh air and oxygen to enter the mask for the user to inhale.

The user may also need to put more force for inhaling and exhaling the air as there would be less opening around the mask to facilitate the flow of the air which may result in inconvenience for the user.

Use of batteries impose weight on the eyewear and causes inconvenience for the user.

In addition, batteries have limited energy storage and are needed to be renewed often.

Generating heat close to the eyes and face of the user may also cause inconvenience.

Applying heat to the lenses may cause damage in the lenses as well.

Hence, U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,294 does not provide a solution to the problem of formation of fog on all types of eyewear, whereas the disclosed device in the present patent application does not require modifications in the eyewear and does not require the eyewear to be made of anti-glare, anti-fog material.

Nonetheless, by a simple experiment that includes taping the upper edge of the mask to the skin, it is revealed that the leaked exhaled air from the openings between the top of the mask and the skin of the user is responsible for formation of most of the fog on the eyewear.

Hence, redirecting the exhaled breath that rises from the mask itself downwardly by using the impervious element in U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,246 would not effectively contribute to solving the problem of formation of fog on the eyewear while wearing a mask.

Hence, the mask proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,246 shall not contribute effectively to solving the problem of formation of fog on the eyewear while wearing a mask.

Applying chemicals to the mask and eyewear may be an expensive and inconvenient process.

It might alter characteristics of the mask and the eyewear as well and might cause allergies and other health concerns for the user.

Nonetheless, manufacturing a mask with two different filtering materials increases the cost.

Even if the mask in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,993 may have an upper body that is less preamble to air than the lower body, formation of fog on the eyewear will not be prevented because the exhaled air leaks from the openings between the skin of the face of the user and the upper edge of the mask.

Also, with regard to the sealing, since the top of the mask covers the part of the face of the user that includes organs (such as nose) in the face of human being that are not shaped uniformly (and hence, the face is not flat and is not shaped spherically), there is no way to prevent openings between the skin of the user and the top of the mask unless adhesive tapes are used for sealing the top of the mask to the skin of the face of the user, or the sealing force is applied by direct force from the front of the face of the user (as disclosed in an embodiment in the present patent application) not the straps (and not rubber bands) that secure the mask to the face of the user through back of the ears or back of the skull.

Hence, the mask proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,993 may not effectively contribute to solving the problem of formation of fog on the eyewear while wearing a mask.

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