Face mask

Abstract

The present invention provides a mask that ensures a good fit to the wearer's face. The mask (1) is configured to include: a filter (2) comprising a breathable sheet material, which covers at least the nose and mouth when worn; a face contact body (3) which is generally annular and engages with the filter (2) and contacts at least around the nose and mouth when worn; and a lanyard (4) which is looped around either the head or the ear to wear the filter (2) and the face contact body on the face. At least a portion of the face contact body (3) is provided with protrusions (8d, 8d) that abut against at least around the nose and press the filter (2) when worn on the face, so that the filter (2) is formed into a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the contours of the face.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to masks suitable for various uses, such as dust masks, medical masks, etc. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, various masks needed to prevent harmful substances and viruses from being inhaled through the wearer's nose and mouth, and to prevent droplets contained in the wearer's exhalation from spreading outwards. Therefore, it was desirable for the periphery and surrounding areas of various masks to fit snugly against the wearer's mouth and nose as closely as possible. Furthermore, patent documents 1 to 3 have been known to provide inventions for achieving a snug fit between various masks and the wearer's mouth and nose.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a mask with the following structure: an annular member formed as a ring is provided inside the cup-shaped filter section, and a wing-shaped portion formed by providing a notch in the upper part of the annular member is folded back toward the face of the mask wearer.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a mask with the following structure: a nose member with plastic deformation capacity is provided along the upper edge of the mask body of a predetermined shape, and a soft and resilient sheet-like exhalation blocking material is joined to the mask body near the nose member. The free end of the exhalation blocking material is folded inward and its resilience is used to make it fit the face.

[0005] Patent document 3 describes a mask comprising: a main body including a pleated filter and a face contact fabric pressed against the filter; and a retaining part attached to the main body for retaining the main body in a manner that covers the lower part of the wearer's face.

[0006] Existing technical documents

[0007] Patent documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-160499

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-181751

[0010] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-216835 Summary of the Invention

[0011] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0012] However, the mask described in Patent Document 1 has the following structure: a strip-shaped wing provided above the filter section is folded back in the opposite direction (outer direction) to the wearer's face, so that the wing abuts against the wearer's nose and face. Furthermore, the mask described in Patent Document 2 has the following structure: a strip-shaped nose member, which is attached to the upper part of the mask body, is folded back in the direction of the wearer's face (inner direction), so that it abuts against the wearer's nose and face.

[0013] Furthermore, the wing in Patent Document 1 is a relatively thin component with a small end face area, resulting in an extremely small contact area between the wing and the wearer's face. Moreover, due to the different contours of the wearer's cheeks and nose, the end face of the wing in Patent Document 1 makes line contact with the wearer's cheek, while the bent surface of the wing makes surface contact with the nose. At the boundary between the line contact portion and the surface contact portion, a gap easily forms between the face and the mask.

[0014] Furthermore, the nose component of the mask described in Patent Document 2 is relatively short and its overall area is small. In use, only a strip of approximately 10mm length of the nose component contacts the wearer's face, and the end of the nose component is a free, unfixed end that easily shifts, making it difficult to press the nose component firmly against the wearer's nose. Therefore, the masks described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot press firmly against the wearer's face, especially in the area that contacts the nose and surrounding area, resulting in unstable contact pressure and contact conditions around the nose. Consequently, the masks described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have the problem of easily creating gaps between the mask and the wearer's face.

[0015] In addition, Patent Document 3 contains a face contact fabric for close contact with the wearer's face, but it has the following problem: the face contact fabric is flat, and it is difficult to fit the unevenness of the wearer's face, especially the nose part of the wearer with a large protrusion, when wearing it. Therefore, gaps are easily formed between the mask and the wearer's face in the uneven parts of the face, represented by the nose part of the wearer.

[0016] The present invention was made in view of the problem that the subject is to provide a mask that can ensure a good fit to the wearer's face.

[0017] Solution for solving the problem

[0018] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention is characterized by comprising: a filter comprising a breathable sheet material, which, when worn, covers at least the nose and mouth; a face contact body, which is generally annular and formed of an elastic material, engaging with the filter and contacting at least around the nose and mouth of the face when worn; and a lanyard that is wrapped around either the head or the ear, thereby wearing the filter and the face contact body on the face, wherein at least a portion of the face contact body has a protrusion that, when worn on the face, abuts against at least around the nose of the face and presses the filter, thereby forming the filter into a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the contours of the face.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the face contact body is provided with a protruding piece in the shape of a tab protruding from top to bottom, and the protruding piece is bent in a three-dimensional manner to form the protrusion.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a notch is formed in the protruding piece in the direction that narrows the width of the protrusion, and the protruding piece is configured to be bent with reference to the notch to form the protrusion.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a nose clip is provided in the filter portion and / or the face contact body. The nose clip is formed as a strip and is disposed along the generally horizontal direction of the face at a position in contact with the nose when worn on the face. The strip is bent into a generally V-shape to maintain the filter portion and / or the face contact body in a state where it is bent along the shape of the nose. A pair of protrusions are provided on both sides of the position of the nose. The nose clip is configured such that its two ends are respectively located above the respective positions of the pair of protrusions.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical position of the engagement point between the upper side of the hanging cord and the filter part and / or the face contact body is approximately the same as the placement position of the nose clip.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an extension portion extending downward relative to the face contact body is formed on the lower side of the face contact body, and the lower side of the lanyard engages with the filter portion at the extension portion.

[0024] The effects of the invention

[0025] In the mask of the present invention, by providing protrusions in at least a portion of an elastic face contact body, these protrusions abut against at least the area around the nose and press against the filter portion when worn on the face, causing the filter portion to be formed into a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the contours of the face. When the wearer wears the mask, the face contact body elastically deforms, forming and maintaining the filter portion in a three-dimensional shape that follows the contours of the face. Furthermore, by having the protrusions abut against at least the area around the nose and elastically deform, the three-dimensional protrusions in the portion of the mask located around the nose form a large area that fits snugly against the wearer's nose, preventing gaps from forming between the mask and the more uneven area around the nose. Thus, a good fit to the wearer's face can be ensured.

[0026] Furthermore, in the mask of the present invention, a protruding piece in the shape of a tab protruding from top to bottom is provided, and at least a portion of the protruding piece is bent in a three-dimensional manner to form a protrusion. Thus, a three-dimensional protrusion can be formed using a protruding piece formed from a plate-like member. Therefore, the protrusion can be formed from a common plate-like fabric or raw material. Furthermore, when not in use, the protrusion can be made plate-like, so that the mask does not increase in volume. Therefore, a mask that ensures a good fit to the wearer's face can be easily manufactured using common fabrics or raw materials, and it can also remain in a state where its volume does not increase when not in use.

[0027] Furthermore, for the mask of the present invention, by bending the protruding piece based on the notch formed in the direction that narrows the width of the protrusion to form a protrusion, it is easy to determine the bending position and bend the protruding piece, which makes it easier to form the shape of the mask and improves the convenience of using the mask.

[0028] Furthermore, the mask of the present invention includes a nose clip that maintains the bending of the filter and / or face contact body along the shape of the nose. By bending the nose clip into a V-shape, the portion of the mask corresponding to the wearer's nose is easily formed into a concave-convex shape along the nose and maintained in this shape. This further improves the fit between the filter, face contact body, and the area around the wearer's nose. Additionally, a pair of protrusions are provided on both sides of the nose position, and the nose clip is configured such that its two ends are respectively located above the respective positions of the pair of protrusions. This allows for easy and sustained pressing of the protrusions against the wearer's nose simply by bending the nose clip into a V-shape. Therefore, by simply bending the nose clip, the protrusions are pressed against the wearer's nose and elastically deformed, maintaining a close fit between the protrusions and the wearer's nose. This further improves the fit between the protrusions and the area around the wearer's nose. Thus, a mask that ensures a good fit to the wearer's face can be provided through a simple wearing procedure.

[0029] Furthermore, in the mask of the present invention, the vertical position of the engagement point between the upper side of the hanging strap and the filter and / or the face contact body is approximately the same as the placement position of the nose clip. This allows the lateral tension of the upper side of the hanging strap to function as a pressing force of the nose clip towards the face, further improving the fit between the protrusion and the area around the wearer's nose. Thus, a good fit to the wearer's face can be ensured.

[0030] Furthermore, in the mask of the present invention, by forming an extension portion extending downwards compared to the face contact body on the lower side, and the lower side of the hanging strap engaging with the filter portion at the extension portion, the lateral tensile force of the lower side of the hanging strap acts as a pressing force of the face contact body towards the face, further improving the fit between the protrusion and the area around the wearer's nose and mouth. Thus, a good fit to the wearer's face can be ensured. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a rear view showing the face mask according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a front view of the mask according to this embodiment.

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A-A sectional view.

[0034] Figure 4 It means Figure 3 An enlarged sectional view of part B.

[0035] Figure 5This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the filter and the face contact body when wearing the mask of this embodiment.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a side view showing the state of the wearer wearing the mask according to this embodiment.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a variation of the facial contact element of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The following uses Figures 1 to 7 The mask according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0039] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The mask 1 shown in this embodiment is a so-called pleated nonwoven mask primarily used for purposes such as preventing hay fever, suppressing the inhalation of dust and other particles, and suppressing the dispersal of droplets contained in the wearer's exhalation. However, the mask 1 of this embodiment can be used as a non-pleated nonwoven mask, or as a mask 1 for various purposes such as preventing colds or medical use.

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the mask 1 of this embodiment includes: a filter part 2; a face contact body 3 that comes into contact with the wearer's face; and a pair of hanging straps 4 that are hooked to the wearer's left and right ears respectively.

[0041] The filter section 2 is made of a breathable sheet material, such as a non-woven fabric, which is breathable and can prevent particles such as pollen, dust, or droplets contained in the wearer's exhalation from passing through. Figure 2 As shown, the filter section 2 is generally rectangular in shape when viewed as a whole, but a protrusion 6 is formed around the center of the upper left and right sides, protruding upwards in a generally arc shape. By providing the protrusion 6, the part of the mask 1 corresponding to the wearer's nose is made to contact the nose at a position with minimal bulge, suppressing the formation of gaps and preventing the upper side of the mask 1 from touching the wearer's eyes, thus ensuring a good wearing condition.

[0042] For example, in filter section 2 Figure 2 In the shown front view, the left-right length is approximately 155mm, the vertical length of the two sides is approximately 110mm, and the vertical length of the protrusion 6 is approximately 10mm. However, the size is not limited to this size as long as it achieves a good wearing position, dustproof function, and droplet-proof function by fitting snugly against the wearer's face during use. It can be any size.

[0043] like Figure 2As shown, the filter section 2 has multiple pleats (folds) extending in the left-right direction. Specifically, two upper pleats 5a, folded upwards in a mountain shape, are formed on the upper side of the filter section 2 above the center in the vertical direction, and two lower pleats 5b, folded downwards in a mountain shape, are formed on the lower side of the filter section 2 below the center in the vertical direction. The depth of the creases of the upper pleats 5a and lower pleats 5b is, for example, about 7 mm. However, the depth, number, length in the left-right direction, and vertical direction of the creases of the upper pleats 5a and lower pleats 5b can be arbitrary, as long as they can form a comfortable wearing position that conforms to the three-dimensional shape of the wearer's face.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, the filter section 2 has, for example, four layers: a pre-filter 2a, main filters 2b and 2c, and a water-absorbing filter 2d, stacked sequentially from the outside to the inside. The pre-filter 2a is used to absorb moisture, and its fiber diameter is relatively large to filter larger dust particles, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The main filters 2b and 2c have finer fiber diameters to filter smaller dust particles. The water-absorbing filter 2d mainly absorbs moisture from the wearer's exhaled breath. Alternatively, in the case of a three-layer structure for the filter section 2, the main filters 2b and 2c become a single layer consisting only of the main filter 2b. Furthermore, the material of the filter section 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is soft and flexible, allowing for both inhalation and exhalation of the wearer's breath, and functions as a filter. This filter section can filter both inhaled and exhaled breath, as well as external particles such as pollen and dust.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the face contact body 3 is formed by stamping from a flat sheet material capable of elastic deformation. The face contact body 3 is, for example, a component made by bonding non-woven fabric or pulp to a non-permeable foamed resin material such as foamed polyethylene sheet or foamed polyvinyl alcohol sheet.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, the face contact body 3 is formed with an outer periphery that is approximately pentagonal in frontal view, with roughly vertical ends in the left-right direction, roughly horizontal downwards in the up-down direction, and upwardly convex in the up-down direction, resembling a mountain shape. For example, in... Figure 2 In the shown main view, the horizontal length is approximately 150mm, the vertical length of the two sides is approximately 80mm, and the vertical length of the upper mountain-shaped part is approximately 30mm. However, as long as the size is such that it fits snugly against the wearer's face during use to achieve a good wearing condition, dust protection, and droplet protection, it is not limited to this size and can be any size.

[0047] The face contact body 3 has an annular portion 7 that is formed with an opening in the general center when viewed from the front and is generally annular. Specifically, the annular portion 7 has: side annular portions 7a, 7a, which are formed with openings on both sides in the left-right direction; a central annular portion 7b, which is formed with an opening in the center in the left-right direction; and a connecting portion 7c, which is formed with an opening to connect each side annular portion 7a and the central annular portion 7b.

[0048] The side annular portions 7a and 7a are, for example, formed into a roughly fan-shaped shape with a vertical dimension of about 40 mm and a horizontal dimension of about 20 mm, which can accommodate the protrusion of the wearer's cheeks when worn. The central annular portion 7b is, for example, formed into a roughly triangular shape with a vertical dimension of about 60 mm and a horizontal dimension of about 50 mm, which can accommodate the protrusion of the wearer's nose and mouth when worn.

[0049] The lower ends of the side annular portions 7a, 7a are positioned approximately 10 mm below the lower end of the central annular portion 7b (the hook portion 23 described later), making it difficult for the mask 1 to shift due to the wearer's mouth movements. However, as long as it appropriately performs various functions, the dimensions of the side annular portions 7a, 7a, the central annular portion 7b formed by opening in the center in the left and right directions, etc., are not limited to the dimensions described above and can be any size.

[0050] The peripheral portion 7d of the face contact body 3 is joined to the peripheral portion of the filter part 2 by means of welding, bonding or other fixing methods. That is, since only the peripheral portion 7d of the face contact body 3 is joined to the peripheral portion of the filter part 2, and the other parts are not joined but only overlap, it can be separated relative to the filter part 2.

[0051] In the annular portion 7 of the face contact body 3, an upper piece 8, 8 is provided on the upper side as a pair of "protruding pieces" and "protrusions", and a pair of lower pieces 9, 9 is provided on the lower side.

[0052] The upper portion 8 is formed in a strip shape and protrudes downward. In this embodiment, the vertical length of the upper portion 8 at its central side in the left-right direction is, for example, about 35 mm, and the horizontal length of the lower end is, for example, about 30 mm. This length is designed to increase the contact area with the nose and increase friction, making it difficult for the mask to shift when worn. Furthermore, vertical slits 8a are formed by cutting away the outer side in the left-right direction of each upper portion 8. These vertical slits 8a are, for example, about 10 mm long and are provided corresponding to the bent portion when the protrusion 8d is formed from the upper portion 8.

[0053] Approximately at the center of the upper portion 8 in the vertical direction, a first transverse slit 8b, 8b and a second transverse slit 8c, 8c, serving as a pair of "notches," are formed by cutting along the left and right directions. The first transverse slits 8b, 8b and the second transverse slits 8c, 8c are, for example, about 10 mm in length, serving to facilitate the formation of a protrusion 8d (described later) by bending the upper portion 8. Furthermore, the dimensions of the longitudinal slit 8a, the first transverse slit 8b, and the second transverse slit 8c are not limited to the dimensions described above, as long as they fulfill their respective functions.

[0054] The lower end of the central annular portion 7b of the face contact body 3 forms a hook portion 23 for hooking onto the wearer's jaw. A pair of lower portions 9, 9 located on either side of the hook portion 23 are formed into a generally strip-shaped structure and protrude upwards. The lower portions 9, 9 are approximately 20 mm in vertical direction and approximately 12 mm in horizontal direction, and fit snugly against the sides of the mouth when worn. The upper ends of the lower portions 9, 9 are near the lower ends of the upper portions 8, 8.

[0055] An extension 10, extending downward from the lower side of the filter portion 2, is formed at a position slightly below the lower end of the face contact body 3. The vertical dimension of this extension 10 is, for example, approximately 10 mm. When worn, the extension 10 fits snugly against the lower part of the wearer's face, providing a good fit and preventing external particles such as pollen and dust from flowing inwards, and preventing the leakage of droplets from the wearer's exhalation. Furthermore, the size of the extension 10 is not limited to the aforementioned size as long as it appropriately fulfills its function.

[0056] At the center of the mask 1 in the "generally horizontal" left-right direction, a strip-shaped nose clip 11 is provided, sandwiched between the filter part 2 and the face contact body 3. The nose clip 11 is made of a material with high rigidity, such as stretched polyethylene, which can maintain its shape when bent.

[0057] The nose clip 11 is formed to be approximately 50 mm or less in the longitudinal direction, preferably approximately 40 mm. The nose clip 11 is symmetrically positioned along the left-right direction of the mask 1, approximately at the center of the face contact body 3, and is located at the midpoint between the imaginary horizontal line connecting the upper ends of the two sides of the face contact body and the upper end of the face contact body 3, which is the top of the upper mountain-shaped portion. Specifically, it is positioned approximately 15 mm from the upper end of the face contact body 3. The nose clip 11 is designed to bend along the shape of the wearer's nose during wear, so that the filter portion 2 and the face contact body 3 fit snugly against the wearer's nose. Furthermore, the size of the nose clip 11 is not limited to the aforementioned size, as long as it appropriately fulfills its function.

[0058] A pair of hanging straps 4 are attached to both sides of the filter section 2. Each hanging strap 4 is formed flat from elastic rubber cord and is shaped to a length that allows the mask 1 to fit snugly against the wearer's face, for example, 200mm. However, the length of the hanging straps 4 can be longer or shorter than described above. Furthermore, the pair of hanging straps 4 can also be formed from known elastic materials such as non-woven fabric, woven fabric, or plastic film.

[0059] One upper end 4a of each lanyard 4 is engaged with the filter section 2 at a position approximately at the same vertical height as the nose clip 11, and the other lower end 4b is engaged with the end of the extension section 10. Alternatively, the position of one end 4a of the lanyard 4 can be slightly offset from the vertical height of the nose clip 11, as long as it is the position where appropriate pressure is applied to the nose clip 11 towards the face when wearing it.

[0060] Next, the method of using and function of the mask 1 in this embodiment will be explained.

[0061] The mask 1 is folded flat by the upper side fold 5a and the lower side fold 5b. As a result, the mask 1 does not increase in volume when packaged, thus making transportation and storage extremely easy.

[0062] Then, when the mask 1 is worn on the wearer's face, each of the upper portions 8, 8 is bent outward (towards the filter portion 2) at the location of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c. After bending, the pair of upper portions 8, 8 are formed into a pair of protrusions 8d, 8d that are approximately triangular when viewed from the side. At this time, the protrusions 8d, 8d are formed near the two ends of the nose clip 11.

[0063] In this state, the face contact body 3 side of the mask 1 is pressed tightly against the wearer's face, so that the nose clip 11 is bent along the ridge of the nose into a roughly letter V shape with the ridge approximately at its center in the left-right direction. Thus, as... Figure 5 As schematically shown, the nose clip 11 of the mask 1 and its surrounding area are positioned on and around the wearer's nose. Specifically, a pair of protrusions 8d, 8d formed near the two ends of the nose clip 11 are pressed and elastically deformed towards the wearer's nose due to the deformation of the nose clip's shape, such as... Figure 6 As shown schematically, it is fixed in place so that it fits snugly against both sides of the wearer's nose.

[0064] Here, as Figure 3As shown by the imaginary lines, the protrusions 8d and 8d form a roughly triangular three-dimensional shape when viewed from the side. Therefore, the elastic force is greater compared to the state where the upper piece 8 remains flat. The rebound force of the protrusions 8d and 8d when pressed against the wearer's nose is greater than the rebound force when the upper piece 8 is pressed directly against the wearer's nose. Therefore, the protrusions 8d and 8d elastically deform along the shape of the raised portion of the wearer's nose and fit snugly against the wearer's nose, which can reliably suppress the formation of gaps between the mask 1 and the wearer's nose.

[0065] In addition, such as Figure 5 As schematically shown, the portion of the filter 2 located around the nose expands outward by protruding outward through the protrusions 8d, 8d, forming a space between the wearer's nose, mouth, and the filter 2.

[0066] In this state, the pair of hanging straps 4 are wrapped around the wearer's ears. Next, the wearer holds the two sides of the mask 1 and unfolds them to the left and right, and also holds the top and bottom ends and unfolds them to the top and bottom to adjust the shape.

[0067] Therefore, under the elastic force of the hanging strap 4, mask 1 is pressed towards the wearer's face, as... Figure 6 As illustrated, mask 1 is worn in a way that fits snugly against the wearer's face.

[0068] Specifically, the wearer's nose and mouth are positioned inside the central ring portion 7b of the face contact body 3 of the mask 1, and the wearer's cheeks are positioned inside the side ring portions 7a, 7a. Furthermore, the sides of the nose are secured between a pair of protrusions 8d, 8d. Additionally, the lower portions 9, 9 elastically deform to form a three-dimensional shape near the wearer's mouth and are secured near the wearer's mouth.

[0069] Furthermore, since the tension of the lanyard 4 acts as a force that presses the nose clip 11 located between one end 4a, 4a of the lanyard 4 towards the wearer's face, therefore, as Figure 6As schematically shown, the filter portion 2 and the face contact body 3 around the nose clip 11 are securely fixed to the wearer's face in a close fit. This maintains the positioning around the wearer's nose when using the mask 1. Furthermore, the tension of the hanging strap 4 acts as a force pressing the nose clip 11 towards the wearer's face, causing the protrusions 8d to elastically deform and fit against the wearer's nose, further securing the protrusions 8d to both sides of the wearer's nose in a tight fit. This prevents external pollen, dust, and other particles from flowing into the mask 1 or leaking droplets from the wearer's exhalation due to gaps between the mask 1 and the wearer's nose.

[0070] In addition, such as Figure 5 As schematically shown, with the protrusions 8d and 8d pressed tightly against both sides of the wearer's nose, the protrusions 8d and 8d press the portion of the filter 2 located around the wearer's nose outwards. Furthermore, by creating a space between the filter 2 and the wearer's nose and mouth, the filter 2 is prevented from adhering to the wearer's nose and mouth when the wearer breathes. This helps to prevent the wearer from experiencing difficulty breathing.

[0071] Furthermore, since the tension of the lanyard 4 acts as a force that presses the extension 10 of the filter portion 2 located between the other ends 4b and 4b of the lanyard 4 toward the wearer's face, therefore, as Figure 6 As schematically shown, the filter portion 2 at the lower end of the mask 1, including the extension portion 10, is securely fixed to the wearer's face in a fitted state. This prevents external particles such as pollen and dust from flowing into the mask 1 and preventing the leakage of droplets from the wearer's exhalation from the mask 1 due to gaps forming between the lower part of the mask 1 and near the wearer's chin.

[0072] Furthermore, in this state, the upper pleats 5a and lower pleats 5b of the filter section 2 of the mask 1 unfold, and the filter section 2 conforms to the contours of the wearer's face. Thus, the wearer can use the mask 1 with a good fit, preventing external particles such as pollen and dust from flowing in and preventing droplets and other particles contained in the wearer's exhalation from leaking out.

[0073] Furthermore, after use, the wearer removes the ear loops 4, opens the bends at the positions of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c of the protrusions 8d, 8d, restoring the upper part 8, 8 to its flat shape. Additionally, the nose clip 11 is restored from its approximate V-shape to a flat shape, and the upper pleat 5a and lower pleat 5b are folded. Thus, the mask 1 can be restored to a flat shape that can be accommodated or stored without increasing its volume.

[0074] In this embodiment, by providing protrusions 8d, 8d in at least a portion of the elastic face contact body 3, these protrusions 8d, 8d abut against at least the area around the nose and press against the filter part 2 when worn on the face, causing the filter part 2 to form a three-dimensional shape that conforms to the contours of the face. When the wearer wears the mask 1, the face contact body 3 elastically deforms, forming and maintaining the filter part 2 in a three-dimensional shape that follows the contours of the face. Furthermore, by having the protrusions 8d, 8d abut against at least the area around the nose and elastically deform, and by ensuring that the three-dimensional protrusions 8d, 8d cover a large area of ​​the wearer's nose and fit snugly in the portion of the mask 1 around the nose, gaps can be prevented from forming between the mask 1 and the area around the nose where there are significant contours. This ensures a good fit to the wearer's face.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by providing upper sheet portions 8, 8 protruding downwards in the shape of tabs, and bending at least a portion of the upper sheet portions 8, 8 in a three-dimensional manner to form protrusions 8d, 8d, it is possible to form three-dimensional protrusions 8d, 8d using upper sheet portions 8, 8 formed of plate-like components. Therefore, the protrusions 8d, 8d can be formed from general-purpose plate-like fabrics or raw materials. In addition, when not in use, the protrusions 8d, 8d can be made into plate-like upper sheet portions 8, 8, so that the mask 1 does not increase in volume. Thus, it is possible to easily manufacture a mask 1 that ensures a good fit to the wearer's face using general-purpose fabrics or raw materials, and it can also be made in a state where it does not increase in volume when not in use. Furthermore, by bending the upper sheet portions 8, 8 to form the protrusions 8d, 8d, the protrusions 8d, 8d expand the portion of the filter 2 located around the nose outwards, forming a space between the area around the nose, the area around the mouth, and the filter 2. As a result, the air resistance when the wearer breathes is reduced, which can reduce the wearer's breathing difficulties.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by bending the upper portions 8, 8 with reference to the first transverse slits 8b, 8b and the second transverse slits 8c, 8c formed in the direction that narrows the width of the protrusion, the protrusions 8, 8 are bent to form the protrusions 8d, 8d. This makes it easier to determine the bending position and bend the upper portions 8, 8, and makes it easier to form the shape of the mask 1 for use, thereby improving the convenience of using the mask 1.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a nose clip 11 is provided to maintain the state in which the filter 2 and / or the face contact 3 are bent along the shape of the nose. Thus, by bending the nose clip 11 into a letter V shape, the portion of the mask 1 corresponding to the wearer's nose can easily be formed into a concave-convex shape along the nose and maintained in this shape. This further improves the fit between the filter 2, the face contact 3, and the wearer's nose. Additionally, a pair of protrusions 8d, 8d are provided on both sides of the nose position, and the nose clip 11 is configured such that its two ends are respectively located above the respective positions of the pair of protrusions 8d, 8d. Therefore, by simply bending the nose clip 11 into a letter V shape, a state in which the protrusions 8d, 8d are pressed against the wearer's nose can be easily formed and maintained. Thus, by simply bending the nose clip, the protrusions 8d, 8d are pressed against the wearer's nose and elastically deformed, maintaining a close fit between the protrusions 8d, 8d and the wearer's nose. Furthermore, the fit between the protrusions 8d and 8d around the wearer's nose is further improved. Thus, through simple wearing steps, a mask that ensures a good fit to the wearer's face can be provided.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vertical position of the engagement point between the upper end 4a of the hanging cord 4 and the filter part 2 and / or the face contact body 3 is approximately the same as the placement position of the nose clip 11. This allows the lateral tension of the upper end 4a of the hanging cord 4 to act as a pressing force of the nose clip 11 towards the face, further improving the fit between the protrusions 8d, 8d and the area around the wearer's nose. Thus, a good fit to the wearer's face can be ensured.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by forming an extension 10 extending downwards from the face contact body 3 on its lower side, and by joining the filter part 2 at the other end 4b of the lower side of the hanging cord 4 at the extension 10, the tensile force that stretches the other end 4b of the lower side of the hanging cord 4 in the left-right direction becomes the pressing force of the face contact body 3 towards the face, further improving the fit between the protrusions 8d, 8d and the area around the wearer's nose and mouth. This ensures a good fit to the wearer's face.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entire upper plate 8 is configured to form protrusions 8d, but this is not a limitation. It is also possible for a portion of the upper plate 8 to be bent to form protrusions 8d, such as only the upper end side, only the lower end side, or only the inner side of the upper plate 8. Additionally, it is possible for both upper plate portions 8, 8 to form protrusions 8d, 8d, instead of both; or it is possible for only one of the pair of upper plate portions 8, 8 to form a protrusion 8d.

[0081] Furthermore, the protrusion shape of the protrusion 8d in this embodiment is approximately triangular when viewed from the side, but it is not limited to this; it can also be any shape, such as approximately V-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped, or katakana-shaped when viewed from the side. In addition, in this embodiment, the protrusion 8d is formed by bending the upper plate portion 8 at the location of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b, and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c, but it is not limited to this; it can also be formed by fixing a portion of the upper plate portion 8 to the other part of the filter portion 2 and providing a fixing portion (not shown) on the face contact body 3. Furthermore, the protrusion 8d is not limited to being formed by bending the upper plate portion 8; it can also be formed in advance as a protrusion.

[0082] Furthermore, the protrusions 8d, 8d in this embodiment can be formed by folding the upper pieces 8, 8 in the opposite direction to the above-described case. For example, the upper pieces 8, 8 are bent inward at the location of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c (so that the crease is close to the wearer's face when wearing the garment). After bending, the ends (the parts that were the lower ends before bending) are inserted into the crease of the upper pleat 5a of the filter part 2 to fix the bent shape. Thus, the pair of upper pieces 8, 8 are formed into a pair of protrusions 8d, 8d that are approximately V-shaped when viewed from the side. In this way, if the ends of the upper pieces 8, 8 are inserted into and fixed to the crease of the upper pleat 5a, the size of the outward bulge of the filter part 2 caused by pressing the protrusions 8d, 8d in the outward direction can be reduced.

[0083] Alternatively, instead of the protrusion 8d of this embodiment, or together with the protrusion 8d of this embodiment, a protrusion (not shown) may be provided on one or both of the lower piece 9, or on any part other than the upper piece 8 and the lower piece 9 of the face contact body 3, to improve the fit to the face when worn.

[0084] Furthermore, bending or folding back part or all of the lower piece 9 so that it abuts against the wearer's face with stronger contact pressure and a tighter fit can improve the fit and airtightness of the mask 1 at the chin and surrounding area. In this case, the lower piece 9 can be folded back towards the wearer's face (inward direction) or towards the filter (outward direction). Alternatively, it can be configured to form a protrusion (not shown) by performing multiple folds on the lower piece 9, similar to the upper piece 8 in this embodiment, and then abut against the wearer's face. The shape of the protrusion (not shown) when viewed from the side can be any shape, such as approximately a V-shape, approximately a triangle, approximately a U-shape, or approximately a Japanese katakana character. Furthermore, similarly to the longitudinal slits 8a, the first transverse slits 8b, 8b, and the second transverse slits 8c, 8c of the upper portion 8 in this embodiment, a structure for easy bending may be provided in the lower portion 9.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a pair of first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and a pair of second horizontal slits 8c, 8c are provided in a portion of the upper plate portion 8 to facilitate bending when forming the protrusion 8d. However, as a structure for easy bending, any structure other than the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c can be provided. For example, one or both of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c can be used to form a hinge portion or a hole portion, or creases can be applied beforehand. In addition, the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the pair of second horizontal slits 8c, 8c are not limited to a pair, but only one or three can be provided. Moreover, as a structure for bending the upper plate portion 8, only one of the first horizontal slits 8b, 8b and the second horizontal slits 8c, 8c can be provided.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the structure is designed such that a longitudinal slit 8a is provided in the upper plate portion 8 and bent to a position higher than the side annular portion 7a, thereby forming a protrusion 8d. However, it is also possible to form a protrusion 8d by bending a portion that does not have the longitudinal slit 8a.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper portion 8, serving as a "protruding piece," protrudes to a position lower than the side annular portion 7a. However, the "protruding piece" does not need to protrude beyond other structures in appearance; it can be any structure as long as it can be formed into a "protrusion" through bending or other processing. For example, such as Figure 7As shown in the conceptual diagram of the face contact body 3, it constitutes part of the annular portion 7, and its apparent end exists on the extension line of the end of the adjacent structure. However, it can also be formed by bending the portion that is more inward than the longitudinal slit 8a along the first transverse slits 8b, 8b and the second transverse slits 8c, 8c to form a protrusion. Figure 7 The piece 8e constructed in a manner not shown in the figure is a "protruding piece".

[0088] In addition, in this embodiment, a pair of hanging ropes 4 are hooked to the left and right ears of the wearer, but it is not limited to this. It can also be a rope that is wrapped around the top and bottom of the wearer's head.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example of two upper pleats 5a and two lower pleats 5b formed respectively in the vertical direction of the filter section 2 has been described, but it is not limited to this. It is possible that only one upper pleat 5a and one lower pleat 5b are formed, or that only one set of mountain-shaped or valley-shaped folds are made with a wider width near the center of the filter section 2. Moreover, it is also possible that only upper pleats 5a are formed on the upper side of the filter section 2, or only lower pleats 5b are formed on the lower side of the filter section 2. Additionally, it is also possible that both upper pleats 5a and lower pleats 5b are upward-protruding pleats, or both are downward-protruding pleats. Furthermore, it is also possible that multiple upper pleats 5a are a mixture of upward-protruding and downward-protruding pleats, and multiple lower pleats 5b are a mixture of upward-protruding and downward-protruding pleats.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example in which the filter part 2 is formed into a generally rectangular shape and the face contact body 3 is formed into a generally pentagonal shape has been described, but it is not limited to this and may also be formed into other polygons.

[0091] Furthermore, it is not limited to this embodiment. It can also be configured such that when the filter part 2 is unfolded in the longitudinal direction, the face contact body 3 elastically deforms in a vertical manner, and the face contact body 3 elastically deforms in the left and right directions to fit tightly along the shape of the face. It can be any structure.

[0092] Of course, the above embodiments are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0093] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0094] 1. Mask; 2. Filter part; 3. Face contact part; 4. Hanging strap; 4a. One end; 4b. The other end; 7. Circular part; 7a. Side circular part; 7b. Central circular part; 8. Upper piece (protruding piece, raised part); 8b. First horizontal slit (notch); 8c. Second horizontal slit (notch); 8d. Raised part; 8e. Piece (protruding piece); 10. Extension part; 11. Nose clip.

Claims

1. A mask, wherein the mask comprises: a filter portion including a gas-permeable sheet material that covers at least a nose and a mouth when worn; a face contact portion that is ring-shaped and formed of a material having elasticity, the face contact portion being engaged with the filter portion and contacting at least around a nose and around a mouth of a face when worn; and a hanging cord that is hung around any one of a head and an ear to wear the filter portion and the face contact portion to the face, a pair of protruding portions is provided at at least a portion of the face contact portion, the pair of protruding portions abutting around at least the nose of the face and pressing the filter portion when worn to the face, so that the filter portion is formed into a three-dimensional shape that fits to the concave-convex of the face, a pair of protruding tab portions is provided at the face contact portion, the pair of protruding tab portions being in a tab shape and protruding from an upper side to a lower side toward an inner side of a ring-shaped portion that forms an opening, each of the protruding tab portions is configured to be bent to form the protruding portions.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein a notch portion is formed in the protruding tab portion in a direction in which a width direction of the protrusion is narrowed, and the protruding tab portion is configured to be bent to form the protruding portions with the notch portion as a reference.

3. The mask according to claim 1, wherein a nose clip is provided at the filter portion and / or the face contact portion, the nose clip being formed in a band shape that is disposed at a position that contacts a nose when worn to the face in a horizontal direction of the face, the band shape being bent into a letter V shape to be maintained in a state in which the filter portion and / or the face contact portion are bent along a shape of the nose, the protruding portions are provided with a pair of protruding portions on both sides of the position of the nose, the nose clip is configured so that both ends are respectively positioned on an upper side of a disposition position of each of the pair of protruding portions.

4. The mask according to claim 3, wherein a position in an up-down direction of a joint position between an upper side of the hanging cord and the filter portion and / or the face contact portion is the same as a disposition position of the nose clip.

5. The mask according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an extension portion that extends downward compared to the face contact portion is formed at a lower side of the face contact portion, a lower side of the hanging cord is engaged with the filter portion at the extension portion.

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