Mask

Abstract

To provide a mask which sufficiently secures a space around the mouth while improving adhesion and minimizes a contact area with the skin.SOLUTION: A mask 100 comprises a mask body 1 for covering at least the nostrils and the mouth of a wearer, and a pair of ear hook parts 2 attached to upper and lower portions of both right and left side ends in the mask body 1. The mask body 1 comprises: a pleat part 4 having a center pleat 5 to be made in a region corresponding to the mouth of the wearer and one or more side pleats 6 and 7 folded in a convex shape in each of the upward direction and the downward direction from the center pleat 5; and a curved recess 10 which is provided on both right and left end sides of the center pleat 5 at least, and curved inward in the right-left direction. The length of a lower end portion 17 in the right-left direction is shorter than the length of an upper end portion 16 in the right-left direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mask that has improved adhesion while leaving sufficient space around the mouth and minimizes the contact area with the skin. [Background technology]

[0002] Masks serve the purpose of preventing airborne particles from entering the body through the mouth and nose, while also preventing secretions from the mouth and nose from being dispersed into the air. Therefore, in order to prevent inhalation of floating particles and scattering of secretions from the mouth, etc., it is necessary to increase the adhesion between the mask and the wearer's face.

[0003] For example, a conventional side-fitted mask has a mask body and ear hooks attached to both sides of the mask body, and the sides between the ear hooks are curved inward (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Furthermore, in conventional masks, which consist of a covering sheet portion that covers the nose and mouth, and ear loops attached to ear loop attachment portions provided on the upper and lower side edges of the covering sheet portion, arc-shaped cutouts are formed on both side edges of the covering sheet portion, located between the upper ear loop attachment portion and the lower ear loop attachment portion, and the lower ear loop attachment portion is located closer to the center than the upper ear loop attachment portion (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3162028 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3138397 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The side-fitted mask disclosed in Patent Document 1 has two sides that curve inward between the ear loops of the mask body, so that even when subjected to the tension of the ear loops, the sides do not lift up from the cheeks and no gaps are created between them.

[0007] However, the side-fitted mask described in Patent Document 1 has an equal length at the top and bottom of the mask body, which increases the contact area between the mask and the wearer's skin, causing problems such as rough skin and, if the wearer is wearing makeup, causing the makeup to come off due to wide contact with the mask. Furthermore, although Patent Document 1 describes providing pleats, it does not disclose any details.

[0008] In addition, the mask disclosed in Patent Document 2 prevents wrinkles from forming on both sides of the covering sheet by forming an arc-shaped cutout between the upper and lower ear hook fixing portions, and by locating the lower ear hook fixing portion closer to the center than the upper ear hook fixing portion, the lower ear hook fixing portion receives the pulling force from the ear hook at this position, thereby improving the adhesion of the covering sheet.

[0009] However, the mask described in Patent Document 2 has a covering sheet portion that is configured in a horizontally long rectangular shape and thus does not provide sufficient space around the mouth. As a result, the contact area with the wearer's skin becomes large, causing problems such as rough skin.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a mask that improves adhesion while ensuring sufficient space around the mouth and minimizing the contact area with the skin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The mask of the present invention comprises a mask body covering at least the wearer's nostrils and mouth, and a pair of ear loops attached above and below both left and right side ends of the mask body, wherein the mask body comprises a pleated portion having a center pleat arranged in a portion corresponding to the wearer's mouth, and one or more side pleats folded in a convex shape in the upward and downward directions from the center pleat, and curved recesses arranged at least on both left and right side ends of the center pleat and curved inward in the left-right direction, and the length of the lower end in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the upper end in the left-right direction.

[0012] In this way, in the present invention, the pleat portion has the center pleat and the side pleats arranged above and below the center pleat, and the curved recesses curved inward in the left-right direction are arranged at both left and right ends of the center pleat, preferably at the lower left and right ends of the center pleat. This allows the mask body to abut against the wearer along the undulating shape of the wearer's face, and the mask body to expand up and down starting from the part corresponding to the wearer's mouth, thereby improving the fit while ensuring sufficient space around the mouth.

[0013] Furthermore, since the center pleat has curved recesses at both left and right side ends, which are curved inward in the left-right direction, the tension from the ear loops pushes the vicinity of the apex of the curved recesses toward the center of the mask body, making it easier to give the mask body a dome-shaped three-dimensional shape and ensuring sufficient space around the mouth.

[0014] Furthermore, since the length of the lower end of the mask body is formed shorter than the length of the upper end, the lower end of the mask body abuts against the wearer according to the shape of the area under the chin, which is narrower than the cheeks, improving adhesion and minimizing the contact area of ​​the mask body with the wearer's skin, preventing rough skin, etc. Also, since the mask body abuts according to the shape (size) of the area under the wearer's chin, the ear hooks can apply a greater tension to the mask body, and the distance between the upper and lower welding parts of the mask body that fix the ear hooks to the mask body can be reduced, which contributes to the three-dimensionality of the mask body.

[0015] In the mask according to the present invention, the mask body may have straight portions on both the left and right sides, as necessary.

[0016] In this way, when the straight portions are provided on both the left and right sides of the mask body, the contact area of ​​the mask body with the wearer's skin is minimized to match the shape of the wearer's face, thereby preventing skin irritation, etc.

[0017] In the mask according to the present invention, the straight line portion is formed so as to be parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end of the mask body, as necessary.

[0018] In this way, when the straight portion is formed so as to be parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end of the mask body, the contact area of ​​the mask body with the wearer's skin is minimized to match the wearer's facial shape, thereby preventing skin irritation, etc.

[0019] In the mask according to the present invention, the straight line portions are formed at the upper portions of both left and right ends of the mask body, as necessary.

[0020] In this way, when the straight portions are formed at the upper left and right ends of the mask body, the straight portions are abutted (closely attached) against the wearer's cheeks while being positioned away from the wearer's mouth, which is prone to movement, thereby reducing the effects of mouth movement and making it easier to maintain the three-dimensional shape of the mask body.

[0021] Furthermore, when the straight line portions are formed at the upper left and right ends of the mask body and parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end of the mask body, the upper part of the mask body can be abutted against the wearer's cheeks, improving adhesion. Furthermore, when side pleats are formed on the straight portion, the mask body can be deployed over a wider range in the vertical direction, and the mask body can be deployed into a three-dimensional shape to correspond to the contours of the wearer's nose.

[0022] In the mask according to the present invention, as necessary, the apexes of the curved recesses are located at the lower sides of both ends of the center pleat.

[0023] In this way, since the apex of the curved recess is positioned at the lower end of both sides of the center pleat, the load applied to the apex of the curved recess or its vicinity when the mask is worn can be distributed in multiple directions, preventing the mask body from bending at or near the apex of the curved recess and allowing the mask to be worn along the shape of the wearer's face, thereby further improving the fit.

[0024] In the mask of the present invention, as necessary, the curved recess is formed so that its end point, which is on the lower side of the mask body, is positioned laterally inward than its starting point, which is on the upper side of the mask body, and the curvature from the end point to the apex of the curved recess is smaller than the curvature from the starting point to the apex of the curved recess.

[0025] In this way, the end point is positioned laterally inward of the starting point, and the curvature below the apex is smaller than the curvature above. As a result, the lower ends of both sides of the mask body are not formed excessively close to the wearer's cheeks, and both sides of the mask body abut along the shape of the wearer's face, thereby improving the fit to the wearer. In addition, the contact area between the wearer and the mask body can be minimized.

[0026] In the mask according to the present invention, the ear loops may be attached to the straight portions and the inclined portions where the pleats are not formed, as required.

[0027] In this way, since the ear hook portions are attached near the straight portions and near the inclined portions where the pleats are not formed, when the pleats are unfolded, the pleats are not directly subjected to tension from the ear hook portions, and the upper and lower portions of the mask body where the pleats are not formed are pressed down against the wearer, functioning as anchors, making it easier to maintain the three-dimensional shape of the unfolded mask body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is an enlarged view of a main portion of a mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a conventional mask when worn. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention is worn. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] (First embodiment of the present invention) A mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Throughout this embodiment, the same elements are given the same reference numerals. For ease of explanation, the ear hooks are omitted in FIG.

[0030] The mask 100 according to this embodiment comprises a mask body 1 that covers at least the wearer's nostrils and mouth, and a pair of ear hooks 2 attached above and below the left and right ends of the mask body 1.

[0031] The mask body 1 is formed by laminating multiple sheets made of nonwoven fabric. The mask body 1 has a multi-layer structure consisting of, for example, a mouth cover layer, a collection filter, and a front cover layer from the back side (the side that touches the wearer's face) to the front side (the side opposite to the side that touches the face). The mask body 1 may also be configured with other conventionally known sheet bodies, such as an antibacterial or antiviral filter.

[0032] The mask 100 is of a so-called "pleated" type, and the mask body 1 has a pleated portion 4 formed from multiple (four in the example shown in FIG. 1) horizontal folds 3.

[0033] The pleated portion 4 is composed of a center pleat 5 located in the vertical center of the mask body 1, near the area corresponding to the wearer's mouth, and side pleats 6, 7 formed by folding convexly upward and downward from the center pleat 5, respectively. That is, the pleat portion 4 is folded into a multi-stage Ω structure that combines an approximate Ω structure formed by the center pleat 5 and an approximate Ω structure formed by the side pleats 6 and 7. When the pleat portion 4 is unfolded vertically, the mask body 1 expands outward and takes on a dome-like three-dimensional shape.

[0034] The multiple sheet bodies constituting the mask body 1 are folded back at the upper end 16 and lower end 17 of the mask body 1 toward the wearer's mouth, and a nose fitter 8 is inserted into the folded-back portion of the multiple sheet bodies to fit the shape of the upper part of the mask body 1 to the shape of the wearer's nose.

[0035] The nose fitter 8 is a long wire that can be deformed to fit the wearer's nose and can maintain its shape after deformation, and is made of a material such as mild steel, aluminum, or resin.

[0036] The mask body 1 is formed symmetrically and has a generally inverted isosceles trapezoid shape. The upper corners on both sides are cut out in an arc shape to improve skin contact.

[0037] Both side ends of the mask body 1 have straight portions 9 arranged from the upper end 16 side along a direction perpendicular to the upper end 16, curved recesses 10 curved inward in the left-right direction, and inclined portions 11 extending to the lower end 17 of the mask body 1.

[0038] It is preferable that a portion of the upper end 16 and / or the lower end 17 of the mask body 1 is formed in a straight line, since this minimizes the contact area of ​​the mask body 1 with the wearer's skin and prevents rough skin, etc.

[0039] The straight line portions 9 are formed on both the left and right ends of the mask body 1 so as to extend from the upper end 16 of the mask body 1 to the upper side pleats 6 so as to be perpendicular to the upper end 16. Two or more straight line portions 9 may be formed on each of the left and right side ends of the mask body 1.

[0040] The length of the straight portions 9 on both the left and right sides of the mask body 1, assuming that the length of the side of the mask body 1 is 1, is preferably 0.05 to 0.8, more preferably 0.1 to 0.6, and particularly preferably 0.2 to 0.4, from the viewpoint of minimizing the contact area of ​​the mask body 1 with the wearer's skin and preventing rough skin, etc.

[0041] In this way, when the mask body 1 is provided with straight portions 9 on both the left and right sides, the contact area of ​​the mask body 1 with the wearer's skin is minimized to match the shape of the wearer's face, thereby preventing skin irritation, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, when the straight line portion 9 is formed so as to be parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end of the mask body 1, the contact area of ​​the mask body 1 with the wearer's skin is minimized to match the shape of the wearer's face, thereby preventing rough skin, etc.

[0043] Furthermore, when straight sections 9 are formed at the upper left and right ends of the mask body 1, the straight sections 9 are abutted (closely attached) to the wearer's cheeks while being positioned away from the wearer's mouth, which is prone to movement, thereby reducing the effects of mouth movement and making it easier to maintain the three-dimensional shape of the mask body 1.

[0044] Furthermore, when straight line portions 9 are formed at the upper left and right ends of the mask body 1 and parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end 16 of the mask body 1, the upper part of the mask body 1 can be brought into contact with the wearer's cheeks, improving adhesion. Furthermore, when the side pleats 6 are formed on the straight portion 9, the mask body 1 can be deployed over a wider range in the vertical direction, and the mask body 1 can be deployed into a three-dimensional shape in response to the contours of the wearer's nose.

[0045] The curved recesses 10 are formed on both the left and right ends of the mask body 1 from the center pleat 5 to the vicinity of the lower side pleats 7, and are curved inward in the left-right direction.

[0046] The apex of the curved recess 10, that is, the innermost point 12 which is the portion curved most inwardly, is formed below the center of the center pleat 5 in the up-down direction.

[0047] Here, the load acting on both side ends of the mask body 1 when the mask 100 is worn will be described.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, conventional masks 200 are worn by being folded toward the lower jaw at the chin, which is located below the wearer's mouth. As a result, stress is likely to be applied near points 103 where a straight line that passes through the chin and is roughly parallel to the direction of tension applied to mask body 101 by ear loops 102 intersects with both side ends of mask body 101. For this reason, the mask body 101 is prone to be subjected to load slightly below the center of both side ends (in other words, the center of the attachment positions of the upper and lower ear loops 102), and this load causes a bent line at the point where the load is applied, creating a gap between the mask and the wearer's skin, which is a factor in reducing the fit.

[0049] In contrast, in the mask 100 according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the innermost point 12 of the curved recess 10 is formed below the center in the vertical direction of the center pleat 5, so that the load applied to the innermost point 12 or its vicinity is dispersed in multiple directions, making it difficult to concentrate the load at one point. This makes it possible to prevent the mask body 1 from bending at or near the innermost point 12, and to wear the mask 100 along the wearer's facial shape with a more natural curve, thereby further improving the fit.

[0050] In this way, since the apex (innermost point 12) of the curved recess 10 is positioned at the lower end of both sides of the center pleat 5, when the mask 100 is worn, the load applied to the apex of the curved recess 10 or its vicinity can be distributed in multiple directions, preventing the mask body 1 from bending at or its vicinity of the apex of the curved recess 10 and allowing the mask 100 to be worn along the shape of the wearer's face, thereby further improving the fit.

[0051] The curved recess 10 has an end point 14, which is the boundary between the curved recess 10 and the inclined portion 11, formed laterally inward of a start point 13, which is the boundary between the straight portion 9 and the curved recess 10. In addition, the curved recess 10 is formed as a steep curve with a large curvature from the starting point 13 to the innermost point 12, and is formed as a gentle curve with a smaller curvature from the innermost point 12 to the end point 14 than the upper part of the curved recess 10.

[0052] In this way, the end point 14 is positioned laterally inward of the start point 13, and the curvature below the apex (innermost point 12) is smaller than the curvature above. As a result, the lower ends of both sides of the mask body 1 are not formed excessively close to the wearer's cheeks, and both side ends of the mask body 1 abut along the shape of the wearer's face, thereby improving the fit to the wearer. In addition, the contact area between the wearer and the mask body 1 can be minimized.

[0053] In addition, the curved recess 10 may be formed so that the starting point 13, which is the boundary between the straight portion 9 and the curved recess 10, is located at the upper part of both side ends of the mask body 1 (above both side ends of the side pleats 6) rather than at both side ends of the center pleat 5. In this case, both side ends of the side pleats 6 are curved with a large curvature, while both side ends of the center pleats 5 are flat and generally parallel to the vertical direction of the mask body 1 up to the innermost point 12 . However, when both ends of the center pleat 5 are flat, the distance between the left end welded portion 31 and the right end welded portion 33 at both ends of the center pleat 5 becomes small, so that the left end welded portion 31 and the right end welded portion 33 at both ends of the center pleat 5 are too close to the wearer's mouth and the amount of upward expansion of the side pleats 6 becomes small, which may cause the mask body 1 to come into contact with the wearer's upper lip. Furthermore, because both ends of the center pleat 5 are flat, there is a concern that when the mask 100 is worn, the mask body 1 will bend above the innermost point 12, reducing its ability to fit the face, which tapers toward the chin. Therefore, it is preferable that the start point 13 of the curved recess 10 is located from above the center pleat 5 to the side pleat 6. In other words, it is preferable that the start point 13 of the curved recess 10 is located so that a steeper curved shape with a greater curvature is formed within the center pleat 5 than the curved shape from the innermost point 12 to the end point 14 of the curved recess 10.

[0054] The inclined portions 11 are formed on both the left and right ends of the mask body 1 from the end points 14 of the curved recesses 10 to the lower end 17 of the mask body 1 .

[0055] Moreover, the mask body 1 is formed such that the length of the lower end 17 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the upper end 16 in the left-right direction. Here, the length of upper end 16 in the left-right direction is the distance LA between straight portions 9 on both left and right sides, and the length of lower end 17 in the left-right direction is the distance LB of a straight portion parallel to upper end 16. The distance LB of the lower end 17, when the length of the distance LA of the upper end 16 is taken as 1, is preferably less than 1, more preferably 0.1 to 0.9, even more preferably 0.3 to 0.8, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 0.8, which is preferable from the viewpoint of allowing the lower end 16 to abut against the wearer in accordance with the tapered shape under the chin and improving adhesion.

[0056] The multiple sheets constituting the mask body 1 are welded together by an upper end welded portion 30, a left end welded portion 31, a lower end welded portion 32, and a right end welded portion 33 which are arranged along the shape of the mask body 1. In addition, the nose fitter 8 is supported on the top of the mask body 1 by an upper end welded portion 30 arranged so as to surround the nose fitter 8, an upper end welded portion 34 arranged on the top of the mask body 1 parallel to the upper end welded portion 30, and an upper left welded portion 35 and an upper right welded portion 36 arranged in the vertical direction of the mask body 1 so as to connect the upper end welded portion 30 and the upper welded portion 34.

[0057] The ear loops 2 are welded by upper ear loop welding parts 37 and lower ear loop welding parts 38 to the upper and lower both ends of the mask body 1 where no side pleats are formed. One end of the ear hook portion 2 is welded to the mask body 1 in the vicinity of a straight portion 9 , and the other end of the ear hook portion 2 is welded to the mask body 1 in the vicinity of a slope portion 11 .

[0058] In this way, since the ear hook portions 2 are attached near the straight sections 9 and near the inclined sections 11 where the pleated sections 4 are not formed, when the pleated sections 4 are unfolded, the pleated sections 4 are not directly subjected to tension from the ear hook portions 2, and the upper and lower parts of the mask body 1 where the pleated sections 4 are not formed are pressed down against the wearer, functioning as anchors, making it easier to maintain the three-dimensional shape of the unfolded mask body 1.

[0059] The ear hooks 2 may be attached to either the front or back side of the mask body 1, but from the standpoint of wearability, it is preferable for them to be welded to the front side, which is the side opposite the side that touches the wearer's face.

[0060] As described above, the mask 100 of this embodiment has a pleated portion 4 having a center pleat 5 and side pleats 6, 7 arranged above and below the center pleat 5, and curved recesses 10 curved inward in the left-right direction are arranged at both left and right ends of the center pleat 5, preferably at the lower left and right ends of the center pleat 5. This allows the mask body 1 to abut against the wearer along the uneven shape of the wearer's face, and the mask body 1 to expand up and down starting from the part corresponding to the wearer's mouth, thereby improving the fit while ensuring sufficient space around the mouth.

[0061] In addition, since the center pleat 5 has curved recesses 10 at both left and right ends, which are curved inward in the left-right direction, the tension from the ear loops 2 pushes the vicinity of the apex of the curved recesses 10 toward the center of the mask body 1, making it easier to give the mask body 1 a dome-shaped three-dimensional shape and ensuring sufficient space around the mouth.

[0062] Furthermore, since the length of the lower end 17 of the mask body 1 is formed shorter than the length of the upper end 16, the lower end 17 of the mask body 1 abuts on the wearer according to the shape of the area under the chin, which is narrower than the cheeks, improving the adhesion. In addition, the contact area of ​​the mask body 1 with the wearer's skin can be minimized, preventing rough skin. Furthermore, since the mask body 1 abuts on the shape (size) of the area under the wearer's chin, the ear hooks 2 can apply a larger tension to the mask body 1, and the distance between the upper ear hook welding parts 37 and the lower ear hook welding parts 38 at the top and bottom of the mask body 1, which fix the ear hooks 2 to the mask body 1, can be reduced, which contributes to the three-dimensionality of the mask body 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Mask body 2 Ear hook 3. Crease 4 Pleats 5 Center pleats 6, 7 Side pleats 8 Nose Fitter 9 Straight section 10 Curved recess 11 Slope 12 Innermost point 13 Starting point 14 End Point 16 Top 17 Bottom end 30 Upper end welding part 31 Left end welding part 32 Bottom welded part 33 Right end welded part 34 Upper weld part 35 Upper left weld 36 Upper right weld area 37 Upper ear hook welding part 38 Lower ear hook welding part 100 Mask 101 Mask body 102 Ear hook 103 intersection 200 Mask LA, LB distance

Claims

1. A mask comprising a mask body that covers at least the wearer's nostrils and mouth, and a pair of ear loops attached to the upper and lower left and right ends of the mask body, The mask body is a pleated portion having a center pleat disposed at a portion corresponding to the mouth of a wearer and one or more side pleats folded upward and downward from the center pleat in a convex shape; At least a curved recess is provided at each of the left and right ends of the center pleat and curved inward in the left and right direction, The length of the lower end in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the upper end in the left-right direction. Characteristic mask.

2. 2. The mask of claim 1, The mask body has straight portions on both the left and right sides. Characteristic mask.

3. 3. The mask of claim 2, The straight line portion is formed so as to be parallel to a direction perpendicular to the upper end of the mask body. Characteristic mask.

4. 4. The mask according to claim 2 or 3, The straight line portions are formed at the upper left and right ends of the mask body. Characteristic mask.

5. 2. The mask of claim 1, The apexes of the curved recesses are disposed at the lower portions of both side ends of the center pleat. Characteristic mask.

6. 2. The mask of claim 1, The curved recess has an end point on the lower side of the mask body disposed laterally inward of a start point on the upper side of the mask body, and a curvature from the end point to a vertex of the curved recess is smaller than a curvature from the start point to the vertex of the curved recess. Characteristic mask.

7. 2. The mask of claim 1, The mask body includes an inclined portion disposed from the curved recess to a lower end, The ear hook portion is attached near the straight portion and the inclined portion where the pleat portion is not formed. Characteristic mask.

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