Mask cover

Abstract

To solve the problem of conventional masks which are divided into an expensive and high performance NPR mask which uses a material with extremely poor breathability on a surface, and a disposable nonwoven mask for general use with a non-breathable material on a surface, and the former is highly efficient but expensive, makes breathing difficult and is specialized for medical use while the latter is inexpensive and is easy to use but has slightly inferior performance.SOLUTION: The present invention achieves high performance of a mask cover and inexpensiveness of a mask frame by cooperation of the mask cover in which a non-breathable material is used for a front face and material portions with extremely poor breathability are set on side faces using the non-breathable material, and the mask frame which supports the mask cover and displays a function of smooth breathing and comprehensive virus protection. Patent No. 7364150, which has a similar concept to the present invention, lacks a concept of cooperation between the mask cover and the mask frame, and has a weak point in which a function of virus intrusion prevention from the side faces is left to a conventional gauze mask.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of restricting inhaled air to prevent the entry of pathogens such as viruses into a sanitary mask. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, sanitary masks are roughly divided into four types:

[0003] The first type is a gauze mask with low breathability. Because it has a coarse weave, it is not very effective at preventing viruses from entering the body, but it is useful for suppressing the emission of viruses and maintaining the moisture content of inhaled air.

[0004] The second type is a non-woven mask with poor breathability, which is quite effective in preventing the virus from entering, but is not sufficient.

[0005] A common problem with both of these masks is that, according to an experiment by Nikkei Goody freelance writer Junko Onishi, published by Yahoo News on April 17, 2020, viruses can survive for four days inside a regular mask and for seven days outside, meaning that these masks will need to be frequently disposed of.

[0006] The third is the so-called NPR mask, or NIOSH medical mask.

[0007] The N in NPR stands for NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, P stands for Particulate, and R stands for Respirator.

[0008] This is a dome-shaped, extremely hard mask with strong attachment strings attached to both sides, but because it severely restricts inhalation, it is not suitable for use outside of medical settings. Furthermore, this technology is monopolized by the United States, and at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, then-US President Trump famously banned its export to Canada, so it is not a technology that anyone can easily use.

[0009] What the above three have in common is the technology that makes the air intake holes in the material of the mask body as small as possible to prevent the entry of viruses and other pathogens, while also allowing air to be drawn in through the entire surface of the material.

[0010] However, the surface of the mask, especially the front, is the area most susceptible to virus penetration, including direct droplet adhesion, so it is not advisable to inhale air from the entire surface, especially from the front.

[0011] Fourth, the surface of the mask is made of an impermeable material to block the entry of viruses from the surface, especially from the front, and correspondingly, the mask is designed so that air is inhaled through open holes set on the side of the mask.

[0012] This invention further enhances the effectiveness of preventing virus penetration by using the impermeable material that forms the surface of the mask as a mask cover that can be separated from the main body and made disposable.

[0013] This invention is innovative in that it uses an impermeable material on the front of the mask.

[0014] The fourth aspect of the invention described above is what could be called an envelope-type design, in which both sides of the envelope are cut open, an attachment string is attached, an air intake hole is opened on the inside, and air is drawn in through airways that run from the air intake hole through the envelope body to the cutouts on both sides.

[0015] A common feature of the current mask types 1 to 3 above is that the material that prevents viruses from entering the mask also determines the mask's shape.

[0016] However, the mask's role in blocking viruses and its role in maintaining its shape are two different functions that constitute a mask.

[0017] In this regard, the fourth invention makes it possible to make a high-performance mask cover disposable by placing a mask cover made of an impermeable material on the front of the mask and utilizing the function of the mask body, which has weak ventilation, on the sides of the mask.

[0018] In this respect, the fourth mask or mask cover has been successfully developed as a product that is on a different level from conventional masks or mask covers, but there are still some shortcomings.

[0019] In other words, with this invention, it is possible, in principle, to completely block the entry of viruses from the front, but the entry of viruses from the sides is basically dependent on the function of conventional masks, which have poor breathability. The entry of viruses from the sides can be limited by widening the non-breathable tongues placed on the sides, but this restriction is directly linked to the restriction of inhalation at the same time, so there is a limit to how much this restriction can achieve. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7364150 (Patent Application 2020-097254) Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0020] Here, we would like to focus once again on the common feature of the current mask shapes, from the first to the third mentioned above, that the material that plays a role in preventing virus penetration is also the material that determines the shape of the mask.

[0021] In contrast to this, the fourth invention places a mask cover made of an impermeable material on the front of the mask and utilizes the functions of the mask body, which has weak ventilation, on the sides of the mask, making it possible to make a high-performance mask cover disposable. However, even here, the material that determines the shape of the mask is also the material that determines the function of the mask, so the problem remains that its function of preventing virus penetration is insufficient.

[0022] This invention considers the function of a mask to be a combination of the function of the mask surface (i.e., the mask cover) to prevent the entry of viruses, and the function of the mask frame, which maintains the shape of the mask surface to allow for both virus entry prevention and inhalation and exhalation, and is designed according to a concept of a mask that is on a different level from conventional masks.

[0023] The present invention proposes three types of masks based on this overall concept.

[0024] The first of these three types belongs to the fourth type of conventional invention, which is a type of mask that combines a conventional gauze mask with an envelope-type impermeable mask cover. The width of the impermeable tongue on the side of the mask is widened to cover the entire width of the mask, and part of the part that covers the side of the mask at the base of the tongue is replaced with a breathable material, thereby realizing exhalation and inhalation that is compatible with the function of suppressing virus entry from the side.

[0025] In inventions belonging to the fourth type of conventional inventions, the tongue is bent to wrap around the mask body and inserted beyond the mask body into the narrow space created by the contact surface between the mask body and the mask cover, thereby restricting inhalation. Widening the width of the tongue to cover the entire width of the mask would create a closed space made entirely of impermeable material except for the air intake port set on the inside of the mask. However, in this invention, the width of the tongue is widened to cover the entire width of the mask, and part of the part of the base of the tongue that covers the side of the mask is replaced with an impermeable material, thereby realizing inhalation and exhalation that is compatible with the function of suppressing virus entry from the sides.

[0026] A similar design can also be applied to the mask cover in the portions that contact the upper and lower side surfaces of the mask frame.

[0027] Therefore, the intake area made of a non-breathable material on the mask cover that comes into contact with the side of the mask frame can be set on either the top, bottom, left, or right side of the mask, and ultimately which side of the mask will have the intake area made of a non-breathable material, and whether to set a single intake area or multiple intake areas, will depend on the work to determine the relationship with the movement of virus particles in the air.

[0028] The second of these three types is a cross-shaped mask cover made of an impermeable material that encases the mask frame, the entire front of the mask frame is covered with the same material, and the inside of the mask frame that comes into contact with the face is left with an open space in the center for inhalation and exhalation. By replacing some of the parts of the mask cover that come into contact with the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the mask frame with impermeable material, it is possible to exhale and inhale while also preventing the entry of viruses from these sides.

[0029] Even in this case, the intake area made of a breathable material on the mask cover in the area that comes into contact with the side of the mask frame can be set on either the top, bottom, left, or right side of the mask, and ultimately which side of the mask has the intake area made of a breathable material set on it, and whether a single intake area or multiple intake areas are set, will depend on the work being done to determine the relationship with the movement of virus particles in the air.

[0030] In the second of these three types, frictional properties are required between the front and back materials of the mask cover, which come into contact with each other when folded, to achieve a practically meaningful degree of temporary fixation between the two.

[0031] In the case of the present invention, what is required of the mask frame is to ensure space to allow air to be inhaled through the nostrils while resisting the negative pressure that occurs when inhaling because most of the surface is covered with an impermeable cover. Various methods for achieving this are conceivable, but in this invention, one such method is to use a conventional gauze mask as is.

[0032] However, since the gauze mask itself was not originally designed for the present invention, there remains the possibility that mask frames with shapes and functions more suitable for the purpose of cooperation between the mask frame and the mask cover may appear in the future.

[0033] The present invention, in which the front of the mask is covered with an impermeable material as described above, is superior in this respect to both nonwoven masks, whose front is made of an impermeable material, and NPR masks, whose front is made of an extremely impermeable material, and its use in the medical sector is within the scope of the invention.

[0034] The problem is that the present invention, which follows the conventional ear-hook system, is expected to be inferior to the NPR mask, which uses strong attachment strings, in terms of the degree of fit of the mask to the face.

[0035] Therefore, unlike conventional gauze masks with ear loops, the present invention also employs a type of attachment string that ties the gauze mask frame to the back of the head, making it suitable for use in the medical field.

[0036] Conventional ear-hook gauze masks have vertical string holes on both ends of the gauze mask frame, with the attachment strings passing through these holes and extending to the ears.

[0037] The attachment string is typically a closed circle.

[0038] By rotating this gauze mask 90 degrees and reversing its aspect ratio, horizontal string holes can be created at both the top and bottom ends of the gauze mask frame, and the attachment strings that pass through these string holes can be extended to reach the back of the head.

[0039] This normally closed circular attachment string is tied around the back of the head instead of the ears, so it can withstand a stronger pulling force, and by cutting open a portion of this circular string and then pulling and tying the resulting ends again, the gauze mask frame can be pressed more firmly against the face.

[0040] In the two present inventions mentioned above, the surface of the mask is made of an impermeable material, rather than the conventional gauze or nonwoven fabric, which makes it possible to print various photographs, pictures, and symbols on the surface of the mask.

[0041] For example, in the case of masks for infants, printing photos or pictures of piglets, kittens, puppies, or Santa Claus on the surface of the mask can make infants feel familiar with the mask and can be an element that encourages them to wear it actively.

[0042] Even for adults, printing images of cartoon or gekiga characters such as Snoopy, or images of Studio Ghibli, Disneyland, popular singers, or athletes on masks can help reduce resistance to wearing masks and create a sense of attachment to them.

[0043] The third of the three types of the present invention is a three-dimensional mask cover combined with a three-dimensional mask frame.

[0044] This type of mask, called a three-dimensional mask, has already been introduced and explained in the technical field as a third type of mask, the so-called NPR mask, or NIOSH medical mask.

[0045] In the case of the NPR mask, this three-dimensional shape is necessary in order to actually use this extremely breathable material as a mask, and in this case, the three-dimensional shape of the mask was based on practical reasons.

[0046] However, even with the flat mask of the present invention already presented, the purpose of preventing virus penetration is already fully achievable, and from a practical point of view, the design of a three-dimensional mask is not within the scope of the present invention, which aims to have the mask frame and mask cover work together.

[0047] The reason why the present invention proposes a three-dimensional mask cover combined with a three-dimensional mask frame as the third type of invention relates to the design of the mask.

[0048] Patent No. 7364150 (Patent Application No. 2020-097254, registered on October 10, 2023), mentioned in the patent document of the above-mentioned prior art document, was filed and a request for examination was made in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and at that time, it was expected that this patent would be of significant use in the industrial field.

[0049] However, at the time this invention was registered in October 2023, nonwoven masks of various designs had taken over the market, and the opportunity for Patent No. 7364150, which was similar in shape to traditional gauze masks and therefore somewhat outdated, to enter the market had become significantly smaller.

[0050] Therefore, the first intention of this invention, in terms of its non-directly practical aspects, was to take advantage of the mask cover's advantage of being able to print on the surface of the mask, something that was not possible with conventional gauze masks or nonwoven masks, by fully adopting an impermeable material ensured by the system of cooperation between the mask frame and mask cover, and to give it the appeal of being an accessory in a broad sense, that is, as a fashion item, by printing various photographs, pictures, and symbols on the surface.

[0051] The reason why this invention presents a three-dimensional mask cover combined with a three-dimensional mask frame as the third type of invention is that the three-dimensional shape is intended to give it the appeal of a mask.

[0052] Social situations in which wearing a mask is mandatory include gatherings with various political, cultural, and social significance.

[0053] However, wearing a mask at such gatherings often has the potential to be a detriment to the desired atmosphere of the gathering, and these gatherings have sometimes been held without making mask wearing a mandatory requirement.

[0054] One of the purposes of the present invention is to give the mask the function of a mask, thereby transforming wearing a mask into one of the elements that supports the atmosphere of a gathering.

[0055] The practical and technical requirement for creating a mask with a three-dimensional form that has the appeal of a mask is the establishment of a removable joint between the mask cover and the mask frame, which is necessary to realize their cooperation.

[0056] To achieve this objective, the present invention combines a mask frame of a certain width at the base of the mask, i.e., the point of contact with the face, which is perpendicular to the face or tilted slightly outward and has the strength necessary to fix the entire mask cover, with a mask cover having a similar width portion made of a material that adheres tightly to the mask frame portion with a contracting force.

[0057] The front of the mask frame is covered by a mask cover made of an impermeable material, but the sides are provided with portions made of a certain impermeable material to ensure breathing.

[0058] One way to achieve this is to use an impermeable material for the mask frame at the base of the mask, by creating a certain open area in one part of it and using an impermeable material in the corresponding part of the mask cover.

[0059] On the other hand, when a breathable material is used for the mask frame at the base of the mask, a portion made of a certain breathable material is set at an arbitrary portion of the mask cover that covers it.

[0060] In the case of a mask of the present invention that has a three-dimensional shape, except for the case of a mask frame with a certain width that has the strength necessary to fix the entire mask cover, the mask frame is assumed to be made of a completely breathable material, such as a metal sieve, so it is possible to set a certain size of part made of a breathable material on the side of the entire mask just above the base of the mask.

[0061] Compared to conventional gauze masks, nonwoven masks offer a cheaper, less dangerous option by being disposable and offering a more effective virus prevention function.

[0062] The present invention purposefully combines a mask frame, which has the function of defining the shape of the mask, with a mask cover, which has the function of preventing virus penetration.This blocks virus penetration from the front of the mask using an impermeable material, and limits virus penetration from the sides of the mask using a breathable material.Therefore, it is clear that the present invention is superior in terms of virus penetration prevention function to nonwoven masks made entirely of breathable materials.

[0063] On the other hand, in terms of production costs, the production costs of the mask cover of the present invention, which combines a partially impermeable material with a poorly breathable material, are not expected to be significantly higher than those of conventional nonwoven masks that use a partially breathable material, and may even be cheaper due to the reduction in the nonwoven fabric portion.

[0064] It is difficult to compare the virus-blocking capabilities of the present invention with those of the NPR mask, i.e., NIOSH medical mask.

[0065] It is clear that the function of preventing virus entry from the front of the mask of the present invention is superior to that of the NPR mask.

[0066] The issue is comparing the effectiveness of the virus penetration prevention function of the poorly breathable areas placed in limited areas on the sides of the mask of the present invention with the effectiveness of the virus penetration prevention function of the extremely poorly breathable areas on the entire surface of the NPR mask, and it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion at this stage.

[0067] On the other hand, the present invention can claim significant advantages over NPR masks in terms of inexpensive production and consequent frequent disposability.

[0068] Furthermore, it is said that NPR masks cannot be used for long periods of time due to their extreme restriction on inhalation, but the present invention does not suffer from such disadvantages.

[0069] Considering these points, it is believed that the present invention has the potential to become a medical mask that can replace NPR masks or be used in parallel with NPR masks. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0070] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a plan, elevation and cross section of the present invention in envelope form.

[0071] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wrap-around version of the present invention.

[0072] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the three-dimensional type of the present invention, looking up from the bottom. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] Disposable cover for virus-blocking mask. [Industrial Applicability]

[0074] In a very short period of time, humanity has already been hit by SARS, MARS, and the raging CORONA that began at the end of 2019 and peaked in 2022.

[0075] As a successor to the gauze masks we are familiar with every day, this invention improves the performance of nonwoven masks, which have been familiar to humanity as a major countermeasure against the global spread of coronavirus symptoms over the past three years, while also making them cheaper to use, so we can expect continued demand for them in the future.

[0076] In particular, in the case of the present invention, it is important to note that based on its superiority over nonwoven fabric masks, it is believed that the present invention may be suitable for use as a medical mask in place of NPR masks.

[0077] An advantage of the present invention that is not available in conventional masks is the pursuit of decorativeness and fashionability by taking advantage of the printability that results from using an impermeable material on the front.

[0078] Although not in a direct sense, this actually reduces resistance to wearing masks or creates willingness to wear masks, thereby contributing to increasing the overall practical utility of masks.

Claims

1. In masks to prevent virus invasion, The mask is a combination of a mask cover whose front is made of an impermeable material and whose side is made of an impermeable material with a partially breathable portion, and a mask frame that is wrapped by the mask cover to give the mask cover a shape and allows breathing through the partially breathable portion set in the mask cover according to the above-mentioned configuration.

2. 1. A mask according to claim 1, wherein the mask cover is made of an impermeable material and has a space formed by surrounding the mask frame with the impermeable mask cover, open holes set at both ends of the mask frame and an intake hole set at the center inside the impermeable mask cover, the mask frame is used by being inserted into the space formed by the impermeable mask cover, the mask cover has the same width as the open parts at both ends of the mask frame and is made to cover the open parts at both ends of the mask frame, and the parts covering the open parts at both ends of the mask frame have ventilation parts made of an impermeable material in part, and are configured to be folded over the mask frame and inserted into the contact surface between the mask frame and the mask cover, the intake air is taken into the mask frame from the ventilation parts made of an impermeable material set in the mask cover at the parts where the mask cover covers the open holes set at both ends of the mask frame, and further reaches the nostrils through the intake hole set at the center of the mask cover.

3. The mask of claim 1 has a rectangular mask cover with the same shape and size as the mask frame and made of an impermeable material at the center, and extended rectangular tongues made of the same material at the top, bottom, left, and right of each side of the rectangle, and the four tongues of the mask cover wrap around the mask frame and are folded inward, leaving an open area for inhaling air. The mask cover has impermeable areas at the parts of the mask cover that come into contact with the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the mask frame when folded.

4. In claim 1, the mask is formed by cooperation of a three-dimensional mask frame configured to be breathable and a mask cover configured to be placed over the mask frame and made of an impermeable material, with a portion of the mask cover having an impermeable material.

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