Mask support

Abstract

To provide an article holding tool and a mask auxiliary tool capable of being easily mounted on any place of a surface to be mounted, allowing its mounted state to be stably maintained, and being easily removed.SOLUTION: In a mask auxiliary tool, a flexible linear body 11 is housed in an internal space of a holding member 10 formed by bending and welding a male type hook-and-loop fastener F having a hook face HS at a width central portion such that the hook face HS is located at a front side, so as to form a bag shape. The holding member 10 is detachably connected to any place of a mask body 2 made of a nonwoven fabric while holding the linear body 11. A cover sheet 12 made of a nonwoven fabric is detachably connected to the other surface of the holding member 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is for hygiene purposes This relates to auxiliary devices used in masks. [Background technology]

[0002] As an auxiliary device that can be attached to the mask body of a sanitary mask (hereinafter simply referred to as a "mask"), there is known a device that supports the mask body at a position away from the user's nose and mouth, thereby reducing the feeling of breathlessness when wearing the mask.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mask support device that includes a roughly hemispherical main body whose outer edge abuts around the nose and mouth, and an attachment part for fastening the main body to the upper edge of the mask body. Patent Document 1 also discloses a mask support device that has the above configuration and the added function of holding a filter.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a method of removably attaching a ring-shaped mask auxiliary (spacer) that covers the area around the nose and mouth to the mask body by attaching hook-and-loop fasteners to both the mask body and the auxiliary.

[0005] In addition to these, mask support devices that are attached to mask strings to prevent ear pain are also known. One example is disclosed in Patent Document 3, which discloses a mask support device that is made of felt cloth, sponge, or the like, has a vertically long shape, and is provided with male and female hook-and-loop fasteners on each edge of the long sides, and by engaging these hook-and-loop fasteners, it becomes a cylindrical shape through which the mask strings can be passed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-110577 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-19920 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-158905 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The mask support device described in Patent Document 1 is attached by hooking an attachment part, which is a folded plate-like member, onto the upper edge of the mask body, but this leaves part of the attachment part exposed on the front side of the mask body, which looks unsightly. The mask support device described in Patent Document 2 is attached to the inner surface of the mask body via a hook-and-loop fastener, so the attachment part is not exposed to the outside, but since a hook-and-loop fastener must also be attached to the mask body, it is difficult to use with ordinary commercially available masks.

[0008] In the mask support device described in Patent Document 1, which has the function of holding a filter, a separate member must be attached to and detached from the support device itself in order to attach and detach the filter, which makes these tasks cumbersome and difficult to use.

[0009] Furthermore, because the mask support devices in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are designed to fit tightly around the nose and mouth of the face, the amount of air that reaches the nose and mouth through the mask body is not much different from when no support device is used, and they do not have the function of releasing hot air trapped between the mask body and the face. For this reason, they are insufficient to alleviate breathlessness when wearing a mask in the summer or while exercising.

[0010] Recently, mask support devices have been sold that can solve the above problems by creating a gap for ventilation between the bottom of the mask body and the face, but these mask support devices can only support the mask body at a distance from the face, so when it is necessary to eliminate the gap between the mask body and the face, such as when entering a crowded place, the mask support device must be removed.In addition, there are problems such as the risk that infection control measures will be insufficient if the mask support device cannot be removed immediately, or that the removed mask support device will be lost or the virus will adhere to it.

[0011] Furthermore, all of the conventional mask support devices that are attached to the mask body are attached to a fixed area of ​​the mask body, and do not assume that the attachment area will have any degree of freedom.

[0012] The present invention focuses on the above problems, The mask body of a sanitary mask It can be easily attached to any location, and the attachment state can be stably maintained. It is also easy to remove. Provide a mask aid that can This is our first challenge.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention The mask body Curving the mask away from the face to create a ventilation space also helps to improve the fit to the face. The mask body The second objective is to provide a mask support that can be curved and does not cause the mask to look unnatural when worn. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] Hook-and-loop fasteners are usually used in combination with a male hook-type hook-and-loop fastener having a hook surface and a female loop-type hook-and-loop fastener. However, male hook-and-loop fasteners can be directly attached to and detached from nonwoven fabrics, knitted fabrics, pile fabrics, and other materials whose surfaces can function as loop surfaces.

[0018] The present invention focuses on the above points, Has a hook surface Male type A pair of hook-and-loop fasteners rectangular One side, Each Hook surface back side The surfaces are connected to each other with the Mask auxiliary devices with items as the main components to provide.

[0019] these The pair of pieces is not limited to being independent individual pieces, but may also consist of two pieces separated by folding the center portion of a single hook-and-loop fastener across its width.

[0020] The mask auxiliary of the present invention further includes a flexible cover sheet that can be attached to and detached from the hook surfaces of the pair of pieces, and a flexible linear body.

[0021] the above The pair of pieces are Each The back surfaces of the hooks are placed facing each other and are connected to each other at least along the length of the edge portions. This connection may involve connecting the entire length of the edge portions, or Along the length In cases where the edges are intermittently connected, The relevant Cases where a portion of the edge is connected are also included. In addition, each piece is completely or partially cut at all edges of the long and short sides. This includes cases where the two are connected.

[0022] The linear body is held in the gap between the pair of pieces. cover sheet The hook surface of one piece is large enough to cover the entire hook surface of the other piece, and the hook surface of one piece is Can be installed.

[0023] According to the above configuration, for a mask body made of a material whose surface functions as a loop surface, the mask support device can be detachably attached to the mask body by aligning the length direction of each piece along the width direction of the mask body and contacting the hook surface on the side where the cover sheet is not attached with an appropriate location on the inner surface of the mask body. By wearing a mask with this mask support device attached and bending the linear body, the holding member, cover sheet, and mask body can be bent in the same way.

[0026] The present inventionThe mask support device can be detachably attached to a mask that has a mask body made of a material whose surface functions as a loop surface, such as a commercially available nonwoven mask. By wearing a mask with such a mask support device attached, the deflection of the linear body can be adjusted to switch between a state in which the mask body is separated from the face, creating a space for ventilation between the two, and a state in which the mask body is fitted to the face to increase the degree of adhesion to the face.

[0027] In addition, a flexible cover sheet is provided on the side facing the face when worn, and the linear body is also housed inside the mask auxiliary device, so there is no risk of the hook surface or linear body touching the user's face and causing pain or discomfort to the user, and the mask can be worn comfortably.

[0028] The present invention The sanitary mask to which the mask auxiliary device is attached can further be fitted with a pair of string adjusters to allow the length of the ear straps to be changed. This string adjuster has flexibility. along with the hook surface have Male type The main part is a string-like member with an integrated hook-and-loop fastener, and one is incorporated into each of the left and right ear straps.

[0029] In a mask that uses a string adjuster, the left and right ear straps are each divided into a string connected only to the upper end and a string connected only to the lower end. By entangling the hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener of the string-like member with the open end of each of these two strings, the two strings are connected via the string adjuster, and the combined three-way assembly can function as ear straps.

[0030] The surface of the elastic cord or nonwoven cord that is normally used as the ear string of a sanitary mask also functions as a loop surface, so the open ends of the two cords mentioned above can be directly connected to the hook-and-loop fastener of the string-like member. Furthermore, in the present invention, the pair of string adjusters are each divided into two at both ends, and the branched portions have hook surfaces. Male typeThe mask may be configured so that the main part is a string-like member with an integrated hook-and-loop fastener. In this case, the open ends of the string connected only to the upper end of the mask body and the string connected only to the lower end of the mask body are sandwiched between the two hook-and-loop fasteners at the ends of the string-like member and connected to the hook surfaces, respectively, to form ear strings.

[0031] In any embodiment, The new ear straps with the strap adjusters incorporated are longer than the original ear straps, so even when the mask support is bent away from the face to provide ventilation space, excessive pulling force is prevented from being applied to the ear straps, preventing strain on the user's ears.

[0032] Furthermore, the overall length of the portion functioning as the new ear strap can be adjusted by attaching an adjuster to the string member to adjust its effective length, adjusting the area where the two strings originally connected to the mask come into contact with the hook-and-loop fastener, or shaping the string member into a loop of any size with the hook surface facing inward, etc. In this way, even if the distance from the ear to the mask body changes due to changes in the degree of bending of the linear body of the mask auxiliary accessory, the pulling force can be adjusted to an appropriate level by changing the length of the ear strap. [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] The present invention The mask auxiliary device is a mask body surface made of a material (for example, nonwoven fabric) whose surface functions as a loop surface. Any location It can be directly attached, It can also be easily removed from its mounting location. It can also be reattached after removal. It's easy to do.

[0034] This mask aid is By bending the internal linear members, the mask body can be curved away from the face to create a ventilation space, or conversely, the mask body can be curved to fit closer to the face. Furthermore, even while wearing the mask, the mask can be easily switched between the two wearing positions by changing the shape of the linear members.

[0035] moreover, The present inventionThe mask support can be attached to a location that cannot be seen from the front of the mask body, so even if the mask body is bent to create a ventilation space, there is no significant change in the wearing condition that is visible from the outside, and there is no need to worry about causing discomfort to people around. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a front view showing a mask to which a mask auxiliary device to which the present invention is applied is attached, and a schematic diagram showing a connection structure between the mask auxiliary device and a mask main body. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a holding member of a mask auxiliary tool. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating other configuration examples of the holding member. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a first form is attached together with the mask auxiliary device of FIG. 1, and a front view of the string adjuster. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the connection structure between the string adjuster and the ear string in the first form. FIG. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing the procedure for assembling the string adjuster of the first form into the ear string. [Figure 7] 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a second form is attached together with the mask auxiliary device of FIG. 1, and an enlarged view of the string adjuster. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a third form is attached together with the mask auxiliary device of FIG. 1, and an enlarged view of the string adjuster. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the connection structure between the string adjuster and the ear string in the third form. FIG. [Figure 10] 1. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a fourth embodiment is attached together with the mask assisting device of FIG. 1, and a perspective view of a part of the string adjuster. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the connection structure between the string adjuster and the ear string in the fourth form. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a fifth form is attached together with the mask assisting device of FIG. 1. [Figure 13]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the connection structure between the string adjuster and the ear string in the fifth form. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a sixth form is attached together with the mask assisting device of FIG. 1. [Figure 15] 15 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a string adjuster of a sixth embodiment and a method of connecting it to an ear string, and an enlarged view of the dashed line frame in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a mask to which a string adjuster of a seventh embodiment is attached together with the mask assisting device of FIG. 1, and an enlarged view of the string adjuster to which ear straps are connected. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the string adjuster of the seventh embodiment. [Figure 18] 1 is a diagram showing an example of wearing a mask to which a mask support device to which the present invention is applied is attached. [Figure 19] 1A and 1B are a front view showing a mask to which an article holder of a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied is attached, and a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the article holder. [Figure 20] 10A and 10B are a front view showing a mask to which an article holder of a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied is attached, and a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the article holder. [Figure 21] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the configurations of third and fourth embodiment article holders to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 22] This is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a small piece of hook-and-loop fastener with information written on the back side is attached to the mask body. [Figure 23] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of two types of hooks for a hook-and-loop fastener. [Figure 24] This is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism of connection using the two types of hooks mentioned above. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a hook-and-loop fastener in which the above two types of hooks are mixed. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the above two types of hooks are entangled in a nonwoven fabric. [Figure 27] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which nonwoven fabric fibers are sandwiched between the two types of hooks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] <Mask accessories> Figure 1 shows an example of a mask auxiliary device 1 to which the present invention is applied attached to a commercially available nonwoven mask M, with the inner surface of the mask M facing the face as the front view (Figure 1(A)) and an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the part where the mask auxiliary device 1 is attached (Figure 1(B)). The mask M in this example has ear loops 3 made of flat or round elastic attached in a loop shape to the left and right sides of a pleated mask body 2 (however, the pleats are not shown), but it can also be used with other common mask shapes (the same applies to all subsequent examples).

[0038] The mask auxiliary tool 1 of this embodiment (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "auxiliary tool 1") is a strip-shaped member approximately 12 to 13 cm long and 1.2 to 1.5 cm wide, and is composed of a flexible linear body 11, a holding member 10 that holds the linear body 11, and a cover sheet 12 that is detachably connected to the holding member 10. The linear body 11 is a core material made of plastic that has a shape-retaining function, or a core material in the form of a flexible metal wire covered with resin. The holding member 10 is formed by a male hook-and-loop fastener F with a hook surface HS, and the cover sheet 12 is made of a nonwoven sheet material.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 2, the retaining member 10 is made by folding a male hook-and-loop fastener F with a notch cut in the center of each short side at the notch position so that the hook surface HS is exposed, and then welding the two pieces f1 and f2 separated by the folding back at their edges to form a bag body with the hook surface HS on both sides. The linear body 11 is sandwiched between the two pieces f1 and f2 before they are welded together, and is held in the gap between the pieces f1 and f2.

[0040] The two pieces f1 and f2 of the hook-and-loop fastener F are continuous on the long side where the folded-back position was, and are also connected by welding along almost the entire edge of the other long side. The edges of the short side are also partially welded, but the short side may be left open without welding. The long side may also be only partially welded, provided that the linear body 11 does not slip out.

[0041] The cover sheet 12 is a nonwoven sheet having a surface slightly larger than that of the retaining member 10. As shown in FIG. 1(B), the cover sheet 12 is attached to one surface of the retaining member 10, and the other surface of the retaining member 10 is attached to the mask body 2. The surfaces of the nonwoven fabrics constituting the mask body 2 and the cover sheet 12 contain many fine fibers that function as loops that intertwine with the hook surfaces HS. By bringing the hook surfaces HS of the retaining member 10 into contact with these, the retaining member 10 can be directly connected to the mask body 2 and the cover sheet 12. By bending the linear bodies 11 inside the retaining member 10 while the three are connected, the bending is transmitted to the mask body 2 and the cover sheet 12 via the retaining member 10, causing them to bend along the linear bodies 11 (see FIG. 18).

[0042] 1(A) shows an example in which one auxiliary device 1 is attached to each of the upper and lower ends of the mask body 2, but only one auxiliary device 1 may be attached. The location where the auxiliary device 1 is attached to the mask body 2 is not limited to the upper or lower end, and the user can freely select a location such as the tip of the nose or in front of the mouth.

[0043] The method of manufacturing the retaining member 10 is not limited to the method shown in Figure 2. A retaining member 10 having a similar configuration to that shown in Figure 2(B) can also be manufactured by overlapping the surfaces of two independent male hook fasteners opposite to each other, inserting a linear body 11 between them, and welding each hook fastener at least at the edge portion on the long side.

[0044] Instead of the holding member 10, a holding member 10x having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 can also be used. This retaining member 10x is formed into a box shape including two opposing pieces f3, f4 with the back surfaces of the hook surfaces HS facing each other by folding back a hook-and-loop fastener F cut into the shape of an unfolded thin box at the position shown by the dashed line in Fig. 3(A) and welding the overlapping edges. A linear body 11x (having an elliptical cross section in this embodiment) is housed in the internal space of the retaining member 10x, and one of the two pieces f3, f4 is connected to the mask body 2, and the cover sheet 12 is connected to the other piece.

[0045] The cover sheet 12 can also be considered an article held by the holding member 10 . The cover sheet 12 is not limited to nonwoven fabric, but may be made of a sheet material having a surface connectable to the male hook-and-loop fastener F, such as gauze or pile fabric. Moreover, since the cover sheet 12 is easily detachable, if it becomes dirty, it can be washed and reattached to the holding member 10.

[0046] Another type of mask auxiliary can be produced by overlapping a cover sheet on the back side of the hook side of a male hook-and-loop fastener, sandwiching a linear body between the two and connecting them at the edge, so that one side becomes the hook side and the other side becomes the cover side, and then attaching the hook side to the mask body 2. In this type, the cover sheet does not need to have a side that becomes the loop side, so a suitable cover sheet can be selected from sheets made of various flexible materials.

[0047] <Ear strap length adjustment aid> Next, seven embodiments will be described as examples in which an auxiliary device for adjusting the length of the ear straps 3 is further attached to the mask M in which the mask auxiliary device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is attached to the mask main body 2. In these embodiments, the mask M and mask auxiliary device 1 have already been described, so the same configuration as in Figure 1(A) is shown and description is omitted. In addition, from here on, to prevent confusion with the mask auxiliary device 1, the auxiliary device for adjusting the length of the ear straps will be called a "string adjustment device" and will be represented by the symbols 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, and 4G according to the form.

[0048] Fig. 4 shows the overall configuration of the mask M with the string adjuster 4A of the first form and the mask assisting device 1 attached, as well as an enlarged view of the portion of one ear strap 30A that includes the string adjuster 4A. Fig. 5 shows three more enlarged schematic diagrams illustrating the connection structure between the string adjuster 4A and the original components of the ear strap 3. Fig. 6 shows the procedure for attaching the string adjuster 4A to the mask body 2.

[0049] The string adjuster 4A of this embodiment comprises a string member 40 bent at the center of its length, and an adjuster 43 threaded through two string pieces 41, 41 separated by the bend. The string member 40 is a flat elastic string such as flat rubber or stretch ribbon, and a male hook-and-loop fastener F of a width that does not extend beyond the surface is fixed to one surface of the end of each string piece 41 that is not restrained by the adjuster 43 by welding, adhesive, or the like (see FIG. 5(A)).

[0050] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the left and right ear straps 3, 3 of the mask M are each cut in the center, and then each string piece 41, 41 of the string member 40 is connected to the open end of each of the two strings 3a, 3b that were separated into upper and lower parts by the cut, and the strings 3a, 3b are reconnected via the string adjuster 4A to form a new ear strap 30A.

[0051] The surface of the ear strings 3 of the mask M also contains fine fibers that function as loops, so by cutting the strings 3a and 3b into upper and lower halves and bringing them into contact with the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F, the strings 3a and 3b can be connected to the hook-and-loop fastener F (see Figures 5(B) and (C)).

[0052] The new ear straps 30A are longer than the original ear straps 3 due to the incorporation of the strap adjusters 4A, and their effective length (the length of the portion that pulls the mask body 2 when the ear strap is hung on the ear) can be adjusted by changing the position of the adjusters 43. Also, by moving the adjusters 43 close to the connection points with the straps 3a and 3b, the effective length of the ear straps 30A can be made almost the same as the original ear straps 3.

[0053] 4 and 6 by cutting a certain range including the center of the original ear straps 3 of the mask M, rather than simply dividing them in half, it is possible to shorten the lengths of the straps 3a, 3b to be shorter than those shown in Figures 4 and 6, thereby making it possible to form new ear straps 30A by connecting the straps 3a, 3b to the strap adjuster 4A so that the effective length of the new ear straps 30A is shorter than the original ear straps 3. Even if the straps 3a, 3b are not cut short, the effective length of the ear straps 30A can be made shorter than the original ear straps 3 by moving the connection positions of the straps 3a, 3b to the strap pieces 41, 41 closer to the mask body 2.

[0054] The string member 40 is not limited to a flat string, but may be a round string of a certain thickness. In addition, a non-stretchy string such as a cloth ribbon or nonwoven tape can also be used as the string member 40, as long as it is long enough to form a string longer than the original ear string 3 by connecting with strings 3a and 3b. The string member 40 may also be decorated with beads or buttons, or may be dyed to add decoration.

[0055] The same string member 40 as above is used in the subsequent second to fourth forms of string adjusters 4B, 4C, and 4D. In all of the string adjusters 4B to 4G, including the fifth to seventh forms, the ear loop string 3 is cut and the open ends of the two strings 3a and 3b separated into upper and lower parts are connected to form a new ear loop string together with these strings 3a and 3b, just as shown in Figure 6.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows the overall structure of a mask M to which a string adjuster 4B of the second embodiment is attached, as well as an enlarged view of a portion of one ear strap 30B including the string adjuster 4B. The string adjuster 4B of the second embodiment is composed only of a string member 40 with male hook-and-loop fasteners F (not shown in FIG. 7) attached to both ends. The hook-and-loop fasteners F of this embodiment are set longer than those of the first embodiment.

[0057] In the second configuration, too, the open ends of the two strings 3a, 3b that were separated by cutting can be connected to both ends of the string member 40, respectively, and the strings 3a, 3b can then be reconnected via the string adjuster 4B to form a new ear string 30B. As in the first configuration, the length of the ear string 30B can be made shorter than the original ear string 3 by cutting the strings 3a, 3b short or by moving the connection positions of the strings 3a, 3b to the string pieces 41, 41 closer to the mask body 2.

[0058] Fig. 8 shows the overall configuration of a mask M equipped with a third type of string adjuster 4C, as well as an enlarged view of a portion of one ear strap 30C including the string adjuster 4C. Fig. 9 shows the connection portion between the string adjuster 4C and the strings 3a, 3b in the form of an enlarged schematic view (A) showing the end face of the string adjuster 4C from the front, and an enlarged schematic view (B) showing the side of the string adjuster 4C from the front.

[0059] Like the first form, the string adjuster 4C of the third form has a string member 40 made of a flat string bent at the center of its length, and an adjuster 43 passed through two string pieces 41, 41 separated by the bend. A branch piece 42 of the same width as the string piece 41 is provided in the portion of each string piece 41 of the string member 40 that is not restrained by the adjuster 43, and a male hook-and-loop fastener F of a size that does not protrude from the surface is fixed to one surface of the end of both the string piece 41 and the branch piece 42.

[0060] In the third embodiment, the open ends of the two strings 3a, 3b, which have been cut and separated into upper and lower parts, are sandwiched between the string piece 41 and the branch piece 42, respectively, and connected to the hook surfaces HS of the respective hook-and-loop fasteners F (see Figures 9(A) and (B)). This reconnects the strings 3a, 3b via the string adjuster 4B. This forms a new ear strap 30C that is longer than the original ear strap 3 and whose effective length can be adjusted using the adjuster 43. Also in this embodiment, the length of the ear strap 30C can be made shorter than the original ear strap 3 by cutting the strings 3a, 3b shorter.

[0061] The third embodiment can also be arranged so that two strings with hook-and-loop fasteners F fixed to both ends are connected at the middle with the hook-and-loop fasteners F facing inward. In this case, as with the second embodiment shown in Fig. 7, adjusters 43 are not provided, and the effective length of ear loop string 30C can be adjusted by adjusting the attachment positions of strings 3a and 3b to the hook-and-loop fasteners F.

[0062] Fig. 10 shows the overall configuration of a mask M equipped with a fourth embodiment of the string adjuster 4D, as well as an enlarged view of the connection between the string adjuster 4D and the string 3a in one of the ear straps 30D. Fig. 11 shows the engagement between the string adjuster 4D and the strings 3a and 3b using an enlarged schematic view (A) showing the end face of the string adjuster 4D from the front and an enlarged schematic view (B) showing part of the inner surface of the string adjuster 4D.

[0063] The fourth form of string adjuster 4D also has a string member 40 made of a flat string bent at the center of its length, and an adjuster 43 passed through two string pieces 41, 41 separated by the bending of the string member 40. In the string member 40, the open ends of each string piece 41 are fixed to the same string piece 41 at positions slightly apart from each other, thereby forming a loop 44 at the end of each string piece 41, and a hook-and-loop fastener F is fixed to the inner surface of the loop 44.

[0064] In the fourth configuration, the open ends of the two strings 3a, 3b that have been cut into upper and lower pieces are placed into the loops 44 of the string piece 41 and entangled with the hook surfaces HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F (see Figures 11(A) and 11(B)). This reconnects the strings 3a, 3b via the string adjuster 4D. Thus, in the fourth configuration, a new ear loop string 30D is formed that is longer than the original ear loop string 3 and whose effective length can be adjusted using the adjuster 43. Furthermore, by pressing the loops 44 after the strings 3a, 3b are connected, the strings 3a, 3b are sandwiched between the hook surfaces HS, similar to the example in Figure 9, thereby increasing the strength of the connection.

[0065] In the fourth form, too, the ear strings 30D formed by the strings 3a, 3b and the string adjuster 4D can be made shorter than the original ear strings 3 by cutting the strings 3a, 3b short or by moving the connection positions of the strings 3a, 3b to the loops 44 closer to the mask body 2.

[0066] Fig. 12 shows the overall configuration of a mask M equipped with a string adjuster 4E of the fifth embodiment. Fig. 13 shows the engagement between the string adjuster 4E and the strings 3a and 3b using an enlarged schematic view (A) showing the outer edge of the string adjuster 4E from the front, and an enlarged schematic view (B) showing one end face of the string adjuster 4E from the front.

[0067] The fifth form of string adjuster 4E mainly comprises an elongated silicone rubber member 45 curved in an arc to fit behind the ear. This member 45 has a slit 46 extending along the entire length of its outer edge and a hollow portion 47 connected to this slit 46, with male hook-and-loop fasteners F with hook surfaces HS fixed to the inner walls of both ends of hollow portion 47.

[0068] In the string adjuster 4E of the fifth embodiment, the slit 46 and the hollow portion 47 are temporarily widened, and the open ends of the upper and lower strings 3a and 3b separated by cutting the ear strap 3 are inserted into the hollow portion 47. These are then entangled with the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F (see Figures 13(A) and 13(B)). This reconnects the strings 3a and 3b via the string adjuster 4. Thus, even in the fifth embodiment, the combination of the string adjuster 4E and the strings 3a and 3b can function as a new ear strap 30E. The effective length of the new ear strap 30E can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the strings 3a and 3b inserted into the hollow portion 47.

[0069] In the fifth form, too, the ear strings 30E formed by the strings 3a, 3b and the string adjuster 4E can be made shorter than the original ear strings 3 by cutting the strings 3a, 3b short or by adjusting the range of the strings 3a, 3b that are placed inside the string adjuster 4E so that the connection positions of the strings 3a, 3b to the hook surface HS are closer to the mask body 2.

[0070] Figures 14(A) and 14(B) show a mask M equipped with a sixth form of string adjuster 4F, which is a shape-changing type. Figure 15 shows schematic diagrams (A), (B), (C), and (D) showing the configuration of string adjuster 4F, as well as enlarged views (E) and (F) of the portion enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 14.

[0071] The sixth form of string adjuster 4F is a string member whose base material is a predetermined length of flat elastic band 400. A male hook-and-loop fastener F1 having a hook surface HS is joined to the entire surface of one of the surfaces of the base material 400 (see FIG. 15(A)), and a female hook-and-loop fastener F2 having a loop surface LS is joined to the other surface in a range from one edge to a predetermined position just before the longitudinal center line (see FIG. 16(B)).

[0072] 15(C)(D), by bending the string adjuster 4F with the hook surface HS facing inward and connecting the appropriate position of the hook surface HS to the loop surface LS, the string adjuster 4F can be formed and maintained in a loop shape of a predetermined size. Also, by changing the point at which the hook surface HS is connected to the loop surface LS, the size of the loop can be freely changed.

[0073] The sixth form of string adjuster 4F is also provided on each side of the mask M, and by cutting the ear string 3 on the same side and connecting the open ends of the strings 3a and 3b separated by the cutting, a new ear string 30F is formed by connecting each string 3a and 3b to the string adjuster 4F (see Figures 14(A) and (B)).

[0074] Figure 15(E) is an enlargement of the dashed line frame in Figure 14(A) and corresponds to the example of connecting the strings 3a and 3b with the large looped string adjuster 4F shown in Figure 15(C). Figure 15(F) is an enlargement of the dashed line frame in Figure 14(B) and corresponds to the example of connecting the strings 3a and 3b with the small looped string adjuster 4F shown in Figure 15(D).

[0075] As shown in Figures 14(A) and 15(E), by enlarging the loop of the string adjuster 4F and connecting the strings 3a and 3b to the hook surface HS so that they face each other within the loop, the ear loop string 30F formed by the string adjuster 4F can be made longer than the original ear loop string 3.

[0076] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 14(B) and 15(F), by making the loop of the string adjuster 4F smaller and bringing the strings 3a and 3b closer together within the loop and connecting them to the hook surface HS, the ear loop string 30F formed by the string adjuster 4F can be made to be approximately the same length as the original ear loop string 3.

[0077] In either example, by pressing the loop after the strings 3a, 3b are connected, the strings 3a, 3b are sandwiched between the hook surfaces HS, thereby increasing the strength of the connection.

[0078] Furthermore, in the sixth form, the length of the ear strings 30F can be made shorter than the original ear strings 3 by cutting the strings 3a and 3b short or by moving the connection positions of the strings 3a and 3b to the hook surfaces HS closer to the mask body 2.

[0079] The base material 400 of the string adjuster 4F is not limited to flat elastic, and a string member having a surface large enough to join the hook-and-loop fasteners F1 and F2 can also be used as the base material (the same applies to the following seventh embodiment). Also, the string adjuster 4F can be made by using a band made of male hook-and-loop fastener F1 as the base material 400 and joining a female hook-and-loop fastener F2 to part of its back surface.

[0080] The hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F1 does not necessarily have to be formed over the entire surface of the base material 400, and for example, there may be portions at both ends where there are no hook surfaces HS. The length of the loop surface LS on the back side is also not limited to that shown in Figure 15(B), and the loop surface LS may be provided in the range from the edge to the center of the length, for example.

[0081] Fig. 16 shows the overall structure of a mask M to which a string adjuster 4G of the seventh mode is attached, as well as the state of engagement between the string adjuster 4G and the strings 3a, 3b. Fig. 17 shows the structure of the string adjuster 4G.

[0082] As shown in Figure 17, the seventh form of string adjuster 4G is a ring-shaped member formed by joining a female hook-and-loop fastener F2 having a loop surface LS to both ends of a strip-shaped base material 401 made of flat rubber or the like, joining a male hook-and-loop fastener F1 having a hook surface HS between them, and further connecting both ends of base material 401 with each surface LS, HS facing inward.

[0083] With the string adjuster 4G configured as described above, by connecting the loop surface LS with the hook surface HS at the point where it faces the loop surface LS, two loops are formed whose inner surfaces are the hook surfaces HS. By inserting the strings 3a and 3b into these loops and bringing them into contact with the hook surface HS, each string 3a and 3b can be connected to the string adjuster 4G, forming a new ear hook string 30G (see Figures 16(A)(B)(C)).

[0084] With this string adjuster 4G, the effective length of the ear strings 30G can be changed by adjusting the portion of the strings 3a, 3b that are connected to the hook surfaces HS, depending on how far the strings 3a, 3b are threaded through the loops. This adjustment can be used to move the connection positions of the strings 3a, 3b to the hook surfaces HS closer to the mask body 2, or by cutting the strings 3a, 3b shorter, the length of the ear strings 30G can be made shorter than the original ear strings 3. Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the strength of the connection can be increased by sandwiching and pressing the looped strings 3a and 3b between the hook surfaces HS.

[0085] The strings 3a and 3b can be connected by being sandwiched not only between the hook surface HS of the loop portion but also between the connecting portion of the hook surface HS and the loop surface LS.

[0086] In the string adjuster 4G of the above embodiment, both ends of the base material 401 are maintained in a connected state, but it may also be configured such that female hook-and-loop fasteners F2 are joined to both sides of the base material 401 in a range from one end to a predetermined position, and male hook-and-loop fasteners F1 are joined to the remaining part of one side. In this way, by turning the side with only the hook-and-loop fastener F2 to the outside and connecting or disconnecting the loop surface LS of the hook-and-loop fastener F2 to the hook surface HS on the inside side, it becomes possible to switch between a loop state and a string-like state and to adjust the size of the loop.

[0087] <Example of using mask auxiliary tool 1> Fig. 18 shows an example of wearing a mask M (see Fig. 8) to which a mask auxiliary device 1 and a string adjuster 4C of the third form are attached. Note that Fig. 18 does not show the entire mask auxiliary device 1, but shows only the linear body 11 inside.

[0088] In the example of Figure 18(A), the linear bodies 11 of the mask auxiliary accessories 1 attached to the upper and lower ends of the mask body 2 are curved greatly to curve the mask body 2 in a direction away from the face. This creates a space for ventilation between the upper and lower edge parts of the mask body 2 and the face, allowing the user to breathe more easily.

[0089] In the example of Figure 18(B), the linear members 11 of the mask support members 1 attached to the upper and lower ends of the mask body 2 are curved to fit the face, so that the mask body 2 is pulled closer to the face, leaving almost no ventilation space between them. This reduces the chances that harmful substances such as viruses, dust, and pollen will reach the user's mouth or nose.

[0090] The above two wearing states can be switched appropriately by changing the degree of curvature of the linear body 11 while the mask auxiliary accessory 1 is attached to the mask body 2.

[0091] In the wearing state shown in Figure 18(A), the distance between the mask body 2 and the ears increases, and if the length of the ear straps cannot be adjusted, the pulling force on the ear straps increases, which may put strain on the ears. In this embodiment, by moving the adjuster 43 of the string adjuster 4C away from the mask body 2, the effective length of the ear straps 30C including the string adjuster 4C can be extended, thereby alleviating the pulling force. In the state shown in Figure 18(B), conversely, by moving the adjuster 43 closer to the mask body 2 and shortening the effective length of the ear straps 30C, the mask body 2 can be fitted more closely to the face.

[0092] In the first form of string adjuster 4A shown in FIG. 4 and the fourth form of string adjuster 4D shown in FIG. 10, the effective length and tensile force of the ear loop strings 30A, 30D can be adjusted by moving the adjuster 43 in the same manner as in the example of FIG. 18. In the second form of string adjuster 4B shown in Figure 7 and the fifth form of string adjuster 4E shown in Figures 12 and 13, the effective length of the ear hook strings 30B, 30E can be adjusted by changing the area of ​​contact between the upper and lower strings 3a, 3b and the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F.

[0093] The sixth form of string adjuster 4F shown in Figures 14 and 15 also allows the effective length of the ear strap 30F to be adjusted by changing the size of the loops and the relative positions of the strings 3a, 3b within the loops. The seventh form of string adjuster 4G shown in Figures 16 and 17 also allows the effective length of the ear strap 30G to be adjusted by changing which parts of the strings 3a, 3b are connected to the hook surfaces HS of the two loops.

[0094] In this way, by using any of the string adjusters 4A to 4G together with the mask assisting device 1, it is possible to provide a high level of adjustability to a commercially available mask M of a general configuration. People who must wear a mask for long periods of time due to work or other reasons can reduce physical strain and psychological stress by wearing the mask body 2 in close contact with the face as shown in Figure 18(B) only in crowded places with many people, and otherwise wearing the mask in a manner that creates a ventilated space between the mask body 2 and the face as shown in Figure 18(A).

[0095] Furthermore, all of the string adjusters 4A to 4G are hidden behind the user's ears and are not visible from the front. Although they can be seen from behind, they are string-like members of about the same width as the strings 3a and 3b of the original ear strings 3, and are not very different in shape from commercially available masks with adjusters. They are often hidden by hair, so there is no risk of them causing discomfort to those around.

[0096] The mask assisting tool 1 and the string adjusters 4A to 4G, which are the second mask assisting tools, are not limited to being used together as described above, and it is also possible to use only one of them. For example, people who do not need to adjust the length of the ear loop straps or who use a mask with adjustable ear loop length can switch between the two wearing positions mentioned above by attaching only the mask support device 1 to the mask body.

[0097] The mask auxiliary device 1 can also be used to attach other items to the mask body 2. For example, by connecting the holding members 10 of the mask auxiliary device 1 to the upper and lower ends of the mask body 2, and then placing nonwoven filters of the same size as the mask body 2 on top of them and connecting them to each holding member 10, the filters can be detachably attached to the inner surface of the mask body 2.

[0098] Instead of the filter, a separate mask body made of nonwoven fabric can be attached. Also, a nonwoven fabric bag containing a cooling agent, a heating agent, a fragrance, etc. can be attached to the mask body 2 in the same way as the filter.

[0099] In order to prevent ear pain caused by the ear straps and skin irritation caused by prolonged contact of the ear straps with the skin, any of the types of string adjusters 4A to 4G can be used without combining them with mask assisting device 1. The pain in the ears caused by wearing a mask is mainly caused by the ear straps pulling the ears forward, so it is difficult to alleviate this pain by simply covering the ear straps as described in Patent Document 3 above, and it is necessary to reduce the pulling force by extending the length of the ear straps.

[0100] Regarding the above-mentioned problem, the string adjusters 4A-4G of the first to seventh forms all allow the length of the ear strings 30A-30G, including the string adjusters 4A-4G, to be easily adjusted, allowing the pulling force of the ear strings 30A-30G to be adjusted to an appropriate strength that does not strain the ear. Furthermore, in the first to fourth forms and the sixth to seventh forms, the string member 40 and the base 400, which are the main parts of the string adjuster 4, are made of a highly flexible and comfortable material, preventing skin irritation. The string adjuster 4 of the fifth form also uses silicone rubber, which is gentle on the skin, as the material for the holder, thereby similarly preventing irritation and rough skin.

[0101] Furthermore, according to the string adjusters 4A to 4G of the first to seventh forms, it is possible to form ear loop strings 30A to 30G that are shorter than the original ear loop strings 3, thereby solving the problem of people who find that the ear loop strings of commercially available masks are too loose.

[0102] <Example of article holder> The mask support device 1 used in each of the above examples was designed to be attached to the inner surface of the mask body 2, but a similar configuration can also be used to provide an item holder for attaching a specified item to the front side of the mask body 2 made of nonwoven fabric.

[0103] FIG. 19 shows an example in which a name tag 6 is attached to the front side of a mask body 2 using an item holder 5A of the first form, by showing the overall structure of the mask M (FIG. 19(A)) and an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the attachment location of the item holder 5A (FIG. 19(B)).

[0104] The article holder 5A of the first form is formed by folding one piece of male hook-and-loop fastener F at the center of its width with the hook surface HS facing outward, and welding the two pieces f11 and f12 separated by the folding at their edges, similar to the holding member 10 of the mask auxiliary device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The two pieces f11 and f12 are rectangular in shape, wider but with shorter long sides than the pieces f1 and f2 of the holding member 10. Furthermore, since no article is sandwiched between the pieces f11 and f12, the pieces f11 and f12 are stacked with almost no gap between them and integrated by welding.

[0105] The name tag 6 is made of a nonwoven fabric sheet that is larger than the sides f11 and f12, with a name printed or handwritten on one side, and the side without the name is connected to one hook surface HS of the item holder 5A. Therefore, by aligning the name tag 6 and the mask main body 2 vertically and bringing the side of the item holder 5A on which the name tag 6 is not attached into contact with the surface of the mask main body 2, the item holder 5A can be connected to the mask main body 2 and the name can be written on the front side of the mask main body 2.

[0106] FIG. 20 shows an example in which a name tag 7 is attached to the front side of a mask body 2 using an item holder 5B of the second form, by showing the overall configuration of the mask M (FIG. 20(A)) and an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the attachment location of the item holder 5B (FIG. 20(B)).

[0107] The second form of article holder 5B has a transparent plastic card case 50 joined to the back surface of the hook surface HS of a single male hook-and-loop fastener F. The length of the short sides of the hook-and-loop fastener F is shorter than the pieces f11 and f12 of the first form. The card case 50 is a rectangular case body with long sides the same length as the hook-and-loop fastener F and short sides longer than the hook-and-loop fastener F, and one of the end faces of the long sides is open. The long side of this card case 50 that is not open is aligned with one edge of the hook-and-loop fastener F and fixed to the hook-and-loop fastener F by welding, adhesive, etc.

[0108] The name tag 7 in this embodiment is a piece of paper or a plastic card (a business card is also acceptable) with a name written on one side, and is held in the card case 50 by being inserted into the case 50 from the open end face of the case 50. By placing the name tag 7 in the card case 50 with the long side that is not open as the bottom edge and then aligning it vertically with the mask body 2 and connecting the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F to the mask body 2, the name tag 7 can be held in a state where the inscription on the name tag 7 can be seen from the front. In the example of FIG. 20 , the short side of the card case 50 is shorter than the name tag 7, but a notch may be provided in a portion of the open end face of the case 50 to facilitate the insertion and removal of the name tag 7 even when the entire name tag 7 is housed in the card case 50.

[0109] 21 shows two types of article holders 5C and 5D which are modifications of the second embodiment of article holder 5B. In these article holders 5C and 5D, instead of card case 50, translucent and flexible plastic plates 51 and 52 which function as a cover are connected to male hook-and-loop fastener F. Hook-and-loop fastener F is set in a rectangular shape with the same size as plates 51 and 52.

[0110] The plates 51, 52 have main pieces 51a, 52a through which the name tag 7 can be seen and gusset pieces 51b, 52b integrally formed on the edge portions of the main pieces 51a, 52a. The gusset pieces 51b, 52b are welded to the back surface of the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fasteners F, F, thereby forming a gap between the main pieces 51a, 52a and the hook-and-loop fastener F for inserting the name tag 7.

[0111] In an article holder 5C of the third form shown in FIG. 21(A), at least one end face on the short side is opened, and the name tag 7 can be inserted or removed through the opening. In an article holder 5D of a fourth form shown in FIG. 21(B), the end face on the long side facing upward is opened, and the name tag 7 can be inserted or removed through the opening. These open end faces may also be provided with notches to facilitate the insertion and removal of name tags 7.

[0112] In this way, even in the third and fourth forms of item holders 5C and 5D, by connecting the hook-and-loop fastener F to the surface of the nonwoven fabric mask body 2 with the name tag 7 placed in the gap, the name tag 7 can be held in a state where the display can be seen from the front.

[0113] Recently, hospitals and nursing homes have been requiring patients and users to wear masks as a measure against infectious diseases, but this has led to the problem that it has become difficult for staff to distinguish people's faces when interacting with them. One effective way to solve this problem would be to write the patient's name on the mask itself, but writing the patient's name by hand on the mask itself requires rewriting it every time the mask is replaced, which is extremely cumbersome.

[0114] All of the above four types of article holders 5A to 5D can be removed from and reattached to the mask main body 2 while still holding the name tags 6, 7. Therefore, by using these article holders 5A to 5D, it is possible to simply replace the name tags 6, 7 without having to write a name on the mask main body 2 every time the mask M is replaced, eliminating the need for complicated work.

[0115] All of the article holders 5A to 5D are made of a flexible material, so there is no risk of the article holders 5A to 5D injuring the user. In addition, the hook surface HS of the hook-and-loop fastener F is resistant to deterioration, so it can be used repeatedly for a long period of time.

[0116] Each type of item holder 5A to 5D can be attached not only to the mask M but also to protective clothing or bags made of nonwoven fabric. Furthermore, it is not limited to nonwoven fabric, and they can also be attached to items made of materials whose surface functions as a loop surface, such as knit or terry cloth.

[0117] The items held by the above-mentioned item holders 5A to 5D are not limited to name tags, but can also hold sheets or cards with some kind of information written on them. For example, service providers such as restaurants and retail stores can provide information to customers in a natural way by attaching item holders 5A to 5D holding sheets with the store's name, mark, and a message they want to convey to customers to the mask body 2 while serving customers.

[0118] In addition to the above, some information or design can be displayed on the front surface of the mask body 2 by writing or printing letters or designs on the back surface of the hook surface HS of the small piece 8 attached to the male hook-and-loop fastener F, and then connecting the hook surface HS of the small piece 8 by contacting it with the mask body 2, as shown in Figure 22. This small piece 8 can also be easily attached and detached to the mask body 2, so it can be replaced every time the mask M is changed.

[0119] The shape of the small pieces 8 is not limited to a rectangle, and the hook-and-loop fastener F can be cut into various contours and used for decoration. Furthermore, a highly decorative sheet material can be attached to the back side of the hook surface HS of the cut-out hook-and-loop fastener F. The small pieces 8 can be connected not only to the mask body but also to the ear strings.

[0120] <Another form of hook-and-loop fastener> All of the examples described so far have used a male hook-and-loop fastener F with a general hook surface HS, but instead of this hook-and-loop fastener F, it is also possible to use a hook-and-loop fastener that is configured to mix two types of hooks h1 and h2, as shown in Figure 23.

[0121] Figures 23(A) and 23(B) show two types of hooks, h1 and h2, each shown as a combination of an enlarged schematic front view and a schematic plan view. Note that BS in the figure is a sheet material that serves as a base for supporting each hook h1 and h2 in an upright position.

[0122] One of the hooks h1 (hereinafter referred to as the "first hook h1") has a configuration in which an engaging protrusion 101 with a pointed center is integrally provided at the tip of a cylindrical base 100. The engaging protrusion 101 is formed in the shape of a cylinder with a larger diameter than the base 100, connected to a cone.

[0123] The other hook h2 (hereinafter referred to as the "second hook h2") also has a configuration in which an engagement protrusion 201 having a larger circular cross section than the base 200 is integrally provided at the tip of a cylindrical base 200. The second hook h2 has an engagement hole 202 that continues continuously from the bottom surface of the base 200 to the tip of the engagement protrusion 201. The size of this engagement hole 202 is set to correspond to the base portion of the engagement protrusion 101 of the first hook h1, and the open end surface on the upper end side is tapered.

[0124] Furthermore, the width d1 of the portion of the engaging protrusion 101 of the first hook h1 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the base 100 at its base and the width d2 of the portion of the engaging protrusion 201 of the second hook h2 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the base 200 are set to be equal lengths.

[0125] FIG. 24 shows the mechanism of connection by the hook and loop fastener having the hooks h1 and h2. According to the above-described configuration, when the engaging protrusion 101 of the first hook h1 and the engaging protrusion 201 of the second hook h2 are aligned with their central axes facing each other, the engaging protrusion 101 of the first hook h1 can be inserted into the engaging hole 202 of the engaging protrusion 201 of the second hook h2 to connect the two, as shown in Figure 24(A).

[0126] Even when the first hook h1 and the second hook h2 are not in an engageable positional relationship, as shown in Figure 24(B), the hooks h1 and h2 can be connected by interlocking the base portions of the engaging protrusions 101 and 201. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 24(C) and 24(D), even when the hooks are of the same type, the base portions of the engaging protrusions 101 and 101 or the base portions of the engaging protrusions 201 and 201 can be interlocked to connect the two hooks.

[0127] FIG. 25 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement pattern of the two types of hooks h1 and h2. In the hook-and-loop fastener SF1 shown in Fig. 25(A), rows of horizontally arranged first hooks h1 and rows of horizontally arranged second hooks h2 are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. In the hook-and-loop fastener SF2 shown in Fig. 25(B), one first hook h1 and one second hook h2 are alternately arranged in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0128] In the hook-and-loop fastener SF1, the first hooks h1 and the second hooks h2 are alternately arranged in the direction diagonally crossing the rows of horizontally arranged hooks and in the vertical direction. In the hook-and-loop fastener SF2, the same type of hooks are arranged in the direction diagonally crossing the rows of horizontally arranged hooks.

[0129] Therefore, with either the hook-and-loop fastener SF1 or SF2, by bringing two hook-and-loop fasteners of the same configuration into contact with each other, it is possible to generate the four types of connection states shown in Figures 24(A) to (D).

[0130] 26(A) and 26(B) show the state of engagement between the hooks h1, h2 and the nonwoven fabric 300 when the above-mentioned hook-and-loop fasteners SF1, SF2 are brought into contact with the nonwoven fabric 300. As shown in these figures, the loop-shaped fibers 310 of the nonwoven fabric 300 are entangled with both the first hook h1 and the second hook h2, so even if the hook-and-loop fasteners F of the mask auxiliary tool 1 and the article holders 5A to 5D are changed to the above-mentioned hook-and-loop fasteners SF1, SF2, they can be connected to the mask main body 2 in the same manner.

[0131] In the string adjusters 4A to 4G, the hook-and-loop fastener F can be replaced with the hook-and-loop fasteners SF1 and SF2, which have the same effect as in FIGS. 26(A) and 26(B), and the strings 3a and 3b can be easily connected.

[0132] FIG. 27 shows a phenomenon that can occur when the fibers 310 of the nonwoven fabric 300 enter between the two hooks h1 and h2 in the relationship shown in FIG. 24(A). In this way, when the fibers 310 of the strings 3a, 3b enter between the opposing hooks h1, h2, the engaging protrusions 101 of each hook h1 push the fibers 310 into the engaging holes 202 of the hook h2, and the fibers 310 are retained in the engaging holes 202.

[0133] In each of the cord adjusters 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, and 4G of the third form shown in Figures 8 and 9, the fourth form shown in Figures 10 and 11, the fifth form shown in Figures 12 and 13, the sixth form shown in Figures 14 and 15, and the seventh form shown in Figures 16 and 17, the cords 3a and 3b can be sandwiched between the hook surfaces, so that engagement between the hooks h1 and h2 can occur at multiple locations. If the phenomenon shown in Figure 27 occurs at these locations, the connection strength to the cords 3a and 3b is increased, and detachment of the cord adjusters 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, and 4G can be prevented.

[0134] Incidentally, a conventional example of a hook-and-loop fastener that can engage surfaces of the same configuration is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-204809 (see paragraph 0037 and Figure 5 of the same publication). However, the hook-and-loop fastener described in this publication only engages hooks of the same configuration (similar to Figures 24(C) and 24(D)), and does not show the structure of the two types of hooks h1 and h2 shown in Figures 23(A) and (B) or the connecting structure shown in Figure 24(A).

[0135] <Technical features of the string holder> Based on the explanations and drawings given regarding the cord holders 4A to 4F of the first to seventh embodiments, the technical features of the cord holders are summarized as follows.

[0136] (1) The main part is a string-like member having flexibility and a hook fastener (F) integrally formed on one surface, the hook fastener (F) having a hook surface (HS) large enough not to protrude from the surface, Two strings (3a, 3b) are connected at one end to the upper end and the lower end of either the left or right edge of the mask body (2) of the sanitary mask (M), and the hook surfaces (HS) of the hook-and-loop fasteners (F) at both ends are connected to the open ends of each of the strings (3a, 3b), thereby forming ear strings of the mask (M) together with the two strings (3a, 3b). A hygienic mask auxiliary device characterized by the following:

[0137] (2) Each of the ends of the string-like member is divided into two, and a hook-and-loop fastener (F) having the hook surface (HS) is provided at the end of each of the branched portions (41, 42).

[0138] (3) Both ends of the string-like member are kept bent to form loops (44), and the inner surfaces of the loops (44) are provided with hook-and-loop fasteners (F) having the hook surfaces (HS). (4) The string-like member comprises a single string member (40) bent at the center of its length, and an adjuster (43) slidably threaded through a pair of string pieces (41, 41) separated by the bending of the string member (40). (5) The string-like member is an elongated member (45) made of flexible and stretchable resin, and at least both ends of the member (45) have an openable hollow portion (47) on the inner surface of which a hook-and-loop fastener (F) having the hook surface (HS) is provided. (6) The string-like member is a flexible band-like member having a hook surface (HS) on one side and a loop surface (LS) on the other side. (7) The string-like member is a flexible ring-shaped member having a loop surface (LS) on one part of its inner surface and a hook surface (HS) on the other part of its inner surface. (8) The hook surface (HS) is a surface on which a first hook (h1) having an engaging protrusion (101) and a second hook (h2) having an engaging protrusion (201) including an engaging hole (202) capable of engaging the first hook (h1) are arranged in a mixed manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] M Hygiene Mask F, SF1, SF2 male hook-and-loop fasteners HS hook surface h1,h2 hooks 1. Mask support 2 Mask body 3 ear loops 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F,4G String adjuster 5A,5B,5C,5D Article holder 6,7 Name tag 40 String member 45 Silicone parts 50 card case 51 Plate (cover body)

Claims

1. An auxiliary device that can be detachably attached to the mask body of a sanitary mask, The device comprises a pair of rectangular pieces made of a male surface fastener having a hook surface, a flexible cover sheet that can be attached to and detached from the hook surfaces of the pieces, and a flexible linear body, The pair of pieces are connected to each other at least along the length of the end edges, with the back surfaces of the hook surfaces facing each other, and the linear body is held in the gap between the pieces. The cover sheet is large enough to cover the entire hook surface of one piece, and is attached to the hook surface of one of the pair of pieces. A mask auxiliary device characterized by:

2. The pair of pieces are connected at the edges of the long and short sides, and the connection holds the linear body between the pieces so that it cannot slip out. The mask aid according to claim 1.

3. A combination of a mask auxiliary device as described in claim 1 or 2 and a pair of string adjusters incorporated into the left and right ear straps of a sanitary mask to which the mask auxiliary device is attached, Each of the pair of string adjusters has a main part which is a string-like member integrally provided with a male hook-and-loop fastener which is flexible and has a hook surface, and by connecting the hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener to each of the open ends of two strings which have one end connected to the upper end and the lower end of the edge of the mask body of the sanitary mask on the side where the string adjuster is incorporated, the ear strings of the sanitary mask are formed together with the two strings. Hygienic mask accessory set.

4. A combination of a mask auxiliary device as described in claim 1 or 2 and a pair of string adjusters incorporated into the left and right ear straps of a sanitary mask to which the mask auxiliary device is attached, Each of the pair of string adjusters has a main part that is flexible and has two ends that are each divided into two, and a male hook-and-loop fastener with a hook surface is integrally attached to the branched portion. One end of each of the two strings is connected to the upper end and the lower end of the edge portion of the mask body of the sanitary mask on the side where the string adjuster is incorporated. The open ends of each of the two strings are sandwiched between the two hook-and-loop fasteners at each end of the string-like member and connected to the hook surfaces of the hook-and-loop fasteners, thereby forming ear strings of the sanitary mask together with the two strings. Hygienic mask accessory set.

Images