Face Covering Fastening for Rapid Clean Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing and transporting face coverings, such as surgical masks and N95 respirators, lead to cross-contamination and are cumbersome, impractical, and do not facilitate rapid deployment, especially for first responders and individuals engaged in high-intensity activities.
Innovation Solution
Face coverings with fastening members, such as hook-and-loop (Velcro™) or magnetic attachments, allow for secure attachment to clothing, armbands, or other surfaces, enabling easy storage, transportation, and rapid deployment, with optional identification tags and deployment bags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If face coverings are stored in plastic or paper bags, then face coverings can be transported and stored, but cross-contamination occurs and excessive hand contact facilitates the spread of infectious disease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealed pouch as an intermediary container between the face covering and the external environment. The pouch maintains separation and prevents direct contact, thereby eliminating cross-contamination risks while allowing safe transport and storage of face coverings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the face covering from direct hand contact by placing it inside a sealed pouch. The pouch acts as a barrier that eliminates the need for repeated handling of the face covering itself, reducing contamination opportunities while maintaining accessibility.
2Reliability
If multiple bags are used to carry clean and used face coverings separately, then cross-contamination is reduced, but the carrying method becomes cumbersome and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple storage functions into a single sealed pouch system. The pouch can contain multiple face coverings in separate compartments or layers, eliminating the need to carry multiple separate bags while maintaining contamination prevention through the sealed barrier.
3Ease of operation
If face coverings are stored on a lanyard around the neck, then storage near the body is provided, but rapid deployment is not achieved and the lanyard creates a safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The face covering is pre-prepared and sealed in a pouch that can be quickly opened. The pouch is positioned on the body (similar to lanyard storage) but maintains readiness for immediate deployment. The sealed pouch protects the face covering until needed, then allows rapid access without the safety hazards of dangling lanyards.
4Ease of operation
If face coverings are stored in plastic or paper bags, then storage is provided, but rapid deployment is prevented due to cumbersome manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the storage container by using a sealed pouch with specific material properties that allow both protective storage and rapid deployment. The pouch material provides barrier protection while its design enables quick opening mechanisms, reducing deployment time compared to traditional bags.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces cross-contamination, provides effortless storage and transport, and ensures ready availability for rapid deployment, enhancing sanitation and practicality for various activities.
Implementation Method 1
a fastening member or plurality of fastening members sewn or attached to the face covering such as a hook-and-loop (Velcro™) type, magnetic type, snap button type or the like. The fastening member of the face covering is capable of readily engaging a corresponding fastening member sewn or attached to a clothing wear, armband, removable patch, openable patch or other surface, item or the like.
Implementation Method 2
a fastening member or plurality of fastening members sewn or attached to the face covering such as a hook-and-loop (Velcro™) type, magnetic type, snap button type or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A face covering generally worn to cover the nose and mouth of a user constructed with ear loops or fastening member configured to releasably engage with a corresponding fastening member affixed to an article of apparel or clothing wear. A corresponding fastening member arranged and configured to releasably receive, hold, and release ear loops or fastening member of a face covering readily available for single handed rapid deployment.