Face Mask with Deformable Soft Cover for Nasal Bridge Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional face masks do not fit users with varying nasal bridge heights due to restricted deformation of the cover body, which is not adaptable to different nasal shapes.
Innovation Solution
A face mask design featuring a cup-shaped main body made of rigid plastic with a tapered peripheral edge and a flexible plastic soft cover that includes deformation regions, allowing the mask to accommodate nasal bridges of different heights through adjustable fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cover body is made of rigid material with fixed structure, then the mask body maintains structural stability, but the cover body cannot adapt to different nasal bridge heights
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid main body that maintains structural stability and a flexible soft cover that adapts to different nasal bridge heights. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask combines two different materials with contrasting properties: rigid plastic for the main body and flexible plastic for the soft cover. This composite structure enables the mask to simultaneously achieve structural stability from the rigid portion and adaptability from the flexible portion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover body is made of flexible material, then the mask can adapt to different nasal shapes, but the deformation is restricted by the cover body structure
Solution Approach 1:
The soft cover incorporates a deformation region with locally modified structural properties that allow controlled flexibility. This local quality change enables the cover body to deform and adapt to different nasal shapes while maintaining sufficient structural support in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation region in the soft cover is designed to dynamically adjust its shape based on the wearer's nasal bridge height. This dynamic characteristic allows the cover body to transition from a fixed structure to an adaptive structure that conforms to different facial features.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the peripheral edge is designed with curved top section and oblique portions, then the mask provides better fit distribution, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral edge incorporates curved top sections and oblique portions that follow the natural contours of the face. This curvature design distributes the mask's fit across different facial features more effectively, improving comfort and seal while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 mask provides a secure and customizable fit for users with varying nasal bridge heights by utilizing the deformability of the soft cover, ensuring a snug and comfortable wear.
Implementation Method 1
The nose section has a first deformation region, and a second deformation region that is connected to the first deformation region and that protrudes relative to the side sections of the soft cover
Data Source
AI summary
A face mask includes a main body and a soft cover. The main body is made of a rigid plastic material, and includes a peripheral edge that has a bottom section, a top section that is opposite to the bottom section and that is curved, and two side sections. The soft cover is made of a flexible plastic material, and is fixed to the peripheral edge of the main body. The soft cover has a lower section fixed to the bottom section of the peripheral edge, a nose section opposite to the lower section, and two side sections respectively corresponding to the side sections of the peripheral edge. The nose section has a first deformation region, and a second deformation region connected to the first deformation region, protruding relative to the side sections of the soft cover, and sealingly connected to the top section of the peripheral edge.