Mask Ear Tab Structure for Hygienic Strap Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing masks require users to separate and open ear hook portions by inserting fingers between them and the body, which can compromise hand hygiene and make it difficult to maintain sanitary conditions during use.
Innovation Solution
A mask design featuring ear materials coupled to the mask body via auxiliary materials with lower stretchability than the ear materials, equipped with tab portions protruding from the edge, allowing separation and expansion without direct contact with the body, ensuring hygiene by pinching and pulling these tab portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ear hook portions are separated by inserting fingers between them and the body, then the ear hook portions can be separated and opened sideways, but hand hygiene may be compromised and mask sanitation may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tab portions as intermediary elements that protrude from the ear hook portions. These tabs serve as mediators between the user's fingers and the main body of the ear hooks, allowing separation to be performed by pinching and pulling the tabs rather than directly manipulating the ear hooks against the body. This intermediary structure enables the separation operation while maintaining hygiene by reducing direct contact with the mask body.
2Device complexity
If the ear hook portions are directly coupled to the mask body, then the structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to separate them without touching the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ear hook structure by adding separate tab portions that are coupled to the ear hook portions but extend beyond them. This segmentation creates distinct functional elements: the ear hook portions remain coupled to the mask body for structural integrity, while the tab portions provide accessible handles for separation. The segmentation allows the ear hooks to maintain their simple direct coupling to the body while adding operational ease through the separate tab elements.
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
Enables the mask to be worn in a sanitary condition by reducing direct contact with the mask body during the separation and expansion process, maintaining hygiene even in situations where hand hygiene is compromised.
Implementation Method 1
the auxiliary materials have a stretchability that is smaller than that of the ear materials and greater than that of the mask body at least in a horizontal direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A mask that includes a mask body and ear materials, constituting a pair, coupled to the mask body, wherein in a state before start of use, the ear materials, constituting the pair, are separably coupled with each other, and provided on an outer surface side of the mask body, each of the ear materials, constituting the pair, is provided with a tab portion protruding from an edge of the mask body in a plan view, and at the start of use, the ear materials, constituting the pair, are separated from each other by pinching and pulling the tab portion.