Single-Sheet Face Protection With Integrated Tie Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective masks are not impermeable, require multiple manufacturing steps, are costly, and pose a risk of disease transmission when reused, with recycling being difficult.
Innovation Solution
A single flexible sheet made of impermeable PVC, shaped as a rectangle or square with straps for easy attachment, allowing a single operation manufacturing and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical masks made of paper or fabrics are used, then they provide basic protection, but they are not impermeable and require multiple manufacturing steps which extends manufacturing time and increases unit cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple manufacturing operations into a single punching operation. The protective device is created by punching a single sheet of transparent material to create the strip and straps simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate cutting, assembling, and sealing operations required by conventional masks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin flexible sheet of transparent material (such as polyvinyl chloride) that is punched into the final shape. This single-sheet construction provides both the protective barrier and the structural integrity needed for straps and positioning, replacing multi-layer fabric constructions.
2Reliability
If conventional surgical masks are used, then they provide basic protection, but manufacturing in several operations significantly increases the unit cost of each mask
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple manufacturing steps (cutting, shaping, strap formation) into a single punching operation on a single sheet of material. This consolidation reduces labor costs, machine operation time, and assembly requirements, directly lowering the unit cost while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sheet is segmented by the punching operation to create distinct functional zones: the protective strip covering the face and the straps for securing. This segmentation occurs in one operation rather than requiring separate manufacturing steps for each component.
3Ease of operation
If disposable masks are used for ease of use, then they are convenient, but staff are tempted to reuse them which represents a significant risk of transmission of infectious diseases
Solution Approach 1:
The use of a single-sheet transparent material construction creates a more durable and reusable protective device compared to conventional disposable masks. The material can be cleaned and disinfected, allowing repeated use without compromising protection, thus eliminating the temptation to reuse disposable masks and the associated disease transmission risk.
4Reliability
If conventional masks are used, then they are effective for protection, but they have the disadvantage of not being impermeable to projections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a continuous single-sheet transparent material (such as polyvinyl chloride) that forms an impermeable barrier. The punching operation creates the protective shape without compromising the material's impermeability, providing reliable protection against projections while maintaining breathability through the material's inherent properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for protecting at least one part of the face of a user to prevent the spread of projections from the respiratory tract. A single flexible sheet, made of a material impermeable to the spread of these projections, and defining a substantially rectangular or square strip and at least two first straps each coming from one of the ends of the upper edge of the strip, the strip of the sheet being shaped to cover at least the nose and the mouth of the user, the upper edge of the strip resting on the top of the nose or on the forehead, the two first straps being arranged to be tied together at the back of the user's head, passing over their ears.