Sleep Mask With Moldable Ear Loops for Upright Sleeping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sleep masks tend to fall off when a person is sleeping upright, causing discomfort and are not suitable for public use due to lack of messaging options.

Innovation Solution

A sleep mask with moldable elements that conform to the face and ears, non-elastic ear loops, and removable messaging, ensuring secure fit and customizable messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elastic ear straps are used to securely attach the sleep mask, then the mask stays in place while sleeping upright, but the elastic straps become uncomfortable and cause pressure bruising on the ears

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemask retentionVSAvoidear pressure and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the ear loop material from elastic to moldable (thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer), allowing it to be shaped to fit the ear's geometry without exerting continuous elastic pressure. This parameter change in material properties resolves the contradiction between retention and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The moldable ear loops are pre-shaped or can be easily shaped by the user before use to conform to the specific geometry of their ears. This preliminary action of shaping the material before application ensures proper fit and retention without the need for elastic tension that causes discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If traditional sleep masks are used, then they are simple in design, but they fall off when the person is sleeping sitting upright

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemask structureVSAvoidmask retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces moldable material (thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer) into the ear loops, changing their physical properties from simple elastic fabric to shape-retaining material. This parameter change allows the mask to maintain retention reliability while adding minimal complexity to the overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If messaging is added to the sleep mask exterior, then public use is facilitated, but the mask design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessaging capabilityVSAvoidmask design

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The messaging is segmented from the main mask body as separate removable patches or stickers. This segmentation allows the messaging function to be added or removed independently, providing adaptability for public use while keeping the base mask design simple and uncluttered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12440386B1Sleep mask

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 TAKEOFFZ LLC

AI summary

A sleep mask with an opaque first-portion (face-covering-portion) is configured to removably cover over the eyes of a wearer of the sleep mask and includes at least one moldable-member that is configured to allow the opaque first-portion to be molded to conform to the exterior geometry of the wearer's face (e.g., around the eyes) and the at least one moldable-member is also configured to allow ear-loops of the sleep mask to be molded to conform to shapes and geometry of the wearer's ears. The ear-loops of the sleep mask are not elastic and do not exert force and/or pressure upon the ears as would elastic ear loops. Further, the sleep mask includes at least one removable label that includes messaging. The label may be removably attach (or detach) from an exterior front of the sleep mask, depending upon if the wearer wants to present the message or not.