AU2008100008A4 - Bandanna Dust Mask Cover - Google Patents

Description

0o BANDANNA DUST MASK COVER (N Disposable dust masks are an effective way to Filter out dust and other particles. However, a drawback of these masks is that they can be quite uncomfortable because the elastic bands are often uncomfortably tight against the face, leaving ugly marks. The effectiveness of these elastic bands to hold the mask tightly against the skin varies greatly, often providing an inadequate seal between the mask and the wearer's face. These masks also tend to get dirty very easily and attract large particles of dust/material quite quickly, resulting in the masks having to be replaced often.

00 o This invention has been devised to provide a way to increase the performance, lifetime and o 10 aesthetic appeal of disposable face masks by providing a material cover that holds the mask in O place, keeps the mask cleaner and hides the fact that the wearer is even wearing the mask.

o The bandanna dust mask cover in accordance with this invention comprises a large square O piece of material. It is folded in half diagonally and straps are attached to each side to allow (N 15 the wearer to tighten the bandanna dust mask cover to the face. The inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover (closest to the wearer's face) contains several 'hook and loop' fasteners (the loop portion) to attach a disposable dust mask to. This inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover has elastic on both edges to provide a close fit around the wearer's chin and neck. This inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover will have a series of male and female snap fasteners which can be connected in such a way as to help seal the disposable mask to the wearer's face.

The material used for the bandanna dust mask cover should be sturdy, breathable and cool (cotton for example), and be of a woven structure to provide some level of dust/particle filtering. Ideally the material will be durable enough to withstand many washings. All four edges of the square-shaped material used for the bandanna dust mask cover will be folded and sewn for strength.

The straps attached to each side of the bandanna dust mask cover shall be made of the same material as the main bandanna dust mask cover body for both aesthetic and ease-ofconstruction reasons. The straps will be attached with reinforced stitching to the main bandanna dust mask cover body to ensure a strong connection. The straps are intended to be tied together below the ears of the wearer and behind the head in a single or double-knotted manner, tight enough to ensure the bandanna dust mask cover does not detach from the wearer's face.

Four 'hook and loop' (the loop portion) fasteners are attached to the inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover, two on each side of the vertical center of the inner half. These are used to attach to a disposable dust mask that has adhesive 'hook and loop' (the hook portion) fasteners in a corresponding position to those fasteners on the bandanna dust mask cover.

The inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover will contain elastic on most of the length of both edges. Only a small portion of each edge close to where the strap is attached to the main bandanna dust mask cover body will not have elastic.

On each side of the vertical center of the inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover, there 00 O will be a single male snap fastener and a series of three female snap fasteners. The male snap O fastener can be connected to one of the female snap fasteners, causing the material to fold up over the disposable dust mask, helping to seal it to the wearer's face. Three female snap Sfasteners are provided on each side of the inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover to allow the size of the fold to be increased or decreased, allowing for different-sized disposable masks to be attached tightly. More female snap fasteners could be added to provide a tighter or O looser fold. Both male and female snap fasteners are covered with material on the side that is worn against the wearer's face to ensure a comfortable fit.

00 10 The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments of O the invention which: 0 0 O Figure 1 shows the first side of the unfolded bandanna dust mask cover.

00 O 15 Figure 2 shows the second side of the unfolded bandanna dust mask cover.

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Figure 3 shows the frontal view of the outer half of the bandanna dust mask cover when being worn.

Figure 4 shows the side view of the outer half of the bandanna dust mask cover when being worn.

Figure 5 shows the frontal view of the inner half (with the outer half lifted up) of the bandanna dust mask cover when being worn.

Figure 6 shows the side view of the inner half (with the outer half lifted up) of the bandanna dust mask cover when being worn.

Figure 7 shows the top view of a disposable dust mask with attached 'hook and loop' fasteners.

Figure 8 shows the side view of a disposable dust mask with attached 'hook and loop' fasteners.

The bandanna dust mask cover shown is a piece of square-shaped, sturdy, woven material which is folded in half along horizontal line 3 to form a triangular bandanna shape. For explanation purposes, the bandanna dust mask cover can be thought of as having two halves the inner half and the outer half. When the bandanna dust mask is folded in half, the inner half 11 and 13 is the triangle of material that is closest to the wearer's face, the 13 side facing the wearer's face, the 11 side facing out. The outer half of the bandanna dust mask cover and 12 is the half that is visible when worn, the 10 side facing in, and the 12 side facing out.

The edges I of the square will be folded over and sewn. All corners 6 will be reinforced.

Material straps 2 are attached and reinforced 9 under horizontal line 3.

Elastic is sewn into the edges of the bandanna dust mask cover 5 on the inner half of the bandanna dust mask cover. Male snap fasteners 7 and female snap fasteners 8 are attached to the inner half 11 on both sides of the vertical line 4. When the male snap fastener 7 is connected with one of the female snap fasteners 8, a fold is formed 17, pulling the material tightly against the wearer's face, thus resulting in a tight seal between the disposable mask and 3 00 O the wearer's face. On the 13 side of the inner half, rectangular material 15 is sewn over the O back of the male 7 and female 8 snap fasteners to protect the wearer's face from the snap ,1 fasteners. The 13 side of the inner half has four 'hook and loop' (the loop portion) fasteners S16 sewn into the material. The stitching 14 of the edges of both the inner and outer halves is Ct 5 visible on sides 12 and 13.

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O To attach the disposable dust mask to the bandanna dust mask cover, four adhesive 'hook and loop' (the hook portion) fasteners are attached onto the disposable dust mask 18. Two of the 'hook and loop' (the hook portion) fasteners 19 are placed approximately in the middle of the 00 10 mask length-wise, near the edges. Two of the 'hook and loop' (the hook portion) fasteners o are placed near the top of the mask on either side of the center of the mask, also near the O edges.

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