IP Library Granted Patent US 8,622,059
Granted Patent B2
US 8,622,059 · App. 11/022,379 · Granted Jan 7, 2014

Face mask with absorbent element

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,622,059
App. No.
11/022,379
Granted
Jan 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A face mask for reducing or eliminating fogging of eye wear worn by a user of the face mask is provided. The face mask may include a body portion that has an outer surface and an oppositely disposed inner surface. The face mask may also have an absorbent element that may be located on at least one of the surfaces of the body portion. The absorbent element may be capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water and may act to absorb moisture and/or condensation due to human respiration and/or perspiration.

Claims (31)

1. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user in order to isolate the mouth and the at least part of the nose of the user from the environment such that respiration air is drawn through said body portion and subsequently exhaled by the user through said body portion, wherein said body portion has an outer exposed surface facing away from the user when worn, wherein said body portion has an inner exposed surface facing towards the user and wherein said inner surface is configured to contact the face of the user when worn;

a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for retaining said body portion onto the face of a user; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is configured for retaining liquid, and wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on said outer surface of said body portion.

2. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user in order to isolate the mouth and the at least part of the nose of the user from the environment such that respiration air is drawn through said body portion and subsequently exhaled by the user through said body portion, wherein said body portion has an outer exposed surface facing away from the user when worn, wherein said body portion has an inner exposed surface facing towards the user and wherein said inner surface is configured to contact the face of the user when worn;

a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for retaining said body portion onto the face of a user; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is configured for retaining liquid, and wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on both said outer surface and said inner surface of said body portion.

3. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user in order to isolate the mouth and the at least part of the nose of the user from the environment such that respiration air is drawn through said body portion and subsequently exhaled by the user through said body portion, wherein said body portion has an outer exposed surface facing away from the user when worn, wherein said body portion has an inner exposed surface facing towards the user and wherein said inner surface is configured to contact the face of the user when worn;

a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for retaining said body portion onto the face of a user; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is configured for retaining liquid, and wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on one of said surfaces of said body portion so as to form a perimeter bounding an area of said surface.

4. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user in order to isolate the mouth and the at least part of the nose of the user from the environment such that respiration air is drawn through said body portion and subsequently exhaled by the user through said body portion, wherein said body portion has an outer exposed surface facing away from the user when worn, wherein said body portion has an inner exposed surface facing towards the user and wherein said inner surface is configured to contact the face of the user when worn;

a fastening member attached to said body portion and configured for retaining said body portion onto the face of a user; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is configured for retaining liquid, and wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located around the perimeter of said surface.

5. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user that has an outer exposed surface when worn on the face of a user and an inner surface oppositely disposed to said outer surface and wherein said inner surface is exposed to the face of the user and configured to contact the face when worn: and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on said outer surface of said body portion.

6. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user that has an outer exposed surface when worn on the face of a user and an inner surface oppositely disposed to said outer surface and wherein said inner surface is exposed to the face of the user and configured to contact the face when worn; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located on one of said inner or outer exposed surfaces of said body portion so as to form a perimeter bounding an area of said surface.

7. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user that has an outer exposed surface when worn on the face of a user and an inner surface oppositely disposed to said outer surface and wherein said inner surface is exposed to the face of the user and configured to contact the face when worn; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is capable of absorbing at least 3.5 grams of water, wherein said absorbent element is located around the perimeter of said inner exposed surface.

8. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion that has an exposed outer surface when worn on the face of a user and an inner surface oppositely disposed to said outer surface, said inner surface being exposed to the face of the user and configured to contact the face when worn on the face; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is treated with a surfactant so as to increase the hydrophilic property of said absorbent element such that said absorbent element is more liquid absorbent, wherein said absorbent element is located on one of said inner or outer exposed surfaces of said body portion so as to form a perimeter bounding an area of said surface.

9. A face mask, comprising:

a body portion that has an exposed outer surface when worn on the face of a user and an inner surface oppositely disposed to said outer surface, said inner surface being exposed to the face of the user and configured to contact the face when worn on the face; and

an absorbent element located on at least one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces of said body portion so that the absorbent element has a first side adjacent to one of said exposed inner and exposed outer surfaces and a second side opposite to the first side that is completely exposed to either the user or the environment, wherein said absorbent element is treated with a surfactant so as to increase the hydrophilic property of said absorbent element such that said absorbent element is more liquid absorbent, wherein said absorbent element is located around the perimeter of said inner exposed surface.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 074203/0026 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: AVENT, INC.; AVANOS MEDICAL SALES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060557/0062 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.; MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES, INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 055583/0722 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2021
From: MEDICAL ACTION INDUSTRIES INC.; OWENS & MINOR DISTRIBUTION, INC.; O&M HALYARD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055582/0407 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048173/0137 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2018
From: AVENT, INC.
To: O&M HALYARD, INC.
Reel/Frame 046324/0227 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 8, 2018
From: O&M HALYARD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046100/0646 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: AVENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 046476/0710 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2015
From: AVENT, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035375/0867 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2015
From: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
To: AVENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 034754/0424 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2005
From: KLEMAN, ANGELA M.
To: KIMBERLY CLARK-WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 016569/0773 →