Strapless face mask
View Patent ↗Embodiments for a strapless facemask are disclosed. In a non-limiting embodiment, the strapless facemask includes a mask body made of a filtering material having an inner, skin-facing surface and an outer surface. A flexible stalk is provided having an end attached to the mask body and another end attached to an adhesive pad. The stalk is disposed along a peripheral portion of the mask body to extend in a first direction away from the inner surface of the mask body. The adhesive pad may have a width greater than a width of the stalk in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
1 . A strapless facemask comprising:
a mask body including an inner surface and an outer surface,
wherein the inner surface is configured to face a user's face,
wherein the mask body is made of a filtering material;
a flexible stalk disposed along a peripheral portion of the inner surface of the mask body to circumscribe the inner surface of the mask body, a first end of the stalk being coupled to the inner surface of the mask body,
wherein the stalk extends in a first direction away from the inner surface to a second end, and the stalk is configured to be adjustable to multiple positions including a first position where the stalk maintains the mask body away from the user's face at a first distance and a second position where the stalk maintains the mask body away from the user's face at a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and
an adhesive pad coupled to the second end of the stalk.
2 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the stalk is directly connected to the inner surface of the mask body.
3 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the stalk is integral with the inner surface of the mask body.
4 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the stalk is directly connected to the adhesive pad.
5 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the stalk is integral with the adhesive pad.
6 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive pad has a width greater than a width of the stalk in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
7 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive pad has microplications formed of peaks and troughs, and wherein the microplications are configured to face the user's face.
8 . The strapless facemask of claim 7 , wherein the microplications extend in radial directions perpendicular to a perimeter of the mask.
9 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the stalk has a corrugated shape.
10 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the stalk is made of a material that is permeable to gas to provide a filtering function.
11 . The strapless facemask of claim 10 , wherein the gas comprises air.
12 . The strapless facemask of claim 10 , wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide.
13 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the stalk is flexible to allow the mask body to move when the facemask is worn by a user.
14 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the stalk is configured to act as an adjustable spacer to distance the mask body from a user's face.
15 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body includes plications.
16 . The strapless facemask of claim 15 , wherein the plications extend horizontally.
17 . The strapless facemask of claim 15 , wherein the plications extend vertically.
18 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body comprises N95 material.
19 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body comprises a bilayer surgical fiber.
20 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body has a bowed shape when the mask is in a fully expanded position, wherein the bowed shape comprises a concavity toward the user's face.
21 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , comprising an appendage attached to the outer surface of the mask body, the appendage being graspable by a user for adjusting a position of the mask body.
22 . The strapless facemask of claim 21 , wherein the appendage is sewn to the outer surface of the mask body.
23 . The strapless facemask of claim 21 , wherein the appendage is integral with the outer surface of the mask body.
24 . The strapless facemask of claim 1 , wherein the stalk includes multiple expandable and contractable hollow segments.
25 . The strapless facemask of claim 24 , wherein the adhesive pad has a width greater than a width of the stalk.