THREE-DIMENSIONAL MASK

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable three-dimensional (3D) mask easy for storage, and more particularly, to a 3D mask that includes longitudinal folding lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A mask is a protective device for protecting a user's respiratory tract against diseases. The mask includes a plurality of filtering layers, such as polypropylene and cotton, to shield the user's face from hazardous particles and droplets in the air. There are different types of masks and can be mainly classified into medical mask, N95 mask, and non medical mask. The masks also have different appearances, different usages, and different protection levels.

The Conventional masks have the problems of inferior shielding efficiency, insufficient covering area, and being in direct contact with the user's mouth and nose when being put on the user's face. To overcome these problems, there is developed a three dimensional (3D) mask, which contacts with the user's face more comfortably and provides a supporting space between the mask and the user's face. With the effective support, an inner side of the 3D mask would not contact directly with the user's nose and lips.

However, in this type of 3D mask, the folds must be provided at specific locations to hold on the supporting space. Therefore, the 3D mask could not have so many folds as the conventional face mask and accordingly have relatively limited area for contacting with external environment. This results in a relatively high breathing resistance of the currently available 3D mask, compared to the conventional masks. It is therefore an important issue about the 3D mask to overcome the high breathing resistance thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a 3D mask that has reduced breathing resistance and includes longitudinal folding lines that allow the 3D mask to be folded, so that the mask has the maximum breathing area within a target transverse length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a 3D mask with increased supporting force. By providing longitudinally extended folding lines on the 3D mask, the mask is not easily collapsed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a 3D mask that includes a mask string providing suitable tightness, so that the mask is adaptable to different user head profiles.

To achieve the above and other objects, the 3D mask of the present invention includes a front blocking piece, an upper shielding piece, and a lower shielding piece. The upper shielding piece is connected to an upper edge of the front blocking piece, and the lower shielding piece is connected to a lower edge of the front blocking piece. When the upper and the lower shielding piece are unfolded from the front blocking piece, the front blocking piece is pulled and changed from a flat state into a curved state. And the unfolded upper and lower shielding pieces and the curved front blocking piece together define a covering space for accommodating a user's mouth and nose.

The front blocking piece has an original transverse length larger than those of the upper shielding piece and the lower shielding piece. The front blocking piece is folded to include at least one folded portion, such that the original transverse length thereof is changed to a target transverse length matching the length of the upper and the lower shielding piece. And, the at least one folded portion includes at least one longitudinal folding line extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of the front blocking piece.

At least one folded portion include a plurality of alternate inward bent inner folding lines and outward bent outer folding lines, and each folded portion is formed on the front blocking piece by repeatedly bending along one inner folding line by a first bending distance each time and then bending along one outer folding line by a second bending distance each time, and the bending starts from a central area toward a lateral side of the front blocking piece. The second bending distance is larger than the first bending distance, such that a plurality of fold openings is formed to space in the folded portion. When the front blocking piece is in the curved state, the fold openings have their openings facing toward a tangential direction extended along the curved front blocking piece.

The upper shielding piece includes an adjustable nose strip, the adjustable nose strip is adjustable to a curvature matching the user's bridge of nose, so that the upper shielding piece can fitly attach to the user's face profile. And, a pad is provided on a contact side of the upper shielding piece that is adjacent to the user's face; and the pad has a length larger than that of the adjustable nose strip and is made of a soft material.

Two lateral sides of the front blocking piece are respectively formed a left portion and a right portion, two lateral sides of the upper shielding piece are respectively formed a first extension section, and two lateral sides of the lower shielding piece are respectively formed a second extension section. The left portion, the first extension section and the second extension section located at the same left side together form a left connection section, and the right portion, the first extension section and second extension section located at the same right side together form a right connection section. The left connection section and the right connection section respectively form a through hole visible from a top to a bottom of the 3D mask.

A mask string is connected with the left connection section and the right connection section. The mask string has two ends that are extended through the through holes formed at the left connection section and the right connection section, then the two ends of the mask string are connected together to form a closed loop. The mask string includes an upper segment and a lower segment, and any one of the upper segment and the lower segment is increased in length, the other of the upper segment and the lower segment is correspondingly reduced in length, so that the 3D mask can be put on the user's face always at desired tightness.

The present invention is characterized in that the provision of the folded portion on the front blocking piece shortens the original transverse length of the front blocking piece to the target transverse length matching the length of the upper and lower shielding pieces and provides increased breathing area on the front blocking piece. Further, the present invention is also characterized in that the longitudinal folding lines provides good supporting force to the covering space formed on the 3D mask, and the mask string is a closed loop including an upper and a lower segment, and the length of the upper and lower segments can be correspondingly changed to match the user's head profile while maintaining the same tightness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a front view of a 3D mask according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a folded state;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the 3D mask according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the folded state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the 3D mask according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an extended state;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the 3D mask according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the extended state;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a 3D mask according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in a folded state;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a 3D mask according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in a folded state;

FIG. 8A is a front view of a 3D mask according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention before two connection sections thereof are respectively bent inward and connected to an upper and a lower shielding piece; and

FIG. 8B is a front view of the 3D mask according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention after the two connection sections thereof are respectively bent inward and connected to the upper and the lower shielding piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with some preferred embodiments thereof and by referring to the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in the preferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the drawings, two opposite sides relative to the x-axis refer to a left and a right side of a 3D mask when it is put on a user's face, and two opposite sides relative to the y-axis refer to a front and a rear side of the 3D mask when it is put on the user's face, and two opposite sides of the z-axis refer to an upper and a lower side of the 3D mask when it is put on the user's face. Further, the directional terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” used herein refer to the directions of the 3D mask when it is put on the user's face.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The present invention discloses a three-dimensional (3D) mask 1 for putting on a user's face to shield and protect the user's mouth and nose from hazardous substances in surrounding air. The 3D mask 1 includes a front blocking piece 2, an upper shielding piece 3, and a lower shielding piece 4. The upper shielding piece 3 is bendable and connected to an upper edge 21 of the front blocking piece 2, and the lower shielding piece 4 is bendable and connected to a lower edge 22 of the front blocking piece 2. With this design, the 3D mask 1 is changeable between a folded state as shown in FIG. 1, in which the 3D mask is flat and can be stored conveniently, and an extended state as shown in FIG. 3, in which the 3D mask 1 is curved and suitable for putting on a user's face. When the 3D mask 1 is in the folded state, the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4 are folded rearward relative to the front blocking piece 2 to overlap a rear side of front blocking piece 2. Any of the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4 can be first folded to overlap the rear side of the front blocking piece 2 without having any influence on the use of the 3D mask 1. When the 3D mask 1 is in the extended state, the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4 are unfolded from the rear side of the front blocking piece 1. At this point, the unfolded upper and lower shielding pieces 3, 4 would pull a left and a right side of the front blocking piece 2 rearward, so that the initially flat front blocking piece 2 is bended into a curved state, and the unfolded upper shielding piece 3 and lower shielding piece 4 cooperate with the curved front blocking piece 2 to define a covering space for accommodating the user's mouth and nose.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The front blocking piece 2 has an original transverse length larger than those of the upper and the lower shielding piece 3, 4. The front blocking piece 2 is folded to include at least one folded portion. In the illustrated first preferred embodiment, the front blocking piece 2 is folded to include a first folded portion 231 and a second folded portion 232, such that a left portion 24, the first folded portion 231, a first folds-free portion 251, the second folded portion 232, and a right portion 26 are sequentially formed on the front blocking piece 2, and the original transverse length of the front blocking piece 2 is changed into a target transverse length L1 matching the length of the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4. Further, the first folded portion 231 and the second folded portion 232 respectively include a plurality longitudinal folding lines 27 extending from the upper edge 21 to the lower edge 22 of the front blocking piece 2.

The longitudinal folding lines 27 include a plurality of alternate inward bent inner folding lines 271 and outward bent outer folding lines 272, such that each folded portion is formed by repeatedly folding the front blocking piece 2 along one inner folding line 271 to bend inward by a first bending distance L2 each time and then folding along one outer folding line 272 to bend outward by a second bending distance L3 each time, and the folding starts from a central area toward a lateral side of the front blocking piece 2. The second bending distance L3 is larger than the second bending distance L2, so that a plurality of fold openings 28 is formed to space in each folded portion (see FIG. 5). When the front blocking piece 2 is flat in the folded state, the fold openings 28 in the first folded portion 231 have their openings facing leftward, and the fold openings 28 in the second folded portion 232 having their openings facing rightward. On the other hand, when the front blocking piece 2 is extended to the curved state, the fold openings 28 would respectively face toward a tangential direction extended along the curved front blocking piece 2.

Please refer to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The upper shielding piece 3 further includes an adjustable nose clip 31, which can be adjusted to a curvature matching the user's nose for the upper shielding piece 3 to fitly attach to the user's face profile; and a pad 32 provided on one side of the upper shielding piece 3 to be in contact with the user. The pad 32 has a transverse length larger than that of the adjustable nose strip 31 and is made of a soft material, lest the user should feel uncomfortable when the nose strip 31 is pressed against the user's nose.

The upper shielding piece 3 is further provided at two lateral sides with a first extension section 50 each, and the lower shielding piece 4 is also provided at two lateral sides with a second extension section 51 each. The first extension sections 50 and the second extension sections 51 are identical in size and are connected to rear left side and rear right side of the left portion 24 and of the right portion 26. Wherein, the left portion 24, the first extension section 50 located at the left side of the upper shielding piece 3, and the second extension section 51 located at the left side of the lower shielding piece 4 together form a left connection section 60; and the right portion 26, the first extension section 50 located at the right side of the upper shielding piece 3, and the second extension section 51 located at the right side of the lower shielding piece 4 together form a right connection section 61. The left and the right connection section 60, 61 respectively have an inner connection line 62 and an outer connection line 63. When the inner and the outer connection line 62, 63 on the left connection section 60 are connected to each other, and the inner and the outer connection line 62, 63 on the right connection section 61 are connected to each other, a through hole (not shown) visible from an upper to a lower side is formed between the inner connection line 62 and the outer connection line 63 at each of two lateral sides of the 3D mask.

The inner and the outer connection line 62, 63 can be connected to each other by heat pressing or gluing. Further, the outer connection lines 63 have a width larger than that of the inner connection lines 62, giving the two lateral sides of the 3D mask 1 with increased steadiness.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. A mask string 7 is connected to the left connection section 60 and the right connection section 61. More specifically, the mask string 7 has two ends extending through the through holes formed at the left and the right connection section 60, 61 and then connected together to form a closed loop, which is not separable from the 3D mask 1. The mask string 7 includes an upper segment 71 located above the through holes and a lower segment 72 located below the through holes. When any one of the upper segment 71 and the lower segment 72 is increased in length, the other segment is shortened in length correspondingly. With this design, the 3D mask 1 can be put on the user's face with freely adjustable tightness.

In the first preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, when the 3D mask 1 is in the folded state, the front blocking piece 2, the upper shielding piece 3, and the lower shielding piece 4 all are folded inward to protectively cover the inner side of the 3D mask 1 that is to contact with the user's face, so that the 3D mask 1, particularly its inner side, can be stored in a hygienic state. When the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4 are lifted from the rear side of the front blocking piece 2 for putting the 3D mask on the user's face, the whole 3D mask 1 is automatically changed from the folded and flat state into the extended and curved state. When wearing the 3D mask 1 in the extended state, the upper shielding piece 3 is in contact with the user's bridge of nose, the lower shielding piece 4 is in contact with the user's chin, the upper segment of the mask string 7 passes above the user's ears and is fixed to the user's head, and the lower segment 72 of the mask string 7 passes below the user's ears and is fixed to the user's head, so that the covering space defined by the 3D mask 1 is fully expanded. In the present invention, the upper and the lower segment 71, 72 of the mask string 7 are adaptable to any head profile, and can always maintain the same tightness even though they are changed in length. This advantageously reduces the user's uncomfortable feeling as much as possible. The user's mouth and nose are received in the covering space without contacting with the front blocking piece 2, and the longitudinal folding lines 27 not only enables the front blocking piece 2 to have enlarged ventilation space, but also gives the front blocking piece 2 with increased longitudinal supporting force.

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is generally structurally the same as the first preferred embodiment except for the front blocking piece 2. The parts in the second preferred embodiment that are the same as the first preferred embodiment are not repeatedly described herein. The front blocking piece 2 in the second preferred embodiment is folded to include only one folded portion, so that the left portion 24, a second folds-free portion 252, a third folded portion 233, a third folds-free portion 253, and a right portion are sequentially formed on the front blocking piece 2. The fold openings 28 in the third folded portion 233 located at a left side of the central area of the front blocking piece 2 have their opening facing leftward, and the fold openings 28 located at a right side of the central area of the front blocking piece 2 having their openings facing rightward.

FIG. 7 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is generally structurally similar to the first preferred embodiment except for the front blocking piece 2. The parts in the third preferred embodiment that are the same as the first preferred embodiment are not repeatedly described herein. The front blocking piece 2 in the third preferred embodiment is folded to include only one folded portion, such that a left portion 24, a fourth folded portion 234, and a right portion 26 are sequentially formed on the front blocking piece 2. The fold openings 28 located at a left side of the fourth folded portion 234 have their openings facing leftward, and the fold openings 28 located a right side of the fourth folded portion 234 having their openings facing rightward, such that the 3D mask 1 of the present invention can have a maximum ventilation area and the best supporting force.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is generally structurally similar to the first preferred embodiment except for the left and the right connection section 60, 61, which are formed in a different way from the first preferred embodiment. The parts in the fourth preferred embodiment that are the same as the first preferred embodiment are not repeatedly described herein. In the fourth preferred embodiment, the upper shielding piece 3 and the lower shielding piece 4 do not include the first extension sections 50 and the second extension sections 51. When the upper and the lower shielding piece 3, 4 are connected together via the inner connection lines 62, the left portion 24 and the right portion 26 have a part of their areas laterally protruded beyond the upper and the lower shielding piece 3, 4. The laterally protruded areas of the left and the right portion 24, 26 can be bent forward along the inner connection lines 62 to connect to the upper and the lower shielding piece 3, 4 at two connection points 64 at each of the left and the right side of the 3D mask 1. The bent left portion 24 forms the left connection section 60, and the bent right portion 26 forms the right connection section 61, and the through hole at each lateral side of the 3D mask 1 is formed between the inner connection line 62 and the two corresponding connection points 64. In addition, a plurality of creases is formed at the left portion 24 and the right portion 26, so that the left and the right portion 24, 26 look like two fish tails.

In conclusion, the present invention utilizes the folded portions to enable the front blocking piece 2 to have a maximum ventilation space within the target transverse length L1 and accordingly enable the 3D mask 1 to have reduced breathing resistance. Further, the longitudinal folding lines 27 at the folded portions can provide the covering space with good steadiness without spoiling the original three-dimensional structure of the covering space.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.