Face mask with enhanced facial seal

A surgical style face mask comprising:

• a non-molded, flexible filter body having a generally rectangular configuration and sized to fit over the mouth and nose of a wearer, the filter body having top and bottom edges with the top edge arranged to extend across the nose and cheeks of the wearer and the bottom edge arranged to extend under the chin of the wearer;
• an elongated malleable member disposed adjacent to the top edge to allow configuring the top edge to closely fit the contours of the nose and cheeks of the wearer;
• the filter body having a pair of lateral edges extending between the top edge and the bottom edge;
• a flap attached to each lateral edge of the filter body and arranged to extend from the filter body with only one edge of each flap attached to the respective lateral edge of the filter body;
• each flap formed from a generally flexible material;
• a first surgical tie and a second surgical tie attached to one of the flaps by respective bonded areas spaced from the respective lateral edge of the filter body;
• a third surgical tie and a fourth surgical tie attached to the other flap by respective bonded areas spaced from the respective lateral edge of the filter body;
• the surgical ties and their respective flaps arranged to allow the surgical ties to extend generally about the head of the wearer;
• the first surgical tie and the second surgical tie cooperating with their respective flap along with the third surgical tie and the fourth surgical tie cooperating with their respective flap for urging the top edge and the bottom edge of the filter body into engagement with the face of the wearer to prevent undesired fluid flow between the top edge and the bottom edge and the wearer's face;
• and
• the first surgical tie and the second surgical tie providing means for gathering and compressing the one flap and the third surgical tie and the fourth surgical tie providing means for gathering and compressing the other flap to prevent undesired fluid flow between the respective lateral sides of the filter body and the face of the wearer.

A surgical style face mask comprising:

• a non-molded, flexible filter body sized to fit over the mouth and nose of a wearer, the filter body having top and bottom edges with the top edge arranged to extend across the nose and cheeks of the wearer and the bottom edge arranged to extend under the chin of the wearer;
• the filter body having multiple pleats and a generally rectangular configuration with an elongated malleable member located in the top edge for conforming the top edge to the contours of the wearer's nose and cheeks;
• the top edge of the filter body having a first end and a second end;
• the bottom edge of the filter body having a first end spaced laterally from the first end of the top edge and a second end spaced laterally from the second end of the top edge;
• a first lateral edge extending between the first end of the top edge and the first end of the bottom edge;
• a second lateral edge extending between the second end of the top edge and the second end of the bottom edge;
• a first sheet of flexible material attached to and extending from the first lateral edge of the filter body with only one lateral edge of said first sheet attached to said first lateral edge of said filter body;
• a second sheet of flexible material attached and extending from the second lateral edge of the filter body with only one lateral edge of said second sheet attached to said second lateral edge of said filter body;
• means for respectively gathering each sheet of flexible material extending from the first and second lateral edges into sealing contact with adjacent portions of the wearer's face comprising first securing means and second securing means attached respectively to only the free lateral edges of the first sheet and the second sheet of flexible material;
• the first sheet of flexible material connecting the first securing means with the filter body and the second sheet of flexible material connecting the second securing means with the filter body;
• and
• the first securing means and the second securing means arranged to extend generally about the head of the wearer, the first and second securing means attached respectively to the first sheet and the second sheet of flexible material for urging the top edge and the bottom edge into engagement with the face of the wearer and for gathering the first and the second sheets of flexible material to prevent undesired fluid flow between the top edge, the bottom edge and between the respective lateral edges of the filter body and adjacent portions of the face of the wearer.