Extensible and retractable face mask
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorLaura L. Elsberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a face mask having a mask portion that is extensible and retractable in at least one direction to improve the overall comfort and fit of the mask. The mask portion may be a composite of several materials or layers joined by any conventional process, provided that the composite is extensible and retractable. At least one of the materials and/or layers has properties of stretch and recovery that are imparted to the mask portion to render the mask portion extensible and retractable overall.
Claims20
A face mask comprising an extensible and retractable mask portion configured to fit over a nose and mouth of a wearer, said mask portion having a percent stretch between about 15 and about 65 percent and a percent recovery of at least about 15 percent, said mask portion contacting at least a portion of the skin of the wearer during use and stretching across at least a portion of the face of the wearer during use, and contracting when removed from the face of the wearer.
An extensible and retractable face mask composite, comprising:
- an outer layer;
- a stretch and recovery layer;
- a filtration layer;
- and
- an inner layer,
- wherein said layers are joined in such a manner that said stretch and recovery layer imparts stretch and recovery to said composite rendering said composite extensible and retractable, and wherein said stretch and recovery layer has a percent stretch between about 15 and about 65 percent and a percent recovery of at least about 15 percent.
An extensible and retractable face mask composite, comprising:
- an outer layer;
- an elastomeric filtration layer having stretch and recovery;
- and
- an inner layer;
- wherein said layers are joined in such a manner that said filtration layer imparts stretch and recovery to said outer and inner layers to render said composite extensible and retractable, wherein said elastomeric filtration layer having a percent stretch between about 15 and about 65 percent and a percent recovery of at least about 15 percent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.