US2498668A - Mask - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1950 1.. J. FITZSIMMONS 2,493,563

MASK

Filed Sept. 2, 1947 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to masks and has more particular reference to masks suitable for use by surgeons, physicians, dentists, beauty operators and the like, for their own protection as well as that of the patient or other person undergoing treatment.

Masks of this nature have been suggested in the past but have invariably been objectionable mainly because their manner of attachment to the face of the wearer rendered them either uncomfortable or highly inconvenient to apply.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a mask suitable for use by surgeons, dentists, beauty operators and the like, which is relatively simple in construction and convenient to use, and which in addition will assure comfort to the wearer.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a mask of the character described which may be securely and comfortably worn by surgeons, dentists, beauty operators and the like, much in the same manner as spectacles are worn.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a mask embodying a shield of transparent materialwhich is connected to a frame for the support of the shield over the face of the person Wearing the mask in a novel manner, assuring space for the nose of the user so as to eliminate the necessity for molding the shield to the profile of the face.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mask of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mask as shown in Figure 1 and illustrating its manner of use;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the shield is made;

Figure 4 is a view of the mask looking down on top of the same; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the plane of the line 5-5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral Ill generally designates the mask of this invention. The mask comprises a frame generally designated H, and a shield l2. The frame is preferably made of light-weight metal and includes a bow piece [3 of a length to span the brow of a person wearing the mask, and temple pieces l4 connected to the outer extremities of downwardly depending leg portions l5 at the opposite ends of the bow piece. The temple pieces are preferably attached to the legs of the bow piece with a conventional hinge structure indicated at [6.

As seen in Figure 5, the bow piece I3 is substantially channel-shaped in cross section, having opposite flanges l1 bent back upon themselves with the channel opening to the underside of the bow piece. These flanges receive between them the upper edge portion of the shield l2, and the latter is securely anchored to the bow by clinching the flanges together as at IE or, if desired, by cementing the shield in place between the flanges.

The bow piece I3 is preferably bowed outwardly as indicated in Figures 2 and 4 so as to roughly correspond to the shape of the forehead or brow of a person wearing the mask, and because of its bow-shape, likewise holds the shield [2 in an outwardly bowed condition.

The shield l 2 is of a size to cover substantially the entire face of the user and is preferably made of thin transparent material such as plastic, Celluloid or any similar material having a degree of resiliency or flexibility. The mask is out from a blank indicated at 20 in Figure 3, and the upper portion of the blank is notched as at 2| to provide a central tongue 22 between the notches and opposite side strips 23. The notches 2| are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacin of the human eyes and provide eye openings 24 when the blank is secured in place on the bow piece l3.

The strips 23 are shaped to fit the curve of the bow piece adjacent to the downwardly depending leg portions l5 thereof so that portions along the sides of the strips are received between the flanges of the legs l5 while the upper extremities of the strips are received between the flanges adjacent to the junctions between the bow piece and its downwardly depending leg portions.

The central tongue 22 of the blank is longer than the strips 23 and its outer end is secured between the flanges of the bow piece at the midportion thereof so that the excess length of the tongue causes the same to buckle intermediate its length as shown in Figure 2. When secured in position, therefore, the outer portion of the tongue is held by the bow piece in a more or less downwardly depending condition while the inner portion of the tongue adjacent to its connection with the body of the blank is caused to lie nearly horizontally as at 25; the deformation of the tongue thereby reacting on the central portion of the body of the shield to bow the same outwardly and thereby provide clearance for the nose of the person wearingthe mask,

It is importantto'notesthat the-"medialportion 26 of the tongue 22 in the deformed position of the tongue provides a ledge or rest which is em gageable with the nose of a person wearing the mask adjacent to the bridge of the nose and which ledge cooperates with the templeopieces I4v-to. comfortably support the mask on the face of the wearer.

It is also important to note that the opposite side edges of the tongue-.22 are tapered so as to converge toward the inner extremity of the tongue to'define-a narrow portion 28 intermediate 'the length of thetongue: narrow' portion renders the tongue'i-easily' bendable to define the" ledge 2 S and it will be apparent that the location-- of the ledge may be accurately predeterminedat the'time-the shield is blanked out merely: by shiftinggthe'narrow portion 28 either toward the inner or outer extremity of the-tongue.

As clearlygshown in Figure-2, the ledge-26 onthetongue serves to hold-thebow piece I 3"atan elevatiorr'adjacent to onslightly above theline of-the brows and'inasmuch as :the' bow piece'is bowedoutwardlyto clearthe b'row', it 'will' be apparent that themask-of thisinventionmay be" worn'by personshaving normal eyesight as well as those requiring spectacles; asth'e ordinary spec-- tacles' will not interfere with proper use of the mask:

The provision of the'ledge' orbridgeifiialong' with the temple pieces W'enables the: mask of; this invention to be worn in the same manner" length to span the brow of a person wearing" the mask andbowed'outwardly to substantially correspond to the shape of the brow; down wardl'y depending leg portions on the opposite" extremities of the bow'piece, and temple'pieces connected to said downwardly depending leg portions ofsaid bow piece to aid insupporting the mask on the head ot th'e wearer; ashield' having its. upper edge" portions secured to saidl bow piece and suspend'edrthereirom :to cover the:

nose and mouth'of'a person wearing the'mask; and offset meanssintegral with 1 said; shield" and. centrally thereof beneath the bow piece: defining a ledge adapted-t'o'engage-the. bridge of the;

nose of-the wearer to hold the body ofthe-i shield spaced from the end of the wearerisr'nose: and: adaptedto-cooperate with said-temple pieces tosupport themask on the head of 'thewearer;

2. A mask of' the character: described com prising: aframe including; a bow piece oi' alengthto span the brow of a person wearing the mask, and templepieces connected; to the opposite. end portions :of i said how pieceadapted tobeengaged over the ears ofapersonl-wearings the mask to aid in supporting the mask in position on the head of the wearer; a relatively transparent shield of a size to substantially cover the faceeot thewearer; connections between opposite side portions of the shield and said bow piece adjacent to the temple pieces thereon by which the shield is suspended from said bow piece; another connection between said Number Name Date-- 128934 7 Jordanluel w Marl 25; 1919 1,348,819 Miller Aug}: 3, 1920 2,28%,181'. Clarke: l Apr: 28; 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 84,848 Switzerland:: Decl 16ol919 4233,083 Great-Britain.- Aug,- 9, 1935" GreattBritaim Oct, 20; 1939 bow piece and a central portion of the shield therebeneathbyf which said central portion of the shield reacts against the body of the shield to-rhold:=thezssamezbowed outwardly to clear the nose ofa person wearing the mask; and a ledge 0n said'c'entral portion. of the shield adjacent to its connection with the bow piece enga eable witli'the nose of a-'- person" wearing the mask to cooperate with the templepieces in' supporting the-mask place:

3. Themasksetforth'in claim '2" further char-- acterized' by the provision of apertures in the shield beneath the bow piece and atopposite sides-pf said ledge affordingunobstructedwision f or persons wearing the mask.

4. A mask of the" character" described comprising? a framedncIudi-ng a bow piece" of a length-rte span' the'brow' of a" person wearing the-mask'-; andtemple--'-pieces connected to-the opposite end portions of the' bow piece" and" adapted to pass-over the ears 'ofa personwear in'g the-m-ask' to-aid insupporting the same inpositiononthe'head of thewearer; a shieldof' relatively light transparent materialhaving; a-

degree' of: flxibilityandof a si'ze to substantially cover the face -of a" person wearing the' mask; said" shield" having its upper edge'portion:

notched F to provide spaced eye' openings and to form'- a tongue betweerrsaid notches; connections between the opposite side portions ofthe shield bounding said 'not'ches and said bow piece by which the shield is su-spended irom' the-bow piece; a connectionbetween the outer end portion ot 'said tongue and the' bowpiece bywhich the-tongue is'held irr a -fl'exed condition with its outer portion substantially upright and its inner portion protecting. at an- I outward angle thereto" and reacting uponthe central portion of the body of the mask with which it connects to hold* th'ea same bowed" outwardly sufiicient to clear-' the end of thenose of' a person wearing themask; and a ledge on-said' tongue at the" junctionbetween said upright andoutwardly" projecting-portions thereof to act I as a nose-rest engageab'le-iwith the 1 noseof aperson wearing the: mask. to thus cooperate with theten-ipl e misses-imsupporting-the mask on the faee of the user.

LESLIE. JAMIES FITZSfl/IMONS:

REFERENGES' CITED? The following'ref erence's are. of record in. the file of=- patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS:

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