FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to face masks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is commonly known that face masks, when properly worn, help to prevent the inhalation and exhalation of submicometer sized particles. As a consequence, a properly worn face mask can prevent the spread of viruses from one human being to another human being and/or from one mammal to another mammal and/or from animals to humans and vice versa and/or the inhalation of other pollutants in the air. All sorts of face masks are used by different people around the world, especially in times of air pollution, epidemic or pandemic situations, varying from face masks with extensive air filtering options for use in smog and environments rich in dust, masks approved for use in intensive cares of hospitals when treating patients having contagious viruses and face masks approved for wearing in labs when working on experimental viruses, to home-sewn face masks made of cloth or another material. When using a face mask properly, it covers both the oral opening of the wearers face, as well the nasal openings of the wearers face.

For example US5699791 describes a conformable face mask for health care workers. The use of elastomeric materials applied under tension helps define a plurality of gathers which facilitate the donning and positioning of the mask. An elastomeric head-band maintains a comfortable and efficient seal while a similar elastomeric chin strap helps provide a pouch-like enclosure for the wearer’s chin. The substantially rectangular face mask includes a plurality of horizontal stays which are individually adjustable to create a three dimensional shaped mask which defines a spaced breathing area around the wearer’s nose and mouth. Additional rigidity is provided by the selected melting of horizontal bands of the filter portion of the mask.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the insight that a face mask, when worn by a wearer, hinders air which is exhaled from flowing away from the face of the wearer. At the same time, fresh air must be sucked in through the face mask with additional effort, so that the risk arises that the air exhaled by a wearer of the mask is inhaled again. This is likely to occur for all persons wearing a face mask, including trained healthcare or building site professionals, as well as domestic or occasional wear of face masks.. Exhaled air contains relatively high concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). Inhalation of CO2 is known to cause problems on the long term; excessive inhalation of CO2 reduces the physical performance of a person. It is commonly known that CO2 and 02 compete in uptake by red blood cells at the lungs of the human body, and a reduced 02 uptake and, cause by an excessive CO2 intake, can lead to lower physical performance, clumsiness, fatigue and nausea. In extreme conditions, even coma and death may be caused by excessive CO2 inhalation. Shortterm exposure to 002, already at a rate as low as 500 ppm, increases the heart rate and blood pressure of a human being, and may undesirably vary the heart rate. Higher levels of 002, above 1000 ppm, can influence cognitive skills such as decision making and problem solving.

It would hence be desirable to have a face mask which reduces the chance of excessive 002 intake by the person wearing the face mask.

Therefore, the present disclosure relates to a face mask, comprising:

- a retainer for retaining the mask on a head of a wearer;

- a cover element having an upper edge and a lower edge, for covering openings into oral and nasal cavities of the wearer when the mask is worn; wherein the cover element comprises at least one tensionable portion arranged in between the upper edge and the lower edge of said cover element, the tensionable portion being configured to be shaped in accordance with a shape of the wearer’s face at a position in between the nasolabial sulci, the upper lip and the nasal cavities, to contact the face of the wearer at said position, such that the cover element comprises a nasal breathing zone in between the tensionable portion and the upper edge, and an oral breathing zone in between the tensionable portion and the lower edge.

Advantageously, the tensionable portion of the cover element divides the cover element in a nasal breathing zone that covers the nostrils of the wearer when the face mask is worn and an oral breathing zone that covers the mouth of the wearer when the face mask is worn. Therefore, the tensionable portion is to be positioned in between the nasolabial sulci, i.e. in between the left nasolabial sulcus and the right nasolabial sulci, the upper lip and the nostrils, i.e. the area of the face including the filtrum. The face mask contacts the skin of the wearer at the border of the nasal breathing zone and the oral breathing zone, so that very little, preferably hardly any, more preferably no, air can flow inside the face mask from the oral breathing zone to the nasal breathing zone or from the nasal breathing zone to the oral breathing zone. This way, inhalation of air which is just exhaled and contains a high percentage of CO2 is reduced.

Preferably, when using a face mask, one inhales through the nose and exhales through the mouth. The air exhaled through the mouth flows outside of the face mask, through the material making up the cover element at the oral breathing zone. As the tensionable portion of the cover element effectively seals the nasal breathing zone from the oral breathing zone, the exhaled air cannot flow to the nasal breathing zone in the area between the nose, mouth and cover material, but flows outside of the face mask through the cover material defining the oral breathing zone. When inhaling fresh air is inhaled when breathing in via the nostrils, the fresh air flowing through the cover material defining the nasal breathing zone of the cover element from the surroundings of the wearer of the mask and the mask. The exhaled air and the fresh air are not mixed in the area between the cover material defining the cover element, the mouth and the nostrils; such mixing is prevented by the sealing function of the tensionable portion. Intake of excessive amounts of CO2 from the exhaled air is thereby prevented.

Alternatively, when one inhales through the mouth and exhales through the nose when using a face mask, the air exhaled through the nose flows outside of the face mask, through the material making up the cover element at the nasal breathing zone. As the tensionable portion of the cover element effectively seals the oral breathing zone from the nasal breathing zone, the exhaled air cannot flow to the oral breathing zone in the area between the nose, mouth and cover material, but flows outside of the face mask through the cover material defining the nasal breathing zone. When inhaling fresh air is inhaled when breathing in via the mouth, the fresh air flowing through the cover material defining the oral breathing zone of the cover element from the surroundings of the wearer of the mask and the mask. The exhaled air and the fresh air are not mixed in the area between the cover material defining the cover element, the mouth and the nostrils; such mixing is prevented by the sealing function of the tensionable portion. Intake of excessive amounts of CO2 from the exhaled air is thereby prevented. The face mask according to the present disclosure comprises at least one retainer, such as a head strap, a facial glue or a high-friction material, for retaining the mask on a head of a wearer. Many different ways are known to retain a face mask on a head of its wearer. For example, the mask may be retained using elastic or nonelastic loops that are hooked behind the wearer’s ears. Alternatively and/or additionally, the mask may be retained using e.g. straps, laces, ties, ribbons, elastic or non-elastic, which are tied together at the backside of the wearer’s head. Alternatively and/or additionally, the mask may be retained using e.g. straps, laces, ties or ribbons, elastic or non-elastic, which are tied together at the neck of the wearer’s body. Although some options are mentioned in the above, many more options are known to retain a face mask on a head of a wearer; the present invention not being limited to a particular solution.

The face mask according to the present disclosure comprises a cover element for covering openings into oral and nasal cavities of the user when the face mask is worn. The cover element may principally be made from any material through which one can breathe. As will be described in the below, one or more additional filters may be used in combination with the cover element, even when most materials will by themselves already filter the air that is inhaled or exhaled through it to a more or lesser degree.

As examples only the following materials are mentioned here, all of which may be used as a material for the cover element: paper, non-woven fabric, woven fabric, textile such as cotton, silk, wool, linen, rayon, nylon, polyesther, lycra, spandex, and foam. This is however a non-exclusive list and other options are not excluded. The cover element may comprise one layer of material, or more than one layer of material, such as two, three or four layers.

Surgical grade face masks often comprise three layers of material, comprising a polypropylene or other common polymer as middle layer, said polymer being melt blown and stacked in between the inner and outer layer. The inner and outer layer are typically a non-woven fabric. The cover element may be such a threelayered element but this is not required.

The material of the cover element may be more or less elastic. Preferably the shape of the cover element may be adjusted to the shape of the face of the individual wearer, such that elastic materials may be preferred. However, when non-elastic or less elastic materials are used, pleats may be used to allow for such adjustment.

The cover element of the face mask may act as a filter on its own, to filter the air from potentially contagious viruses, or may comprise an additional filter.

The cover member of the face mask according to the present disclosure may connected to the at least one head strap when the retainer is a head strap, the at least one head strap being for fixing the cover element in front of the face of the wearer and onto the head or body of the wearer. When the retainer is e.g. a facial glue or a high-friction material the retainer may be applied directly on the cover element at positions where the face mask is to contact the face of the wearer - e.g. at the upper edge, the lower edge and/or the tensionable portion.

The face mask according to the present disclosure comprises a tensionable portion configured to be shaped in accordance with a shape of a wearer’s face at a position in between the left and right nasolabial sulcus, the upper lip and the nasal cavities or nostrils. For example, the tensionable portion may be formed by stitching two layers of fabric together or folding a layer of fabric over and stitching the two parts together. When the stitch runs from one head strap to the other head strap, by fastening the head strip the stitch line is tensioned and the tensionable portion is shaped in accordance with the shape of a wearer’s face. A similar effect is obtained when two layer or a folded over layer are glued together, fused together or laminated together. A similar effect is obtained when an elastic material is used. Besides the mentioned options, many more options are possible to achieve such an effect, the present invention not being limited to one particular solution.

The face mask according to the present disclosure contacts the face of the user at said position in between the nasolabial sulci, the upper lip and the nostrils, and thereby effectively seals the nasal breathing zone with respect to the oral breathing zone so that the nasal breathing zone and the oral breathing zone are separated from each other. As one will understand, the better the contact between the tensionable portion and the face of the wearer, the better the sealing and the more effectively the described technical effect of reducing CO2 inhalation is achieved.

The face mask according to the present disclosure thus comprises a nasal breathing zone that is arranged in front of the nasal cavities when the face mask is worn by the wearer and a an oral breathing zone that is arranged in front of the oral cavity when the face mask is worn by the wearer. It is noted that a known face mask may also be worn in a way such that the upper edge of the cover element, which may be a tensionable portion, is worn on a position in between the left and right nasolabial sulcus, the upper lip and the nasal cavities or nostrils. However, in contrast to the face mask in accordance with the present disclosure, such a known face mask worn in such a way does not have a nasal breathing zone and also does not cover the openings into the nasal cavities.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the face mask further comprises a second tensionable portion, configured to be shaped in accordance with a shape of the wearer’s face at a second position near the nasal bone, to contact the face of the wearer at said second position, the nasal breathing zone being defined in between the tensionable portion and the second tensionable portion. For example, the upper edge defines the second tensionable portion

Advantageously the second tensionable portion, when the face mask is worn, ensures that any air inhaled through the nasal cavities is filtered by the nasal breathing zone of the cover element, and that less or no air can be inhaled without passing through the nasal breathing zone of the cover element first. As such, the second tensionable portion seals the nasal breathing zone with respect to the surroundings.

Further advantageously the second tensionable portion, when the face mask is worn, ensures that any air exhaled through the nasal cavities is filtered by the nasal breathing zone of the cover element, and that less or no air can be exhaled without passing through the nasal breathing zone of the cover element first. As such, the second tensionable portion seals the nasal breathing zone with respect to the surroundings.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the face mask further comprises a third tensionable portion, configured to be shaped in accordance with a shape of the wearer’s face at a third position below the chin, to contact the face of the wearer at said third position, the oral breathing zone being defined in between the tensionable portion and the third tensionable portion. For example, the lower edge defines the third tensionable portion.

Advantageously the third tensionable portion, when the face mask is worn, ensures that any air inhaled through the oral cavity is filtered by the oral breathing zone of the cover element, and that less or no air can be inhaled without passing through the oral breathing zone of the cover element first. As such, the third tensionable portion seals the oral breathing zone with respect to the surroundings.

Further advantageously the third tensionable portion, when the face mask is worn, ensures that any air exhaled through the oral cavity is filtered by the oral breathing zone of the cover element, and that less or no air can be exhaled without passing through the oral breathing zone of the cover element first. As such, the third tensionable portion seals the oral breathing zone with respect to the surroundings.

The retainer may e.g. be at least one head strap connected to the cover element, a facial adhesive applied to the cover element, and/or a high-friction material that sticks to a wearer’s face when the mask is worn. One example of such a latter material are certain types of silicones.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure the at least one head strap includes an upper strap for fixation at the backside of a wearer’s head when the face mask is worn, the upper strap being connected to the tensionable portion and/or to the second tensionable portion.

Advantageously, this ensures that the tensionable portion and/or the second tensionable portion can be tensioned when they contact the face of the wearer and the head straps are applied to the head of the wearer. This allows them to be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the wearer. The more tension applied to the tensionable portion(s), the better the respective portion(s) are able to conform to the face of the wearer, and seal against the face.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure the at least one head strap includes an upper strap for fixation at the backside of a wearer’s head when the face mask is worn, the upper strap being connected to the second tensionable portion, the at least one head strap further including a lower strap for fixation at the neck of the wearer when the face mask is worn, the lower strap being connected to the tensionable portion.

Advantageously, this ensures that the tensionable portion and the second tensionable portion can be tensioned when they contact the face of the wearer and the head straps are applied to the head of the wearer. This allows them to be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the wearer. The more tension applied to the tensionable portions, the better the respective portions are able to conform to the face of the wearer, and seal against the face. In an embodiment of the present disclosure the at least one head strap includes a lower strap for fixation at the neck of a wearer when the face mask is worn, the lower strap being connected to the third tensionable portion

Advantageously, this ensures that the third tensionable portion can be tensioned when it contacts the face of the wearer and the head strap is applied to the head of the wearer. This allows them to be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the wearer. The more tension applied to the tensionable portion, the better the respective portion is able to conform to the face of the wearer, and seal against the face.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure the at least one head strap includes two circular loops that are arranged behind the ears of the wearer when the face mask is worn, the tensionable portion(s) being tensionable by said circular loops.

Advantageously, this ensures that the tensionable portion(s) can be tensioned when they contact the face of the wearer and the head straps are hooked behind the ears of the wearer. This allows them to be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the wearer. The more tension applied to the tensionable portions, the better the respective portions are able to conform to the face of the wearer, and seal against the face of the wearer.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure at least one of the tensionable portion comprises at least two layers of the cover element adjoined to each other, e.g. by stitching, laminating or gluing, as well as a stiffening rib.

Advantageously, when the stiffening rib is deformable and can be adjusted to a shape of the face of the user at the position where the respective tensionable portion is located, this is one way to obtain a tensionable portion.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure at least one of the tensionable portions comprises an elastic material.

Advantageously, an elastic material is tensionable and will deform in accordance with a shape of the face at the position where it is located. This is thus an alternative way to obtain a tensionable portion.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure the cover element is made from one piece of material

Advantageously, this keeps the number of actions during production to a minimum and thus may result in a relatively affordable product. In an embodiment of the present disclosure the nasal breathing zone of the cover element comprises an air filter.

Advantageously, the air filter ensures an even better filtering of the air that is inhaled and/or exhaled through the nose than a face mask comprising only the material of the cover element.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure the oral breathing zone of the cover element comprises an air filter.

Advantageously, air filter ensures an even better filtering of the air that is inhaled and/or exhaled through the mouth than a face mask comprising only the material of the cover element.

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be best understood from the following description referring to the attached drawings. In these drawings, like reference numerals denote identical parts or parts performing an identical or similar function or operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates in a side view a face mask according to the prior art, worn by a wearer.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates in a side view a first embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention, worn by a wearer;

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates in a front view a second embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention, worn by a wearer;

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates in a side view the face mask of Fig. 2 when being used by a wearer;

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates in a side view the face mask of Fig. 2 when being used by a wearer;

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates in a front view a further embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates in a front view a further embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 schematically illustrates in a side view a further embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention, worn by a wearer;

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates in a side view a further embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention, worn by a wearer; Fig. 10 schematically illustrates in a side view a further embodiment of a face mask according to the present invention, worn by a wearer;

Fig. 11 schematically illustrates tension being applied on the tensionable portion of the face mask in one embodiment thereof; and

Fig. 12 schematically illustrates tension being applied on the tensionable portion of the face mask in another embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figure 1 , a face mask 1000 according to the prior art is shown. The face mask 1000 is retained to the head H of a wearer via upper head strap 1100 and lower head strap 1200. The face mask comprises a cover element 2100 which cover both the nose (not indicated) and the mouth (not indicated) of the wearer. The upper edge 3200 of the cover element 2100 is in contact with the face of the wearer and seals the interior area of the cover element 2100 with respect to the surroundings. As shown, when the wearer exhales through the nose, the exhaled air can be inhaled again through the mouth.

Now turning to Figure 2, a face mask 1 according to the present invention is shown. The mask 1 is worn by a wearer and is seen from the side. First some characteristics of the wearer are here described, followed by characteristics of the face mask 1. Although each wearer will have a unique head shape, the vast majority of the human population has the below-described characteristics.

The wearer (or user) has a head H and a neck N. When the head H is seen from the front, one sees the face F of the wearer. The back side R of the head H is also indicated. In between the face F and the back side R and the head H ears E are present. The face F includes a chin C ,a nose (not indicated) including a nasal bone B and nasal cavities NC or nostrils and lips. The lips are individually indicated as upper lip LU and lower lip LL, an oral cavity OC being defined in between the lips. A first position P1 on the face F is generally indicated in the area between the upper lip LU and the nasal cavities NC. A second position P2 on the face F is generally indicated on the nasal bone B, below the eyes of the wearer. A third position P3 on the face F is generally indicated below the chin C of the wearer.

The face mask 1 is retained to the head H of the wearer using a retainer, which in the shown embodiments is a head strap. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the head strap includes an upper strap 11 and a lower strap 12. The upper strap 11 is tied to the head H at the rear side R of the head H whereas the lower strap 12 is tied to the head at the neck N of the wearer.

The face mask 1 further comprises a cover element 21 covering the nasal NC and oral OC cavities of the wearer. However, in contrast to the known face mask 1000 of Fig. 1 , the present face mask 1 is divided in two separate portions: a nasal breathing zone 211 and an oral breathing zone 212. The nasal breathing zone

211 covers the nasal cavity NC of the wearer whereas the oral breathing zone 212 covers the oral cavity OC of the wearer. To achieve this, the cover element 21 comprises a tensionable portion 31. The tensionable portion 31 is tensioned when the face mask 1 is worn and shapes itself in accordance with the face F of the individual wearer, as will be understood more clearly with reference to Figure 3 in the below. The tensionable portion 31 , hereinafter called “first” tensionable portion 31 , is arranged at the first position P1 as described in the above.

The face mask of Figure 2 further includes second 32 and third 33 tensionable portions, the second tensionable portion 32 being arranged at the second position P2 as defined in the above, contacting the face F of the wearer at said second position P2 and the third tensionable portion 33 being arranged at the third position P3 as defined in the above, contacting the face F of the wearer at said third position P3. As such, the nasal breathing zone 211 is defined in between the first tensionable portion 31 and the second tensionable portion 32, whereas the oral breathing zone

212 is defined in between the first tensionable portion 31 and the third tensionable portion 33.

It may be noted that the first 31 and second 32 tensionable portions are connected to the upper head strap 11 and are tensioned by said upper head strap 11 when it is tied to the wearer’s head H. It may further be noted that the third tensionable portion 33 is connected to the lower head strap 12 and is tensioned by said lower head strap 12 when it is tied in a wearer’s neck N. It is observed that, although not shown, the first tensionable portion 31 may also be connected to the lower head strap 12 to be tensioned when the lower head strap 12 is tied to a wearer’s neck N.

Now turning to Figure 3, a frontal view of a wearer wearing a face mask 1 is shown. Figure 3, by the way, uses circular loops 13, 14 to hook the face mask 1 behind the ears E of the wearer, instead of the upper and lower head straps shown in Figure 2. Shown again in Figure 3 are a first tensionable portion 31 , a second tensionable portion 32 and a third tensionable portion 33 of the cover element 21 . They contact the face F of the wearer at first P1 , second P2 and third P3 positions respectively. It is noted that, when seen in a frontal view, the first 31 , second 32 and third 33 tensionable portions may be arranged substantially horizontally (such as the second tensionable portion 32) but that this is not required at all. As shown, the first tensionable portion 31 contacts the face F of the wearer at a position in between the upper lip LU, the nostrils NC, the left nasolabial sulcus S1 and the right nasolabial sulcus S2.

Turning to Figures 4 and 5, it is shown how the inhaled air is separated from the inhaled air. This becomes especially clear from a comparison between figures 4 and 5 vis a vis Figure 1. With the face mask 1 according to the present disclosure, the exhaled air (in Figure 4 the wearer exhales through the mouth whereas in Figure 5 the wearer exhales through the nose) can only move outside of the face mask, and not reach the organ through which is inhaled (in Figure 4 the nose and in Figure 5 the mouth), as the area between the nose and the mouth is sealed by the first tensionable portion 31 of the cover element 21 which contacts the skin of the face of the wearer at the described position in between the nose and mouth.

Figure 6 then shows a face mask 1 without wearer. The cover element 21 of the face mask has an upper edge 213. Here the upper edge 213 is a tensionable portion 32. The cover element 21 of the face mask 1 also has a lower edge 214. Here the lower edge 214 is a tensionable portion 33. The cover element 21 is divided, by first tensionable portion 21 , into a nasal breathing zone 211 and an oral breathing zone 212. When the material of the cover element 21 has some elasticity or flexibility, it can easily be “moulded” over the face of the wearer to fit the individual wearer. As shown, the first tensionable portion 31 is arranged in between the upper edge 213 and the lower edge 214. As preferred, the cover element 21 is here made of a single piece of material.

Figure 7, compared to Figure 6, schematically illustrates an embodiment of a face mask 1 made of a more rigid, non-elastic material. In this case the face mask 1 comprises several pleats (shown as vertical lines) that allow the cover element 21 of the face mask to expand and mould to the face of the individual wearer. As preferred, the cover element 21 is here made of a single piece of material, the material being stitched together at the location of the pleats. Figures 8, 9 and 10 finally show various embodiments in which the face mask 1 additionally comprises an air filter. In figure 8 there is one air filter 41 , arranged in the nasal breathing zone 211 of the cover element 21 . The oral breathing zone 212 of the cover element 21 here does not contain an air filter. In figure 9 there is one air filter 42, arranged in the oral breathing zone 212 of the cover element 21. The nasal breathing zone 211 of the cover element 21 here does not contain an air filter. In figure 10 there are two separate air filters 41 , 42. One air filter 41 is arranged in the nasal breathing zone 211 of the cover element 21. The other air filter 42 is arranged in the oral breathing zone 212 of the cover element 21.

T urning to Figure 11 , a face mask 1 is shown wherein the upper edge 213 of the cover element 21 is embodied as a second tensionable portion 32 and wherein the lower edge 214 of the cover element 21 is embodied as a third tensionable portion 33. The first tensionable portion 31 and the second tensionable portion 32 span the entire “length” dimension of the face mask 1 , i.e. they are arranged from one side edge 216 to the other side edge 215. The first 31 and second 32 tensionable portion meet each other at positions in the upper left and right corners of the face mask 1 , where also the upper head strap 11 is connected to the cover element 21. The third tensionable portion 33 also spans the entire “length” dimension of the face mask 1 , being arranged from one side edge 216 to the other side edge 215, from the points where the lower head strap 12 is connected to the cover element 21 , in the lower left and right corners of the face mask 1 .

The arrows in Figure 11 indicate the tension applied to the tensionable portions 31 , 32, 33 when the head straps 11 , 12, are strapped to the head of the user. As shown, all three tensionable portions 31 , 32, 33 are tensioned so that they can be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the individual wearer at the position on the face where it is positioned, to contact the skin of the face at said positions.

Compared to Figure 11 , Figure 12 shows the situation where the first tensionable portion 31 is connected to a side edge 215, 216 of the cover element 21 , at a position away from the corners where the head straps 11 , 12 are connected to the cover element 21. As shown by the arrows in Figure 12, also in such a configuration it is possible to sufficiently tension the tensionable portion 31 , 32, 33 so that they can be shaped in accordance with the shape of the face of the individual wearer at the position on the face where it is positioned, to contact the skin of the face at said positions. In the embodiment of Figure 12, the side edges 215, 216 of the cover element 21 may be reinforced, e.g. by stitching, gluing or laminating two layers of material together, to allow the tension to be better introduced in the first tensionable portion 31. This is however not required. The same holds, by the way, for all other embodiments.

In yet another embodiment, described in the above but not shown, the first tensionable portion may be connected to the lower head strap in a manner much the same as shown in Figure 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 face mask

11 upper head strap

12 lower head strap

13 left head strap

14 right head strap

21 cover element

211 nasal breathing zone

212 oral breathing zone

213 upper edge

214 lower edge

215 side edge

216 side edge

31 first tensionable portion

32 second tensionable portion

33 third tensionable portion

41 air filter

42 air filter

B nasal bone of wearer

C chin of wearer

E ear of wearer

F face of wearer

H head of wearer

LL lower lip of wearer

LU upper lip of wearer

N neck of wearer

NC nasal cavity of wearer

OC oral cavity of wearer

P1 first position on face

P2 second position on face

P3 third position on face

R backside of head

51 left nasolabial sulcus

52 right nasolabial sulcus