Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transparent face mask with antimicrobial and washable properties.

In particular, the invention relates to a face mask comprising a body made of transparent pes (polyester) fabric that allows the mouth movements to be seen, straps to ensure that the said body is attached to the head or ear, and a grip wire positioned horizontally at the upper end of the body.

Prior Art

Today, face masks are used to reduce the risk of transferring bacteria, viruses that may be contagious between individuals. It is used carefully in the health and food sectors, mostly in areas that will directly affect the health of the person.

Face masks in the current art extend from the bridge of the nose to the chin and include multiple layers of opaque woven or non-woven filter media. This situation completely covers the mouth and nose area of the user and prevents it from being seen from the outside.

T oday, researches in the field of speech communication have revealed that 65 percent of personal communication originates from non-verbal messages containing facial expressions, and 35 percent is from verbal messages. In addition, it is known that it is a reassuring situation for children that the faces of adults are clearly visible when communicating with children.

The insulating effects in face masks and the invisibility of the user's mouth reduce the quality of direct communication. The opaque woven used in face masks hides the user's mouth and facial movements. In fact, it is difficult to understand what is spoken because it also affects the voice. Therefore, a situation that is uncomfortable and disrupts communication arises in social use.

In addition, disposable masks in the current technique create a serious waste load as they are generally produced from materials with unnatural content. Most cloth masks do not have antimicrobial properties in terms of chemical and porosity and are not transparent due to their opaque properties.

Most of the transparent masks are used as shields and protect against splashes by covering the whole face, but require the wearing of a face mask as it is open from the sides and from the bottom and cannot prevent the airborne microbes from reaching the respiratory tract. Most of the transparent masks, which are in the form of face masks, are in a very hard form as they are produced from plastic-containing materials such as film.

Some of the face mask types developed to resolve these problems are given below.

In the patent document numbered US4467799A, a transparent mask containing a rigid plastic structure is mentioned. Here, a hygienic, disposable, cup-shaped, thin and flexible transparent face mask is mentioned to cover the mouth and nose area of the wearer's face. However, the material of the inventive mask mentioned here is different, and it does not have straps that allow it to be worn on the head. Moreover, since it is disposable, it will be costly as a new mask will have to be used every time. Therefore, the subject of the present invention is different from the structure and shape of the mask.

In the patent document numbered US20060230485A1 , it relates to a face mask made of transparent plastic material with a filter. Here, It was mentioned about a transparent mask with a filter to prevent the infection of disease-causing bacteria and inhalation of dust while providing the appearance of the face area covered by the mask. The mask allows the user to see the facial expression while speaking. However, it is different from the mask of the present invention in terms of the material used. In addition, adding an additional filter feature increases its costs and prevents it from being a product that can be easily reached by all users. The mask that is the subject of the present invention provides the filter feature naturally through the 100% pes fabric (polyester).

As a result, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems in the current technique, a face mask has been developed that is made of 100% pes fabric that provides both flexibility and hygiene, allows facial expressions to be seen with its transparent structure, and is suitable for repeated use.

Objectives and Brief Description of the Invention

The main purpose of the present invention is; to offer a transparent, washable and flexible face mask.

Other aim of the invention is to provide a face mask made of 100% RE-PES (recycled polyester) fabric and transparent recycled yarn. Thus, it is to ensure that the mouth movements are visible with the mask being transparent and to eliminate the communication problems caused by the known masks. Another aim of the invention is to protect the user's face against splashes containing microorganisms that may come from the outside, through its structure that completely grasps the face of the user.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a softer and more comfortable use than plastic materials since it is a fabric.

Another aim of the invention is to reduce environmental pollution and costs by being made of washable fabric and allowing for repeated use.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a mask with antimicrobial properties provided by metal, metal-containing polymers, quaternary ammonium salts and quaternary polymer mixtures applied in the finishing process.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a mask with a tight woven structure with the smallest pores and thus preventing the passage of microorganisms.

Further aim of the invention is to make a positive contribution to the waste load in the environment by manufacturing masks from recycled yarns.

In order to realize the above-mentioned purposes, the invention is a body made of transparent pes (polyester) fabric, and a face mask containing straps to enable mentioned body to be attached to the head or ear.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mentioned body is made of finishing applied fabrics and/or made of yarns with antimicrobial properties provided during the yarn production stage..

In the mentioned finishing process; metal, metal-containing polymers, quaternary ammonium salts and mixtures containing one or more of the quaternary polymer structures are applied. In an alternative embodiment, microencapsulation is applied to the fabric and/or yarn during the finishing process.

In another embodiment of the invention, it comprises grip wire positioned horizontally at the upper end of the body or a flexible fabric band positioned horizontally at the upper end of the body instead of a grip wire. The wire mentioned here is made of stainless and flexible material. The elastic band, on the other hand, made of phosphorescent and flexible fabric shining by the light reflection. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the face mask body includes a seam positioned vertically to elastic band grip wire and at the nose level , aligned from the elastic band or grip wire to the nose tip.

Brief Description of the Figures

In Figure 1 ; front perspective view of the inventive mask is given.

In Figure 2; the side view of the inventive mask is given.

In Figure 3; the appearance of the inventive face mask on the user's face is given.

Reference Numbers

10 Face mask

11. Grip wire

12. Seam

13. Straps

14. Body

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention discloses a face mask (10) which is made of 100% pes transparent fabric and is used by surrounding the face around the nose up to the chin at the bottom.

As seen in Figure 1 , the face mask (10) basically consists of a body (14) made of transparent pes fabric and straps (13) made of flexible fabric band positioned in line with the user's ear of the body (14) to enable the body (14) to be attached to the head or ear.

The mask (10) also comprises the below for the body (14) to wrap around the wearer's nose and provide complete isolation,

- a grip wire (11 ) that wraps around the nose under the eye and is positioned at the upper end of the body (14), and

- a seam (12) positioned vertically at the nose level of mentioned grip wire (11), aligned from the grip wire (11) to the tip of the nose.

This seam (12) is formed by folding the part of the body (14) that is at the level of the nose. Optionally, another seam (12) can be positioned on the body (14) extending from the bottom of the mouth to the throat so that the chin can be grasped from below. Mentioned grip wire (11) can be preferred from any corrosion-resistant and flexible material suitable for washing.

In Figure 2, the transparent body (14) of the face mask (10) which is the subject of the invention is shown. Transparent pes fabric is woven in a construction that prevents the passage of live bacteria in the inhaled air as much as possible and allows minimum porosity. This transparency allows the user's mouth movements to be seen and accordingly facilitates communication.

In Figure 3, the view of the preferred embodiment of the face mask (10) in use is given. While in transparent structure of the fabric, the transparent and thin polyester yarn structure allows the air to pass through and the facial movements of the user to be seen, it also prevents the passage of microorganisms.

A finishing process is applied on the pes fabric that makes up the mask (10), which will prevent the growth of microorganisms that can stick on it and even reduce it. In the finishing process, synergistic mixtures of metal or metal-containing polymers, quaternary ammonium salts and polymer structures can be used to be applied to the fabric. With this application, the antimicrobial activity level of the mask (10) pes fabric can be over 80% according to the AATCC-100 (the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) standard.

The finished mask (10) provides the following;

- ease of use through to its light and flexible structure,

- does not irritate the skin in continuous use,

- washable for repeated use,

- have antimicrobial properties.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the finishing process mentioned above is done on the yarns that make up this fabric, instead of the fabric that forms the mask (10). The antimicrobial feature of the fabric produced with antimicrobial yarn is more permanent and more environmentally friendly.

In the alternative embodiment of the mask (10), the microencapsulation is applied to the fabric, which enables the mask (10) to be used more comfortably and for a long time and to eliminate bad odors. Additionally the mask (10) provides thermal comfort by cooling the hot air inside the mask during the breathing. According to the bacterial filtration efficiency standard (EN 14683-B / Bacterial Filtration Efficiency), the face mask (10), which is the subject of the invention, can filter bacteria of 3 pm in size over 75%. Through to the yarn and weaving structure used, it gives much better results (~10 Pa/cm ² ) compared to the breathability (EN 14683-C / Determination of Breathability) standard of the mask (10) fabric and the TSE Cloth Mask standard (<40 Pa/cm ² ).

In an alternative embodiment of the face mask (10), which is the subject of the invention, the elastic band tape on which the grip wire (11) is placed is made of flexible fabric. Through the flexibility of the band, the use of the grip wire (11) is not necessary, and the mask (10) is easier to wash. In another embodiment of the face mask (10), which is the subject of the invention, a elastic band made of phosphorescent fabric shining by the light reflected on it. In this way, the visibility of the user is ensured in dark environments.