US2565124A - Medical face mask - Google Patents

Description

H. J. DURBOROVV MEDICAL FACE MASK F'iled Sept. 22, 1948 Aug. 2l, 1'951 Patented ug. 2T, 1951 ne;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEDICAL FACE MASK Henry J. Durborow, Pitman, N. J. Application September 22, 1948, Serial No. 50,452

i4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-146) This invention relates to medical masks for use in surgical operations and the like.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive mask so constructed that, when tied in place, it is positioned from the bridge of the nose and from the chin, and ts the cheeks, whereby the pressure is substantially evenly distributed and is therefore light; leaves the eyes exposed; and does not fold into the lips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mask of the character described which may be washed and sterilized and ironed for re-use.

The masks heretofore generally in use jam into the lips, exert localized pressure, and cannot be ironed so that customarily they are used but once and thrown away.

How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or are incident to the invention, are realized is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the mask in place;

Fig; 2 is a face View of one form of blank which may be utilized in making the mask, with one corner folded back to indicate multiple thicknesses of fabric, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mask with one portion folded back.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the mask comprises two substantially counterpart portions A and B. Viewed in face elevation, these portions are essentially of inverted pyramidal form, i. e., they are substantially heart-shaped. In the blank of Fig. 2, the mask is composed of a plurality of layers of mosquito netting or other suitable form of gauze, in this instance four layers being shown. The sheets from which the blank is stamped consist of four layers of such a fabric, and after the blanks arestamped out, the marginal edge portions are whipped or buttonhole stitched for which purpose there are machines available. This presents a clean edge with no ravelings.

The top edges 'l of each of the portions A and B are concave so that when the mask is applied it will fit the contours of the cheeks. The corresponding upper corners e-e are desirably beveled for attachment of the tie strings 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and `3. The other upper corners f-f, when the blank is folded on itself, fold in a vertically straight line 9 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. When thus folded the side edges of the respective portions which extend from the bottom c of the fold to the apices a. will register and such CTI 2 side edges are joined or secured together as by sewing. The other side edges g and the tops and the corners e are not joined whereby the mask may be opened for application to the face.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the fold from the point d to the point c will form a bridge |piece fitting the bridge of the nose, so that when in place the nose will support or position the mask from above.

Referring now to the side edge portions a-c, it will be seen that these edges are not straight but that the portions JL- b` and b-c are, generally considered, of flattened V-shape. When these edges are sewed together, the portion between a and b will fit snugly under the chin as shown in Figure 1. The portions b-c will then extend from the tip of the nose to the tip of the chin in a substantially straight line whereby the mask will not fold or jam into the lips. The side edges g are preferably but not necessarily curved to snugly t the cheeks. Thus the mass conforms to the nose, chin and cheeks. In consequence, the pressure required to hold the mask in place is relatively light and substantially uniformly distributed. Localized relatively heavy pressures are thus avoided.

Moreover, the mass can be held in place by but two tie strings. Some masks in use require four tie strings, an arrangement which applies uncomfortable pressures on the nose.

It will be readily understood that instead of making one blank with the two portions a and b integrally joined as shown in Fig. 2, the portions a and b may be separately stamped and sewed together or otherwise joined along the line Q. Other modifications will readily suggest themselves, the essential characteristic being that the two portions a and b are substantially heart shape in face elevation.

Another advantage of the construction is that the masks can be readily and conveniently packaged in large` numbers in a minimum of l Space.

3. The mask of claim 1 characterized by that the joined together edges for at least a portion of their length in the vicinity of the apex are of attened V-shape generally considered.

4. A medical face mask comprising two substantially counterpart flat portions each of substantially heart shape in face elevation, each such portion being integrally joined to the other at corresponding upper corners to fold in a vertically straight line extending to a point a short distance downwardly from the top, the side edges of the portions extending from said point to the apices in attened V-shape generally considered, said side edges being joined together,

the other side edges and the tops being unjoined,

and tie strings for the other upper corners.

HENRY J. DURBOROW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 111e of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,990 Stern June 15, 1915 1,946,334 Schwartz Feb. 6, 1934

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