JP7405421B2 - mask - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric mask that is worn on the face for the purpose of preventing the inhalation of microparticles such as pollen, dust, and pathogenic bacteria.

A nonwoven fabric mask is composed of a nonwoven fabric mask body that covers target parts of the face including the nose and mouth, and locking parts provided on both left and right sides of the mask body to lock onto ears and the like. The shape of the mask body is widely known to be a rectangular flat plate that spreads laterally, and it is also widely known that the mask body is formed with several stages of pleats so that it can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. Generally, pleats are formed extending to both left and right ends of the mask body, and welded parts for fixing the shape of the pleats are formed at both left and right ends of the mask body by heat sealing.

The pleated mask made of nonwoven fabric as described above is worn in a deployed state in which the pleats located at the center in the left-right direction of the mask body are expanded in the vertical direction to form a three-dimensional shape with the tip of the nose as the apex. In this unfolded state, the length dimension (length dimension in the vertical direction) at the center in the left and right direction of the mask body increases, whereas the length dimension at both left and right ends of the mask body fixed by the welded portion increases. (length dimension in the vertical direction) is kept constant. For this reason, there is a vertical dimension difference between the left and right center and both ends of the mask body, and it is unavoidable that the left and right ends of the mask body are greatly curved into a fan shape, and there is a gap between the ends and the cheeks of the face. This creates gaps, impairing the sealing performance of the mask and reducing its ability to prevent the inhalation of microparticles.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned gap from occurring, for example, in Patent Document 1, side seal portions that do not expand in the vertical direction are formed at both left and right ends of the mask body.

Patent No. 6473860

In the form of Patent Document 1, by fixing both the left and right ends of the mask body, it is possible to prevent the left and right ends of the mask body from curving when the pleats are expanded in the vertical direction, and to reduce the gap between the left and right ends of the mask body and the cheeks of the face. is prevented from occurring. However, since the shapes of the facial cheeks vary widely depending on the wearer, when the left and right ends of the mask body fixed in the form of Patent Document 1 do not match the shape of the wearer's facial cheeks, It is inevitable that there will be a gap between the two. Even when the wearer's facial expression changes, it is inevitable that a gap will occur between the mask body and the facial cheek area. As described above, in the form of Patent Document 1 in which both the left and right end portions of the mask body are fixed, good sealing performance is not necessarily obtained, and there is room for improvement in this point.

An object of the present invention is to provide a nonwoven fabric mask that can more reliably prevent the formation of gaps between the left and right ends of the mask body and the wearer's face and cheeks, and has excellent sealing properties. The purpose is to

The mask of the present invention includes a mask body 2 formed of a base sheet 5 made of nonwoven fabric and having multiple pleats 6 running in the left and right lateral directions, and pleats 6 provided on both sides of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction to fit around ears etc. It includes locking parts 3, 3 to be locked, and a pair of left and right elastic bands 4, 4, which are provided at both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction and can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. Each pleat 6 is composed of an upper folding part 7, a lower folding part 8, and a band part 9 connecting both folding parts 7 and 8. A total of three base sheets 5 located in the same direction overlap each other to form an N-shaped overlapped portion 10 when viewed from the side. The elastic band 4 includes a vertically long rear wall 13 that covers the rear surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, a vertically long front wall 14 that covers the front surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, and the left and right edges of both walls 13 and 14. It is composed of a connecting part 15 that connects. The rear surface of the rear wall 13 of the elastic band 4 is a flat surface. A non-overlapping structure in which only one base sheet 5 exists in the front-rear direction between adjacent pleats 6 in the vertical direction of the mask body 2, above the pleats 6 located at the upper end, and below the pleats 6 located at the lower end. A portion 11 is formed. In the region of the overlapping portion 10 of each pleat 6, there is no joint that fixes the base sheets 5 constituting the overlapping portion 10 to each other in the front-rear direction, so that the elastic band 4 and the mask body 2 are not overlapped. They are connected only at a joint 17 formed in the region of section 11. When the superimposed portions 10 of the pleats 6 located at both ends in the left-right direction are changed in posture from the non-deployed state toward the deployed state, the attachment derived from the elastic band 4 in the direction of restoring the superposed portions 10 to the non-deployed state is applied. It is characterized in that the force is configured to act on the superimposing portion 10.

In the non-deployed state, the mask body 2 is formed into a rectangular flat plate shape that spreads laterally, and is configured such that the length dimensions of the left and right edges of the mask body 2 in the non-deployed state match the natural length of the elastic band 4. has been done.

The elastic band 4 is made of stretchable nonwoven fabric.

In the mask of the present invention, elastic bands 4 that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction are provided at both ends of the mask body 2 in the left-right direction. In addition, in the mask of the present invention, a joint part for fixing the base sheets 5 to each other in the front-rear direction is not formed in the region of the overlapping part 10 of the pleats 6, and the elastic band 4 and the mask main body 2 are connected to the non-overlapping part 11. They were connected only at the joint 17 formed in the region. In this way, a joint part that fixes the base sheets 5 to each other in the front-rear direction is not formed in the area of the overlapping part 10 of the pleats 6, and moreover, a joint part is not formed between the elastic band 4 and the mask body 2 only in the area of the non-overlapping part 11. 17, it is possible to freely change the posture of the superimposed part 10 from a non-deployed state to a deployed state, not only at the center of the mask body 2 in the left-right direction but also at both ends of the mask body 2 in the left-right direction. becomes. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vertical dimension difference between the horizontal center and both ends of the mask body 2 when the overlapping part 10 is in the unfolded state, so that It is possible to prevent both ends of the mask main body 2 from curving greatly into a fan shape, thereby preventing both ends of the mask main body 2 from bending and creating a gap between the mask main body 2 and the cheeks of the face. Furthermore, since the posture of the overlapping portion 10 at both ends of the mask body 2 can be freely changed from a non-deployed state to a deployed state, it is easy to match the shape of both ends to the shape of the wearer's face and cheeks. This also prevents a gap from forming between both ends of the mask body 2 and the facial and cheek areas.

In addition, when the overlapping portions 10 of the pleats 6 located at both ends of the mask body 2 are displaced from the non-deployed state toward the deployed state, the elastic band 4 moves in the direction of restoring the overlapping portions 10 to the non-deployed state. Since the derived biasing force acts on the superimposed portion 10, this also suppresses bending of both ends of the mask body 2 and prevents a gap from forming between both ends and the facial cheek area. . Even when the shape of the facial cheek area changes with a change in the wearer's facial expression, the biasing force of the elastic band 4 allows both ends of the mask body 2 to follow the shape change of the facial cheek area. This can also prevent gaps from forming between both ends of the mask main body 2 and the facial and cheek areas. As described above, according to the mask of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the formation of gaps between both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction and the wearer's face and cheeks. You can get a mask.

Since the superimposed part 10 of the mask body 2 has minute irregularities, when the superimposed part 10 comes into contact with the facial cheek area, a gap is likely to be formed between the two (the superimposed part 10 and the facial cheek area). On the other hand, if the elastic band 4 is formed toward the rear of the mask body 2 along both left and right sides of the mask body 2, and the rear surface of the elastic band 4 is a flat surface, the mask body Since the flat surfaces of the elastic bands 4 can be brought into contact with the cheeks of the face at the left and right ends of the mask body 2, the formation of gaps is suppressed and airtightness is improved compared to a configuration in which the overlapping part 10 of the mask body 2 contacts the cheeks of the face. It is possible to improve the

Similarly, the elastic band 4 connects the vertically long rear wall 13 that covers the rear surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, the vertically long front wall 14 that covers the front surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, and the walls 13 and 14. If the rear surface of the elastic band 4 is made flat, the elastic band 4 can be brought into contact with the cheeks of the face at the left and right ends of the mask body 2, so that the overlap of the mask body 2 can be prevented. Compared to a configuration in which the portion 10 is in contact with the facial cheek area, the formation of a gap can be suppressed and the sealing performance can be improved. Since the left and right edges of the mask body 2 can be covered with the elastic bands 4, it is also possible to prevent the left and right edges of the mask body 2 from being damaged.

In the non-deployed state, the mask body 2 is formed into a rectangular flat plate shape that spreads laterally, and is configured such that the length dimensions of the left and right edges of the mask body 2 in the non-deployed state match the natural length of the elastic band 4. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the left and right edges from contracting under the biasing force of the elastic band 4 in the non-deployed state, thereby preventing the mask body 2 from being inadvertently deformed.

When the elastic band 4 is made of a stretchable nonwoven fabric, manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to when the elastic band 4 is made of rubber or the like. Further, since the elastic band 4 that contacts the cheeks of the face can be made of nonwoven fabric, it is possible to give the mask a soft touch feeling.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts of the mask of the present invention. It is a front view of a mask. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2. FIG. It is a figure showing the relationship between a mask main body and an elastic band. (a) is a vertical side view showing a non-expanded state of the overlapping portions of pleats at the left and right ends of the mask body, and (b) is a vertical side view showing the unexpanded state of the overlapping portions of pleats at the left and right ends of the mask body. It is a figure explaining the wearing state of a mask.

(Example) FIGS. 1 to 7 show examples of masks according to the present invention. In this embodiment, front and back, left and right, and up and down follow the cross arrows shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the front and back, left and right, and up and down indications written near each arrow. As shown in FIG. 2, the mask 1 according to the present embodiment includes a mask body 2 that covers the wearer's nose and mouth when worn, and a mask body 2 that is formed on both sides of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction and that is latched to the ears. It is composed of a pair of left and right ear straps (locking parts) 3 and a pair of left and right elastic bands 4 provided at both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction.

The mask main body 2 is composed of a base sheet 5 formed by laminating a plurality of nonwoven fabrics. Examples of the fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric include polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers, and cotton fibers. The ear string 3 is made of a rubber material made of polyurethane fiber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like.

A large number of pleats 6 running in the left-right direction (lateral direction) are formed in the mask body 2, and in this embodiment, four pleats 6 are formed. As shown in FIG. 1, each pleat 6 is composed of an upper folded part 7, a lower folded part 8, and a band part 9 located between both folded parts 7 and 8 in the front-rear direction. Each pleat 6 is formed with an N-shaped overlapping portion 10 when viewed from the side, in which a total of three base sheets 5 located in the front-rear direction overlap. In addition, it is located between the pleats 6 adjacent in the vertical direction of the mask body 2 (the area indicated by the reference numeral 11a in FIG. 1), above the pleat 6 located at the upper end (the area indicated by the reference numeral 11b in FIG. 1), and at the lower end. A non-overlapping portion 11 in which only one base sheet 5 exists in the front-rear direction is formed below the pleats 6 (region indicated by reference numeral 11c in FIG. 1). As described above, the mask 1 of this embodiment has two states: a non-deployed state in which the superimposed portion 10 is maintained in the superimposed state as shown in FIG. The posture can be changed between a deployed state in which the overlapping portion 10 is expanded and the vertical dimensions of the mask body 2 are increased.

The elastic band 4 is fixed to both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction by heat sealing. Each elastic band 4 is made of a stretchable nonwoven fabric, and includes a vertically long rear wall 13 that covers the rear surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, and a vertically long front wall that covers the front surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2. 14, and a connecting portion 15 that connects both walls 13 and 14 (see FIG. 4). The rear surface of the rear wall 13 that contacts the wearer's face and cheeks when worn is a flat surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the vertical length of both ends of the mask body 2 in the left-right direction when the mask body 2 is in the non-deployed state is set to be the same as the natural length of the elastic band 4. Therefore, when the overlapping portions 10 at both left and right ends of the mask body 2 are in the deployed state, the biasing force originating from the elastic band 4 in the direction of restoring the overlapped portions 10 to the non-deployed state acts on both ends. It has become.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 17 indicates a welded portion (joint portion) by heat sealing for fixing the elastic band 4 to the mask body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the welded portion 17 is formed only in the area of the non-overlapping portion 11 (11a, 11b, 11c), and the mask body 2 and the elastic band 4 are It is joined only in the region 11c). More specifically, as is clear from FIGS. 1 to 3, the region of the overlapping portion 10 constituting each pleat 6 is a blank region in which no welds or joints are formed. The base sheets 5 constituting the overlapping portion 10 are not fixed to each other in the front-rear direction. In addition, welding portions 17 for welding the mask body 2 and the elastic band 4 are formed only in the regions of the non-overlapping portions 11 (11a, 11b, 11c). In this way, if the mask body 2 and the elastic band 4 are welded only in the area of the non-overlapping part 11, not only the center portion of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction but also both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction will be welded. Also, the superimposing portion 10 can be displaced from the non-deployed state (FIG. 6(a)) to the deployed state (FIG. 6(b)). In addition, when the superimposed portion 10 is in the unfolded state as shown in FIG. 6(b), the length of the elastic band 4 becomes larger than its natural length, so the elastic band 4 tends to return to its natural length. A biasing force is exerted, and due to this biasing force, a restoring force acts on the overlapping portions 10 at both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction to return from the deployed state to the non-deployed state.

As shown in FIG. 1, a welded part 17a consisting of a total of three sealing parts running in the left and right transverse directions is formed in the non-overlapping part 11a existing between the pleats 6 adjacent in the vertical direction. Similarly, at the upper and lower ends of the upper non-overlapping part 11b and the upper and lower ends of the lower non-overlapping part 11c, there are welded parts 17b consisting of a total of three sealing parts running in the left and right lateral directions. It is formed. Furthermore, a pair of left and right welded parts 17c for fixing the ear straps 3 is formed at the center of both non-overlapping parts 11b and 11c. This welded portion 17c is comprised of a total of three sealing locations running in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, welded parts 18 consisting of a large number of sealing parts running in the left and right lateral directions are formed on each of the upper and lower ends of the mask main body 2, and each welded part 18 has a tip. It is continuous with the welded part 17b of the non-overlapping parts 11b and 11c. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 indicates a plastic nose fitting member that can be deformed to match the shape of the wearer's nose. This nose fit member 20 is accommodated in a bag-shaped accommodation space 21 formed by a sealed portion including the welded portion 18 at the front.

In the mask 1 having the above-described configuration, the mask body 2 in the non-deployed state is attached to the center of the wearer's face using the ear straps 3, and then the center portion of the mask body 2 in the horizontal direction related to the upper and lower ends is attached. When pinched, the overlapping portion 10 of the pleats 6 of the mask body 2 is expanded vertically to form a three-dimensional shape with the tip of the nose as the apex, and the mask body 2 covers the nose, mouth, and chin. shall be. Next, the nose fit member 20 is bent to match the shape of the bridge of the nose, and the upper end of the mask body 2 is brought into close contact with the face.

At this time, in the mask 1 of this embodiment, a joint part for fixing the base sheets 5 to each other in the front-rear direction is not formed in the area of the overlapping part 10 of the pleats 6, and the elastic band 4 and the mask main body 2 are not overlapped. Since the two (elastic band 4 and mask main body 2) are joined only in the area 11 by the welding part 17, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Also at both ends of the main body 2 in the left and right direction, the overlapping portion 10 can be freely changed in attitude from the non-deployed state to the deployed state. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vertical dimension difference between the horizontal center and both ends of the mask body 2 when the overlapping part 10 is in the unfolded state, so that It is possible to prevent both ends of the mask main body 2 from greatly curving into a fan-like shape, thereby preventing both ends of the mask main body 2 from bending and creating a gap between the mask main body 2 and the cheeks of the face. Furthermore, since the posture of the overlapping portion 10 at both ends of the mask body 2 can be freely changed from the non-deployed state to the deployed state (the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7), the wearer can It becomes easy to match the shape of the face and cheeks, and this also prevents gaps from forming between both ends of the mask body 2 and the face and cheeks.

Further, when the overlapping portions 10 of the pleats 6 located at both ends of the mask body 2 are changed in posture from the non-deployed state toward the deployed state, the superimposed portions 10 are placed in the non-deployed state as shown in FIG. 6(b). Since the biasing force (F) originating from the elastic band 4 in the direction of restoring the mask body 4 acts on the superimposed portion 10, this also suppresses the bending of both ends of the mask body 2 and allows the both ends and facial and cheek regions to This can prevent gaps from forming between the two. Even when the shape of the facial cheek area changes with changes in the facial expression of the wearer, the biasing force F of the elastic band 4 allows both ends of the mask body 2 to follow the shape change of the facial cheek area. This also prevents a gap from forming between both ends of the mask body 2 and the facial and cheek areas. As described above, according to the mask 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent a gap from forming between both ends of the mask body 2 in the left and right direction and the wearer's face and cheeks, thereby improving airtightness. An excellent mask 1 can be obtained.

Since the rear surface of the elastic band 4 in contact with the cheeks of the face is a flat surface, it is possible to suppress the formation of a gap between the mask 1 and the cheeks of the face when wearing the mask 1, thereby improving sealing performance. The elastic band 4 is composed of a vertically long rear wall 13 that covers the rear surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, a vertically long front wall 14 that covers the front surface of the left and right ends of the mask body 2, and a connecting part 15 that connects both walls. Therefore, it becomes possible to cover the left and right edges of the mask body 2 with the elastic bands 4, and it is possible to prevent the left and right edges of the mask body 2 from being easily damaged.

The mask body 2 in the non-deployed state is formed into a horizontally expanding rectangular flat plate shape so that the length dimensions of the left and right edges of the mask body 2 in the non-deployed state match the natural length of the elastic band 4. It is possible to prevent the left and right edges of the mask body 2 from contracting under the biasing force of the elastic band 4 in the non-deployed state, thereby preventing the mask body 2 from being inadvertently deformed.

Since the elastic band 4 is made of a stretchable nonwoven fabric, manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to when the elastic band is made of rubber or the like. Since the elastic band 4 that comes into contact with the cheeks of the face when worn is made of non-woven fabric, the mask 1 can also be given a soft touch feeling.

The shape of the mask body 2, such as the vertical and horizontal length dimensions and the number of pleats 6, is not limited to that shown in the embodiment. The shape and the like of the elastic band 4 are not limited to those shown in the embodiments. The method of joining the elastic band 4 and the mask body 2 or the method of joining the base sheets 5 constituting the overlapping portion 10 may be welding by heat sealing, or joining by ultrasonic sealing or the like.

1 Mask 2 Mask body 3 Locking part (ear strap)
4 Elastic band 5 Base sheet 6 Pleats 7 Upper folded part 8 Lower folded part 9 Band part 10 Overlapping part 11 Non-overlapping part 13 Rear wall 14 Front wall 15 Connecting part 17 Joint part (welded part)

Claims (3)

A mask body (2) formed of a base sheet (5) made of non-woven fabric and having multiple pleats (6) running in the left and right lateral directions, and ears etc. provided on both sides of the mask body (2) in the left and right direction. A pair of left and right elastic bands (4, 4) that are provided at both ends of the mask body (2) in the left and right direction and are expandable and retractable in the vertical direction,
Each pleat (6) is composed of an upper folded part (7), a lower folded part (8), and a band part (9) that connects both folded parts (7 and 8). Each pleat (6) is formed with an N-shaped overlapping part (10) when viewed from the side, where a total of three base sheets (5) located in the front and back direction overlap,
The elastic band (4) includes a vertically long rear wall (13) that covers the rear surface of the left and right ends of the mask body (2), a vertically long front wall (14) that covers the front surface of the left and right ends of the mask body (2), and both sides. It consists of a connecting part (15) that connects the left and right edges of the walls (13, 14),
The rear surface of the rear wall (13) of the elastic band (4) is a flat surface,
Between adjacent pleats (6) in the vertical direction of the mask body (2), above the pleats (6) located at the upper end, and below the pleats (6) located at the lower end, there is a single base in the front-rear direction. A non-overlapping part (11) is formed in which only the sheet (5) exists,
In the region of the overlapping portion (10) of each pleat (6), no joint is formed for fixing the base sheets (5) forming the overlapping portion (10) in the front-rear direction,
The elastic band (4) and the mask body (2) are connected only at the joint (17) formed in the region of the non-overlapping part (11),
When the overlapping portions (10) of the pleats (6) located at both ends in the left-right direction are displaced from the non-deployed state toward the deployed state, an elastic band ( A mask characterized in that the biasing force derived from item 4) is configured to act on the overlapping portion (10). In the non-deployed state, the mask body (2) is formed into a rectangular flat plate shape that spreads laterally,
The mask according to claim 1, wherein the length of the left and right edges of the mask body (2) in the non-deployed state matches the natural length of the elastic band (4). The mask according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic band (4) is made of a stretchable nonwoven fabric .

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