US4606341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Noncollapsible surgical face mask
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1985-09-23
•
Granted: 1986-08-19
•
Expires: 2005-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A noncollapsing pleated face mask (10) is disclosed. The face mask (10) is constructed entirely of heat seal bondable fabric. The mask (10) includes a trapezoidal-shaped single pleat (16) having reinforced side edges (30,32), and a reinforced folded longitudinal edge (28). The reinforcement along the diagonal side edges (30,32) and the longitudinal folded edge (28) is continuous so as to provide a pleated structure which resists deforming and collapsing against the wearer's face.
Inventors
- 👤 Vance M. Hubbard
- 👤 Welton K. Brunson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:45
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/05; A41D13/11; A41D13/1107; A41D13/1123; A41D13/1115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of fabricating a surgical face mask including a face panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, opposite side edges, an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a central section and a lower section to prevent collapsing thereof when worn, comprising the steps of: forming a pleat on the outer surface of the face panel by overlapping the central section of the face panel by folding it in opposite directions along two parallel longitudinal lines substantially transverse to the side edges of the panel such that the upper section extends above the pleat and the lower section extends below the pleat; forming nonfolded edges of the pleat diagonal to the side edges of the panel; bonding the diagonal nonfolded edges together; reinforcing the pleat along the folded longitudinal line; and fixing a plurality of fastening strings to said face panel for fastening said panel to the face of a person.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of fabricating a surgical face mask including a face panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, opposite side edges, an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a central section and a lower section to prevent collapsing thereof when worn, comprising the steps of: forming a pleat on the outer surface of the face panel by overlapping the central section of the face panel by folding it in opposite directions along two parallel longitudinal lines substantially transverse to the side edges of the panel such that the upper section extends above the pleat and the lower section extends below the pleat; forming nonfolded edges of the pleat diagonal to the side edges of the panel; bonding the diagonal nonfolded edges together; reinforcing the pleat along the folded longitudinal line; and fixing a plurality of fastening strings to said face panel for fastening said panel to the face of a person.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including reinforcing said pleat by bonding the upper and lower parts of the folded pleat together along the longitudinal folded edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 further including bonding said edge by heat seal bonding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 further including running a single heat seal bond along the folded edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further including reinforcing said edges of the pleat by heat seal bonding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 further including forming the reinforcing of the side edges and longitudinal edge as a continuous bond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 further including forming the pleat in a trapezoidal-like shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A surgical face mask for preventing the collapse thereof when worn, comprising: a face panel for covering the face of a person, said face panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, opposite side edges, an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a central section and a lower section; a plurality of fastening strings fixed to said face panel for fastening said panel to the face of the person; a pleat on the outer surface of said face panel formed by overlapping the central section of the face panel by folding it in opposite directions along two paralell longitudinal lines substantially transverse to the side edges of the panel such that the upper section extends above the pleat and the lower section extends below the pleat said pleat having opposite nonfolded edges disposed on each side of the folded edge, each said nonfolded edge being diagonal to the side edges of the face panel and including a top and bottom part of the pleat; means for fixing the top and bottom part of the pleat together at both said nonfolded diagonal edges thereof; and a reinforcement along the longitudinal folded edge of said pleat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
A surgical face mask for preventing the collapse thereof when worn, comprising: a face panel for covering the face of a person, said face panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, opposite side edges, an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, a central section and a lower section; a plurality of fastening strings fixed to said face panel for fastening said panel to the face of the person; a pleat on the outer surface of said face panel formed by overlapping the central section of the face panel by folding it in opposite directions along two paralell longitudinal lines substantially transverse to the side edges of the panel such that the upper section extends above the pleat and the lower section extends below the pleat said pleat having opposite nonfolded edges disposed on each side of the folded edge, each said nonfolded edge being diagonal to the side edges of the face panel and including a top and bottom part of the pleat; means for fixing the top and bottom part of the pleat together at both said nonfolded diagonal edges thereof; and a reinforcement along the longitudinal folded edge of said pleat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved face mask of claim 8 wherein said reinforcement comprises bonding the upper and lower parts of the pleat together along the longitudinal folded edge thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improved face mask of claim 8 wherein said bond comprises a heat seal bond.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved face mask of claim 10 wherein said bond comprises a single heat seal bond along the folded edge thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improved face mask of claim 11 wherein said pleat includes reinforced diagonal side edges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved face mask of claim 12 wherein said pleat is trapezoidal-like in shape, and further including a continuous reinforcement along the diagonal side edges and the longitudinal folded edge of said pleat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB191204789A
Cited
GB967455A
Cited
US3613678A
Cited
US3888246A
Cited
US3890966A
Cited
US3974829A
Cited
US4037593A
Cited
NL7706660A
Cited
GB1588442A
Cited
FR2471792A1
Cited
US4419993A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-18 | 1990-02-17 | 1990-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-18 | 1994-02-17 | 1994-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-18 | 1998-02-17 | 1998-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |