Mask or other device having adjustable scent carrier

Abstract

A face mask assembly includes a face mask having inner and outer surfaces, with a first receiving portion defined between the inner and outer surfaces and a scent carrier removably installed in the first receiving portion. The scent carrier has a housing that defines a chamber to hold a scent or vapor releasing material. Scent releasing apertures are defined in the housing in fluidic communications with the chamber. The effective size of the apertures is adjustable by a selective closing mechanism. The face mask can also have a second receiving portion, and a thermal ballast can be removably inserted into the second receiving portion.

1 . A face mask assembly comprising:
 a face mask having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface configured for contacting the skin of a user;   a first receiving portion coupled to the outer surface; and   a scent carrier configured to be removably installed in the first receiving portion, the scent carrier comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber to hold a scent or vapor releasing material; 
 at least one scent releasing aperture in the housing in fluidic communications with the chamber and having an effective size; and 
 a selective closing mechanism for adjusting the effective size of the at least one scent releasing aperture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The face mask assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises first and second cover plates that are removably connected to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The face mask assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first and second cover plates are hinged together. 
     
     
         4 . The face mask assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first and second cover plates are coupled together with a child-proofing mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The face mask assembly of  claim 1  wherein the selective closing mechanism comprises a sliding portion for selectively increasing and decreasing the effective size of the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The face mask assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first receiving portion is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The face mask assembly of  claim 1  wherein the face mask further comprises a second receiving portion, and the face mask assembly further comprises a thermal ballast insert capable of being received in the second receiving portion. 
     
     
         8 . The face mask assembly of  claim 7  wherein the second receiving portion is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The face mask assembly of  claim 8  wherein the scent carrier is disposed between the thermal ballast insert and the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The face mask assembly of  claim 7  wherein the thermal ballast insert comprises a flexible bladder defining an interior space holding a thermal gel. 
     
     
         11 . The face mask assembly of  claim 7  wherein a shape of the thermal ballast insert is substantially identical to a shape of the face mask. 
     
     
         12 . The face mask assembly of  claim 7  wherein the thermal ballast insert is removably installed in the second receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The face mask assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing of the scent carrier comprises a first housing member rotatably coupled to a second housing member, the first housing member comprising the at least one scent releasing aperture, and rotation between the first and second housing members adjusts the effective size of the at least one scent releasing aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The face mask assembly of  claim 13  wherein the first housing member comprises a first access slot, and the second housing member comprises a corresponding second access slot configured such that rotation between the first and second housing members causes the first access slot to align with the second access slot to permit the user to gain access to the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The face mask assembly of  claim 13  wherein the housing comprises a child-proof mechanism to couple the first housing member to the second housing member. 
     
     
         16 . A toy comprising:
 a body having an outer surface;   a receiving portion located in or on the body; and   a scent carrier configured to be removably installed in the receiving portion, the scent carrier comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber to hold a scent or vapor releasing material; 
 at least one scent releasing aperture in the housing in fluidic communications with the chamber and having an effective size; and 
 a selective closing mechanism for adjusting the effective size of the at least one scent releasing aperture. 
   
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein the toy is a stuffed toy. 
     
     
         18 . A pillow comprising:
 a covering material defining a cavity;   a resilient stuffing material disposed inside the cavity;   a pocket formed in or on the covering material; and   a scent carrier configured to be removably installed in the pocket, the scent carrier comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber to hold a scent or vapor releasing material; 
 at least one scent releasing aperture in the housing in fluidic communications with the chamber and having an effective size; and 
 a selective closing mechanism for adjusting the effective size of the at least one scent releasing aperture. 
   
     
     
         19 . A face mask comprising:
 a forehead portion for covering at least a portion of the forehead of a user and two eye portions for covering at least the eyes of the user, wherein the forehead and eye portions define an inner surface configured for contacting the skin of the user and an outer surface;   a strap for urging the inner surface to contact the face of the user;   a first receiving portion coupled to the outer surface between the two eye portions; and   a scent carrier configured to be removably engaged with the first receiving portion, the scent carrier comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber to hold a scent or vapor releasing material; 
 at least one scent releasing aperture in the housing in fluidic communications with the chamber and having an effective size; and 
 a selective closing mechanism for adjusting the effective size of the at least one scent releasing aperture. 
   
     
     
         20 . The face mask of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a second receiving portion defined between the inner and outer surfaces; and 
 a thermal ballast insert installed in the second receiving portion; 
 wherein the first and second receiving portions are configured so that the scent carrier is disposed between the thermal ballast insert and the outer surface.