Cold Weather Exposure Mask

Abstract

A Cold or Inclement Weather Exposure Mask is designed to fit snugly around the wearer's face, head, and neck. The mask serves vital needs of warmth, humidity, moisture management and air flow. A raised, pliable chamber covering the mouth and nose of the wearer provides a breathing space to allow normal breathing while keeping the face warm and dry. The chamber is affixed to a fabric panel made of a water and wind resistant, non-irritating, comfortable, and stretchable material. A fastening means on the panel holds the mask in place around the wearer. The chamber includes multiple apertures which allow fresh, ambient air to pass to the wearer after it is mixed with warm, humid, exhaled air. The apertures also exhaust breath, air and condensation. Colors and pattern selections allow adaptation to all labor and recreation uses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mask comprising:
 a concave-shaped pliable chamber extending generally forward to define a breathing space, the chamber arranged and constructed to fit around the nose and mouth of the wearer,
 the chamber having an interior surface and exterior surface, 
 the chamber having a peripheral edge constructed to rest flush on the wearer's face, 
 the chamber further comprising a plurality of bi-directional airflow apertures, 
 the breathing space fluidly connected to the ambient environment by the bi-directional apertures when worn by the wearer, 
 at least one panel affixed to the chamber, the panel providing a means to fasten or hold the mask securely in place on the wearer. 
   
     
     
         2 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is made of a pliable plastic. 
     
     
         3 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is made of molded foam. 
     
     
         4 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional apertures are open to the free passage of air in either direction. 
     
     
         5 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures further comprise at least one aperture centrally positioned on the front chamber wall across from and in front of the nostrils and mouth of the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The Mask of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface of the chamber further comprises a non-absorbent surface causing said surface to accumulate and store moisture within the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the chamber is configured to humidify cold, ambient air drawn into the breathing space during inhalation. 
     
     
         8 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise at least one moisture management aperture configured to discharge the wearer's breath and condensation. 
     
     
         9 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures further comprise a moisture management system having at least one aperture through a lower wall of the chamber for the gravitational discharge of the wearer's breath and condensation from the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The Mask of  claim 1 , wherein the breathing space further comprises an open space between the face of the wearer and the walls of the chamber, said breathing space configured to contain and accommodate the mixing of the air inhaled through the apertures with the warm, humid air that has been exhaled by the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise at least one void. 
     
     
         12 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise at least one slit. 
     
     
         13 . A mask of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber walls are configured to prevent the dissipation of the warm and moist air exhaled into the breathing space. 
     
     
         14 . A mask comprising:
 a concave-shaped pliable chamber extending generally forward to define a breathing space fluidly connected to the ambient environment when worn by a wearer, the chamber arranged to fit around the nose and mouth of the wearer,
 the chamber having a front wall, at least two side walls, a lower wall and at least one top wall, each with an interior and exterior surface,
 the side walls, lower wall and top wall each adjacent to the front wall, 
 the top wall configured to fit under the eyes, and over the nose of the wearer, 
 the side walls, lower wall and top wall of the chamber having a peripheral edge disposed opposite the front wall, 
 the peripheral edge arranged to rest against the wearer's face, 
 the interior surface of the chamber configured to retain and store moisture expelled during exhalation, 
 
 the chamber further comprising a plurality of bi-directional airflow apertures,
 the apertures comprising at least one aperture centrally positioned on the front wall of the chamber across from and in front of the nostrils and mouth of the wearer, 
 the apertures further comprising at least one moisture management aperture positioned in the chamber for the discharge of breath and excess condensation, 
 
 the breathing space of the chamber comprising an open space between the face of the wearer and the walls of the chamber,
 the breathing space fluidly connected to the ambient environment by the bi-directional apertures, 
 the breathing space configured to accommodate and contain the dynamic mixing of the air inhaled from the apertures with the air and condensation exhaled from the wearer, 
 
 at least one panel affixed to the chamber, providing a means to fasten or hold the mask securely in place on the wearer. 
   
     
     
         15 . The Mask of  claim 14 , wherein the apertures further comprise at least one aperture located on each side wall. 
     
     
         16 . The Mask of  claim 14 , wherein said interior surface of the chamber further comprises a non-absorbent surface causing said surface to accumulate and release exhaled moisture within the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The Mask of  claim 14 , wherein the moisture management aperture is disposed on the lower wall of the chamber in between the wearer's face and the front wall. 
     
     
         18 . The Mask of  claim 14 , wherein the chamber walls are made of a pliable material which regains its original shape after bending. 
     
     
         19 . A method for warming and humidifying cold, ambient air by a non-mechanized face mask which comprises:
 affixing a concave-shaped, pliable chamber over the nose and mouth and under the eyes of the wearer, said chamber having an interior and exterior surface and peripheral edge, said chamber further having bi-directional airflow apertures,   providing an open breathing space between the face of the wearer and the interior wall of the chamber when resting the peripheral edge of the chamber against the face of the wearer,   maintaining an open and fluid air-flow connection between the ambient air and the breathing space through the bi-directional apertures during inhalations and exhalations by the wearer,   capturing moisture expelled during exhalation on the interior surface of the chamber, preventing the dissipation of the warm, humid air into the ambient environment through the presence of the chamber walls,   drawing cold, ambient air into the breathing space through the bi-directional airflow apertures during inhalation by the wearer,   humidifying the air drawn into the breathing space by forcing said air to encounter the captured moisture on the interior surface,   forcibly mixing the cold, ambient air drawn into the breathing space with the warm, humid air retained within the breathing space to form a continuously warmed and humidified air supply for the wearer.   
     
     
         20 . The mask of  claim 19 , wherein is included the step of gravitationally draining excess moisture captured and retained within the chamber through one or more bi-directional drain apertures.