Bandana mask

Abstract

A facemask includes a layer of material to cover a face of a person and a pocket formed on the layer of material, the pocket including: another layer of material that is fixed to the layer of material, and an opening at one side of the pocket, the opening being configured to receive a filter inserted into the pocket, where the pocket has a same size and shape as the filter, and where the opening open or sealed and, when open, is resealable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A facemask to be worn by a person, the facemask comprising:
 a layer of material to cover a face of the person; and   a pocket formed on the layer of material, the pocket comprising:
 another layer of material that is fixed to the layer of material, and 
 an opening at one side of the pocket, the opening being configured to receive a filter inserted into the pocket, 
   wherein the pocket has a same size and shape as the filter, and   wherein the opening is open or sealed and, when open, is resealable.   
     
     
         2 . The facemask according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the material has a symmetric shape that is folded over itself along a fold line to form two halves that have a same size and shape as each other. 
     
     
         3 . The facemask according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a fastening device connected to one of the halves and configured to fasten the facemask to the face of the person.   
     
     
         4 . The facemask according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the symmetric shape of the layer of the material is a square shape;   the fold line is a diagonal line extending from one corner of the square shape to an opposite corner of the square shape; and   when the square shape is folded along the fold line, the material forms two triangular shaped halves.   
     
     
         5 . The facemask according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the triangular shaped halves comprises:
 a first flat side that, when worn by the person, extends across the face of the person in a direction parallel to an axis that connects the two eyes of the person; and   a second flat and a third flat side that taper in a downward direction and converge at a vertex that is hanging below the person's face, to thereby form a bandana style mask.   
     
     
         6 . The facemask according to  claim 5 , wherein the fastening device comprises:
 a first tie down strap connected at one end thereof to the second flat side, and loose at the other end thereof; and   a second tie strap connected at one end thereof to the third flat side, and loose at the other end thereof,   wherein the first and second tie down straps are configured to be tied together behind a head and neck area of the person to thereby secure the facemask.   
     
     
         7 . The facemask according to  claim 5 , wherein the fastening device comprises:
 an elastic type material having a continuous band shape and two ends, one of the ends being connected to the second flat side and the other of the ends being connected to the third flat side,   wherein the elastic type material is configured to be looped around a head and neck area of the person to thereby secure the facemask.   
     
     
         8 . The facemask according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the material comprises a plurality of pleats that extend parallel to each other, to form a pleated facemask. 
     
     
         9 . The facemask according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the material comprises a round respirator type shape. 
     
     
         10 . The facemask according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the material comprises a one-piece type mask that is a single piece of the material that fits all the way around a head of the person to thereby secure the facemask. 
     
     
         11 . The facemask according to  claim 2 , further comprising a nose piece provided on the layer of the material, the nose piece comprising one of a strip of foldable metal that is configured to be folded around a nose of the person or a pre-formed nose piece. 
     
     
         12 . The facemask according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the material is formed of paper, cotton, polymer, polypropylene, plastic, metal, composites, or similar materials. 
     
     
         13 . The facemask according to  claim 6 , wherein when the opening at one side of the pocket is open, the first and the second tie down straps are configured such that, when the first and second tie down straps are tied to secure the facemask, the first and second tie down straps also seal the opening. 
     
     
         14 . A facemask system to be worn by a person, the facemask system comprising:
 a facemask, comprising:
 a layer of material to cover a face of the person; and 
 a pocket formed on the layer of material, the pocket comprising:
 another layer of material that is fixed to the layer of material, and 
 an opening at one side thereof, the opening being configured to receive a filter inserted into the pocket, 
 wherein the pocket has substantially a same size and shape as the filter, and wherein the opening is open or sealed and, when 
 
 open, is resealable; and 
   the filter,
 wherein the filter comprises a material that filters airborne particles having at least a certain predetermined size. 
   
     
     
         15 . The facemask system according to  claim 13 , wherein the material in the filter comprises at least one of activated charcoal, aluminum, zeolites, interlaced glass fibers, polypropylene, or chromium. 
     
     
         16 . The facemask system according to  claim 14 , wherein the filter and the pocket each have a triangular shape with round edges. 
     
     
         17 . The facemask system according to  claim 15 , wherein the pocket is sewn onto the layer of the material. 
     
     
         18 . The facemask system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the layer of the material has a symmetric shape that is folded over itself along a fold line to form two halves that have a same size and shape as each other;   the symmetric shape of the layer of the material is a square shape;   the fold line is a diagonal line extending from one corner of the square shape to an opposite corner of the square shape; and   when the square shape is folded along the fold line, the material forms two triangular shaped halves, each of the triangular shaped halves comprising:
 a first flat side that, when worn by the person, extends across the face of the person in a direction parallel to an axis that connects the two eyes of the person; and 
 a second flat and a third flat side that taper in a downward direction and converge at a vertex that is hanging below the face of the person, to thereby form a bandana style mask. 
   
     
     
         19 . A facemask to be worn by a person, the facemask comprising:
 a layer of material to cover a face of the person;   a pocket formed on the layer of material, the pocket comprising:
 another layer of material that is fixed to the layer of material, and 
 an opening at one side thereof, the opening being configured to receive a filter inserted into the pocket; and 
   a fastening device connected to the layer of the material and configured to fasten the facemask to the face of the person,   wherein the layer of the material is folded over itself to form two portions and the two portions are fixed together to form a double layer of the material to cover the face of the person when the facemask is fastened by the fastening device.   
     
     
         20 . The facemask according to  claim 19 , wherein the portions are a same size and shape as each other.