Armband Face Mask

Abstract

An armband worn on a user's forearm that has an attached envelope, which opens to reveal a face mask. The folded panels of the envelope are spring based so that when a user lifts up on a tab, the envelope springs open to reveal an attached face mask.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A face mask armband comprising:
 an armband strap assembly;   a face mask retaining assembly capable of being in a closed position or in an open position;   a plurality of molded plastic strips;   a plurality of magnets;   a plurality of face mask fastening panels;   a face mask;   the armband strap assembly comprising: a flexible strap with two ends; wherein the two ends of the flexible strap overlappingly attach to each other forming a circumference; further comprising a base plate, the base plate comprising a plurality of slots; wherein the flexible strap is threaded through the plurality of slots, slidably retaining the armband strap assembly to a user's arm;   the face mask retaining assembly made of a sheet of nylon and die cut and folded to form an envelope having a proximal panel, at least two side panels, and a distal panel, wherein the proximal panel is closer to the user's arm, wherein the folding action creates proximal panel to distal panel hinges and side panels to proximal panel hinges;   the die cut and folded sheet of nylon creates envelope of an essentially rectangular shape comprising two long edges and two short edges, wherein the long edges comprise the proximal panel to distal panel hinges and the short edges comprise of the side panels to proximal panel hinges;   the proximal panel of the face retaining mask assembly being fixedly attached to the base plate of the armband strap assembly;   each strip of the plurality of molded plastic strips comprising at least one recess to receive at least one of the plurality of magnets, wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge and wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge, wherein the magnets become stacked on top of each other when the proximal panel and the distal panel are in the closed position;   wherein at least one of the plastic strips being attached to the long edge of the proximal panel opposite of the proximal panel to distal panel hinge comprises an outwardly extending tab;   wherein the proximal panel, and the side panels comprise a plurality of fastening panels attached to each panel surface facing the each other of when the proximal and the distal panel are in the closed position, wherein the face mask comprises a plurality of fastening panels, wherein the plurality of fastening panels removably retain the face mask to the proximal panel and to the side panels; and   the folding edges of each the folding envelope panel acting as spring hinges so that when the panels are folded in on each other and held in place by the magnets, a user can lift up on the outwardly extending tab to release the magnets causing the folded panels to spring outward revealing the face mask removably retained to the side panels and the proximal panel of the face mask retaining assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A face mask armband as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of face mask fastening panels are made of low-profile hook-and-loop type fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . A face mask armband as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the face mask can be a reusable cloth mask or a disposable paper-based mask. 
     
     
         4 . A face mask armband as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the face mask retaining assembly comprises a first face mask and a second face mask, wherein the second face mask is stored between the proximal panel and the first face mask, wherein the second mask is not attached to the to the distal panel and is not attached to the side panels and is not opened by the unfolding of the distal panel and of the side panels. 
     
     
         5 . A face mask armband as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hinges are comprised of a plurality of pin hinges and torsion springs so that when the panels are folded in on each other and held in place by the magnets, a user can lift up on the outwardly extending tab to release the magnets causing the folded panels to spring outward and revealing the face mask removably retained to the side panels and the proximal panel of the face mask retaining assembly.