Apparel with Integrated Reusable Health Protective Face Mask and Methods for Wearing Same

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a system for releasably securing a face mask to a fabric hat, including a number of pin and socket cleats, each including a fastener surface for releasably retaining a strap of a face mask. Two or more cleats may be positioned to releasably engage the face mask to a surface of the hat when not being worn. Two or more cleats may be used to releasably retain the strap of the face mask to a face of a wearer during use. The face mask, cleats, and/or hat may each include a coordinating aesthetic design such as a logo or team emblem.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for stowing a face mask when not in use, the system comprising:
 a face mask configured to cover a nose and mouth of a wearer, the face mask comprising
 at least two layers of fabric, the face mask having a top edge configured to align against a nose of the wearer when in use, a bottom edge configured to align proximate a chin of the wearer when in use, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein
 the top edge and/or the bottom edge comprises an open seam between proximate layers of the at least two layers of fabric such that the top edge and/or the bottom edge provides a cavity between the proximate layers to define a pocket opening, wherein
 the pocket opening is configured to fit over at least a portion of a visor of a hat to stow the face mask against the visor of the hat when not in use, 
 
 
 a left strap extending from the left edge, the left strap comprising a stretchable material, and 
 a right strap extending from the right edge, the right strap comprising the stretchable material; and 
   at least two fasteners configured to attach to a band of the hat or a body of the hat above the band of the hat, wherein
 each fastener comprises an attachment point for releasably receiving one of the left strap and the right strap; 
   wherein, when a first fastener of the at least two fasteners is attached to a right side of the band or body of the hat relative to a position of the visor and disposed to stretchably receive right strap, and the second fastener is attached to a left side of the band or body of the hat relative to the visor and disposed to stretchably receive the left strap,
 the face mask is configured to be releasably retained against the hat with the pocket opening surrounding at least the portion of the visor with the right strap releasably attached to the first fastener, and then left strap releasably attached to the second fastener.