Social Interaction Face Mask

Abstract

This present application relates to personal protective equipment, namely a face mask which allows an individual to engage in social activities without fully compromising the protection offered by the personal protective equipment. More specifically, the face mask has a moveable flap that may be secured in one of three different positions to permit the individual flexibility in using the face mask. The face mask may further have a hinged portion to allow for easily movement of the flap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A face mask system comprising:
 a blank of material, the material being both breathable and flexible;   a first band and a second band for holding the blank of material to a face of an individual;   a flap disposed over one of the individual's mouth or nose, the flap repositionable between at least a first position and second position; and   a securement for holding the flap in a select one of the first and second positions.   
     
     
         2 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is a closed position and the second position is an open position. 
     
     
         3 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is repositionable to a third position, wherein the flap only covers a select one of the individual's nose or mouth. 
     
     
         4 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the blank of material has a first side and a second side. 
     
     
         5 . The face mask system of  claim 4 , wherein the second side faces the nose of the individual. 
     
     
         6 . The face mask system of  claim 4 , wherein an indicia is provided on at least one of the first and second sides. 
     
     
         7 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the face mask is made from one of a woven or a non-woven material. 
     
     
         8 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the securement is one of a hook and loop system, a snap, a clap, a magnet, a button, a zipper, an adhesive or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The face mask system of  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive is one of a removable, a repositionable or a resealable type of adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The face mask system of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is connected to the blank of material along a first edge of the flap. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a face mask comprising the steps of:
 providing a face mask constructed from a blank of a breathable and flexible material and a flap disposed over one of a mouth or a nose, the flap movable between at least a first position and a second position, and a securement for holding the flap in one of the first and second positions;   moving the flap from the first position to the second position; and   securing the flap with the securement.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , including a further step of securing the flap over one of the nose or mouth with the securement. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the securement is one of a hook and loop system, a snap, a clasp, a magnet, a button, a zipper, an adhesive or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the flap substantially covers the mouth and the nose when in the first position. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step of securing is one of securing the flap over one the nose and the mouth or securing the flap in a third position wherein one of the nose or the mouth remains exposed. 
     
     
         16 . An accessible face mask comprising:
 a flexible material having a first side, a second side, a first edge and a second edge;   at least two pairs of ties, wherein a first pair of said at least two pairs of ties is secured to the first side and a second pair of said at last two pairs of ties is secured to the second side; and   a movable access panel disposed over an area of the flexible material covering a mouth of a wearer, wherein the moveable access panel comprises a securement feature, and further wherein the movable access panel is repositionable between a first position, a second position and a third position.   
     
     
         17 . The accessible face mask as recited in  claim 16 , wherein in the first position, the movable access panel completely covers the mouth and the nose of the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The accessible face mask as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the securement feature is one of a hook and loop system, a snap, a clasp, a magnet, a button, a zipper, an adhesive or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The accessible face mask as recited in  claim 16 , wherein in the second position, the movable access panel does not cover the mouth or the nose of the wearer. 
     
     
         20 . The accessible face mask as recited in  claim 16 , wherein in the third position, the movable access panel completely covers one of the mouth or the nose, but not both the mouth and the nose.