Strapless face mask

Abstract

A strapless face mask retainer has a nasal columella bridge defined by a lateral span curved to conform to a facial structure of a wearer and includes a pair of columella pads each receivable within respective nostrils of the wearer. A covering frame is defined at least by a transverse frame span with opposed left and right ends, and by vertical frame arms that extend from the corresponding left and right ends of the transverse frame span. Each of the vertical frame arms define an upper end at least horizontally coincident with or above openings of the nostrils of the wearer. The vertical frame arms also define a lower end that is below a mouth of the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A strapless face mask retainer, comprising:
 a nasal columella bridge defined by a lateral span curved to conform to a facial structure of a wearer, and including a pair of columella pads extending therefrom and each receivable within respective nostrils of the wearer; and   a covering frame defined at least by a transverse frame span with opposed left and right ends, and vertical frame arms extending from the corresponding left and right ends of the transverse frame span, each of the vertical frame arms defining an upper end at least horizontally coincident with or above openings of the nostrils of the wearer, and a lower end below a mouth of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The strapless face mask of  claim 1 , further comprising a covering fabric fitted to the covering frame. 
     
     
         3 . The strapless face mask of  claim 2 , wherein the covering fabric is a pouch with an inner fabric sheet and an outer fabric sheet attached together, and defined by an opening. 
     
     
         4 . The strapless face mask of  claim 3 , wherein the upper ends of the vertical frame arms each define an enlarged retention tip engageable to corners of the pouch defining the covering fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The strapless face mask of  claim 1 , wherein the covering frame is further defined by a bottom transverse frame span connecting the lower ends of the vertical frame arms. 
     
     
         6 . The strapless face mask of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom transverse frame span is curved to conform to a chin facial structure of the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The strapless face mask of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral span of the nasal columella bridge is integral with the transverse frame span of the covering frame. 
     
     
         8 . The strapless face mask of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal columella bridge is attached to and removable from the covering frame, the lateral span defining a slot receptive to the transverse frame span of the covering frame. 
     
     
         9 . The strapless face mask of  claim 1 , wherein the columella pads are spaced apart from each other at a proscribed distance corresponding to a width of a nasal columella of the wearer between left and right nostrils thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A face covering apparatus, comprising:
 a nasal columella bridge defined by an upper lateral span curved to conform to a facial structure of a wearer;   a pair of columella pads extending from the columella bridge and receivable within respective nostrils of the wearer;   a covering frame defined by vertical frame arms extending from opposing side ends of the nasal columella bridge between an upper position above openings of the nostrils and a lower position below a mouth of the wearer; and   a covering fitted on to the covering frame.   
     
     
         11 . The face covering apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the covering is a pouch with an inner fabric sheet and an outer fabric sheet attached together, and is defined by an opening. 
     
     
         12 . The face covering apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the upper ends of the vertical frame arms each define an enlarged retention tip engageable to corners of the pouch. 
     
     
         13 . The face covering apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a bottom lateral span connecting the vertical frame arms. 
     
     
         14 . The face covering apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom lateral span is curved to conform to a chin facial structure of the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . The face covering apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the columella pads are spaced apart from each other at a proscribed distance corresponding to a width of a nasal columella of the wearer between the nostrils thereof.