Method and Apparatus for Securing a Face Mask

Abstract

Provided is an article for securing a face mask including: a body that is formed of an elongated flexible, cord-like material of cloth, chain, leather, cord, or a combination thereof; a first end on the body, wherein the first end has a first attachment member that receives a first associated ear loop of an associated mask; a second end on the body, wherein the second end includes a second attachment member that receives a second associated ear loop of the associated mask; a first auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 or about 1 and 10 or about 10 inches from the first end; a second auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 or about 1 and 10 or about 10 inches from the second end; and an implement that mounts to the body between 1 or about 1 and 10 or about 10 inches from the first end or the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article for securing a face mask comprising:
 a body that is formed of an elongated flexible, cord-like material of cloth, chain, links, leather, cord, or a combination thereof;   a first end on the body, wherein the first end has a first attachment member that is capable of engaging a first associated ear loop of an associated mask;   a second end on the body, wherein the second end includes a second attachment member that is capable of engaging a second associated ear loop of the associated mask;   a first auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 and 10 or between about 1 and about 10 inches from the first end;   a second auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 and 10 or between about 1 and about 10 inches from the second end; and   an implement that mounts to the body between 1 and 10 or about 1 and about 10 inches from the first end or the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment members each comprise a spring-loaded clasp. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the spring-loaded clasp has a lever that, when depressed, opens a recess to receive the first associated ear loop and the second associated ear loop respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of a length between the body and a length of the first and second auxiliary strands ranges between 3:1 and 8:1 or from about 3:1 to about 8:1. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between a length of the body and a position of the first auxiliary strand and second auxiliary strand respectively from a first end and second end of the body ranges between 12:5 or about 12:5 to 24:1 or about 24:1. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio between the length of the body and the position of the first auxiliary strand and second auxiliary strand is 4.8:1. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first auxiliary strand and the second auxiliary strand are each about 3 or 3 inches in length, wherein the first auxiliary stand attaches to the body at about 5 or 5 inches from the first end, wherein the second auxiliary stand attaches to the body at about 5 or 5 inches from the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the implement attaches to the body at about 5 or 5 inches from the first end or the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the implement comprises at least one of a small watch, medical gauges, electronic devices, a thermometer, a pedometer, a pen or writing utensil, ear buds, a mobile phone, a blood pressure monitor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . An article for securing a face mask comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body is formed of an elongated flexible, cord-like material of cloth, chain, leather, links, cord, or a combination thereof;   a first attachment member on the first end, wherein the first attachment member is a spring-loaded clasp that has a lever that, when depressed, opens a recess;   a second attachment member on the second end, wherein the second attachment member is the spring-loaded clasp with the lever that, when depressed, opens a recess;   a first auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 and 10 inches or between about 1 and about 10 inches from the first end and which includes a first attachment member on at the end of the first auxiliary strand, the first attachment member comprising a spring-loaded clasp that has a lever that, when depressed, opens a recess;   a second auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 and 10 inches or between about 1 and about 10 inches from the second end and which includes a second attachment member on at the end of the first auxiliary strand, the first attachment member comprising a spring-loaded clasp that has a lever that, when depressed, opens a recess; and   an implement that mounts to the body between 1 and 10 inches or between about 1 and about 10 inches from the first end or the second end.   
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the implement comprises a small watch, medical gauges, electronic devices, a thermometer, a pedometer, a pen or writing utensil, ear buds, a mobile phone, a blood pressure monitor, a face mask or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of a length between the body and a length of the first and second auxiliary strands ranges between 3:1 and 8:1 or from about 3:1 to about 8:1. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the ratio between a length of the body and a position of the first auxiliary strand and second auxiliary strand respectively from a first end and second end of the body ranges between 12:5 or about 12:5 to 24:1 or about 24:1. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio between the length of the body and the position of the first auxiliary strand and second auxiliary strand is 4.8:1. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making a face mask holding article comprising the steps of:
 providing a body that is formed of an elongated flexible, cord-like material of cloth, chain, leather, links, cord, or a combination thereof, wherein the body has a first and a second end;   providing a first attachment member on the first end of the body, wherein the first attachment member comprises a spring-loaded clasp with a lever which when depressed, opens a recess;   providing a second attachment member on the second end of the body, wherein the second attachment member comprises a spring-loaded clasp with a lever which when depressed, opens a recess;   providing a first auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 or about 1 and 10 or about 10 inches from the first end;   providing a second auxiliary strand that attaches to the body between 1 or about 1 and 10 or about 10 inches from the second end; and   providing an implement that mounts to the body between 1 and 10 inches from the first end or the second end.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first auxiliary strand comprises first attachment member, wherein the first attachment member comprises a spring-loaded clasp with a lever which when depressed, opens a recess and the second auxiliary strand comprises a second attachment member, wherein the second attachment member comprises a spring-loaded clasp with a lever which when depressed, opens a recess. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 depressing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the first attachment member at the first end of the body to open the recess;   inserting a first associated ear loop of an associated mask into the open recess on the first attachment member at the first end of the body;   releasing the lever on the spring-load clasp on the first attachment member to close the recess;   depressing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the second attachment member at the second end of the body to open the recess;   inserting a second associated ear loop of the associated mask into the open recess on the second attachment member at the second end of the body; and   releasing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the second attachment member at the second end of the body to close the recess.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising:
 depressing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the first attachment member of the first auxiliary strand to open the recess; 
 inserting the implement into the open recess on the first attachment member of the first auxiliary strand; 
 releasing the lever on the spring-load clasp on the first attachment member of the first auxiliary strand to close the recess; 
 depressing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the second attachment member of the second auxiliary strand to open the recess; 
 inserting the implement into the open recess on the second attachment member of the second auxiliary member; and 
 releasing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the second attachment member of the second auxiliary member to close the recess. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising depressing the lever on the spring-loaded clasp on the first attachment member at the first end of the body to open the recess; inserting the second attachment member at the second end of the body into the open recess on the first attachment member at the first end of the body; and releasing the lever on the spring-load clasp on the first attachment member to close the recess. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the implement comprises a small watch, medical gauges, electronic devices, a thermometer, a pedometer, a pen or writing utensil, ear buds, a mobile phone, a blood pressure monitor, a face mask or a combination thereof.