Fog Preventing Barrier for a Mask and Method

Abstract

A fog preventing barrier for a respiratory mask is disclosed. The barrier has a flexible elongated infill layer and a mask hanger. The mask hanger is connected to the infill layer to removably connect the infill layer to a mask where the infill layer closes a mask-to-face gap at a top of the mask when worn by a wearer. The barrier may have an adhesive layer attached to the infill layer instead of or in addition to a mask hanger for removably attaching the infill layer across a wearer's nose. The barrier may have a conforming strip connected to the infill layer and bendable to conform to a conforming shape about a nose and cheeks of a wearer to hold the infill layer in the conforming shape.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fog preventing barrier for a respiratory mask, comprising:
 a flexible elongated infill layer; and,   a mask hanger connected to the infill layer to removably connect the infill layer to a respiratory mask where the infill layer closes a mask-to-face gap at a top of the mask when worn by a wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the mask hanger comprises a plurality of mask hangers fixed to the infill layer. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the mask hanger is fixed to the infill layer by an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the mask hanger extends above a top edge of the infill layer. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the mask hanger is a hook comprising a movable terminal end and a mask receiving opening, the terminal end is moveable to change a size of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier of  claim 1 , comprising a conforming strip connected to the hanger and the infill layer. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the conforming strip extends along at least a portion of the length of the infill layer. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the conforming strip is bendable and is shape retaining. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier of  claim 7 , wherein the conforming strip is bendable to conform to a conforming shape about a nose and cheeks of a wearer, the conforming strip is shape-retaining to hold the infill layer in the conforming shape. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the infill layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of: cloth, textile, cotton batting, foam, wool, and felt. 
     
     
         11 . A fog preventing barrier for a respiratory mask, comprising:
 a flexible elongated infill layer, where the infill layer comprises a length and a height, the length is greater than the height, for closing a mask-to-face gap at a top of the mask when worn by a wearer; and,   an adhesive layer attached to a back side of the infill layer for removably attaching the infill layer across a wearer's nose.   
     
     
         12 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein the infill layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of: cloth, textile, cotton batting, foam, wool, and felt. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises an acrylate or a rubber based adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . A method to prevent fog on the eyewear of a respiratory mask wearer, comprising the steps of:
 removably connecting a flexible elongated infill layer at or adjacent a top edge of a respiratory mask to close a mask-to-face gap at the top of the mask when worn by a wearer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of removably connecting is further defined in that the infill layer is removably connected to the top edge of the mask with a hanger. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of removably connecting is further defined in that the infill layer is removably connected to the top edge of the mask with a plurality of hangers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising the step of shaping the contour of the infill layer to conform to the shape of a wearer's nose by pressing the infill layer down on the wearer's nose and cheeks, wherein the infill layer is connected to a conforming strip. 
     
     
         18 . A method to prevent fog on the eyewear of a respiratory mask wearer, comprising the steps of:
 removably connecting a flexible elongated infill layer to a wearer's face across a wearer's nose; and,   placing a respiratory mask on the wearer's face so that the infill layer closes a mask-to-face gap at the top of the mask when worn by a wearer.