Face mask with support and related method

Abstract

The face mask with support includes a face mask and a support member. The face mask has left border piece, a right border piece, and a main piece. The main piece has multiple gaps where the support member is positioned. The support member has a left edge, a right edge, and a flexible piece. When the upper and lower rim of the face mask are pulled apart, the left border piece and the right border piece are brought closer towards each other, pushing the left and right edges to bend the support member and creating a buffer space between the main piece and the wearer's face. The face mask enhances wearer breathing smoothness, and its tightness against the wearer's face.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A face mask with support, comprising:
 a face mask comprising a left border piece along a lateral edge of the face mask, a right border piece along another lateral edge opposite the left border piece of the face mask, and a main piece between the left and right border pieces, where the main piece has a plurality of gaps; and   a support member positioned in the gaps comprising a left edge along a lateral edge of the support member, a right edge along another lateral edge of the support member opposite to the left edge, and a flexible piece between the left and right edges;   wherein the left and right edges are respectively pressed against the left and right border pieces by the flexible piece; and, when the flexible piece is bended forward, a buffer space is selectively created between the face mask and a wearer's face.   
     
     
         2 . The face mask according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the face mask is in a planar configuration, the width of the support member from the left edge to the right edge is between 95% and 105% of the distance between the left border piece and the right border piece. 
     
     
         3 . The face mask according to  claim 1 , wherein the main piece comprises a planar piece, a first upper bending section having an inverted U-shaped cross-section whose front edge joined to an upper edge of the planar piece, a first upper piece whose upper edge is joined to a back edge of the first upper bending section, a second upper bending section having a U-shaped cross-section whose front edge is joined to a lower edge of the first upper piece, a planar second upper piece whose lower edge is joined to a back edge of the second upper bending section, a first lower bending section having a U-shaped cross-section whose front edge is joined to a lower edge of the planar piece, a first lower piece whose lower edge is joined to a back edge of the first lower bending section, a second lower bending section whose front edge is joined to an upper edge of the first lower piece, and a second lower piece whose upper edge is joined to a back edge of the second lower bending section. 
     
     
         4 . The face mask according to  claim 3 , wherein the planar piece has a first height with a lateral first bisector line, the second upper piece has a second height, the second lower piece has a third height, and the face mask has an overall height from the second upper piece's upper edge to the second lower piece's lower edge; the face mask overall height has a lateral second bisector line; the first height is between 42% to 64% of the face mask overall height; the second height is between 42% to 48% of the face mask overall height; the third height is between 31% to 39% of the face mask overall height; the first lateral line is below the second lateral line; and an offset distance between the first lateral line and the second lateral line is between 2% to 10% of the face mask overall height. 
     
     
         5 . The face mask according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member has an H-like shape with an upper notch. 
     
     
         6 . A face mask supporting method, comprising:
 (a) placing a support member inside gaps of a face mask;   (b) pressing a left edge of the support member against a left border piece of the face mask and pressing a right edge of the support member against a right border piece of the face mask;   (c) pulling an upper rim and a lower rim of the face mask so that a main piece of the face mask are unfolded to fit on a wearer's face and the left border piece and the right border piece are driven towards each other; and   (d) propping up the main piece to create a buffer space as a flexible piece of the support member is bended when the left edge and the right edge of the support member are pressed by the left border piece and the right border piece, where, due to the resilience of the support member, the upper and lower rims of the face mask are more stuck to the wearer's face.   
     
     
         7 . The face mask supporting method according to  claim 6 , wherein, when the face mask is in a planar configuration, the width of the support member from the left edge to the right edge is between 95% and 105% of the distance between the left border piece and the right border piece. 
     
     
         8 . The face mask supporting method according to  claim 6 , wherein the main piece comprises a planar piece, a first upper bending section having an inverted U-shaped cross-section whose front edge joined to an upper edge of the planar piece, a first upper piece whose upper edge is joined to a back edge of the first upper bending section, a second upper bending section having a U-shaped cross-section whose front edge is joined to a lower edge of the first upper piece, a planar second upper piece whose lower edge is joined to a back edge of the second upper bending section, a first lower bending section having a U-shaped cross-section whose front edge is joined to a lower edge of the planar piece, a first lower piece whose lower edge is joined to a back edge of the first lower bending section, a second lower bending section whose front edge is joined to an upper edge of the first lower piece, and a second lower piece whose upper edge is joined to a back edge of the second lower bending section. 
     
     
         9 . The face mask supporting method according to  claim 8 , wherein the planar piece has a first height with a lateral first bisector line, the second upper piece has a second height, the second lower piece has a third height, and the face mask has an overall height from the second upper piece's upper edge to the second lower piece's lower edge; the face mask overall height has a lateral second bisector line; the first height is between 42% to 64% of the face mask overall height; the second height is between 42% to 48% of the face mask overall height; the third height is between 31% to 39% of the face mask overall height; the first lateral line is below the second lateral line; and an offset distance between the first lateral line and the second lateral line is between 2% to 10% of the face mask overall height. 
     
     
         10 . The face mask supporting method according to  claim 6 , wherein the support member has an H-like shape with an upper notch.