Personal protective equipment and methods

Abstract

Improved personal protective equipment facial wear including, in one embodiment, an at least partly adhesive mask, and one or more adhesive eye shields. In one implementation, the mask avoids significant contact with the delicate periorbital skin of the wearer, yet provides a substantially airtight seal so as to preclude moisture vapor transfer and “fogging” of eyeware or instruments. In another implementation, adherence of the eye shield is at least partially overlapping with the mask and creates an at least partial seal around a perimeter of the eye shield. Further, an at least partial seal is formed around a perimeter of the mask. The mask and eye shield additionally prevent nasal air flow obstruction, and address the problem of skin irritation and attachment during normal facial expression and movement of the wearer.

1 . A re-usable mask comprising:
 an air-permeable portion configured to be placed over a mouth and nose of a wearer, and having at least a top, uppermost edge;   a securing feature attached to a lower portion of the mask and which is configured to secure said mask via a neck of the wearer;   a first adhesive portion coupled, via a bottom edge of the first adhesive portion, to said top edge of said air-permeable portion; and   a second adhesive portion coupled to the first adhesive portion, without contacting any portion of said air-permeable portion, via the top edge of the first adhesive portion;   wherein each of said first adhesive portion and second adhesive portion of said mask comprises a shape configured to adhere to malar and nasal skin of said wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive portion comprises a thin-film portion that is configured to, when the mask is donned and adhered to the wearer's face using the thin-film portion, utilize no backing material. 
     
     
         3 . The mask of  claim 2 , wherein said first adhesive portion comprises an adhesive configured to release from any of said periorbital skin contacted thereby without trauma to any periorbital skin when said mask is removed. 
     
     
         4 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein said shape of at least one of said first adhesive portion or said second adhesive portion comprises:
 (i) two lateral strip elements; and   (ii) a nasal bridge feature, the nasal bridge feature having at least a portion thereof which is of lesser height than a height of each of the lateral strip elements, the nasal bridge feature and at least portion thereof to accommodate a bridge of a nose of the wearer while maintaining said two lateral strip elements at respective elevations which avoid contact thereof with periorbital skin of said wearer when said mask is worn.   
     
     
         5 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first adhesive portion or second adhesive portion comprises a flexible film dressing having a coefficient of friction and pliability comparable to at least one of said malar or nasal skin, and a thickness of said flexible film dressing is selected so as to permit distortion thereof during normal facial movements of said wearer without causing loss of adhesion. 
     
     
         6 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first adhesive portion extends above the top uppermost edge of the air permeable portion; and   the first adhesive portion is configured to act as a moisture vapor barrier against the wearer's breath so as to avoid fogging of optical apparatus used by the wearer while wearing the mask.   
     
     
         7 . The mask of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first removable backing covering a first side of said second adhesive portion; and   a second removable backing covering a first side of said first adhesive portion.   
     
     
         8 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive portion comprises separate left side and right removable backing portions configured to enable contouring of said first adhesive backing around one or more facial features of said wearer by the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . A mask comprising:
 an air-permeable portion configured to be placed over a mouth and nose of a wearer;   a securing feature consisting of a single strap, the single strap attached to a bottom portion of the mask and configured to secure said mask to said wearer via the wearer's neck; and   a first adhesive portion disposed above a top edge of said mask, said first adhesive portion configured to adhere to malar and nasal skin of a wearer, the malar and nasal skin disposed above said top edge when the mask is donned;   wherein said first adhesive portion is configured to form a moisture vapor seal between a first side of said first adhesive portion and skin of said wearer so as to limit fogging of optical apparatus used by said wearer while wearing said mask.   
     
     
         10 . The mask of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the mask comprises no ear loops; and   the single strap and mask cooperate to enable the mask to be worn lower on the wearer's face than a corresponding mask with ear loops.   
     
     
         11 . The mask of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the single strap is configured to assert at least a downward bias on the mask during use so as to place at least some tension on the first adhesive portion; and   the first adhesive portion is configured to resist the downward bias when the first adhesive portion is adhered to the malar and nasal skin of the wearer.   
     
     
         12 . The mask of  claim 9 , wherein the first adhesive portion comprises a nanostructure-based reusable adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The mask of  claim 9 , further comprising at least a second adhesive portion coupled directly or indirectly to the air-permeable portion; and
 wherein the first adhesive portion is configured for removal by the wearer after use thereby, so that the second adhesive portion can be utilized for re-donning the mask.   
     
     
         14 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An enhanced-comfort mask, comprising:
 an air-permeable portion configured to be placed over a mouth and nose of a wearer and extend below a chin of the user, and having at least a top edge;   a neck securing feature attached to only a lower portion of the mask at respective attachments points disposed on left and right sides of the mask; and   at least one first adhesive-carrying portion coupled to and extending above said top edge of said air-permeable portion and configured to adhere to malar and nasal skin of said wearer yet below periorbital skin of the wearer;   wherein said mask is configured such that when donned, said mask is securable in place on said wearer using only: (i) said neck securing feature and (ii) said at least one first adhesive-carrying portion.   
     
     
         26 . The mask of  claim 25 , wherein said neck securing feature and said attachment to only a lower portion of the mask at respective attachments points on left and right sides of the mask cooperate to create at least some downward and rearward bias on the mask when donned such that at least a portion of said mask is in tension against the at least one first adhesive-carrying portion. 
     
     
         27 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The mask of  claim 25 , further comprising at least a second adhesive-carrying portion coupled directly or indirectly to the air-permeable portion; and
 wherein the first adhesive-carrying portion is configured for removal by the wearer after use thereby, so that the at least a second adhesive-carrying portion can be utilized for re-donning the mask to the malar skin disposed above the top edge of the mask when the mask is donned.   
     
     
         31 . The mask of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the at least one first adhesive portion is configured to act as a moisture vapor barrier against the wearer's breath propagating into one or more orbital regions of the wearer's face; and   the at least one adhesive portion is configured to allow a distance between at least a portion of the top edge of the mask and a face of the wearer to vary while still maintaining the moisture vapor barrier.   
     
     
         32 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air-permeable portion comprises a bottom edge;   the securing feature is attached to a lower portion of the mask proximate the bottom edge; and   the securing feature is configured to secure said mask via a neck of the wearer such that the bottom edge contacts a front portion of the neck of the wearer when the mask is donned.   
     
     
         37 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least the second adhesive portion is configured to be separable by the wearer from the mask; and   said separation of the second adhesive portion from the mask does not change a size of the air permeable portion of the mask.   
     
     
         38 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least the second adhesive portion is configured to be separable by the wearer from the mask; and   said separation of the second adhesive portion from the mask does not change a width of the mask.   
     
     
         39 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein both the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion extend above the top edge of the air-permeable portion of the mask. 
     
     
         40 . The mask of  claim 38 , wherein both the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion may, when used, enable formation of a gap of varying distance between the top edge of the air-permeable portion and facial skin of the wearer while still maintaining a sealed moisture vapor barrier against moisture vapor propagating to one or more orbital regions of the wearer's face. 
     
     
         41 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air-permeable portion comprises a bottom edge; and   the air-permeable portion comprises a unitary sheet of air-permeable material extending from the top edge to the bottom edge.   
     
     
         42 . The mask of  claim 41 , wherein the unitary sheet of air-permeable material comprises a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         43 . The mask of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive portion and the second adhesive portion are (i) formed from a material different than a material of the air-permeable portion; and (ii) are not disposed upon any portion of the air-permeable portion. 
     
     
         44 . A mask comprising:
 an air-permeable portion configured to be placed over a mouth and nose of a wearer, said air-permeable portion comprising at least a top edge and an opposing bottom edge;   a single strap attached proximate the bottom edge of said air-permeable portion, the single strap configured to at least partly secure said mask to said wearer via a neck thereof, the single strap configured to create an at least partly downward bias on at least a portion of said mask when said single strap is engaged around said neck; and   a first strip mated to the top edge of the air-permeable portion and having a first adhesive-carrying portion disposed above said top edge of said air-permeable portion, said first adhesive-carrying portion configured to adhere to at least a portion of a malar skin of a wearer that is disposed above said top edge when said mask is donned, the first strip further comprising a first removable backing strip, the first removable backing strip disposed on a rear side of the mask and covering at least a portion of the first adhesive-carrying portion;   wherein said mask is configured such that it may be secured over the mouth and nose of the wearer via only (i) the single strap disposed at the bottom edge, and (ii) the first adhesive-carrying portion of the first strip disposed at the top edge; and   wherein said mask is configured to be donned via:
 removal of the first removable backing strip, the removal exposing the at least portion of the first adhesive-carrying portion; 
 placement of the mask over at least the mouth and nose of the wearer while the wearer presses on at least one second removable backing strip disposed on a front side of at least the first adhesive-carrying portion so as to cause adherence of the first adhesive-carrying portion to the at least portion of the malar skin above the tope edge, the adherence configured to form a moisture vapor seal of varying distance between said top edge and at least malar skin above the top edge so as to limit fogging of optical apparatus used by said wearer while wearing said mask, yet allowing a non-zero distance to exist between at least some portions of the top edge and the at least malar skin; 
 removal of the at least one second removable backing strip disposed on the front side; and 
 engagement of the single strap around the neck of the wearer. 
   
     
     
         45 . The mask of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the at least one second removable backing strip comprises first and second backing strips collectively forming a central arched region configured to accommodate at least a portion of the nose of the wearer at least during said pressing; and   the removal of the at least one second removable backing strip comprises removal of both the first and second backing strips by peeling away at least one respective edge of each of the first and second backing strips.   
     
     
         46 . The mask of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the first strip comprises a film dressing configured to accommodate distortion of at least a portion thereof during said pressing so as to enable formation of said moisture vapor seal.   
     
     
         47 . The mask of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the at least one second removable backing strip comprises first and second backing strips that collectively form a central region having (i) a lesser width than respective peripheral regions of the first and second backing strips, and (ii) a seam between the first and second backing strips, the lesser width and seam enabling accommodation of at least a portion of the nose of the wearer at least during said pressing; and   the first and second backing strips are configured such that the wearer can press on both the first and second backing strips independent of one another.   
     
     
         48 . An enhanced-comfort mask, comprising:
 an air-permeable portion configured to be placed over a mouth and nose of a wearer, and having at least a top edge and an outside surface opposing an inside surface, at least part of the inside surface configured to contact one or more portions of a face of the wearer;   a neck securing feature attached to a lower portion of the mask at respective attachments points disposed on left and right sides of the mask; and   at least one adhesive element coupled to said outside surface proximate said top edge of said air-permeable portion, a portion of the at least one adhesive element extending above said top edge and having adhesive properties so as to permit adhesion of the portion of the at least one adhesive element to facial skin of the wearer while also allowing varying distances between the top edge and the facial skin while still maintaining a moisture vapor barrier against vapor passing between the top edge and the facial skin to the orbital region of the wearer's face;   wherein said mask is unsealed on left and right edges of the air-permeable portion; and   wherein said mask is configured such that when donned, said mask is securable in place on said wearer using only: (i) said neck securing feature and (ii) said at least one adhesive element.   
     
     
         49 . The mask of  claim 48 , wherein the air-permeable portion comprises a lower edge, the mask configured such that the lower edge wraps at least partly under the user's chin when the mask is donned. 
     
     
         50 . The mask of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the air-permeable portion comprises a substantially rectangular form factor;   the attachment points disposed on left and right sides of the mask comprise attachment points disposed at the lower edge of the substantially rectangular air permeable portion.   
     
     
         51 . The mask of  claim 50 , wherein the mask is configured such that attachment points disposed at the lower edge of the air permeable portion reside at or below a jaw line of the wearer when the mask is donned by the wearer.