(B) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(C) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(D) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(E) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(F) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(G) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to face masks and more particularly pertains to a new face mask for providing breathing room when wearing a face mask.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to face masks and includes a variety of face masks configured for reducing the spread of germs by ventilating airflow from a mouth and nose of the user. Known prior art lacks a two piece face mask system configured for containing a face mask and producing space between the face mask and the mouth and nose of the user to enhance breathing.

(H) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a dome having a semi-spherical shape. The dome encloses a receiving space configured for receiving a face mask. An insert is pivotally coupled to the dome and is removably positioned within the receiving space of the dome. The insert is configured for abutting the face mask within the receiving space of the dome. The insert has an interior space configured for receiving a mouth and a nose of the user. A pair of loops is coupled to the dome and is configured for removably coupling to a pair of ears of the user, wherein the loops removably secure the dome to the face of the user.

Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method comprising a step of positioning a face mask within a receiving space of a dome. An insert is positioned within the receiving space of the dome and the insert abuts to a back side of the face mask thereafter. A mouth and a nose of a user are positioned within an interior space of the insert, wherein a perimeter edge of the dome abuts to a face of a user. A pair of loops of the dome is coupled to a pair of ears of the user thereafter.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(I) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a face mask shape retainer device and method according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side open view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along Line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(J) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new face mask embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the face mask shape retainer device and method 10 generally comprises a dome 12 enclosing a receiving space 14 configured for receiving a face mask 16, wherein the face mask 16 is configured for filtering air a user breathes when the filter 16 is worn on the face 20 of the user 18. The dome 12 has a semi-spherical shape having a perimeter edge 22 configured for removably abutting the face 20 of the user 18.

The dome 12 typically comprises a rigid material 24. The rigid material 24 is configured for retaining the semi-spherical shape, wherein the face mask 16 retains its shape when positioned within the receiving space 14 of the dome. The rigid material 24 is typically perforated, wherein the dome 12 is ventilated. The dome 12 is normally lightweight and may be hypoallergenic such that the dome 12 does not induce allergic reactions for the user 18 when abutting the face 20 of the user 18.

An insert 26 is removably positionable within the receiving space 14 of the dome and is configured for abutting the face mask 16 within the receiving space 14 of the dome 12. The insert 26 has an interior space 28 configured for receiving a mouth 30 and a nose 32 of the user 18, wherein the face mask 16 is spaced from the mouth 30 and the nose 32 of the user 18 when the insert 26 and the face mask 16 are positioned within the receiving space 14.

The insert 26 normally has a convex shape, wherein an apex 34 of the convex shape is configured for abutting the face mask 16 within the receiving space 14. The insert 26 has a boundary edge 36, wherein the boundary edge 36 of the insert 26 is positioned proximate to the perimeter edge 22 of the dome 12 when the insert 26 is positioned within the receiving space 14 of the dome 12. A pivoting member 38 such as a flexible joint or living hinge may be coupled to the boundary edge 36 of the insert 26 and to the perimeter edge 22 of the dome 12, wherein the pivoting member 38 pivotally couples the insert 26 to the dome 12. The insert 26 normally comprises a semi-rigid material 40, wherein the insert 26 is configured for being resiliently bendable. The semi-rigid material 40 is normally perforated, wherein the insert 26 is ventilated.

A pair of loops 42 is coupled to the dome 12 and is configured for removably coupling to a pair of ears 44 of the user 18, wherein the loops 42 removably secure the dome 12 to the face 20 of the user 18. Each loop 42 has a pair of ends 46 coupled to the dome 12. Each end 46 of the pair of ends 46 of each loop 42 may be inserted through one hole 48 of a plurality of holes 48 extending through the dome 12 and each end 46 may be tied in a knot thereafter to facilitate retaining the pair of loops 42 to the dome 12. Each loop 42 of the pair of loops 42 may comprise an elastomeric material, wherein each loop 42 of the pair of loops 42 is elastic and stretchable.

In use, the face mask 16 is positioned within the receiving space 14 of the dome 12. The insert 26 is positioned within the receiving space 14 of the dome 12 and the insert 26 abuts to a back side of the face mask 16 thereafter. The mouth 30 and the nose of the user 18 are positioned within the interior space 28 of the insert 26, wherein a perimeter edge 22 of the dome 12 abuts to the face 20 of the user 18. The pair of loops of the dome 12 are coupled to the pair of ears 44 of the user 18 thereafter. The user 18 may breathe through the dome 12 and the insert 26. The face mask 16 filters the air passing through the dome 12 and the insert 26 when the user 18 breathes.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.