Scarfguard systems   

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/285,567, filed Dec. 11, 2009 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of face-masks and more specifically relates to a scarfguard that may be used for warmth and to protect the wearer against everyday germs and viruses in a chic and discreet manner.

2. Description of the Related Art

Viruses, bacteria and other disease carrying pathogens can spread quickly through populated public areas such as universities, office buildings, stores and on various modes of public transportation. Although a significant number of consumers are concerned about their exposure to airborne and surface dwelling germs, few preventative measures are currently available. Consumers can wash their hands with anti-bacterial soap, but most people would prefer not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated such as grocery carts, door handles, and gas station pumps. Surgical masks and other filters can be worn over the nose and mouth to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens, but these tend to be uncomfortable and draw unwanted attention to the wearer. A more discreet option is needed for keeping consumers healthy, germ free and suitably protected from environmental conditions.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,214,804, 7,152,252, 4,641,379, 5,033,115, 5,794,276, D369,442. This prior art is representative of facial protectors. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, a scarfguard device for protecting users from environmental conditions should be chic and user-friendly and, yet operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable scarfguard system to provide warmth to a wearer and to protect the wearer against everyday germs and viruses in a chic and discreet manner and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known face-mask art, the present invention provides a novel Scarfguard system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide warmth and to protect the wearer against everyday germs and viruses in a chic and discreet manner.

Scarfguard may be used for warmth and to protect the wearer against everyday germs and viruses in a chic and discreet manner. The scarf has a pocket for the insertion of a disposable facemask that filters out airborne pathogens such as the flu virus. Each end of the scarf has a pocket allowing the user to slide their hands inside before turning a doorknob, pushing an elevator button, or touching other surfaces in public areas that may be contaminated. This product can be worn inside and out allowing consumers to be proactive and protect themselves from germs in a discreet and fashionable way. College students, people who commute on public transportation, and any other health conscious individual can wear this item to protect themselves from germs as often as they feel it\'s needed. People that have asthma, emphysema, or those suffering from an autoimmune deficiency would especially benefit from this convenient item.

A kit is also embodied herein for the scarfguard system comprising: at least one scarf garment; and at least one removable disposable protective mask insert.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention a preferred method of use is disclosed herein comprising: inserting a removable disposable protective mask insert into a mask-pocket located integral with a scarf garment; donning and wrapping the scarf garment around a face and/or neck of a wearer for protection from cold weather and airborne particles and pathogens; removing the scarf garment; and disposing of the used removable disposable protective mask insert and replacing with a new removable disposable protective mask insert for a next in-use wear-period.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a Scarfguard system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, Scarfguard systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a Scarfguard system in an ‘in-use’ condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating another view of the scarfguard system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a protective mask-insert according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another ‘in-use’ condition of the Scarfguard system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a Scarfguard device and more particularly to a scarfguard device for protecting users from environmental conditions

Referring generally now to FIGS. 1-4, showing perspective views illustrating scarfguard system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Scarfguard system 100 for protecting wearer(s) 120 from environmental conditions preferably comprises: scarf garment 102 with a mask-pocket 104 donable by at least one wearer 120; and a protective mask insert 130 for filtering airborne matter. Wearer 120 is suitably protected from airborne matter including dust particles, viruses, and bacteria when wearing said scarf garment 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this way the present invention provides filtering protection from harmful environmental airborne matter.

Scarf garment 102 preferably removably receives protective mask insert 130 in mask-pocket 104 providing at least one environmental protection for wearer 120, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Scarf garment 102 preferably comprising woven fabric which is repeatedly wrappable around a face of wearer 120, as shown in FIG. 1. Woven fabric of scarf garment 102 may comprise cotton, wool, silk, cashmere or other suitable materials.

Removable disposable protective mask insert 130 for filtering airborne matter comprises a mechanical filter respirator with fibrous material (woven to the desired consistency) suitable to provide an embedding surface. The fibrous material is woven such that particles greater than 0.1 μm diameter are capturable via the embedding surface. Further, in certain embodiments the fibrous material is woven such that particles less than 0.1 μm diameter are captured via an embedding surface, constituting a tighter weave. Embedding surface of protective mask insert 130 may comprise a Hepa filter.

Scarf garment 102 further comprises first pocket 140 and second pocket 150 located in a first end and a second end of scarf garment 102. First pocket 140 is sufficiently sized to fit a hand of wearer 120, as shown in FIG. 1. Second pocket 150 is sufficiently sized to fit a hand of wearer(s) 120. First pocket 140 and said second pocket 150 preferably comprise at least one lining. The lining may include nylon or rubber or other suitable waterproof material. In certain embodiments scarf garment 102 may comprise only one of first pocket 140 and/or second pocket 150 located in a first end and a second end of scarf garment 102 and in other embodiments may comprise neither first pocket 140 and/or second pocket 150.

Scarf garment 102 comprises a length such that wearer 120 is able to insert a hand into first pocket 140 to operate a doorknob while scarf garment 102 remains donned about the face of wearer(s) 120. Scarf garment 102 comprises a length such that wearer 120 is able to insert a hand into second pocket 150 to operate a doorknob while scarf garment 102 remains donned about the face of wearer 120. In this way the user does not have to remove the device to operate hand-operable objects, making the device convenient and practical in use.

Scarf garment 102 preferably removably receives protective mask insert 130 in mask-pocket 104, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby providing at least one climatic and health-related environmental protection for wearer 120, such as that alluded to in FIG. 4. Mask insert 130 is removable and may be disposable/non-disposible (washable or other). Mask-pocket 104 may comprise an envelope-like flap tuckable into mask-pocket 104 to keep protective mask insert 130 dry and in place. Mask-pocket 104 may further comprise at least one plastic mesh strip sewn into both sides for rigidity means. It should be appreciated that mask-pocket 104 may comprise material other than mesh strip for providing suitable support/rigidity means and that an equivalent means may be used to achieve the same desired result(s).

Scarfguard system 100 may be sold as kit comprising the following parts: at least one scarf garment 102 and at least one removable disposable protective mask insert 130. Scarfguard system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications.

Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, different weave masks, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention a preferred method of use is disclosed herein comprising: step one inserting a removable disposable protective mask insert 130 into a mask-pocket 104 located integral with scarf garment 102; step two donning and wrapping scarf garment 102 around a face and/or neck of wearer 120 for protection from cold weather and airborne particles and pathogens; step three removing scarf garment 104; and step four disposing of used removable disposable protective mask insert 130 and replacing with a new removable disposable protective mask insert 130 for a next in-use wear-period.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.