Safe scarf   

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a functional article of wearing apparel, and more particularly to scarves made of stretchable fabric intended for use with detachable, disposable particle masks fastened together with a strip of Velcro or other hook and loop fastening strips.

2. Description of Prior Art

Scarves or mufflers have long been used for both decorative and utilitarian purposes. Most often, a scarf comprises of an elongated piece of woven cloth having a length substantially longer than its width. Ordinarily, the scarf is wrapped about the neck of the wearer so as to cover the neck and protect it from inclement weather.

It has become fashionable in recent years to accessorize an outfit with a scarf, as a result of which numerous scarves of different sizes and shapes have been offered on the market, the scarves made of various fabrics, having numerous color and print design variations.

In this day and age of airborne dusts and pollutants, it has also become popular for health conscious people of all ages and gender to wear protective particle masks in public places. One major drawback to wearing the particle mask in public is that they don\'t look very stylish, and actually detract from a person\'s appearance. The fashion and appearance conscious society that we are causes people not to wear the protective particle masks in public places due in part to embarrassment of one\'s appearance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fashionable scarf as an apparel accessory that has a protective particle mask attached to the inside of the scarf, and out of view of the public. This allows the wearer of the scarf to use the concealed particle mask whenever the occasion arises where the wearer wants to protect themselves from airborne dusts and pollutants.

Investigation has been conducted by the inventors in the following classes:

Class 2, Subclasses 206, 207.

The following prior patents are noted: Copprue, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,627 Pan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,288 Owensmith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,340 Carey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,804 Lane, U.S. Pat. No. 26,226,799 B1

These patents suggest, of course, scarves Of various sizes, shapes and methods of fastening Or tying the scarf. However, none of the patents suggest the use of a protective particle mask attached to the inside of the scarf.

Copprue, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,627, illustrates A scarf design which allows the user to vary the methods of tying the scarf and enables the user to securely tie the scarf and retain the scarf in a tied manner regardless of the movements of the user or exterior conditions, such as wind.

Pan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,288, illustrates a scarf which may be folded in different ways to present different patterns.

Owensmith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,340, illustrates a scarf with hand openings at each end a allowing the scarf to be held above the head at sporting events to be used as a banner.

Carey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,804, illustrates a neoprene mask and scarf joined together to protect the user\'s face from severe weather. The mask/scarf invention is held in place about the head and neck of the user by Velcro fasteners.

Lane, U.S. Pat. No. 26,226,799 B1, illustrates a scarf that simultaneously covers the neck, back and chest area, and is fastened about the body through the use of Velcro, snaps, loops, buttons, zippers and other known fasteners.

None of the above scarf designs incorporate the use of a particle mask to protect the wearer from airborne dusts and pollutants.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement to existing scarf designs in that the present invention incorporates the use of a concealed particle mask for the protection of the wearer from airborne dusts and pollutants.

SUMMARY

The present invention is very practical and provides asthetic protection of the face and neck while at the same time offering the wearer protection from breathing airborne dusts and pollutants. The invention accomplishes this dual protection by fastening a protective, disposable particle mask to the interior of the scarf with Velcro or other hook and loop fasteners.

The invention is a garment made of virtually any woven fabric, i.e. wool, cotton, polyester, etc., but is particularly desirable when made from a fabric containing a stretchable elastic material such as Lycra. The invention can be manufactured in a variety of sizes (lengths, widths and thicknesses) and shapes to conform and accommodate the different sizes and individual fashion tastes of different people. The key element in this invention is the fastening of the protective particle mask to the interior of the scarf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view (outer side) of the scarf of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back elevation view (inner side) of the scarf of the present invention showing the placement of the hook or loop fastening strips.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view (the side that touches the wearer\'s face) of the protective particle mask of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a back elevation view (the side that attaches to the scarf\'s inner side shown in FIG. 2) of the protective particle mask showing the placement of the hook or loop fastening strips.

FIG. 5 is a modified plan/front elevation view showing how the protective particle mask (shown in FIG. 3) attaches to the scarf (shown in FIG. 2).

FIG. 6 is a frontal view of the present invention showing the scarf wrapped about the wearer\'s neck in the traditional manner.

FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the present invention showing the scarf being worn as a mask.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the scarf comprises a body that is rectangular in shape, having a length substantially longer than its width, which allows the wearer to wrap the scarf around the neck and have the ends drape downward.

Turning the scarf over, FIG. 2 is the under side of the same scarf shown in FIG. 1, but with two Velcro strips, or other hook and loop fastening strips, identified as “a” in FIG. 2, sewn or otherwise attached to the scarf body.

FIG. 3 is the outer (away from the face) side of a disposable particle mask such as the ones available in many drug stores and pharmacies across the country.

Turning the disposable particle mask over, FIG. 4 is the inner (close to the face) side of the disposable particle mask shown in FIG. 3, but with two Velcro strips, or other hook and loop fastening strips, identified as “b” in FIG. 4, sewn or otherwise attached to the disposable particle mask.

In order to attach the disposable particle mask to the scarf, FIG. 5 shows that the Velcro strips, or other hook and loop fastening strips, identified as “b” in FIG. 4 are positioned over the Velcro strips, or other hook and loop fastening strips, identified as “a” in FIG. 2, and then pressed together to make the bond.

The scarf can be worn as a fashion accessory around the neck without revealing the disposable particle mask that is attached underneath and out of view, as is shown in FIG. 6. When the need arises, however, the scarf can be pulled into place so that the wearer can utilize the protections of the disposable particle mask that is concealed from view, as shown in FIG. 7.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the size, shape and fabric of the scarf may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.