ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,295,432, issued on May 13.
"Sanitizing face mask" was invented by Randall J. Lewis (Bethesda, Md.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A sanitizing face mask inhibits the transmission of pathogens in air respired through the nose and mouth of a wearer. The mask includes hydrophobic inner and outer layers and an intermediate layer enclosed between them. The intermediate layer is saturated with a sanitizing liquid such as an ethanol solution. Respired air encounters the sanitizing liquid as it passes through the intermediate layer, killing pathogens borne on droplets or aerosols. The sanitizing mask protects the wearer, from pathogens in the ins...