Introducing: The MTR (Mask Tension Reliever)
With the recent Covid-19 pandemic, there are many people wearing various forms of face mask to try and protect themselves and/or others from airborne dangers. For many, wearing such masks is a new phenomenon. For others such as healthcare professionals, the wearing of masks and other PPE is the norm. In the current situation, people both in and out of the healthcare industry are wearing masks more frequently, and for longer durations, than ever before.
As many such masks are intended to be disposable, the producers of this PPE tend to leave comfort by the wayside in favor of low cost and easy mass production. This often means that the elastic bands on the masks leave much to be desired, especially on the type of mask that loops around the backs of the ears. After long durations of mask wearing with elastic pulling into the back of the ears, fatigue and discomfort become a significant misery factor. Imagine the discomfort that our healthcare workers are enduring between the prolonged hours of wearing face masks, face shields, safety glasses/goggles, and every other form of necessary PPE from head to toe.
Vanguard Belts has been observing this health crisis, and hoping to contribute to the cause in some small way. It was hoped that some form of TPU-coated webbing-based solution could be employed to somehow help our healthcare workers, as well as anyone else who now finds themselves wearing uncomfortable face masks for long periods of time.
Introducing the Vanguard MTR, or Mask Tension Reliever. The inspiration for this new product was originally taken from the many countless small businesses of Kydex holster makers throughout the country. The holster makers often end up with scrap pieces of Kydex plastic that either get recycled or discarded because the pieces are simply too small to be of much use for anything. Many such holster businesses have begun to repurpose, or upcycle, their scrap pieces of Kydex by thermoforming them into mask tension relieving clips or devices, intended allow the elastic bands of most common N95 (or similar) face masks to hook onto the plastic behind the head of the wearer, instead of looping onto the ears. This removes the pain point behind the ears, making the prolonged wear of such masks much more tolerable.
Vanguard Belts has chosen a narrow 1” wide, thin strip of TPU-coated webbing material and has cut and notched it in such a way as to mimic what our Kydex benders have been doing. These Vanguard MTRs allow a mask wearer to hook the elastic bands into the integral notches, and let the MTR bear the elastic tension instead of the ears. These MTRs are rigid enough to maintain their form, but soft and flexible enough to be comfortable behind the head. They are waterproof, cleanable, and can be sanitized with most common sanitizing chemicals.
It is the intent of Vanguard Belts to produce and donate this new MTR product to a number of healthcare professionals everywhere, but unlike the scraps used by our Kydex bending friends, the TPU material is not scrap material, but must be purchased by Vanguard Belts by the roll. While Vanguard Belts is willing to assume some cost, it will not be possible to pursue this “donation model” without help from the outside. This is where you come in.
It is our hope that crowdfunding via donations can help Vanguard Belts realize the vision of distributing MTRs to those healthcare professionals who need them, and who would appreciate the relief they can provide. If you feel compelled to help, donations can be made via PayPal to:
maxvanguard1142@gmail.com
Donations of any amount, large or small, are welcome, encouraged, and greatly appreciated. The funds collected will be used to purchase additional TPU material so that more MTRs can be produced and distributed.
The Vanguard MTR product will also be offered for sale to the general public on the web store soon. Pricing and bundle discounts are being determined at this time. Once the details are finalized, the product will be offered for sale so that anyone outside of the healthcare industry can order them for their own personal use. When the MTRs are officially on the store, another announcement will be made here to launch the product to the public, so stay tuned!
Together, we will fight this virus and win. Thank you for your time, attention, and support.