MASK

Abstract

A mask includes rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face and a resilient exterior portion. The interior shell includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion. The second portion is operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user. The resilient exterior portion is coupled to the interior shell, and at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion is moved from the first position to the second position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application relates to the masks and more particularly to ornamental face masks.

SUMMARY

Face masks are frequently worn in movies and theatrical performances as well as on occasions such as Halloween. Most masks are either painstakingly assembled on and adhered to a user's face or formed from a thin plastic or elastomeric material. The masks that are assembled on and adhered to the user's face are realistic looking, yet are both costly and time-consuming to assemble. Moreover, these types of masks are generally worn once and are destroyed when they are removed from the user. On the other hand, the masks that are formed from a thin plastic or elastomeric material are convenient to use and remove, yet are far from realistic looking. Therefore, there exists a need for a mask that provides a semblance of realism while also being convenient and easy to use.

In particular, this application discloses a mask comprising: a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising: a first portion; a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user; and a resilient exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion is moved from the first position to the second position.

Moreover, this application discloses a mask comprising: a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising: a first portion; a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user; a resilient exterior portion positioned over the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the resilient member is capable of moving between a first position and a second position; and a band extending between the interior shell second portion and resilient exterior portion, wherein the band is operable to move the resilient exterior portion from the resilient exterior portion first position to the resilient exterior portion second position when the interior shell second portion is moved from the interior shell first position to the interior shell second position.

Further, this application discloses a mask comprising: an interior shell comprising: an upper portion for placing over an upper portion of a user's face; a lower portion for placing over a lower portion of the user's face such that a portion of the shell lower portion engages the jaw of the user, wherein the second portion is hingedly coupled to the interior shell first portion and wherein the lower portion is moved between a closed position and an open position in response to corresponding movements by the user's jaw; and an exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion moves from the closed position to the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1A is a rear view of an illustrative mask showing the interior shell second portion in a first position;

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the illustrative mask of FIG. 1A showing the interior shell second portion in a second position;

FIG. 2A is a front view of the illustrative mask of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a front view of the illustrative mask of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3B-3B in FIG. 2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-3B, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, an illustrative mask 100 is shown. The mask 100 generally includes an interior shell 102 and an exterior portion 104. The interior shell 102 includes a first portion 106 and a second portion 108. In the illustrative embodiment, the first portion 106 is operable to overlay an upper portion of a user's face and the lower portion 108 is operable to overlay a lower portion of the user's face and at least partially engage the user's jaw. In one embodiment, the second portion 108 of the shell 102 may include a chin pad 114 for engaging the chin area of the user's jaw.

The second portion 108 may be hingedly secured, or otherwise coupled, to the first portion 106 via any suitable means such that the second portion 108 may be movable between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user. The second portion 108 may be hingedly secured to the first portion 106 via any suitable means, including, but not limited to, one or more elastic bands 110, one or more living hinges, one or more mechanical hinges, etc. In one embodiment, the hinged connection between the first portion 106 and second portion 108 biases the second portion 108 to the first position whereby the biasing force must be overcome by the user in order to move the second portion 108 to the second position. Also, in one embodiment, the first position is a position where the mouth portion 112 of the mask 100 is generally closed (see, e.g., FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A) and the second position is a position where the mouth portion 112 of the mask 100 is generally open (see, e.g., FIGS. 1B, 2B and 3B), wherein movement of the user's jaw from a generally closed-mouth position to a generally open-mouth position causes the second portion 108 of the interior shell 102 to move from the first position to the second position. While the second portion 108 moves in response to jaw movement of the user, it will be appreciated that the second portion 108 may be engaged with the user in any suitable location and move in response to any suitable movement of the user. For example, and without limitation, the second portion may move in response to movement of the user's cheek(s), forehead, nose, eyelid(s), lip(s), finger(s), arm(s), hand(s), leg(s), etc. Also, while the mouth portion 112 of the mask 100 moves in response to movement by the user in the illustrative embodiment, it will be appreciated that any suitable portion of the mask 100 and/or any portion of the interior shell 102 may move in response to movement by the user, including, but not limited to, lip(s), forehead, cheek portion(s), nose, eyelid(s), etc. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the interior shell may include one or more eye apertures 116, and any other suitable features to enhance comfort and/or further anthropomorphize the mask 100.

The exterior portion 104 may be coupled to, or otherwise disposed about, the interior shell 102. The exterior portion 104 may include one or more eye apertures 128, a mouth aperture 118, or any other suitable anthropomorphizing feature. The exterior portion 104 may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, polyurethane, foam latex, open cell foam, closed cell foam, an elastomeric material, paper, polymer, corrugated cardboard, composite, polymer, or any other suitable material. The exterior portion 104 is operable to deform when the interior shell second portion 108 is moved from the first position to the second position. Alternatively, a portion of the exterior portion 104 may be operable to move between a first position and a second position with corresponding movements of the interior shell second portion 108.

In the illustrative embodiment, one or more bands 122 extend from the interior shell second portion 108, through apertures 124 in the interior shell upper portion 106 and are coupled behind an upper lip portion 126 of the exterior portion 104. Thus, as the interior shell second portion 108 is moved to its second position, the bands 122 may pull the upper lip portion 126 upwards thereby widening the mouth aperture 118 of the exterior portion 104 and exposing, or further exposing, teeth 120 formed in the interior shell upper portion 106 from behind the exterior portion 104. The bands 122 may be formed from any suitable material including, but not limited to, wire, polymer, elastomer, composite, etc. While the illustrative embodiment employs bands 122 to couple the interior shell second portion 108 to the exterior portion 104 such that movement of the second portion 108 may be imparted to at least a portion of the exterior portion 104, it will be appreciated that such movement may be imparted in any number of ways and the present disclosure is not limited to the use of such bands 122. For example, and without limitation, a friction fit between the interior shell second portion 108 and at least a portion of the exterior portion 104 may be employed.

While the illustrative embodiment shows a mouth aperture 118 as becoming larger and exposing teeth 120 when the interior shell second portion 108 is moved to its second position, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, movement of the interior shell second portion 108 may cause movement and/or deformation of any portion of the exterior portion 104. For example, and without limitation, movement of the interior shell second portion 108 may cause movement in one or more portions of the exterior portion 104, including, but not limited to, cheek(s), forehead, nose, eye(s), eye lid(s), chin, ear(s), lower lip, upper lip, etc. It will also be appreciated that the deformation and/or movement of the exterior portion 104 in response to movement of the interior shell second portion 108 may or may not include one or more apertures and may or may not include any of such apertures becoming larger or smaller, etc. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that deformation and/or movement of the exterior portion 104 may or may not expose, or further expose, one or more portions or features of the interior shell 102.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A mask comprising:

a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising: a first portion; a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user; and

a resilient exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion is moved from the first position to the second position.

2. The mask of claim 1 wherein the interior shell second portion is hingedly secured to the interior shell first portion via one or more elastic bands.

3. The mask of claim 1 wherein the interior shell first portion overlays an upper portion of the face of the user.

4. The mask of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the interior shell second portion engages the jaw of the user.

5. The mask of claim 1 wherein the resilient exterior portion is formed from polyurethane.

6. The mask of claim 1 wherein the resilient portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the resilient portion deforms.

7. The mask of claim 1 wherein a portion of the interior shell is exposed from behind the exterior portion when the exterior portion deforms.

8. A mask comprising:

a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising: a first portion; a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user;

a resilient exterior portion positioned over the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the resilient member is capable of moving between a first position and a second position; and

a band extending between the interior shell second portion and resilient exterior portion, wherein the band is operable to move the resilient exterior portion from the resilient exterior portion first position to the resilient exterior portion second position when the interior shell second portion is moved from the interior shell first position to the interior shell second position.

9. The mask of claim 8 wherein the interior shell second portion is hingedly secured to the interior shell first portion via one or more elastic bands.

10. The mask of claim 8 wherein the interior shell first portion overlays an upper portion of the face of the user.

11. The mask of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the interior shell second portion engages the jaw of the user.

12. The mask of claim 8 wherein the resilient exterior portion is formed from foam latex.

13. The mask of claim 8 wherein the resilient portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the resilient portion moves from the resilient portion first position to the resilient portion second position.

14. A mask comprising:

an interior shell comprising: an upper portion for placing over an upper portion of a user's face; a lower portion for placing over a lower portion of the user's face such that a portion of the shell lower portion engages the jaw of the user, wherein the second portion is hingedly coupled to the interior shell first portion and wherein the lower portion is moved between a closed position and an open position in response to corresponding movements by the user's jaw; and

an exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion moves from the closed position to the open position.

15. The mask of claim 14 wherein the interior shell lower portion is hingedly coupled to the interior shell upper portion via one or more elastic bands.

16. The mask of claim 14 wherein the exterior portion is formed from a resilient material.

17. The mask of claim 16 wherein the resilient material is polyurethane.

18. The mask of claim 14 wherein the exterior portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the exterior portion deforms.

19. The mask of claim 14 wherein a portion of the interior shell is exposed from behind the exterior portion when the exterior portion deforms.

20. The mask of claim 14 further comprising a band extending between the interior shell lower portion and the exterior portion, wherein the band is operable to deform the exterior portion when the interior shell lower portion is moved to the open position.