Facial cover

Abstract

A facial cover has a main body for covering at least a lower part of the face. The main body is made of a thermally insulating material. The main body has a mouth opening and a nose opening. A securing portion is connected to the main body and forms an encircling band. A beard is attached to the main body.

Description

This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/379,168, filed Sep. 1, 2010.

BACKGROUND

An embodiment of the device relates generally to a device to a wearable device. In one embodiment this device protects the user's face and neck in cold or inclement weather environments, providing functionality, as well as novelty and useable in strenuous cold weather or outdoor activities, and although not limited to specific activities it is more particularly useful, to users who ski, snowboard, ride motorcycles, watch sporting events, concerts or other activities where the user is exposed to cold or windy conditions.

A traditional Balaclava or ski mask is commonly used in various outdoor or cold weather environments to shield the face and neck from exposure to the cold. These devices employ generally a simple sheet of thermal material to prevent exposure to the cold, but none offers additional adjustable thermal insulation. The device thus provides the utility of additional protective material for protecting the user's face and neck, adjustable thermal insulation and a comical, pop culture savvy persona.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a facial cover that has a main body that is formed of a thermally insulating material. The facial covering is to cover at least a lower part of a face. The main body has one or more nose openings. The main body has one or more mouth openings. A securing portion is connected to the main body and a beard portion is attached to the main body. A pocket may be attached to the interior side of the beard portion.

Another embodiment relates a facial cover that has a main body for covering at least a lower part of the face. The main body is formed of a thermally insulating material. The main body has one or more nose openings, one or more mouth openings and has an integral neck cover. A nose bridge cover is connected to the main body for partially covering the one or more nose openings. A securing portion is connected to the main body and conjointly with the main body forms an encircling band. A beard portion is attached to the main body. A pocket may be attached to the interior side of the beard portion.

A further embodiment related a facial cover for partially covering a user's lower face and neck has a main body formed of a thermally insulating material. The main body has one or more substantially elliptically shaped nose openings that would be proximate to the user's nose and one or more substantially elliptically shaped mouth openings proximate to the user's mouth when the device is worn. The body portion has an integral neck cover. A nose bridge cover is connected to the main body for partially covering the one or more nose openings. A securing portion is connected to the body portion, the securing portion conjointly with the body portion encircles the user's head. A beard portion is attached to the body portion.

Briefly stated, various embodiments comprises a device to protect the user's face and neck in cold or inclement weather environments using a mask device and including therewith an attached costume beard that has novelty fasteners allowing for added decorations.

Another embodiment comprises a variety of costume beard styles that can be attached to the mask device.

An additional embodiment comprises a device to store small electronic devices, money, cell phones, lift tickets, keys, credit cards or similar items within the facial cover. This is accomplished using a pocket attached under the beard below the chin. The pocket can be closed using a hook and loop fastener, zipper, or any other common closure method.

An additional embodiment of the device comprises a system enabling users to uniquely customize the beard and mask device by adding small decorative or functional attachments. These attachments can vary from words, letters, numbers, bones, skulls, clips, braids, small animals, food, plastic lips/mouth/teeth, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of multiple embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood that the device is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown nor is it limited to any specific embodiment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a facial cover;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a facial cover for the full face;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of a facial cover for the face and neck;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a facial cover for the face and ears;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a facial cover for the face, ears and neck;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a main body that is tapered;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a facial cover with a beard portion;

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a main body that is rectangular;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a facial cover with a beard portion;

FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of a facial cover with a beard portion;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of a facial cover with novelty fasteners;

FIG. 12 illustrates a rear view of a facial cover with a headphone loop;

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of a facial cover;

FIG. 14 illustrates detachable and exchangeable beards using a hook and loop fastener;

FIG. 15 illustrates detachable and exchangeable beards using snaps;

FIG. 16 illustrates a facial cover with a detachable nose bridge cover; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a facial cover with a non-detachable nose bridge cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a facial cover 100 that has a main body 110 that is formed of a thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material may be made from a number of materials, such as silk, cotton, polypropylene, neoprene, wool, acrylic, fleece or the like. The main body is formed of a thermally insulating material and may be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The facial mask is for covering at least some portion of the lower part of a user's face. The main body has one or more mouth openings 120 and has one or more nose openings 130. The mouth opening may be substantially shaped as an ellipse, slotted, a rectangle, a rectangle with rounded edges, a slit, an elongated oval, a circle or the like. The nose opening may be substantially ellipse shaped, triangular shaped, slotted or may also be shaped as an ellipse, a rectangle, a rectangle with rounded edges, a slit, an elongated oval, a circle or the like. A securing portion 140 is connected to the main body. The securing portion can be formed of one or more elastic bands that are detachably connectable to one another. The width of the securing portion may perform the function of securing or may additionally perform the function of thermal insulation for the back part of the head or both. The securing portion may be made of for example flexible plastic, rubber, thermally insulating material, stretchable fabric or the like. The detachable connectors for the securing portion may be hook and loop fasteners, snaps or the like. A beard portion 150 is attached to the main body and has an interior side and an exterior side. The beard may be detachable or non-detachable. The beard portion 150 may also have varying thermal insulation properties such that different beards may be exchanged based upon the weather. The beard portion may be constructed of faux hair to have the appearance of a beard. The beard may also have fasteners for detachable connection of novelty items to the exterior of the beard. A pocket may be attached to the interior side of the beard portion as shown in FIG. 3. The main body may additionally contain a resistive heating element.

FIG. 2 illustrates a facial cover 200 having a head cover 210 formed of a thermally insulating material. The head cover is connected to a main body 220 and wherein the main body has one or more eye openings 230. The head cover may either partially or completely cover the head and may be either detachable or non-detachable to the main body. The head cover may also be integral to the main body. The head cover may for example, be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid in construction or combinations thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates a facial cover 300 for the lower face and ears that include a neck cover 310 formed of a thermally insulating material. The neck cover is connected to a main body 320. The neck cover may be constructed of one or more sections and may be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The neck cover may also be integral to the main body. A pocket 330 may be connected to an interior side of a beard portion 340. The ear and neck cover may be either unitary or multi-part. The pocket may be secured to a main body by a zipper, hook and loop fastener or the like. The pocket may further have a zipper, a hook and loop fastener or the like to seal the pocket.

FIG. 4 illustrates a facial cover 400 for the lower face and neck that includes at least one ear cover 410 formed of a thermally insulating material. An ear cover is connected to a main body 420. The ear cover may for example, be made integral to the main body. A nose bridge cover 430 is connected to the main body. The nose bridge cover may be made of thermal insulating material and may be either detachable or non-detachable. Detachable nose bridge covers may be connected to the main body by hook and loop fasteners, snaps or the like. The nose bridge cover may be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The ear cover may have an eyeglass slot 440 therethrough.

FIG. 5 illustrates a facial cover 500 for the lower face, ears and neck that includes at least one ear cover 510 and a neck cover 520 formed of a thermally insulating material. The ear cover and neck cover are connected to a main body 530. The ear cover and neck cover may be either a unitary piece or a set of multiple pieces. The ear cover may be detachable or non-detachable. The ear cover and neck cover may be integral to the main body. The ear cover may have an eyeglass slot 540 therethrough.

FIG. 6 illustrates a disconnected facial cover 600 that has been flattened. A nose bridge cover 610 is attached to the main body over the nose opening 620 in the main body. The main body has a mouth opening 630 therethrough. A securing portion 640, which in this case is a hook and loop fastener is connected to the main body. The securing portion is conjoint with the main body for forming an encircling band. The main body in the instant embodiment has a tapered shape. The distance from the top of the nose bridge cover to the bottom of the tapered main body is approximately 11 inches to 13 inches. The length of the nose bridge cover is approximately two inches. The distance from the bottom of the nose opening to the bottom of the mouth opening is approximately two and one quarter inches. The height of the mouth opening is approximately one inch.

FIG. 7 illustrates a facial cover 700 with a nose bridge cover 710 over the nose opening 720. The main body has a mouth opening 730 therethrough. A securing portion 740, which in this case is a hook and loop fastener is connected to the main body. The securing portion is conjoint with the main body for forming an encircling band. The beard portion 750 is attached to the main body.

FIG. 8 illustrates a facial cover 800 with a nose bridge cover 810 over the nose opening 820. The main body has a mouth opening 830 therethrough. A securing portion 840, which in this case is a hook and loop fastener is connected to the main body. The securing portion is conjoint with the main body for forming an encircling band. The main body in the instant embodiment has a rectangular shape.

FIG. 9 illustrates a facial cover 900 with a nose bridge cover 910 over the nose opening 920. The main body has a mouth opening 930 therethrough. A securing portion 940, which in this case is a hook and loop fastener is connected to the main body. The securing portion is conjoint with the main body for forming an encircling band. The beard portion 750 is attached to the main body.

FIG. 8 illustrates a facial cover 1000 with a beard portion 1020. The beard portion is connected to a main body. The beard portion can either detachable or non-detachable to the main body. The detachable attachment may be hook and loop fasteners, snaps, a zipper or the like. The beard portion may also be made of thermally insulating material. The main body is connected to a retaining portion 1010.

FIG. 11 illustrates a facial mask 1100 with a set of novelty fasteners 1110. The novelty fasteners are attached to an exterior side of a beard portion 1120 for attachment of decorative objects 1130.

FIG. 12 illustrates a facial mask 1200 with a headphone set loop 1210. The headphone set loop is connected to a main body 1220. The headphone set loop may be integral to the main body.

FIG. 13 illustrates a facial cover 1300 that has a main body 1310 for covering at least a lower part of the face. The main body is formed of a thermally insulating material. The main body has one or more mouth openings 1320. The main body has one or more nose openings 1330. A securing portion 1340 is connected to the main body. The securing portion is conjoint with the main body for forming an encircling band. A beard portion 1350 is attached to the main body. The beard portion has an interior side and an exterior side. A pocket, as shown in FIG. 3, may attached to the interior side of the beard portion. A nose bridge cover 1360 is connected to the main body 1310 for partially covering the one or more nose openings 1330. The nose bridge cover may be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid. The nose bridge cover may be either detachable or non-detachable. The nose bridge cover may also be formed of a thermal insulating material. The connection of the nose bridge cover may be hook and loop fastener, snaps, zippers or the like.

FIG. 14 illustrates a facial cover 1400 with a detachable beard portion 1450 and 1260. A main body 1210 has at least one hook and loop fastener 1420. The detachable beard portions 1450 and 1460 have a set of hook and loop fasteners 1430 and 1440 respectively.

FIG. 15 illustrates a facial cover 1500 with detachable beard portions 1550 and 1560. The main body 1510 has at least one snap fastener 1520. The detachable beard portions 1550 and 1560 have a set of complementary snap fasteners 1530 and 1540 respectively.

FIG. 16 illustrates a facial cover 1600. A main body 1610 has at least one nose opening 1620. The main body 1610 has a set of detachable fasteners 1630 attached to it. The detachable fasteners can be hook and loop fasteners, snaps or the like. A detachable nose bridge cover 1640 also has a set of complementary detachable fasteners 1650.

FIG. 17 illustrates a facial cover 1700. A non-detachable nose bridge cover 1720 is connected to a main body 1710.

Although the present embodiment illustrates a main body having a parabolic shape, the shape is exemplary and may be any shape that covers the face of a user. The thermally insulating material may be made from a number of materials, such as silk, cotton, polypropylene, neoprene, wool, acrylic, fleece or the like. The mouth opening though shown substantially rectangular is for illustrative purposes and can have any shape which allows access to the mouth, such as a slot, a curve, a round hole or the like. The nose opening though shown substantially as a triangular shape is for illustrative purposes and may have any shape which allows access to the nose, such as a square, circle or the like.

Claims

1. A facial cover comprising:

a main body for covering at least a lower part of said face, said main body being formed of a thermally insulating material, said main body having one or more nose openings therethrough, said main body having one or more mouth openings therethrough;

a securing portion connected to said main body; and

a beard portion attached to said main body.

2. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said main body having an integral neck cover.

3. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said main body having an integral ear cover.

4. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said securing portion conjointly with said main body form an encircling band.

5. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said securing portion comprises an elastic strap.

6. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said securing portion comprises a hook and loop fastener.

7. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said beard portion is detachable and interchangeable.

8. The facial cover of claim 1 wherein said beard portion is non-detachable.

9. The facial cover of claim 1 further comprising one or more novelty fasteners attached to an exterior side of said beard portion for attachment of decorative objects.

10. The facial cover of claim 1 further comprising a headphone set loop connected to said main body.

11. The facial cover of claim 1 further comprising a detachable nose bridge cover connected to said main body for partially covering said one or more nose openings.

12. The facial cover of claim 1 further comprising a non-detachable nose bridge cover connected to said main body for partially covering said one or more nose openings.

13. The facial cover of claim 1 further comprising an extension for said beard portion.

14. A facial cover comprising:

a main body for covering at least a lower part of said face, wherein said main body is formed of a thermally insulating material, said main body having one or more nose openings therethrough, said main body having one or more mouth openings therethrough, said body portion having an integral neck cover;

a nose bridge cover connected to said main body for partially covering said one or more nose openings;

a securing portion connected to said main body, wherein said securing portion conjointly with said main body form an encircling band; and

a beard portion attached to said main body.

15. The facial cover of claim 14 further comprising a pocket connected to said main body.

16. The facial cover of claim 14 wherein said one or more nose openings is elliptically shaped.

17. The facial cover of claim 14 wherein said one or more mouth openings is elliptically shaped.

18. The facial cover of claim 14 wherein said main body having an integral ear cover.

19. The facial cover of claim 18 wherein the integral ear cover having an eyeglass slot therethrough.

20. The facial cover of claim 14 further including a resistive heating element.

21. A facial cover for partially covering a user's lower face and neck comprising:

a main body formed of a thermally insulating material, said main body having one or more substantially elliptically shaped nose openings therethrough proximate to the user's nose, said main body having one or more substantially elliptically shaped mouth openings therethrough proximate to the user's mouth, said main body portion having an integral neck cover;

a nose bridge cover connected to said main body for partially covering said one or more nose openings; and

a securing portion connected to said main body portion, wherein said securing portion conjointly with said main body portion encircle the user's head.

22. The facial cover of claim 21 further including a beard portion operatively associated with said main body portion.

23. The facial cover of claim 21 wherein said main body having an integral ear cover and wherein said integral ear cover having an eyeglass slot therethrough.

24. A beard attachment adapted to be attached to a thermally insulated facial cover for partially covering a user's lower face and neck comprising:

an attachment surface adapted to be attached to said thermally insulated facial cover; and

a faux hair portion proximate to said attachment surface such that when said beard attachment is attached to said thermally insulated facial cover the appearance of a beard exists.