SEGMENTAL FACE MASK

SEGMENT AL FACE MASK

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to face masks, and in particular, to a face mask

having multiple segments adhesively attachable to the skin of a person's face. *•

Background of the Invention

Decorating one's face by applying paint, make-up or a mask is well known to

the young and old alike. As examples, every October 31, a significant number of

children dress up with costume and hide behind a disguise to go about their

neighborhoods from door-to-door trick-or-treating. Adults participate in masquerade

balls with lesser or greater involvement, but almost always involving some sort of a

disguise, usually in the form of a mask.

The style of disguise and method for achieving the disguise are almost as varied

as the number of people that put on a disguise or decorate their faces. Some methods,

probably as old as the history of man, use paints in the form of colorful pigments

suspended in some suitable base that are then spread about the surface of the person's

face to create the disguise, or the chosen effect. This form of painting one's face is as

common, and yet sophisticated and as subtle, as the application of facial make-up, a

method used by many people on a daily basis.

The application of pigments directly to the person's face must also eventually

involve the process of removing the pigments. This process can be time consuming and

messy on a routine basis. However, despite the mess and tedium, this method of

decorating one's face is still preferred by many that use minimal amounts of make-up or

pigment. Traditional masks are useful if a person wishes to decorate or disguise their face,

and yet avoid the messiness of applying paints and pigments directly to their face.

Masks have the unfortunate difficulty of oftentimes being cumbersome and difficult to

manage, especially for the younger child. The mask frequently interferes with the

wearer's vision, usually because of the distance the mask must be offset frgrn the

wearer's face creating a tunnel vision effect. Another difficulty encountered,

particularly with a full face mask, is interference with breathing, either from obstruction

or, more subtly, from poor air exchange by inadvertently trapping air behind the mask

and forcing the wearer to frequently rebreathe their exhaled breath. Depending on the

size of the mask, the mask might interfere with motion of the head or become

uncomfortable to wear because of a build up of heat that may cause sweating or other

unwanted conditions.

In more recent times, decals have been developed whereby a decoration is

applied to the surface of a small piece of extremely thin and flimsy plastic film. These

decals are small because of the difficulty encountered in handling the plastic film. The

film has a tendency to fold over on itself and render the decal useless. Consequently,

only a very small surface area of skin is covered by a decal. The decals have also

proven to be difficult to remove at times because of the thinness of the film. Not

coming off directly, but rather through the natural turnover of the skin as the skin sluffs

over time. These decals may become quite unsightly over time while they slowly

disintegrate.

There is a need for a facial decorating or disguising mask that is easy to apply,

will cover as much or as little of the face as is desired, is easily removed, which is non- irritating and not messy, and does not interfere with natural vision, breathing, or motion

of the head or face.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a face mask suitable for application to a skin surface of

a person's face, the face mask comprising a plurality of facial mask segments of

resilient polymeric foam, each segment conformable to at least a portion of the surface

of the person's face and including a first surface, a second surface and a shaped

peripheral margin, an attachment means, suitable for use on the first surface of each

segment and suitable for attaching the segment to the person's skin; and decoration

means, suitable for application on the second surface of each segment, for decorating

the face mask; wherein the plurality of facial mask segments cover substantially all of

the surface of the skin of the person's face.

The present invention anticipates that the second surface is suitable for receiving

a decoration onto the surface. The segments are shaped so as to fit over and conform to

a portion of the person's face, and thus, segmentally cover substantially all of the face,

thereby giving the effect of having a complete mask on the face. The present invention

anticipates that the mask segments may be decorated at the time of manufacture with

many different decorations by either directly printing or painting the decoration onto the

segment second surfaces. Another method is to apply the decoration using a set of

decorated decal segments shaped to conform to the segment shapes of the present

invention mask and applying the appropriate decal segment to its appropriate mask

segment. Alternatively, the present invention anticipates that a wearer may wish to have

the opportunity of creating their own decoration. As a consequence, the mask of the

present invention may have a blank surface suitable for providing a surface for the

wearer to apply their own paint, ink or other pigmented make-up to. Additionally, the

present invention anticipates that the second surface also may be textured or have a

three dimensional contour across its surface that contributes to, or enhances, the

decoration applied to the second surface of the mask segment.

The present invention also anticipates the use of accessory segments that are

suitably attachable onto the second surface of a mask segment. The accessory segment

may be used to augment the main decoration or alter or change the primary decoration

of the main mask segment to which the accessory is applied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facial mask that is easy to

apply having sufficient bulk or thickness so as to not easily fold back on itself. Yet each

mask segment is resilient so as to easily shape and conform itself to the surface contour

of the portion of face it is to cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mask that covers as much

or as little of the face as is desired. The present invention anticipates that the wearer

may wish to trim down any, or all, of the various mask segments so as to tailor the

invention to shape and fit the individual wearer's face. So as to not lose the decoration

by trimming a mask segment down to fit a small child, the present invention anticipates

the need to provide several general sizes for groups of variously sized faces minimizing,

or eliminating, the need for any actual trimming or shaping.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a segmented mask that is

easily removed. The polymer foam has a sufficient strength so as to not rip or tear leaving small sections on the person's face. Additionally, the present invention uses

attachment means suitable for use on the skin of a person's face. The adhesive is non-

irritating and hypo-allergenic to the skin and sufficiently strong to hold a mask segment,

yet come away with little effort when peeling the segment off.

Another further object of the present invention is to provide a segmented mask

that is not messy to use or remove. By applying the decoration directly to the second

surface of each mask segment, the wearer avoids the mess of having make-up or similar

pigments or paints applied directly to the skin. The wearer also avoids the unsightly

remnants of a decal that is only partially removable.

An additional further object of the present invention is to provide a segmented

facial mask that does not interfere with natural vision, breathing, or motion of the head

or face. The present invention anticipates the use of polymeric foam sufficiently thin so

as to not cause any physical impairment to the wearer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be clearly

described in reference to the drawings where throughout the several views, identical

reference characters represent similar or equivalent structures wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention

shown in relation to a person's eyes and mouth drawn in phantom;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a single mask segment taken at line 2-2 of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , further

showing the relationship of the present invention to a person drawn in phantom; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention

similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 with the addition of accessory segments.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is depicted a segmented facial mask 10 as a

preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a plurality of mask segments

as a right forehead segment 12, a left forehead segment 14, a right malar segment 16, a

mental segment 18, a left malar segment 20, a nasal segment 22, a right upper lip

segment 24 and a left upper lip segment 26 shown in a spatial reference to a person's

eyes and mouth drawn in phantom. Each mask segment 12-26 has several features

common to each segment, a first surface 30 suitable for bearing an attachment means

32, seen in Figure 2, but in Figure 1 is that surface of each segment turned away from

the viewer, an upper or second surface 34, and a shaped peripheral margin 36.

Each mask segment 12-26 is preferably made from a pliable and resilient

polymeric foam, such as a poly-vinyl-chloride foam sold under the name Microfoam by

3M, St. Paul, Minnesota. Other suitable polymers are readily apparent to those skilled

in the art as those polymeric foams that exhibit minimal to no skin reaction. These

polymeric foams are also identifiable as hypo-allergenic and are often used in medical

applications. Examples of other polymeric foams suitable for use in the present

invention are those derived from polymers such as polyurethane, polypropylene,

polyester, polyethylene and polystyrene.

The polymeric foam may be either open cell or closed cell in its construction.

Preferably the polymeric foam is of a closed cell construction throughout. However, an

open cell construction with a closed cell "skin" is also acceptable. Each mask segment

12-26 has second surface 34 that is suitable to receive a decoration. Depending on the means of decoration, surface 34 may be expected to receive paints, inks, and other dyes

suitable for use on devices to be worn on a human. Preferably, such paints, inks, and

dyes are also hypo-allergenic and non-toxic. By choosing the appropriate polymeric

foam, surface 34 can be chosen that best accepts the types of paints, inks and dyes used.

Different polymeric foams will exhibit differences in lubrisity, hydrophilia, hydrophobia

and ionic moieties available for good acceptance of the chosen decoration onto surface

34.

Alternatively, a polymeric foam may be selected so as to have a surface suitable

for receiving a decal decoration comprised of a decorative design carried on a flimsy

thin film that is then layered onto surface 34. Another aspect of surface 34 is that it

need not always be flat, but may be textured or contoured so as to enhance any given

design or decoration applied to surface 34.

In this preferred embodiment the number of mask segments is eight. These

number of segments has been found to provide good coverage of the face in conjunction

with adaptability to many different facial sizes and contours also remain comfortable.

Other numbers of segments are contemplated, with a range of from five to ten segments

being preferable. As an example, different segments may be formed that will cover

different regions or areas of the face. Right and left forehead segments 12, 14 may be

formed as a single pan-forehead segment. Right and left malar segments 16, 20 may be

combined with nasal segment 22 as a single piece. Many different combinations and

numbers of segments may be used to provide for a versatile application of the present

invention to accommodate many different decorations and designs to many different

faces. Differing the numbers of segments is an advantage of the present invention

because the segments are able to act independently of each other. Even though a segment may mask that respective portion of the person's face, the person may enhance

the visual experience of the mask by moving various facial muscles which move the

various segments. Thus, a segment may be caused to move independently form another

adding more expression to the effect of the facial mask.

The versatility of the present invention in forming different segments, is

accomplished by using sheets of polymeric foam material. The sheets may then be

passed through a machine capable of cutting the sheeting into the appropriate shapes.

This system is much like a collection of "cookie" cutters, each cutting dye shaped to

produce its corresponding segment. If appropriately backed, the polymeric foam may

be passed through the machine as a long web. Appropriate backing may be chosen that

incorporates attachment means 32, such as a thin layer of pressure sensitive adhesive

combined with a removable release liner. The segments may be cut through and

through by the cutting dyes, but the cutting is set up so as to only cut the polymeric

foam and not the release liner. The release liner then doubles as a backing layer upon

which to carry the various mask segments and from which each segment is then peeled

just prior to attachment to the person's face. One such pressure sensitive adhesive is an

iso-octo-acrylate and acrylic acid adhesive, also available from 3M. Adhesives are

preferably chosen for their non-irritating, hypo-allergenic and non-toxic characteristics

and a number of such pressure sensitive adhesives for use on a person's skin are well

known in the art.

Other attachment means will become obvious to those skilled in the art of

applying decorations and make-up to skin. Examples of other attachment means are

spirit gum and related liquid adhesives that may be brushed on just prior to application

of the mask segments. Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to contour the

polymeric foam of mask segments 12-26. Each mask segment 12-26 is manufactured

with a specific shape to shaped peripheral margin 36, corresponding to its intended

position on the person's face, and this shape is modifiable depending on the number of

segments to be manufactured. The present invention also anticipates the usefulness of

further modification of each mask segment at the time of application of the mask to the

person's face.

In operation, as depicted in Figures 3 and 4, a segmental mask according to the

present invention has been applied to a person's face. Each mask segment 12-26 is

arranged about the face so as to substantially cover the person's face. Each mask

segment 12-26 is flexible and resilient so as to conform to the surface contours of the

person's face without interfering with vision, breathing or motion of the face or head.

In Figure 4, there is depicted the application of an accessory segment 38 having

a decorative surface 40 and a peripheral margin 42, and an accessory segment 44 with a

decorative surface 46 and a peripheral margin 48. Each accessory segment 38, 44 has

been attached by an attachment means on a surface opposite decorative surfaces 40, 46

and between accessory segments 38, 44 and their respective mask segments 14, 16. A

representative decoration is depicted on each accessory segment 38, 44 so as to provide

an example of one way in which an accessory segment may enhance and augment a

segmental mask of the present invention.

While the invention has been illustrated by means of specific embodiments and

examples of use, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that many variations and

modifications may be made therein without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is to

be limited only by the appended claims.