Face Mask Imitation Of Body Parts

Abstract

The present inventive concept discloses a strap-on novelty mask that is intended as a novel, satirical representation of the rear end of the human anatomy. The novelty mask comprises two sections: a main mask that is constructed and contoured so as to resemble the representative shape, and a sub-mask that serves as a connector and buffer between the face of a wearer of the novelty mask and the interior of the main mask. The detachable sub-mask is constructed with an integral connecting mechanism that may be attached at variable positions vertically along the interior surface of the main mask. In the preferred embodiment the integral connecting mechanism is a hook and loop type connector. When the sub-mask and the main mask are joined together, the composite novelty mask is formed and may be placed directly onto the face of a wearer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

[0003] The present inventive, concept relates to novelty face masks. In particular, the present inventive concept relates to novelty masks that exaggerate, ridicule, or comically re-arrange certain anatomical features of the human body. Novelty face masks are used by children and also adults to produce a desired novelty effect. One of the biggest festive celebrations in the United States occurs during Halloween, when children and adults may wear face masks. Masquerade parties are also popular, and oftentimes adults don face masks to produce a comedic or shock effect at a party or simple get-together. In any event, however, a face mask may or may not be intended to camouflage or disguise the actual identity of the wearer.

(2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0004] Novelty type face masks devices are known to the public. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,273,418, 4,365,798, and 4,683,588 disclose such devices, as does U.S. published patent applications U.S. 2013/0047315, U.S. 2008/0141438, and U.S. 2007/0294802.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,418 discloses a rotating circular disk having alternating transparent and reflective areas according to predetermined patterns. The total reflective area is approximately equal the total transparent area. This disc is rotated by an electric motor at a selected speed, whereby a transmitted image of an object on the opposite side of the disc is superimposed upon the reflected image of the user with the two images merging to form an optical illusion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,798 discloses a novelty mirror which has three horizontally aligned and equally spaced holes in the upper portion with the farthest spaced holes being space approximately the distance between the eyes of one of the users. The mirror is held with the holes aligned the eyes of a person on the other side of the device, the viewer's face is seen with the eyes of the person on the other side. Both sides of the device may be a mirror, whereby this transposition of eye features occurs simultaneously for both viewers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present inventive concept relates to a strap-on novelty mask 1 that is intended as a novel, satirical representation of the rear end of the human anatomy. The novelty mask 1 comprises two sections: a main mask 10 that is constructed and contoured so as to resemble the representative shape of the human anatomy, and a sub-mask 20 that serves as a connector and buffer between the face of a wearer of the novelty mask 1 and the interior of the main mask 10.

[0007] The detachable sub-mask 20 is constructed with an integral connecting mechanism that may be attached at variable positions vertically, or longitudinally, along the interior surface of the main mask 10. In the preferred embodiment the integral connecting mechanism is a hook and loop connector. The sub-mask 20 connecting mechanism corresponds to a Velcro.RTM.-type hook 31 connector attached to the exterior of the sub-mask 20 of the main mask 10. The main mask 10 connecting mechanism corresponds to a Velcro.RTM.-type loop 32 connector attached to the interior of the main mask 10. When the sub-mask 20 and the main mask 10 are joined together, the composite novelty mask 1 may be placed directly onto the face of a wearer of the novelty mask 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS, PRESENTED AS DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a direct frontal view of the complete novelty mask 1, and particularly the front of the main mask 10.

[0009] FIG. 2 depicts the interior surface of the main mask 10, along with the loop 32 connector, and the general main mask 10 structure.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the exterior surface of the sub-mask 20 and its general structure.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of the structure of the outer surface of the sub-mask 20, including a spacer 30 for attachment of the Velcro.RTM.-type hook 31 connector.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of the interior structure of the novelty mask 1, as would be seen by a user prior to placing the mask 1 over his/her head.

TABLE-US-00001 Table of Nomenclature & Part Numbers of Invention 1. Novelty mask 2. Left cheek 3. Left edge 4. Right opening 5. Cleft 5(a) Ridge 6. Right cheek 7. Right edge 8. Left opening 9. Bottom edge 10. Main mask 11. Spectacles 12. n/a 13. Orifice 14.-19 n/a 20. Sub-mask 21. Nose cover 22. Left eye port 23. Right eye port 24. Connector 25. Flexible cord 26. Forehead cover 27. Cheekbone cover 28.-29. n/a 30. Foam spacer 31. Velcro .RTM. hook 32. Velcro .RTM. loop

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling five figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures.

[0014] The discussion of the present inventive concept is initiated with FIG. 1, which illustrates shows a direct frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the novelty mask 1, and particularly the outer surface of the main mask 10. The principal physical structures of the novelty mask 1 as shown in FIG. 1, collectively imitate a human rear end, as depicted by the left cheek 2 (or anatomically, left gluteus maximus muscle), the cleft 5 between cheeks, the right cheek 6 (or anatomically, right gluteus maximus muscle), an orifice 13, a left opening 4, a right opening 8, the mask left edge 3, mask right edge 7, and the mask bottom edge 9. Also shown is a pair of comic spectacles 11, which cover the left and right openings 4, 8 and which extend from the right edge 3 to the left edge 7 of the novelty mask 1.

[0015] FIG. 2 presents a view of the features of the interior surface of the main mask 10, further showing the right opening 4, left opening 8, bottom edge 9, and the orifice 13. The right opening 4 and left opening 8 are designed to provide vision openings for a wearer of the main mask 10/mask 1. It is to be noted that the interior structure and surface of the previously-described cleft 5 manifests as a linear ridge 5(a) on the interior of the main mask 10. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a Velcro.RTM.-type loop 32 connector which is attached to the ridge 5(a) of the main mask 10. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are oriented so as to show the relative size and orientation of the components of the exterior of the sub-mask 20 in comparison to the interior components of the main mask 10.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the exterior surface of the sub-mask 20, a portion of the surface consisting of a forehead cover 26 and a nose cover 21. Also included in the view of FIG. 3 are a right eye port 23 and left eye port 22, which align with the right opening 4 and left opening 8, respectively of the main mask 10 when the complete novelty mask 1 is worn by a user. A corresponding Velcro.RTM.-type hook 31 connector is affixed to a foam spacer 30 immediately beneath (out of view) on the sub-mask 20. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a flexible cord 25 used to loop around the head of a wearer. As explained earlier, the Velcro.RTM.-type hook 31 connector fastening mechanism corresponds to the Velcro.RTM.-type loop 32 connector affixed to the ridge 5(a) of the interior of the main mask 10.

[0017] FIG. 4 presents a perspective, close-up view of the exterior of the sub-mask 20. Further shown is a foam spacer 30 attached just above the nose cover 21 of the sub-mask 20. The foam spacer 30 serves to provide an air gap between the face of a wearer and the interior surface of the main mask 10. Permanently affixed atop the foam spacer 30 is a strip of Velcro.RTM.-type hook 31 material. A wearer of the mask 1 adjusts the fastening position of the sub-mask 20 hook 31 section to attach at some point along the length of the strip of loop 32 material on the interior of the main mask 10 as is comfortable for the profile and size of the wearer's face.

[0018] Also shown in FIG. 4 are the facial cheekbone cover 27, the right eye port 23, and the left eye port 22 which align with the right opening 4 and left opening 8, respectively of the main mask 10 when

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a close-up interior view of the assemblage of the sub-mask 20 and the main mask 10 to form the complete novelty mask 1, as would be seen by a wearer, prior to placing the mask 1 upon his/her face. The sub-mask 20 has been connected to the Velcro.RTM.-type loop 32 connector (out of view) of the main mask 10 by means of the Velcro.RTM.-type-hook connector 31 (out of view) integral to the sub-mask 20. The wearer is then prepared to place the novelty mask 1 upon his/her face by slightly stretching the flexible cord 25 and placing the cord 25 about the back of the head. The orifice 13 then corresponds to the approximate position of the mouth of the user. The left opening 8 and right opening 4 of the main mask 10 then are almost co-centered with the left eye port 22 and right eye port 23, respectively, of the sub-mask 20.

[0020] If necessary, the wearer then may make additional minor adjustments to the placement of the Velcro.RTM.-type-hook connector 31 of the sub-mask 20 to a position on the loop 32 material attached to the ridge 5(a) the main mask 10 to comfortably suit the facial structure of the wearer.

[0021] While preferred embodiments of the present inventive method have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, as described by the scope of the claims presented herein.

Claims

1. A novelty mask having two sections, comprising: a first section further comprising an exterior surface having a left cheek, right cheek, cleft, orifice, a left aperture, a right aperture, and a ridge protruding from top to bottom of the center of the interior surface of said first section; a second section further comprising a left eye-port, a right eye-port, a nose cover, a face cover, a foam spacer affixed above and on the centerline of the exterior of said nose cover, and a flexible cord attached to the left and right sides of said sub-mask; a first connecting mechanism affixed to the ridge of the first section; and a corresponding second connecting mechanism, compatible with said first connecting mechanism and affixed to the foam spacer of the second section.

2. A novelty mask as in claim 1, further comprising, a first connecting mechanism consisting of a Velcro.RTM.-type loop fastening mechanism; and a second connecting mechanism consisting of a Velcro.RTM.-type hook fastening mechanism.

3. A novelty mask for the imitation of parts of the human anatomy by a wearer of the novelty mask, comprising: a first section comprising a main mask, and further, having an exterior surface comprising a left cheek, right cheek, a cleft, an orifice, a left aperture, a right aperture, and a ridge protruding from proximate the top of the interior surface to the bottom of the interior surface of said first section; a second section comprising a sub-mask, and further, having a left e-port, a right eye-port, a nose cover, a face cover, a foam spacer attached above and to the exterior of the nose cover, and a flexible cord attached to the left and right sides of said sub-mask; a Velcro.RTM.-type loop material affixed to the ridge of said first section; a Velcro.RTM.-type hook material affixed to the foam spacer of said second section; wherein a wearer of the novelty mask affixes the Velcro.RTM.-type hook material of the second section onto the Velcro.RTM.-type loop material of said first section, while simultaneously aligning the respective apertures and eye-ports of both sections, and places the assembled novelty mask onto his/her face by means of placement of the flexible cord about the back of the head.