Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~13~
B~ckgrou~d of t~e ~nvent on
~ eld: This inven~ion relates to cold weather
apparel, In partioul~r, this invention provîdes for a cold
weather face mask particularly .suita~le for use ~y skiersO
State of the Art: A variety of protective facial
masks or cold ~eather masks are ~nown, For example, U~SO Patent
No~ 766?963 Q~lurra~ sho~s a muffler, U,S, Patent No~ 731,135
CScott~ shows a different type of neck and ear mechanism~
UqS~ Patent NoO 2~276,612 CEllis~; 2,573,537 CBoufard) and
3~768~100 CColman~ all show other fo~ms or types of neck and
f~ce protective wear,
~ ~ 3~ ~ ~ 3
T}~e facial protective wear heretofore kno~l? such
as t~ose disclosed in the a~ove-reerenced pate~ts7 all seek
to provide insula~ion and protection against cold weather and
wind in coordination with other apparel worn b~ the user2
For example the patent to Murray s~ows straps passing over
the top of the head to pro~ide a means of securing and holding
the muffler device in place without interferring with the
wearing of a hat. The patent to Scott discloses a device w~ich
extends- down below the chin into the coat to further provide
protection against cold weather elementsi The devices d~sclosed
i~ the a~ove-identified patents, as well as other items ~hich
are ava~la~le on the market, do not effectivel~ integrate
t~emselves with present da~ apparel typicall~ used in t~he
outdoor winter environmen~, Furt~er, the dev~ces heretofore
known do not take into account certain inherent ~iological
considerationsg such as ~ater vapo~ in the ~reath of the user
and a tendency of that ~ater vapor to condense out on the mask -~
~n t~e vicinit~ of the mouth and freeze, That is, toda~ a
knitted cap is readily availa~le on the market w~ich totally
surrounds the head~ ~t ~as apertures for the eyes and for
the mout~. In use~ the water vapor in the breath tends to
condense on the edges of the aperture provided for t~e mouth
and tends to -freezeO. The condensed water vapor ma~ cause itching
and if it freezes extreme discomfort to the user, Frozen water
~apor cicel may touch the skin causing substantial deterioration
of the effectiveness of the mask, Further, knitted masks of
the type just described, as well as other masks such as those
hereinabove disclosed, are fabricated from conventional cloths,
materials which do not adequately insulate or protect against
windO l~ind can in fact penetrate through knitted materials~
as well as other closer woven mate~ials~
3~
~mmary o~ the Invention
A cQld ~eather ~ace mask h~s ~ mask member ~ade o
a t~in, rubber clqth~ty~e m~e~ialq Th~ ~a,sk member is si7ed
and sh~ped to fit a~out the face to extend in width ~earward
rom the face to a~out the left and righ* ear areas and to
extend in lengt~ rom an upper edge to a lower edge. The upper
edge extends along a line bet~een the cheek~one area belo~
t~e temples and along the lower ~art of the eye socket areas
contouredl~ over the bridge of the noseO The mask member is
unitaril~ formed with a nose piece which angulates out~ardly
and down~ardly at an angle to proximate the angulation of the
n~seO The nose piece is contoured to fit over the nose and
is sized to extend from the upper edge to about the tip of
t~e noseq Th.e mask mem~er is formed ~ith a middle edge in
th.e area a~ove the upper lip which extends essentiall~ the
~d~h o~ the nose piece ~hich, ~ogetheI with the nose p.iece,
orm a breathing aperture for th.e nostrilsq The mask member
has a seam joined by means which acts as a front edge~ The
~ront edge extends from the middle edge con~exl~ to a chin area
to form a pocket for the lips and airQ The ront edge continues
f~om the chin area arcuately in~a~d under t~e chin to t~e lower
ed~e to selectively form a channel in communic~tion ~ith the
pocketO The mask member has aperture means formed therein
p~oximate the moutll for breathing and speaking~ The face mask
includes securing means adapted to the mask member to secure
t~a mask member to the face of a userO
In one em~odiment, the securing means is comprised
of a left and right extension member respectively adapted to
the mask member and sized to extend rearward from the left
and right rear areas to together surround the head passing
at th.e base of the skullO The securing means al$o has coacting
fastening means adapted to the ends of the extension members
~ 3-
39f~ster~ing the e,lds thereof togetheT to secure the 3nask
me~Tber to the ~ace of the user,
T~e lower edg~ o;~ t~e ma~sk ~nember pree~bl~ extends
along a line commencing at its midpoint at a~out the i:nter~
section of *~e neck with the under chin ~re~ ~nd extendillg
re~r~a~d on ~ot~ sides of the head to the area below the rear
the ~a~ s~stan~iall~r pa~allel to the collar l~neO T~e
~ont end extends ~rom the middle edge to th~e lo~er edge su~
stantially along t~Le center line of ~he face~, Prefe~a~lr"
10 t}~e :~roIlt edge a* the lo~er edge extends arcu~tely aw~ rom
tha skiri o~ the user4 ~ ` ' .
- - ~n a preferred embodlment? the let and righ~ ex- -
- t:ensions are unit:aril~ folmea ~ith the mask member and are
s~starltiall~ the same lerlgthq The lower edge prefera~ly slopes
upward ro~ ~he area ~elow t~e rear of th~ jaw and the upper
edge pre~era~ly slopes down~a~d Prom the area in front o~ t~e
e~s s~ th~t the e~tensions are n~ro~ ~ands ~aying su~stantial
.
parallel upper and lower edges at the ends t~ereof~
In another preferred em~odiment~ tha middl~ edge
ext~s b~yond the wîdth o the nose p:lece a short preselected
d~stance to form slits at both ends of said middle edge in
said mask mem~er. The nose piece is also si~ed to extend
slig~tl~ past the tip o the nose~
T~e ~perture means is pre~erably a plurality of small
apertures formed in the mask in a p~eselected pattern having
a width and a height related to the width and the height of
a mouthO The ~astening means prefera~l~ consists o adjustable
coacting velcrn strips attached proxi~ate the ends o the ~ands.
The cold weather mask is preferably unitaril~ formed o~ a thin
ru~er clot~-like material ~hich is nylon covered close cell
sponge neoprene~
f. _ ~ _
,'.~ :"
~3~3
Therefore, in accordance with the present
invention there is provided a cold weatner face mask
comprised of a mask member made of a thin rubber cloth type
material which is sized and shaped to flt about the face to
extend in width rearward from the face to about the left and
right ear areas and to extend in length from an upper edge
to a lower edge. The upper edge extends along a line extending
between the cheekbone area below the temples and along the
lower part of the eye socket areas contouredly over the
bridge of the nose. The mask member is unitarily formed
with a nose piece which angulates outwardly and downwardly
at an angle to proximate the angulation of the nose, the
nose piece being contoured to fit over the nose and being
sized in length to extend from the upperedqe to about the
tip of the nose. The mask member has a middle edge in the
area above the upper lip which extends essentially the width
of the nose piece and which together with the nose piece
forms a breathing aperture for the nostrils. The mask member
has a seam joined by means which acts as a front edge to
extend convexly from the middle edge to a chin area to form
a pocket for the lips ana air, and from the chin area
arcuately inward under the chin to the lower edge to
selectively form a channel ~n communication with the pocket.
The mask member has aperture means formed therein proximate
the mouth for breathing and speaking, and securing means
adapted to the mask member to secure the mask member to the
face of a user~
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which illustrate the best mode
- ~a -
csm/ ~
~ .~ .d
.' t 71 : .'.
~.--
~ ~ 39~
presently contemplated or carrying out the invention?
~ Gq 1 is a s~de r~e~ o~ ~ cold ~eath~r fac~ mask
o the instant in~ention;
~ G~ Z ~s a side Yiew o$ the cold weather face mas~
o~ t~e ins*ant inYention positioned a~out the head and f~ce
o~ a use~?
~ Go 3 ls a front ~iew of a cold weather ~ace mask
o~ t~e instant invention positioned about the face and ~ead
o a userO
Descr_~_ion of the ~llustrated Embodiment
~ e~erring to t~e dra7nngs 7 the cold weather face
mask of the instant invention has a mask member 10 and securing
means 12~ The mask mem~er lQ is si~ed and shaped to fit about
the ~ace to extend in width re~r~ardly from the ace to about
~e let a~d right e~r are~s 14 ~FIGa 2~ and in length from
~n upper edge 16 to a lo~er edge 18~ T~e uppe~ edge 16 e~tends
~long a line extending bet~een ~he cheek~one area ~elo~ the
temples 20 and along the lo~er part of the e~e sockets 22 (FIG~
31 contouredl~ over the ~ridge of ~he nose 24.
The mask mem~er 10 is unitarily formed w~th a nose
piece 26~ The nose piece 26 angulates out~ardly and downwardly
at an angle 28 ~hich proximates the angle 30 of the noseO
T~e angles 28 and 30 shown in FIGo 2 are shown to be identical,
However? the îdentical nature of the angles is strictly for
illustration purposesO It is well known that the angulation
of the nose will ~ary f~om person to person~ The nose piece
26 extends in length 28 from the upper edge 16 to about pref-
erably slightly past or beyond the tip of the nose 31a The
amount the piece 26 extends ~ast or beyond the nose tip 31
Ya~ies with the user~ but should be about one fourth C1~41
~ncL
The ~ask membe~ 10 is ~o~med to h~ye a m~ddle edge
~5..
~ ~ 3~ ~ ~ 3
32 ~n the are~ aboye ~che upper lip. The ~iddle edge 32 extends
es~nti~lly the ~dth 33 o~ the nose piece 265 as ~est seen
~ OEq 3, T~e nose pi,ece 26~ together ~i~h t~e middle edge
32~ ~orm a breathing aperture 34 for the nostrilsq It can
~e also seen in FIGo 3 that the middle edge 32 is extended . .
~e~ond t~e ~idth o the nose p~ece to orm sli~s 36 and 38Q
The slits 36 and 38 here formed extend from aBout 1/4 inch
to a~out 1 inc~ and pre~era~l~ a~out 5/8 inch out~ard from
t~e ~idth 33 of the nose p~eceO The slits 36 and 38 allo~
t~ nose piece 26 to flex out~ardly to accommodate the nose
s~ape o various usersO Thzt is? the slits 36 and 38 act so
th~t the angle 28 o~ the nose piece 26 may readily vary to adapt
easil~ to usersQ The,slits 36 and 38~ together wIth an elastic
characteristic of the preerred material of construction~
acc~mmodates a ~ide range o nose shapes ~ithout causing discom-
~rt to the userQ
The mask member 10 has a seam 40 ~hich acts as a
f~nt edge o t~e mask me~be~ The seam or ~ront edge 40
extends ~rom the middle edge 32 convex:l~ or outwardl~ 42 to
a chin area 44 to form a pocket 46 (~IG~ 2l for t~e lips o
the useT and for airO The seam or front edge 40 extends arcu-
ately ~rom t~e chin area 44 in~ard 45 under the chin to the
lo~er edge 18~ Th.e ~eam or front edge 40 selectively~ forms
a~c~nnel 48 in communication ~ith the pocket 460 ~ith the
ma~k installed or positioned a~out the face, the user can
manipulate the mask ~y moving fac~al muscles7 including the
~aw~ and/or install the mask some~hat loosel~ so that air can
pass up through the channel 48 into the air poc~et 46 ~or use
in the process o ~reathing~ A user may so act to preheat the
air to be inhaled~ T~e air passing through the channel can
o~tain heat from the ~od~ (skin~ ~ithout causing discomfortO
In s~rere cold9 cQld ai~ inhaled di~ectly c~ c~use discomfort
q6 -
~ 3~
and even painq The preheating capa~ility o~ the channel provides
~e us~ ~ith an aptiQn to ~v~id the pa~n or disc~m~ort`O
Si~ilarlyt a~r can be exhausted th~ough ~he air pocket and
rhannel? ~h~ch.in turn provides heated air for warmth and
com~ort to the userO
T~e mask mem~er 1~ also h~s aperture means 50 ~ormed
t~ere~n proximate t~e mouth 51 ~or breathing and speakingO
T~e aperture means 5Q is preferabl~ a pluralit~ of small aper-
tures S2 ~ormed in a preselected pattern having a height 54
and a width 56 proximate the size o~ the mouth Slq The ~idth
56~ in FIGo 1 i5 onlr l~Z the ~idth with the aperture 50
~hieh extends s~mmetrically on the let side9 which is not
5hO~Ilo A pluralit~ o~ apertures 52 is preferred because it
p~rmits ~reathing and speech to be ef~ected effic~ently without
p~ov~.d~ng an edge ~or th~ ~Uildup af frozen ~ate~ vapor4 ~rozen
w~ter rapor ice ~requentlr farms along edges of masks known
in the art~ The ice touc~es the skin causing extreme discomfort
and in act de~eating t~ ver~ purpose o t~e mask~
T~e secu~ing means 12 is pre~'era~l~ comprised of
~ l~ft extension member 6a and a right extension member 62
The extension mem~ers are respecti~el~ adapted to the mask
mem~er 10 and sized to extend rear~ard ~rom the left and right
ear areas 14 to together surro~md the ~ead passing at the ~ase
o~ the s~ull 64q It is highly preferred that the extension
mem~ers 6~ and 62 pass at the ~ase of the skull 64. In so
pass~ng, they avoid interferring ~ith other garments or ap~
paratus, such as goggles, Further~ by passing at the ~ase
o t~e skull 64, the exten~ion members or securing means reside
or are p~sitioned in the indentation formed ~etwçen the ~ase
o~ the skull and the commencement o the nape o~ the neck~
Accordinglyy a snug? yet not necessaril~ tight~ fit is e~ected
~h~c~ practicall~ cannot slip~ ~u~the~? the extension mem~ers
~ 3~
6~ and 62 simultaneo~sl~ inere~se the insulation or protectîon
~gai~st th~ ele~ents ~nd ~15Q hDld the hat 70. o the user~ . -
~hic~ ty~call~ is pos~t;oned t~ extend into t~e base o the
s~ull area 64 ~n place~ ~lso~`secur~ng the mask at the ~ase
o the s~ull ~ro~ds ~nte~ference ~ith goggle straps 7~9
T~e l~wer edge 18 o the m~sk mem~er lQ prefera~l~
ex~ends a~long a line conunencing at i~s mi~d~oint at a~ou~ the
intersection of t~e neck ~ith t~e underchin 720 The line
extends rea~ward on both sides o ~he ~ead to the area ~elo~
th~ ~ea~ o~. ~he ja~ 74 subst~ntially parallel to the collar
line 75 CFXGD 2~ ~ost ~re~era~l~ the left and right ex~ensions
6a and 62 are unitarily :eo~ed ~ith the maslc mem~er 1~ and
~r~ su~stantlall~ the same lengt~ 760 The lo~er edge 18
p~e~era~l~ s~lopes upward 77 from ~he area ~elow the rear o
the j~ ~4~ T~ upper edge 16 ~referablr slopes do~n~ard ~8
ro~ the area in ~ont o$ the e~s 14 5~ that the said exten-
s~ons 6~ and 62 are narro~ ~ands haYing a widt~ 79 at their
e~ds 8~ and 81 ~ith uppe~ and lo~er edges 82A and 83A (82B
Cn~t shown~ 83B~ su~stantiall~ paraliel~ as shownO T~e securing
means also includes fastening maans which prefera~l~ consists
o~ ~djustable coacting velcro*strips 88 and 90 attac~ed to
t~e ends 8~ and 810 The str~ps 88 and ~0. provide ~ar adjust-
a~lit~ in length 76 and~ in turn, provide 1exib~ y in s~zing
and loose~tight control mean5 ~or t~e userO
It may be noted that the front edge 40 at the lower
edge 18 extends arcuatel~ out~aTd 96 away from the skin or
nack o t~e userO The arcuate shape of the -front edge 40 at
the lo~er edge 18 prevents chaffin~ IYhen the mask 10 is in
useO The front edge or seam 40 predra~1~ extends approximately
alon~ t~e centerline of the ace ~1,
It ~ay ~e particula~ly noted ~rom ~S~ 2 and 3 that
th.e cold ~eath~r mask o$ the inst~nt inyentio~ ~s ~rticularly
. .
*Trademark
3~
~dapted or use ~ith apparel p~esently used today in cold
~e~the~ environments by skie~s~ sno~shoe~s~ and ~eople sIm~larly
at~ired and s~mil~rly invol~ed in outdoor act~vities~ In
particula~ the upper edge 16 o~ the mask extends high enough
on the face so that con~entional goggles, w~en installed~
o~erlap and hold the upper edge 16 in placeO However? ~he
upper edge is not so high on the face to interere with vision~
~urther~ the mask 10 mo~es the lo~er edge or lower rim 98 of
tl~e goggles ~ awa~ from the skin of the user which tends to
minimize fogging by reducing the amount o bod~ heat transmitted
through to the goggle lens l~Q.
T~e ~at 7~ of t~e user is typicall~ or conventlonally
a knitted hat ~hich mar ~e kno~n as z ski hat or cap. In cold
~eat~er? t~e hat is typicall~ ~ulled do~n lo~ over the forehead
and on so.~e occasions tucked unde~ the upper rim 102 ~ the
gog~les~ The hat 70 is ty~icallr ~asitioned to e~tend do~n~ard
~om the eye~ro~ area o~er th~ ears to the base o the skull
64 to provide maximum protection and to provide warmt~ to the
userO T~e upper edge 16 o the ski mask extends rear~ard ~rom
t~e eye socket area 22 to cover the cheekbone so that in coor
dination with the hat or cap 70, the amoun~ of skin exposed
to the elements may be none or nominal depending upon the desires
Q~ the user~
' It ma~ also be noted that the nose piece 26 extends
contouredly up to the ~ridge of th~ nose ~4. Thus 7 - the lo~er
~m 98 o the goggles 9~. ~ill sit on top of the nose piece
26 to hold i~ in place and provide protection over the entire
f~ont o~ the face~
The lower edge 18 runs along a proximate collar line
75 r~m the front edge 40 to the area ~elow the rear of the
om that point it extends upward to form the extensions
60 and 62q If the user is ~ea~ing a tur~leneck s~eate~? which
i~ a fre~uently used item o ~arel ~y skiers ~nd othe~
~9.~ .
;, ,f
~ ~ 3~
peTsons outdoors? th~ turtl~neck s~eate~ ~as a collar line
104 C7$1 whicI~ extends ~hoye and proYides a $ealing ~long the . .
l~er edge 18 ~rom the front ed~e 40 to t~e po~nt ~elo~ the
~a~ 74O Typ~callyy ~he user ~Yill have a collar 106 of a coat
10.8 pulled snugl~ up ~e~ind the neck to the ~ase ox the skull
~4 to prov~de ~o~ sealing along the ~ack o~ the head to the
area bela~ t~e ears 74~ This i5 not sho~n in FIGo 2 to provide
~etter illustration of the mask positîoned a~out t~e head o
t~e us~rO
The mask is made of a rubber cloth type material.
Pre~e~a~ it is made of a nylon covered close cell sponge
neoprene ? ~hich is about one~eighth inch Clf8"1 t~ick~ The
n~lon covered close cell sponge neoprene is h~g~ly preerred
~h that it provides excellent insulation and is comforta~le
to the skinO That is~ man~ users hare difficultl~ wearing
~ool ~ace masks or simila~ clot~ materials ~ecause the~ become
~tchy~or other~ise find them uncomforta~leO For exàmple,
~a~ng a pair o~ goggles ov~r Icnitted material can many times
create ~mpressions in the skin from the yarn ~hich can ~ecome
uncom~o~t~ble. The close cell sponge neoprene precludes such
d~scomfortO The use of n~lon covered close sponge neoprene
às also preferred because o~ the ease of manufacture, That
is~ t~e mask can be readil~ formed ~ithout the need to have
seams along th.e upper edge and lo~er edgeQ The front edge
or seam is prefera~l~ joined ~ stitching after the mask is
~ormedO Using n~lon covered close cell neoprene is also highly
preerred because it acts as an insulation device~ is flexible,
or elastic to tak~ into account acial contours of diferent
users and to provide for snug fitting about the head, and
because it ~rovides a good aesthetic external appearance~
It is to be understo~d tIIat the em~od~lents of the
inYention he~e~n descrihed ~e ~e~el~ ~llust~atiYe o~ the
~lQ~
~L3~
applic~tion Qf th~ p~incip~l5 a~ the invention9 Re~erence
he~e~n t~ deta~ls o~ the illustr~ted emb.od~ment I5- nat intended
t~ it the scope of t~e claims? ~hich themsel~es ~ecite ~ose
~eatures regarded as essential to the inven~ciony
