Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
INTERACTIVE MASK 2 1 2 1 7~ ~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates masks and in particular interactive masks having
S interchangeable facial features and an arti~ulating jaw.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The uses of masks are very well known. for example, masks are used in the
theatre, at halloween, for costume parties and the like.
The use of masks in the theatre dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times
to identify the cha~acter represented in the play. Typically, these early masks were
caricatures showing images of happy or sad faces that were tied to the users' head. The
images were painted on a flat surface which were tied to the users' head. These masks were
one dimensional.
Later masks included an articulating jaw and included a face portion and a
chin portion which were hingably attached together. These masks had only limited motion
between the face portion and the chin portion.
U.S patent 4,1~1,304 issued to B. Cooper on October 24, 1978 shows a mask
having a face portion and a chin portion that are connected with elastic band attachments.
20 These allowed for movement in a plurality of directions. This mask, however, would not be
held snugly against different shaped users' chins.
It is desirable to have a mask that will be held in engagement with the users
chin so that when the user moves their chin the mask chin portion will also move. Further
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it is desirable to have one mask where the user can change the facial features.
There are presently a number of different uses for masks. For instance masks
are used in therapy to help patients act out their feelings by adopting a mask that shows
those feelings. Therefore one mask which could be used to show different feelings would be
5 desirable.
Further, for theatre companies and drama classes it is desirable to have one
mask that could be used in a number of different plays and capable of depicting different
expressions and images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENl'ION
The present invention discloses an interactive mask. The interactive mask has
a mask base and adjustable straps. A plurality of attachable features can be releasably
attached to the upper face portion and the chin portion. The adjustable straps secure the
mask to the head of a user.
In another aspect of the invention an interactive mask has an upper face
portion and a chin portion. A pair of elastic material pieces each attach an opposed bottom
edge portions of the upper face portion to an opposed top edge portion of the chin portion.
An adjustable side strap has each end attached to the upper face portion proximate to the
lower side edge thereof for adjustable securing the mask to the head of a user. A pair of
20 adjustable stabilizing elastic material pieces each having one end attached to the chin portion
proximate to the side edge thereof and the other end attached to adjustable side strap at a
location spaced from the face portion.
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Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in
the course of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of the mask base of the interactive mask of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the interactive mask of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken away perspective view of the interactive mask of
the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a side view of an attachable nose;
Fig. 5 is a front view of an attachable mouth;
Fig. 6 is a front view of an attachable cheek;
Fig. 7 is a side view of an interactive mask having features attached thereto;
Fig. 8 is a side view of an interactive mask having alternate features attached
thereto;
Fig. 9 is a side view of an interactive mask having monster features attached
thereto;
Fig. 10 is a side view of an interactive mask having elephant features attached
thereto; and
Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the mask base.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the interactive mask of the present invention
includes a mask base shown generally at 20 in Fig. 1 and interchangeable features shown in
Figs. 4-6. Figs. 7-10 show a number of different embodiments of the interactive mask
S having different features.
Referring to Fig. 1, mask base 20 is molded to fit over the user's face. Mask
base 20 is made from highly flexible material so that the base can conform to the heads of
different users. In the preferred embodiment mask base 20 is made from polyethylene,
specifically TROCELLEN, because it is a strong flexible material.
Mask base 20 includes a face portion 22 and a chin portion 24. The face
portion 22 and chin portion 24 are molded so that they fit together. This may be done by
molding face portion 22 and chin portion 24 as one unitary piece and then cutting into two
pieces. Alternatively face portion 22 and chin portion 24 may be molded separately. The
desired method of manufacture may be chosen by the manufacturer.
Face portion 22 has a pair of large eye apertures 26 formed therein. Eye
apertures 26 are large enough so that the user will be able to use their peripheral vision
when mask base 20 is mounted on their head. A nose aperture 28 is formed under a nose
portion 30 so that tbe user can either breath through their mouth or their nose.
Mask base 20 is held in place by side strap 32 and top strap 34. The length
20 of side strap 32 and top strap 34 is adjustable so that the mask can easily be adjusted to fit
different head sizes.
First side button 42 is attached to a short piece of elastic fabric 38 which is
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attached to one side of face portion 22 of mask base 20 proximate to lower side edgethereof. One end 36 of side strap 32 is attached to the other side of face portion 22 of mask
base 20 proximate to lower side edge thereof. Side strap 32 is made from elastic material
with a plurality of longitudinal slits 40 therein. The other end 37 of side strap 32 is
5 attached to first side button 42 by engaging the appropriate slit 40.
Top end 44 of top strap 34 is attached to the top middle portion 46 of face
portion 22 of mask base 20. Bottom end 48 of top strap 34 is adjustable attached to side
strap 32. Top strap 34 is made from elastic material having a plurality of longitudinal slits
50. Top strap 34 is looped around side strap 32 and then attached to itself by inserting
10 button 52 through a slit 50.
Referring to Fig. 3, a pair of elastic material pieces 51 are each attached to
face portion 22 and to chin portion 24 proximate to the side edges thereof. For further
stability, a pair of adjustable stabilizing elastic material pieces 53 each have one end
attached to chin portion 24 proximate to the side edges thereof. A second side button 43 is
15 attached to the side strap 32 proximate to the face portion 22. The other end of each
stabilizing elastic material piece 53 is adjustable attached to buttons 42 and 43. Stabilizing
elastic material pieces 53 have a plurality of slits 55 therein so that the length of material
pieces 53 can be adjusted to give a snug fit. This configuration of elastic attachment allows
the user to have a full range of movement while holding the chin portion firmly in place
20 against the user's chin.
Referring to Fig. 11, mask base 20 is covered with hook type fabric 54 which
is one half of hook and loop type material sold under the trade mark VELCRO. Hook type
.
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fabric is attached to mask base 20 with a heat treatment process. To increase the com-fort of
the user, the inside of mask base 20 is covered with fabric preferably terry cloth fabric S7.
The interactive mask is designed such that it can look very different by
changing the features that are attached to hook type fabric 54. Figs. 4-6 show some
examples of facial features that are attachable to mask base 20. Fig. 4 shows a nose 56
which has a concave portion which fits over mask nose 30. The inside surface of nose 56
has feature attachment pieces 58 glued or sewn thereto. Feature attachment pieces are loop
type fasteners. Feature attachment pieces 58 are for attaching facial features to hook type
fabric 54.
Fig. S shows a mouth 60. The inside surface of mouth 60 has feature
attachment pieces 58 glued or sewn thereto. The top or upper lip 62 of mouth 60 is adapted
to be attached to hook type 54 on the face portion 22 of mask base 20, see Fig. 2. The
bottom or lower lip 64 of mouth 60 is adapted to be attached to hook type fabric 54 on the
chin portion 24 of mask base 20 see Fig. 2. Opposed ends 66 of rnouth 60 can be attached
to the face portion 22 to depict a smile as shown in Fig. 8 or to the chin portion 24 to depict
a frown as shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 6 shows a cheek 70. Preferably cheek 70 has feature attachment pieces
58 glued or sewn to the inside surface thereof so that cheek 70 can be attached to both face
portion 22 and chin portion 24 of mask 20.
A wide variety of interchangeable facial features, examples of which are
shown in Figs. 4-10 either individually or collectively on a mask, can be used with the
interactive mask of the present invention. The facial features are made from flexible
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material and, where further bulk is required, foam rubber and each facial feature is snugly
covered with fabric. A preferred method of making the facial features is to inject a
aluminium or silicone mold with activated urethane elastomer. This method is a commonly
used urethane foam molding process. The feature is then removed from the mold and the
5 loop type fastener is attached to the inside of the feature.
Figs. 7-10 show the versatility of the interactive mask of the present
invention. Specifically Fig. 7 shows an interactive mask 72 having angry, frowning features
with a beak nose 74 and a pointed chin 76. Fig. 8 shows a mask 78 having smiling features
with a rounded nose 80 and double chin 82. Fig. 9 shows a monster 84 having jagged teeth
86, irregular skin 88 and antennas 90. Fig. 10 shows an elephant mask 92 having big ears
94 and a trunk 96.
It will be appreciated that the above description related to various
embodiments of the present interactive mask by way of example only. Many variations on
the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and such obvious variations are
15 within the scope of the invention as described herein whether or not expressly described.
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