The present invention relates in general to an improved mask product. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for the packaging and setup of the mask product. Even more particularly the present invention relates to an improved mask product that assumes a nested state for shipment and an assembled state for use.
There presently exists mask products. However, these products, for final display purposes, require a full size head structure. This has been found to be a cumbersome arrangement particularly with respect to shipping multiple mask products.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the packaging and setup or display of a mask product.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mask product that may be considered as having a first display position in which front and rear head structures are nested for shipment and display, and a second position that may be considered for re-assembly and for the final display of the mask product.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mask product that, for the purpose of shipment, has a rear head structure nested with a front head structure and for the purpose of final display of the mask product, the head structures are assembled into a full head structure over which a pliable fabric mask is disposed.
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, a method of packaging and set-up of a mask product that is in the form of a fabric mask that is constructed and arranged, once assembled, for engagement over a two-piece head structure, the head structure is comprised of an open front head structure and an open rear head structure. For the purpose of initially shipping the mask product, disposing the fabric mask over at least the front head structure and nesting the rear head structure, in a reversed position, into the front head structure so as to minimize the square or cubic inch footprint of the mask product.
In accordance with other aspects of the present invention providing a mounting panel for the mask product, said mounting panel having a cutout having a contour matching that of the mask product and for receiving the nested front and rear head structures; providing each of the front and rear head structures with mating respective top and bottom tabs, and further including a pair of securing loops mounted on the mounting panel for holding the respective top and bottom tabs; providing interlocking surfaces on the respective top and bottom tabs so that the front and rear head structures are engaged with each other for packaging and shipping; wherein the set-up step includes engaging the front and rear structures in a full head position and disposing the open ended mask over the full head structure; and wherein the front and rear head structures have mating respective top tabs, and the set-up step further includes providing a hanging cord for hanging the mask product from an overhead surface.
In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a mask product that is comprised of a pliable fabric mask that can be hung for display purposes, and a two piece head structure that is comprised of a front head structure and a rear head structure, said mask product having a packaging and shipping state in which the fabric mask is disposed over at least the front head structure, and the rear head structure is reversed in position and nested into the front head structure so as to minimize the footprint of the mask product, and a display state in which the front head structure engages with the rear head structure to form a completed full head structure, the pliable fabric mask being disposed over the full head structure.
In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention providing a mounting panel for the mask product, said mounting panel having a cutout having a contour matching that of the mask product and for receiving the nested front and rear head structures; wherein each of the front and rear head structures has mating respective top and bottom tabs, and further including a pair of securing loops mounted on the mounting panel for holding the respective top and bottom tabs; wherein the respective top and bottom tabs each include interlocking surfaces so that the front and rear head structures are engaged with each other for packaging and shipping; wherein, in the display state the front and rear structures are engaged in a full head position and the pliable fabric mask is disposed over the full head structure; wherein the front and rear head structures have mating respective top tabs, and in the display state there is provided a hanging cord for hanging the mask product from an overhead surface; including a controller disposed within or adjacent to the full head structure and for controlling audio and visual effects associated with the mask product; and including at least one light disposed within the head structure and controlled from the controller.
In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a method of transitioning a mask product that includes an open front head structure, an open rear head structure and a pliable fabric mask, from a packaging and shipping state to a display state, comprising the steps of establishing, in the packaging and shipping state, a nested mask product in which the fabric mask is disposed over at least the front head structure and the rear head structure in a reversed position is nested into the front head structure so as to minimize the square inch footprint of the mask product, and in the display state, the front and rear head structures are assembled into a full head structure, and disposing the pliable fabric mask over the full head structure for the display of the mask product.
In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention providing a mounting panel for the mask product, said mounting panel having a cutout having a contour matching that of the mask product and for receiving the nested front and rear head structures; providing each of the front and rear head structures with mating respective top and bottom tabs, and further including a pair of securing loops mounted on the mounting panel for holding the respective top and bottom tabs; providing interlocking surfaces on the respective top and bottom tabs so that the front and rear head structures are engaged with each other for packaging and shipping; providing a controller disposed within or adjacent to the full head structure and for controlling audio and visual effects associated with the mask product and including at least one light disposed within the head structure and controlled from the controller; and wherein the front and rear head structures have mating respective top tabs, and the display step further includes providing a hanging cord for hanging the mask product from an overhead surface.
It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. In the drawings depicting the present invention, all dimensions are to scale. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The mask product of the present invention may be considered as having a first display position where the mask product is displayed for sale. In this display position, the separate front and rear head structures are nested. This nesting is illustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. In accordance with present invention and as illustrated in
The mask product may be considered as comprised of a plastic two piece head structure 10 including a front head structure 12 and a rear head structure 14. The cross-sectional view of
Thus, the head structure is provided in two similar pieces 12, 14 that, when formed together, provide the full head structure 10 illustrated in
For the purpose of shipping and initially displaying the mask product at a merchandise location, there is provided a mounting panel 30. The mounting panel 30 may be an inexpensive cardboard or plastic rectangular panel having a slot 31 at the top of the panel. The panel can be hung from the slit or can be displayed in any other manner. The mounting panel 30 also includes several securing loops that may each be in the form of a wire tie. The rear perspective view of
Each of the head structures 12 and 14 includes an integral top tab 16 and an integral bottom tab 18. These tabs are positioned adjacent to each other. In the nested position of
Reference is now made to a series of rear exploded perspective views shown in
Once the product illustrated in
Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3197093 | Doran | Jul 1965 | A |
3750869 | Kartiganer | Aug 1973 | A |
4485921 | Geller | Dec 1984 | A |
4653642 | Hakun | Mar 1987 | A |
5845778 | Hickey, Jr. | Dec 1998 | A |
20080139081 | Lin | Jun 2008 | A1 |