This invention relates to a printable facial mask and a printable facial mask system. And furthermore, to a printable type of mask that also enhances peripheral visibility while being able to display a high quality image to observers.
Facial masks are very popular for amusement purposes, especially around certain celebrations, such as Halloween, Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year, and private events, like birthday parties, bachelor parties, political campaigns, sports competitions, etc. Typically, masks of the prior art require fairly large openings in the eyes area to allow visibility. When the mask depicts a particular character, real or fictional, these openings have a defacing effect, as the eyes are the most defining facial feature of any character's identity.
Reducing the size of the openings to enhance appearance only decreases visibility, resulting in a serious safety issue. This is aggravated by the tunnel vision effect these masks of the prior art provide. They offer absolutely no peripheral vision. Visibility in a mask is a very desirable attribute, as shown by the following documents.
In an attempt to address this issue, U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,882 to Schuessler teaches a cap-like face covering made of a stretchable, knitted material with an adjustable opening for the eyes area. In essence, this article simply covers the face of the wearer. It does not portray any different facial features.
In another approach, U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,004 shows a cap and mask combination wherein the mask is defined by a mesh fabric sheet, displaying an image. In this case visibility is highly challenged by the image, ability to ascertain the image is challenged by the wearer's facial features, or both. Peripheral vision is also compromised by the woven texture of the mesh.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,427 to Shield discloses a mask that is made of a one-layered substrate, with an inner surface and an outer surface. This mask has some holes for ventilation and purportedly for visibility. However, given the thickness of the material and the necessary density of perforations, to in fact allow visibility it is highly questionable that the final product will result in a practical mask, and that the mask will have an attractive appearance. Furthermore, visibility, specifically peripheral visibility, appears in fact to be highly diminished. Also, given the high and low reliefs of its molded design, It is simply impossible to imprint on the '427 mask. According to the '427 disclosure, the desired indicia needs to be painted. The disclosure states that the painting may be done before or after producing the perforations. It simply appears impossible to apply perforations on an already formed, molded mask in a practical, even and consistent fashion. The disclosure fails to indicate how the perforations are obtained. If that is somehow managed to be doable, painting the mask appears to be a very traumatic and difficult task, regardless of when the painting is done. If it is done before the perforations, the painting will tend to be pealed by the punching pressure exerted. If it is done after the mask is perforated, the paint will tend to cover the perforations.
In another context, US patent application 2010/0239625AI shows a transparent antimicrobial face mask made of clear films to enable view of the nose and mouth of the wearer. This item does not affect the eyes of the wearer. It only allows visibility from other persons.
As established by the foregoing state of the art discussion, there is clearly a need for a mask system which may provide a true depiction of any character, real or fictional, by printing means, while optimizing visibility.
In accordance with the present invention, a first embodiment of a mask comprises:
1) a clear flexible substrate which is imprinted as per the following steps:
It is important to note that the four color process is used only as an example, as it is generally the most widely used system at commercial and industrial settings. It is however specifically stated that the principles apply to any printing system, and with disregard of the number of colors used.
It is important to note that the terms ‘ink’ and ‘toner’ are interchangeable and beyond their literal meaning, for the purpose of this application, they indicate any substance capable of imprinting any image or indicia on any given substrate or surface, regardless of their chemical or physical composition. Likewise, the terms ‘substrate’, ‘sheet’, ‘layer’ are interchangeable.
In a second embodiment, the blank spots are obviated. The white layer and the color layers are thoroughly imprinted on the clear substrate. Subsequently, a plurality of orifices is produced on the imprinted clear substrate, so visibility is enabled.
A third embodiment is produced as per the following steps:
1) a white substrate is provided. A pressure sensitive adhesive is provided to the first of the two sides of the white substrate. A release substrate is provided to protect the pressure sensitive adhesive. Since the substrate already has a white foundation, in this scenario it is not necessary to print a white coat.
2) a predetermined image is printed on the second of the two sides of the white substrate.
3) a clear substrate is provided.
4) the protective release substrate is removed from the white substrate after printing the image, and affixed onto the clear substrate.
5) A plurality of orifices is applied to the assembly of the printed white substrate and the clear substrate, so visibility is enabled.
As indicated on the first embodiment example discussion, the mask is then cut and fastening means are provided.
A fourth embodiment may be produced as per the following steps:
1) A clear, flexible sheet material is provided.
2) a first layer of white ink or toner is applied to said flexible sheet material. A plurality of blank spots, void of any imprint are provided to the white ink or toner layer, which results in transparent spots, allowing visibility through the clear flexible substrate.
3) subsequent layers of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ink or toner are applied, as per conventional four color printing processes. A plurality of blank spots, void of any imprint are provided to the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and black ink or toner layer in reciprocal registration and in further registration with the white ink or toner layer, maintaining the transparent spots created by the white ink or toner layer, allowing visibility through the clear flexible substrate.
As indicated on the first embodiment example discussion, the mask is then cut and fastening means are provided
Again, other alternative printing systems may be utilized. This includes the use of spot colors, the use of the RGB (Red/Green/Blue) displaying system, or any other system. The plurality of blank, clear spots or perforated orifices to allow visibility is to always be observed, regardless of the number of color layers utilized. All these provisions and clarifications apply to all the embodiments of this invention.
A fifth embodiment is derived from the fourth embodiment. In this scenario, the white substrate had already been perforated with the plurality of orifices prior to affixing to the clear substrate, so visibility is enabled.
It is also possible to produce a mask of a predetermined color already embedded in the flexible material. Likewise, different abstract combination of spot colors, or composite colors may already exist in the substrate material. Also to aid the pupils of the wearer's to remain open for improved vision and comfort, a dark color may be placed on the side of the flexible material facing the wearer's eyes.
It is further to be understood that in any and all embodiments, the plurality of orifices or blank spots (void of ink or toner) may affect the totality of the mask area, or may be restricted to the area of the eyes only. And it must be understood that a number of equivalent variables are possible within the scope of the invention.
a) To provide visibility through a mask that covers the entirety of a person's face.
b) To provide visibility through a mask that covers the eyes area of a person.
c) To create the illusion of the eyes of the wearer of a mask to be fully covered.
d) To enhance ability to breath and speak to the person wearing the mask.
e) To enable printing of a mask, so maximum fidelity of the character's features may be depicted.
f) To enable vivid, true and realistic appearance of the subject being portrayed, if such subject is a known character, whether real or fictional.
g) To further stretch this capability relying on photographic means.
h) To further stretch this capability relying on painting and drawing means. This can yet be further expanded by distortions and alterations to result in caricatures of the subject. When implemented, this feature will always impart a ‘parody’ condition to the mask being portrayed. This further expands the copyrights possibilities of the invention.
i) To enable the depiction of any real or fictional, animated or unanimated, specific or abstract subjects, of course even including a blank mask with no features at all other than a solid color. And this can be done with any color: white, black, pink, orange, etc. Likewise, a predetermined pattern or motif may be printed. In these particular instances, conventional silk screen printing may be considered. Or the pattern or color may already be in the material used.
j) To provide enhanced frontal and peripheral visibility.
k) To enable customized masks. In this scenario, a customer may supply an image in hard copy form or electronic form and the image is adapted to a mask of the present invention, which can be replicated to the quantity requested by the customer. This service may be offered at store locations, kiosks, online, by catalog, mail order, etc.
The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the invention are not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. For the purposes of defining individual elements and interpretation of the claims, the definitions and disclosure of the present application are controlling to the extent of any inconsistencies between any related applications having their disclosures incorporated by reference. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
A first embodiment is schematically described in
Then,
Another example is schematically shown in
The examples submitted are intended as illustrative teachings to enable the production of the invention. It is important to note that different variations may be adapted within the scope of the invention.
An image is depicted in
As shown in
Likewise,
A plan view of a mask blank 32 is shown by
A side cross sectional view shows a mask print 26 and a clear substrate of a blank mask 28 in
An oversized mask, exceeding the typical width of a person's facial area is shown in
A partial mask of the present invention is also possible. As shown with
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in some detail. It is understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described as way of example. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Ramifications
The present disclosure provides specific particulars about the invention. It is to be understood that many variations and permutations are possible, within the scope of the invention.
For instance, a mask depicting only the eyes area is possible. In this eventuality, the mask may cooperate with another prop, like a veil, a shade, eye-glasses, a conventional mask, etc.
Likewise, the orifices or blank spots may have any desired shape, or combination of shapes, any predetermined size or combination of sizes, any predetermined distance from one orifice or blank spot to another orifice or blank spot, etc. And of course, different distances between orifices or blank spaces may be alternated. Also, as indicated before, the orifices or blank spots void of any ink or material may be regional only, restricted to the eyes area or may be spread throughout the entire mask blank.
Means to fasten the mask to the wearer include but are not limited to a string, clips or an attachment to a head cover like a hat, hair piece, a handle, etc. The mask may have subtle contours around some protruding and receding facial features like nose, cheek bones, chin, etc.
These features may be obtained by applying pressure and/or heat after the mask has been printed.
Alternatively, if the mask is embodied by imprinting on a flexible material to be adhered to a clear substrate, the first is wrapped around the latter, which has been preformed with some protruding and receding areas, as it is customary in the sign and also in the packaging industries.
Along these lines, the mask may alternatively be attached to a casing covering the rest of the head, and which may also include hair-like props. Additionally any other elements in the public domain may obviously be adapted to the present invention. This includes foil and lenticular effects.
Also, whenever a clear substrate is used to produce a printed mask, the color printing substance or substances may be applied to either one of the two sides of the substrate. If more than one layer of color printing substance is used, the order of printing the color substances is arranged so the final image is properly displayed when the mask is being worn.
Likewise, if a printed layer is going to be mounted on a clear substrate, depending on which side is going to be facing away from the wearer, the adhesive is applied accordingly to the front or the back of the printed layer. As the adhesive is also transparent, it may also be perfectly well applied over the printed image.
As some embodiments and some variations of the mask may require a light color foundation or substrate, for practical purposes, the term ‘white’ has been used. It is to be understood that this encompasses subtle variations of white, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Similarly, some dark color layer may optionally be applied to the substrate used so it appears on the side of the mask facing the wearer's eyes. For practical purposes the terms ‘black’ and ‘solid black’ are to be construed as substantially dark color, so it encompasses subtle variations without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It is to be understood that the mask may be produced using any printing means, and any printing systems, of course including but not limited to Four Color Process, also known as CMYK (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Black); RGB (Red/Green/Blue) and any existing technologies, including but not limited to: Silk Screen, Gravure, Offset, Digital printing, Flexography, Stamping, hand painted, etc.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/407,096, filed Oct. 27, 2010, entitled “TRICKSTICKMAXMASK” and 61/483,793, filed May 9, 2011, entitled “PRINTABLE FACIAL MASK AND PRINTABLE FACIAL MASK SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED PERIPHERAL VISIBILITY”, by the present inventor and both of which are herein incorporated by reference.
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