Face mask

A face mask including a sheet of flexible material for concealing at least a portion of a hunter's face utilizes a wire secured to the sheet of material for positioning adjacent the eyes of the hunter and an elastic strap associated with the wire for securing the mask about the hunter's head. When the mask is operatively worn, at least a portion of the wire is positioned beneath and adjacent the hunter's eyes and is biased by the strap into close-fitting relationship with the skin of the hunter's face. The wire can be manually shaped along the length thereof to conform the contour of the wire to the general contours of the portions of the face across which the wire is adapted to overlie so that when the wire is biased against the wearer's face during wear of the mask, the mask is worn with relative comfort. The mask of this invention can be either in the form of a half-mask for covering only the lower portion of the hunter's face or in the form of a hood for concealing substantially the entire head of the hunter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to garments for hunters and deals more 
particularly with a face mask used to conceal a hunter's face from 
approaching game. 
It is known that by concealing a hunter from the view of wild game, the 
likelihood that the game will advance into close proximity to the hunter 
is substantially increased, and in hunting applications, such as archery 
or waterfowl hunting, in which the game must move into relatively close 
proximity to the hunter for the hunter to obtain a desirable shot at the 
game, concealment from view is of particular importance. 
In order to reduce the reflectivity or visability of a hunter's face while 
hunting game, a suitable mask or hood can be worn about the hunter's head, 
which mask or hood includes a sheet of material for covering a substantial 
portion of the face. Commonly, the sheet of material bears a pattern or 
print intended to visually blend with the hunter's surroundings or 
background so that the hunter's face is camouflaged by the mask. 
One type of face mask with which this invention is to be compared is in the 
form of a hood for positioning about the head of a hunter and in which are 
defined two eyeholes through which the hunter must see when the mask is 
operatively worn. One limitation associated with such a hood relates to 
the relatively limited field of peripheral vision provided by the hood and 
the succeptibility of the hood material to being moved in an undulating 
fashion by the wind. Such a limiting of peripheral vision and 
susceptibility to being moved by the wind are believed to be due, at least 
in part, to the relatively loose-fitting relationship between the portion 
of the hood defining the eyeholes and the face of the hunter which 
necessitates an appreciable turning of the head for the hunter to look 
toward his left or right and which permits the hood material to flap or 
otherwise move relative to the hunter's eyes. Of course, in hunting 
applications in which the hunter and his garments should remain as still 
as possible so as not to distract game being hunted, any appreciable 
turnings of the head or flapping of the hood material are undesirable 
occurances. 
Another limitation associated with the aforedescribed hood relates to the 
possible interference of the hood with the aiming of the hunter's weapon. 
More specifically, and inasmuch as a hunter typically sights his weapon 
along a line of sight directed from one eye and generally across the nose, 
the aforedescribed line of sight is apt, in many instances, to be 
obstructed by the piece of material necessarily defined between the two 
hood eyeholes. 
Still another limitation of the aforedescribed hood relates to the 
difficulties attending the wearing of such a mask by a hunter who wears 
glasses. In the first instance, the eyeholes of the hood are difficult to 
position and maintain in alignment with the eyepieces of glasses when the 
hood is placed over the head and worn, and in the second instance, many 
conventional hoods of this type are devoid of means permitting suitable 
air circulation therethrough for preventing the hunter's glasses from 
fogging. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved face mask for a hunter which circumvents the aforediscussed 
limitations associated with conventional face masks. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a face mask 
providing a hunter with improved peripheral vision and which is devoid of 
means which could otherwise obstruct the hunter's line of sight during the 
aiming of his weapon. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a mask 
including an eyepiece portion adapted to fit in close-fitting relationship 
against the hunter's face and adjacent the eyes. 
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide such a mask 
which can be comfortably worn by any hunter having a head size within a 
broad range of head sizes. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a mask which 
is particularly well-suited for use by a hunter who wears glasses. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a mask 
including means permitting air circulation therethrough. 
A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide such a 
mask in the form of a hood for positioning about the hunter's head so as 
to substantially cover the entire head of the hunter. 
An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a mask in 
the form of a half-mask for positioning about the hunter's head so as to 
substantially cover the lower portion of the hunter's face. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention resides in a new and improved face mask for concealing at 
least a portion of a wearer's face. 
The face mask includes a sheet of flexible material, elongate means, and an 
elastomeric strap. The sheet of flexible material includes a first section 
positionable generally beneath the eyes and across the face of a wearer 
and a depending section attached to the first section for depending 
generally downwardly from the first section when the mask is operatively 
worn. The elongate means is associated with the first section and includes 
two side portions and a mid-portion extending between the two side 
portions so that when the mask is operatively worn, the elongate means 
overlies the wearer's face so that each side portion is positioned 
adjacent a corresponding side of the wearer's face and the mid-portion is 
positioned generally beneath the wearer's eyes and across the wearer's 
nose. The elastomeric strap is joined to each side portion of the elongate 
means for holding the elongate means in operative portion across the 
wearer's face and adjacent the wearer's eyes. The elongate means is 
capable of being manually shaped along the length thereof so that the 
contour of the elongate means can be altered to conform to the contours of 
the portions of the wearer's face across which the elongate means is 
adapted to overlie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first FIG. 1, 
there is shown a face mask, generally indicated 20, in accordance with the 
present invention and operatively worn by a hunter H. The face mask 20 is 
of a type of mask known as a half-mask in that the portion of the hunter's 
head concealed by the mask includes the lower portion of the hunter's face 
and the sides of the hunter's head. As will be apparent hereinafter, the 
mask 20 provides the hunter H with an unobstructed view over the top of 
the mask 20 while the mask 20 fits comfortably about the hunter's head. 
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the face mask 20 includes a sheet 22 of 
flexible material, elongate means 24 positionable across the hunter's face 
and elastomeric means in the form of an elastic strap 26 for securing the 
elongate means 24 and the sheet 22 in operative position about the 
hunter's head. As best shown in FIG. 4, the sheet 22 includes a 
rectangular piece 23 of material defining a linear top edge 28, a bottom 
edge 30, two opposite and parallel side edges 32, 34, and inside and 
outside surfaces 36, 38, respectively. In the mask embodiment 20, the 
sheet 22 is comprised of a nylon net material but can be comprised of any 
of a number of suitable materials such as a cotton or a cotton/polyester 
blend in accordance with the broader aspects of the invention. 
To enhance the concealment of the hunter H in the location in which he is 
situated, it is preferred that the outer surface 38 of the mask sheet 22 
bears a print or pattern which visually simulates the appearance of the 
environment in which the hunter is located. In the mask embodiment 20, the 
outer surface 38 bears a camouflage print or pattern intended to provide 
the appearance of a wooded environment, but it will be understood that the 
outer surface 38 may bear an alternative pattern or print in accordance 
with the present invention. 
With reference still to FIGS. 1-4, the sheet 22 further includes a strip, 
indicated 46, of relatively soft material attached to the rectangular 
piece 23 adjacent the top edge 28 thereof. As best shown in FIG. 4, the 
material strip 46 defines opposite and parallel side edges 48, 50 and two 
opposite and parallel bottom and top edges 52, 54, respectively, and is 
shown in FIG. 4 as positioned in overlying engagement with the inside 
surface 36 of the rectangular piece 23. The length of the strip 46 as 
measured between the side edges 48, 50 is about equal to the width of the 
rectangular piece 23 as measured between the piece side edges 32, 34 so 
that the side strip edge 48 is substantially even with the piece edge 32 
and the strip side edge 50 is even with the piece side edge 34. For 
purposes of attaching the strip 46 to the piece 23 and as illustrated in 
FIG. 4, the strip 46 is folded over upon itself so that the strip edges 52 
and 54 engage one another. At that point, the narrow section of the 
rectangular piece 23 adjacent the piece edge 28 is folded so as to engage 
the engaging strip edges 52, 54 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4, and 
the strip 46 and piece 23 are stitched together with thread along parallel 
stitch lines, indicated 56 and 58, extending from one side edge 48 of the 
strip to the other strip side edge 50 and generally parallel to the piece 
edge 28. When stitched as afore-described and as best shown in FIG. 3, the 
strip 46 defines a sleeve, generally indicated 60, within which the 
elongate means 24, hereinafter described, is positioned. 
Inasmuch as the strip 46 is intended to provide a cushioned layer between 
the elongate means 24 and the skin of the hunter's face, it is preferred 
that the material comprising the strap 46 be relatively soft. The strip 46 
of the mask embodiment 20 is comprised of a cotton knit but any of a 
number of other suitable materials can be substituted therefor. 
With reference still to FIG. 4, the elongate means 24 includes two side 
edges 40, 42 and a mid-portion 44 extending between the two side portions 
40, 42. When the elongate means 24 is operatively positioned across the 
hunter's face and is best shown in FIG. 1, each side portion 40 or 42 is 
positioned adjacent a corresponding side of the hunter's face at a 
location indicated 41 or 43, respectively, and the mid-portion 44 is 
positioned generally across the facial region indicated F and extending 
generally beneath the hunter's eyes and across his nose. 
In accordance with the present invention, the elongate means 24 is manually 
shapeable along the length thereof so that the contours of the elongate 
means 24 can be altered in a desired manner. As will be apparent 
hereinafter, such a shape-altering capacity permits the hunter H to 
conform the shape of the elongate means 24 to the contours of the portions 
of the face across which the elongate means 24 is operatively 
positionable. With reference to FIG. 4, the elongate means 24 includes an 
elongate body 62 possessing such flexibility that it can be manually bent 
along the length thereof with relative ease yet possess such rigidity that 
retains its shape when bent. In the mask embodiment 20, the elongate body 
62 is in the form of a length of insulated copper wire 64 of twelve gauge, 
but any of a number of other wires possessing an alternative composition, 
such as lead, brass or steel, and/or wire size can be used to comprise the 
elongate body 62. 
As best shown in FIG. 4, the wire 64 is slightly shorter in length than the 
width of the rectangular piece 23 as measured between the piece side edges 
32, 34 yet is long enough to span the width of a relatively broad face. 
The wire 64 defines opposite end or side portions 66 or 68 which each 
provide a corresponding one of the side portions 40 or 42 of the elongate 
means 24 and further defines a mid-portion 70 extending between the side 
portion 66 and 68 which provides the mid-portion 44 of the elongate means 
24. Each of the side portions 66 or 68 is folded back upon itself so as to 
define a U-shaped crook at its corresponding end for a reason which will 
be hereinafter apparent. The wire 64 is positioned within so as to be 
received by the sleeve 60, and, as shown in FIG. 4, is arranged 
substantially centrally along the length of the sleeve 60. 
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the elastic strap 26 is elongated in 
shape, confines two opposite ends 72, 74 and is attached to the wire 64 
for purposes of securing the mask 20 about the hunter's head. More 
specifically, the strap end 72 is tied and knotted about the crooked 
formed by the wire side portion 66, and the strap end 74 is tied and 
knotted about the crook formed by the wire side portion 68 so that an 
opening for the head is collectively defined by the strap 26 and the wire 
64. For purposes of holding or retaining the wire 64 in a relatively 
snug-fitting relationship against the hunter's face, the length of the 
strap 26 is sized so that when the elongate means 24 are operatively 
positioned in front of the hunter's head, the strap 26 is positioned in a 
stretched condition across the back of the head. 
In order to operatively position the mask 20 about the hunter's head, the 
elongate means 24 is grasped with one hand, the strap 26 is grasped with 
the other hand and the opening defined by the strap 26 and elongate means 
24 is manipulated downwardly over the hunter's head until the strap 26 and 
elongate means 24 are arranged in substantially a horizontal plane 
oriented slightly beneath the hunter's eyes. The mask 20 is 
subsequentially arranged about the head so that the elongate means 24 
generally spans the facial region F (FIG. 1) and the strap 26 is arranged 
so as to extend across the back of the head. At that point, the elongate 
means 24 are bent with the fingers to conform the shape of the elongate 
means 24 in conformity to the contours of the hunter's face, which facial 
contours can be traced along the facial region F extending from one side 
of the hunter's face to the other and oriented generally beneath the eyes. 
Commonly, and as shown in FIG. 1, the mid-portion 44 of the elongate means 
are shaped so as to define a generally inverted U to accommodate the 
hunter's nose and the side portions 40, 42 are shaped to accommodate the 
hunter's cheekbones. 
By shaping the elongate means 24 in conformity to the contours of the face 
as aforedescribed, pressure applied to the face as a consequence of the 
elastic biasing of the elongate means 24 against the face is distributed 
relatively evenly along the length of the elongate means 24. Such an even 
pressure distribution across the face renders the mask 20 comfortable when 
worn. 
With reference to FIGS. 5-9, there is illustrated an alternative 
embodiment, generally indicated 80, of a mask in accordance with the 
present invention shown operatively worn upon the head of a wearer W. The 
mask 80 includes a sheet 82 of flexible material forming a hood for 
covering substantially the entire head of the wearer W, elongate means 88 
for positioning adjacent the wearer's eyes, and elastomeric means in the 
form of an elastic strap 92 for securing the mask 80 in operative position 
about the wearer's head. As best shown in FIG. 6, the sheet 82 includes a 
piece 81 of a piece of material having two opposites and parallel side 
edges 84, 85, a lower edge 86 and an upper edge 87 defining two arcuate 
sections 87a, 87b extending between the side edges 84, 85 as shown. The 
piece 81 is stitched in a manner joining the edges 84 and 85 to one 
another and joining the arcuate edges 87a and 87b to one another so as to 
form the aforementioned hood. The piece 81 is so sized that when stitched 
as a aforedescribed so as to form the hood and operatively positioned upon 
the head in FIG. 5, the front sides and back of the hood drape generally 
downwardly from the top of the head to the wearer's shoulders. 
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the sheet material piece 81 defines a 
somewhat oval-shaped opening 94 intended to be positioned in front of the 
wearer's eyes when the mask 80 is operatively worn so that the opening 94 
generally encircles both eyes. The sheet material 82 further includes a 
relatively narrow strip 98 of soft flexible material having its opposite 
edges stitched to the piece 81 along the opening 94 defined therein. The 
strip 98 thereby provides an edging for the opening 94. Furthermore, when 
the assembly of the mask 80 is complete and as best illustrated in FIG. 8, 
the strip 98 is folded back upon itself and stitched to the piece 84 along 
the stitch line 100 to provide a loop-like sleeve 101 within which the 
elongate means 88 is retainably received. 
The sheet piece 81 is comprised of a nylon net bearing a camouflage print 
on the outer surface thereof, and the strip 98 is comprised of a 
relatively soft, cotton knit, but as is the case with the components 
comprising the sheet 22 of the mask 20 of FIGS. 1-4, the piece 81 and 
strip 98 comprising the sheet 82 can be any of a number of suitable 
materials. 
With reference again to FIGS. 5-8, the elongate means 88 includes two 
opposite side portions 102, 104 and lower and upper mid-portions 106, 108, 
respectively, extending between the side portions 102, 104. When the mask 
80 is operatively worn upon the wearer's head, the lower and upper 
mid-portions 106, 108 are positioned generally beneath and above, 
respectively, the wearer's eyes and extended generally across the face, 
and each of the side portions 102, 104 are positioned adjacent a 
corresponding side of the wearer's face. 
In accordance with the present invention, the elongate means 88 is manually 
shapable in conformity to the contours of the portions of the wearer's 
face across which the elongate means 88 is adapted to overlie when the 
mask 80 is operatively worn. In the mask embodiment 80 and as best shown 
in FIGS. 7 and 8, the elongate means 88 includes an elongate body 110 in 
the form of a wire loop 112. The elongate body 110 is constructed of a 
single piece of twelve gauge insulated copper wire having two end portions 
114, 116 which are taped together in an end-to-end fashion with a piece of 
tape 118. For purposes of securing the wire loop 112 to the piece 84, the 
loop 112 is placed so as to overlie the edging strip 98 when the strip 98 
is arranged in its spread condition of FIG. 7, and the innermost edge of 
the strip 98 is folded back upon itself in the manner illustrated in FIG. 
8 and stitched along the stitch line 100 to thereby enclose and securably 
retain the wire loop 112 within the defined sleeve 103. It follows that 
the wire loop 112 is about equal in size to that of the opening 94. 
With reference to FIG. 8, the elastic strap 92 defines two opposite ends 
120, 122 which are each stitched to the edging strip 98 adjacent a 
corresponding one of the side portions 102, 104 of the elongate means 88. 
As was the case of the elastic strap 26 of the mask 20 of FIGS. 1-4, the 
elastic strap 92 is sized so that when the elongate means 88 is 
operatively positioned across the wearer's face, the strap 92 is arranged 
in a stretched condition across the back of the wearer's head so that the 
elongate means 88 are biased or drawn into a snug-fitting relationship 
with the wearer's face. 
In order to operatively position the mask 80 upon the head of the wearer, 
the mask 80 is initially placed upon the head so that the hood formed by 
the mask sheet 82 is draped about the head as shown in FIG. 5 and the mask 
components are manipulated so that the elongate means 88 are positioned so 
as to substantially encircle both eyes and the strap 92 is arranged in a 
stretched condition across the back of the head. At that point, selected 
portions of the elongate means 88 are bent with the fingers so that the 
contour of the elongate means 88 is altered in general conformity to the 
contours of the face portions across which selected portion of the 
elongate means 88 are adapted to rely. Commonly, and as shown in FIG. 1, 
the lower mid-portion 106 of the elongate means 88 is shaped to 
accommodate the wearer's nose and the side portions 102, 104 are 
appropriately shaped to accommodate the wearer's cheekbones. With the 
elongate means 88 shaped in general conformity with the regions of the 
face across which the elongate means 88 overlies, the mask 20 is 
comfortably worn. 
It is apparent from the foregoing that the capacity of the elongate means 
of the mask of this invention to be altered in shape enables a single mask 
to be rendered comfortable for wear by hunters having heads of 
substantially dissimilar widths or possessing substantially dissimilar 
facial contours. 
Another advantage provided by the mask of this invention relates to the 
relatively snug-fitting relationship provided between the elongate means 
and the skin of the hunter's face in the region adjacent the hunter's 
eyes. Such a snug-fitting relationship maintains the portion of the sheet 
material of the mask positioned adjacent the eyes in a condition against 
the hunter's face so that the mask sheet cannot flap or move in front of 
the hunter's eyes when exposed to a breeze so as to obstruct the hunter's 
vision and effectively enhances the hunter's peripheral vision. 
Still another advantage of the mask of this invention relates to the 
absence therein of means which could interfere with the sighting of the 
hunter's weapon. For example and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the mask 
embodiment 20 is positioned adjacent the hunter's eyes so as to permit 
unobstructed vision over the top of the mask 20 and as illustrated in FIG. 
5, the mask embodiment 80 provides a single somewhat oval-shaped opening 
through which both eyes of the hunter are provided with an unobstructed 
view. In particular, neither mask embodiment 20 or 80 provides means which 
could interfere with a line of sight directed from one eye and across the 
nose. 
A further advantage of the mask of the present invention relates to the 
adaptability of the mask for wearing by a hunter who wears glasses. For 
example, there is shown in FIG. 9, a hunter, generally indicated J, 
wearing a pair of glasses, indicated G, and also wearing the mask 80 of 
FIGS. 5-8. As illustrated in FIG. 9, various portions of the elongate 
means 88 of the mask 80 are formed or shaped to substantially conform to 
the general outline of the eyepiece frame E of the glasses G so that when 
operatively positioned thereabout and drawn toward the face by the strap 
92 (FIGS. 6 and 8), the elongate means 88 is snugly held about the 
eyepiece frame E so that each of the two eyepieces of the Glasses G are 
maintained in alignment with the sheet opening 94 for viewing 
therethrough. 
Considering still advantages provided by this invention in connection with 
hunters who wear glasses, the mask 80 of FIGS. 5-9 provides an additional 
advantage in that the elongate means 88 thereof facilitates the 
circulation of air through the mask hood to thereby reduce the likelihood 
that the hunter's glasses will fog up when the mask 80 is worn. To this 
end and with reference again to FIG. 9, there is shown the upper 
mid-portion 108 of elongate means 88 being so shaped to define an inverted 
U centrally thereof. The defined inverted U provides an air vent in the 
front of the mask 80 which has been found to provide sufficient 
circulation through the mask 80 to prevent fogging of the glasses G. 
It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be 
had to the aforedescribed embodiments without departing from the spirit of 
the invention. For example, although each of the elongate bodies of the 
elongate means 80, 88 of the mask embodiments 20 and 80 have been shown 
and described above as including a length of deformable wire, it will be 
understood that an elongate body in accordance with the broader aspects of 
the present invention can include an elongate body of a suitably clay 
composition, such as modeling clay, capable of being manually shaped along 
its length for conforming the contour of the elongate body to contours of 
the face. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiments are intended for 
purposes of illustration and not limitation.