Abstract:
The embodiments disclosed include a method and device for the display of information on a facemask used by the participants in sporting events. An embodiment comprises a means of applying text or graphical information to the crossbars and vertical bars of a facemask and having the user of the helmet wear the facemask in the usual manner and a means to display the information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This disclosure relates to the use of facemasks on the helmets worn in the course of participating in sporting events for advertisement and informational purposes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment illustrating schematically a football helmet with an embodiment  101  applied to the facemask of the helmet illustrating how a pattern on the football helmet is extending onto the faceguard. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how insignias  201  can be placed on the faceguard. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how business advertisements, business endorsements or product placements  301  can be displayed on the football faceguard. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how geographic symbols or country insignias  401  can be displayed on the football faceguard. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating a front view of a football helmet showing how product placements and entertainment advertisements  501  can be used on a football helmet. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how advertisements for team logos  601  can be placed on the facemask of the football helmet. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how logos for sports teams and franchises  701  can be placed on the embodiment;  FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how logos for sports teams and franchises  701  can be placed on the embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8   a  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how logos for sports teams  801  can be placed on the front of the facemask, on the top rail of the facemask via tab, and on any vertical rails of the facemask;  FIG. 8   b  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how logos  801  can be placed on the vertical rails and also on the top pad via a tab of a football helmet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how logos  901  can be placed throughout the facemask of a football helmet. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how insignias  1001  on the helmet can be extended down onto the facemask. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how logos  1101  can be extended down onto the facemask from the helmet. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how players&#39; names and players&#39; numbers  1201  can be displayed on the facemask. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how political advertisements  1301  can be displayed on football helmets. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment illustrating how institutional names  1401  can be displayed on football helmets. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a front view of another embodiment illustrating how symbols  1501  can be displayed on football helmets. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment generally relates to the display of information on a facemask used by the participants in sporting events. A facemask is defined broadly as any device that is worn to protect the face of a player participating in a sporting event. By way of example, a facemask includes, but is not limited to the facemask on a football helmet, the facemask on a lacrosse helmet, the facemask on a ice hockey helmet, the facemask on a field hockey helmet, the facemask of a baseball or softball catcher&#39;s mask, the face mask on a helmet worn by a jockey, and the facemask worn by basketball players to protect previous facial or dental injury. The term facemask is also defined to include replica facemasks on miniature memorabilia helmets or any other enlarged or miniature helmets intended to depict or simulate actual helmets. 
         [0020]    An embodiment  100  relates to permanently or temporarily placing information on a facemask or in the proximity of a facemask as it is attached to the related helmet. Information is defined broadly to mean any idea or statement display and includes, but is not limited to, markings attributed to the team; patterns; designs; logos; lettering; business names; product names; foreign country names; names of U.S. states; names of U.S. territories; names of U.S. possessions; team names; institutional names; university or college names; abbreviations of university or college names; university or college logos; team logos or insignias, solid patterns or colors, team colors, stripes or patterns, names of individual players; jersey numbers or identification of individual players; informational slogans; and political slogans or information; dates; conference/league rankings; and bowl game information such as “Super Bowl” or a particular college or Bowl Championship Series bowl game, league championship game. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment  100  the information is affixed to either the horizontal posts  102  of the face mask, the vertical posts  103  of the face mask, the helmet in the vicinity of the facemask or underneath the facemask on the helmet, or a combination of all of these placements. In other embodiment, the information can be applied to any support post on the facemask including support posts that are vertical, horizontal or any other orientation. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the orientation of the support posts. Referring to  FIG. 8   b , in another embodiment, the information  802  can be placed on a tab  803 . The tab is defined as a plate that is either formed by the facemask or affixed to the facemask that provides a surface upon which information can be displayed. The tab is manufactured from the same material as the facemask or can be a polymeric material or metallic material. 
         [0022]    In all embodiments the term affixed is defined broadly to mean any method of placing printing or any other information onto the various portions of the facemask and includes, but is not limited to, inking, dying, freehand drawing, printing, stamping, stenciling, decaling, painting, engraving, laser engraving, or embossing. In addition, the term affixing also includes forming a display of information by removing material from the facemask leaving an impression of display information. 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, the information is affixed to the horizontal posts  102 , the vertical posts  103  or the helmet  104  or a combination of these. The information can be affixed so as to give the optical impression of a continuous image of a logo over both a horizontal post  102  and on the helmet  104 . 
         [0024]    The information is affixed to the horizontal posts  102 , the vertical posts  103  or the helmet  104  via an affixing means. The affixing means is defined broadly to include any means that can be used to affix the logos or other information including, but not limited to, stenciling, decaling, painting, engraving, or laser engraving. The affixing means is broadly defined to include methods such as engraving to provide a three dimensional construction of the information so that the image provides novel viewing opportunities. 
         [0025]    At this point, the helmet with the information affixed on the facemask or thereabouts is ready to be worn by the user. When the user wears the facemask and the users head and face are displayed on a television broadcast, the information as well as the image of the user&#39;s head, face, and helmet is displayed to the viewing audience. In this manner, the information is displayed wherever the video broadcast is displayed. Further, new technology such as HD Digital Photographs and high definition television or HDTV the impact of viewing the information is enhanced due to the resolution and color intensity of the HDTV broadcasting medium. 
         [0026]    In this respect, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.