Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention herein pertains to a blank which is assembled to make a three-dimensional wearable face mask. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to improvements in flexible masks and, more particularly, to flexible masks that may be stored flat and can be opened up to three dimensional forms to cover the face, top and back of a user&#39;s head to simulate known or fictional characters. 
         [0003]    Prior art blanks which are assembled to make three-dimensional masks or head coverings are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,214,800 and 6,941,582. 
         [0004]    Such blanks form sport helmet-type shapes or other mask shapes which are not appropriate for imprinting a humanoid face. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a simple mask, assembled from a single blank, which can be stored easily in a flat mode, and which is adapted for printing a humanoid face, such as a known person or fictional character. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a first embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a second embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a third embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a fourth embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a fifth embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention showing a sixth embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a blank mask of the present invention of the third embodiment and depicting an imprinted humanoid design of a known superhero character. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an assembled mask of the present invention made from the blank of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of two assembled masks of the present invention made from any of the blanks of  FIGS. 1-6 , depicting the same imprinted humanoid design of a known superhero character in partially finished and finished states. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of two assembled masks of the present invention made from any of the blanks of  FIGS. 1-6 , depicting different printed humanoid designs of known superhero characters in finished states. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one of the assembled masks of the present invention of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , worn by a user. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  depicts front, perspective and back views of an assembled mask made from a seventh embodiment of the present invention, depicting a known sports personality. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The blank of the present invention is made from a single piece which comprises folds and connections. The connections protrude from a plurality of panels. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1-7  depict embodiments of the two-dimensional blank mask of the present invention.  FIGS. 1-6  are blanks without any design. The blanks show a plurality of folds in dotted line. The overall shape of the blanks is of a butterfly, wherein the head is the front panel  100 , the wings are the right side panel  200  and left side panel  300 , the torso is the top panel  400  and the tail is the back panel  500 . The five panels are joined by connections formed in the blank. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  comprise numbered tabs which are matched to corresponding numbered slots or cuts in solid lines.  FIGS. 3 and 4  comprise numbered tabs which are matched to corresponding numbered cuts as well as shaded adhesive sections.  FIGS. 5 and 6  comprise numbered adhesive sections, shown in shading and numbered non-adhesive section, but do not comprise tabs or cuts. Adhesive sections may be covered with removable protective sheet during shipping, which is removed prior to assembly. Alternatively, adhesive sections may require moisture to activate prior to assembly. Alternatively, the numbered sections illustrated as non-adhesive may also be adhesive. 
         [0022]    The embodiments vary by the type of connections and minor differences in the shapes of the panels. Other types of connections and panel shapes are contemplated so long as the blank has the overall butterfly shape and the connections are suitable to join panels together. The number of connections may vary if the panels have modified shapes, as discussed below and illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The minimum number of connections contemplated is six, namely, one connection on each side of the front panel  100  coupled to each of the side panels  200 ,  300 ; one connection on each side of the back panel  500  coupled to each of the side panels  200 ,  300  and one connection proximate the top panel  400  at each intersection of the front panel  100  and side panels  200 ,  300 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates the blank of  FIG. 3  with a design of a known superhero face, namely Spider-Man™. This blank was suitable as it comprises a rounded chin design, as compared to the chin on the front panel of  FIG. 2 , for example, which is more square-shaped. The skilled worker having regard to the specification and drawings will choose appropriate blank embodiments of the present invention which are suitable to the desired design. 
         [0024]    Other blank embodiments of the present invention may comprise shortened side panels  200 ,  300  with less connections, as shown in  FIG. 12 . As well, various shapes may be cut out from one or more panels such as semi-circles to accommodate the user&#39;s ears in side panels  200 ,  300  or ovals to accommodate the user&#39;s eyes in front panel  100 , both shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0025]    The blank may be made from paper, cardboard, plastic or any suitable material which can be folded stored and shipped in two-dimensions, for subsequent assembly. A combination of different materials may also be used, such as more rigid material for the majority of the blank and transparent material at various locations such as at the eye placement on the front panel. Holes or various shapes may be precut in one or more panel or perforated for the user to remove as needed. The fold lines may be pre-stamped to expedite assembly. Assembly may be done by anyone of school age or older, having regard to the following assembly instructions:
   1. Fold the blank along all the fold lines.   2. a) Embodiments with tabs and cuts connections: Insert a numbered tab into and through the corresponding numbered cut. For example, tab  1  is inserted into cut  1 ′, tab  2  is inserted into cut  2 ′, etc.   2. b) Embodiments with adhesive section connections: Activate the numbered adhesive section by removing protective sheet or wetting, then apply to the corresponding non-adhesive numbered section.   
 
         [0029]    Fold back the side panels to lock the connections in place.
   3. Perforate eye holes, if applicable and as needed, for wear.   
 
         [0031]    As such, the top panel  400  is integrally joined to all other panels. The front panel  100  is integrally joined to the top panel  400  and adapted to be coupled to the right side panel  200  by connections  1 ,  1 ′ and  4 ,  4 ′ and left side panel  300  by connections  2 ,  2 ′ and  3 ,  3 ′. As well, the back panel  500  is integrally joined to the top panel  400  and adapted to be coupled to the right side panel  200  by connections  6 ,  6 ′ and  7 ,  7 ′ and left side panel  300  by connections  5 ,  5 ′ and  8 ,  8 ′. Corner connections  9 ,  9 ′ and  10 ,  10 ′ once assembled provide a smooth and continuous look to the mask at the interface of panels  100 ,  300 ,  400  and  100 ,  200 ,  400  respectively. 
         [0032]    Assembled embodiments of the present invention are depicted in  FIGS. 8-12 .  FIGS. 10 and 12  show examples of superhero and sports figure designs. Other designs are contemplated.  FIG. 11  shows a user wearing one of the assembled blanks of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The eye location on front panel  100  may optionally be cut out or made of transparent or porous material to enhance the user&#39;s wearing experience. 
         [0033]    The blank of the present invention may be precut from a template or formed within a larger surface for easy removal by a user. 
         [0034]    While it is contemplated that the blanks of the present invention are of suitable size to be worn by a user, any size blank may be constructed with regard to the present description and figures, including smaller model versions. In addition, while the blanks may be constructed with colour designs, the skilled worker will appreciate that any type of design may be applied to the blank including design outlines that may be coloured or painted by a user prior to assembly of the mask. 
         [0035]    Although the description above contains many specific details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Technology Category: 1