Apparel – Head coverings – Face coverings
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-18
2001-08-14
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Head coverings
Face coverings
C002S009000, C002S171000, C002S173000, C002S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272690
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to articles of clothing and more particular to articles of clothing to be worn about the head.
2. State of the Art
Masks have been used in the past to protect a user's face from inclement weather. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,240 (Edwards) discloses a closed-cell neoprene mask which may be worn about the face to protect the user from adverse weather including wind, cold, rain, snow and the like. Gator Sports, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah also manufactures and sells a “Gator Face Protector,” which is made from neoprene and positioned about the face to protect the user from adverse weather.
Other articles of clothing have been devised to protect the face from inclement weather. For example, a “balaclava” head protector is made for positioning over the head of the user. A balaclava is formed with a scarf portion that extends directly downward. It also has an opening that extends in height from the forehead to the chin area and in width the entire width of the face. U.S. Pat. No. 1,023,677 (Pass) shows a hood which is placed about the head. The hood is designed with an opening at the top and a fastening structure along the rear. Appropriate apertures are provided for the nose and eyes. Other articles of clothing include ear protectors, neck scarfs or “gaitors” and combination mask and scarf structures such as the GATOR DUO face protector manufactured by Gator Sports, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah and a COMBOSCARF sold by Seirus Innovative Accessories, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah. A combination mask and scarf structure is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,804 (Carey, et al.).
Other head and face protecting devices are known including those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,731,135 (Scott), 5,766,963 (Murray), 1,309,783 (Slawin), 3,271,781 (Sontag, et al.), 3,665,517 (Hyman).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An article of clothing has a mask member formed of an insulative and wind-resistant material. The mask member is formed and sized to cover a portion of the face of the user The mask member has a perimeter which includes an upper edge for positioning under the eyes of the user and a lower edge for positioning below the mouth of the user to extend away therefrom. A head member is connected to the mask member. The head member is formed of a pliable material sized for positioning about the head. The head member is connected to the mask member along at least a portion of the perimeter of the mask member. The head member has a head edge formed proximate or for positioning proximate the eyebrows of the user. The head edge is spaced from the upper edge of the mask member a distance sufficient to define an eye opening to register with the eyes of the user.
The head member is preferably sized and shaped to substantially surround the head of the user rearwardly from the mask member. In a preferred arrangement, the article of clothing includes a scarf portion which is associated with or formed unitarily with the head member to extend downwardly from the head member to be positioned proximate the neck of the user.
In alternate configurations the head member may be sized and shaped to entirely surround the head of the user rearwardly from the mask member. The perimeter of the mask member may also optionally have a left outside edge and a right outside edge both of which extend upwardly toward the upper edge of the mask member. The head edge is preferably positioned proximate the eyebrows of a user to define an eye opening having a height which is selected to be less than the height of protective sport goggles.
In an alternate configuration, the head member is formed to have a neck opening sized and shaped to fit over the head of the user. The head member is formed of an elastic material so the neck opening may elastically expand and elastically retract to closely fit about the user's head and neck. Desirably, the mask member has a middle edge desirably positioned above the mouth and below the nose of the user. The mask member also has an a proximate the nose of the user and a selective aperture arrangement for positioning proximate the mouth of the user.
In another arrangement, the mask member has a lower edge that extends under the chin of the user. In yet an alternate configuration the mask member has at least one seam that extends from the middle edge towards the lower edge. The upper edge of the mask member extends contouredly over the nose and along the eye socket area of the eyes of the user.
In preferred configurations the mask member is formed of a neoprene-like material. A fleece-like material may be laminated to the interior portion thereof for contact with the face of a user. The head member and scarf member may be formed of a fleece-type material. Alternately the mask member may be formed of a Spandex™-type material.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 327339 (1992-06-01), Rasmussen et al.
patent: D. 339676 (1993-09-01), Geving
patent: 557625 (1896-04-01), Tolle
patent: 731135 (1903-06-01), Scott
patent: 766963 (1904-08-01), Murray
patent: 772148 (1904-10-01), Hughes
patent: 805052 (1905-11-01), Brooks
patent: 825170 (1906-07-01), Allen
patent: 891122 (1908-06-01), Wilcox
patent: 960520 (1910-06-01), Dysthe
patent: 1023677 (1912-04-01), Pass
patent: 1035217 (1912-08-01), McQuary, Jr.
patent: 1235927 (1917-08-01), Sanborn
patent: 1309783 (1919-07-01), Slawin
patent: 1655440 (1928-01-01), Soble
patent: 1990199 (1935-02-01), Nemzek
patent: 2039478 (1936-05-01), Ensten
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patent: 2353025 (1944-07-01), Gautreaux
patent: 2573537 (1951-10-01), Bouffard
patent: 2716981 (1955-09-01), More
patent: 3271781 (1966-09-01), Sontag et al.
patent: 3665517 (1972-05-01), Hyman
patent: 3668705 (1972-06-01), Garbisch
patent: 3678929 (1972-07-01), Buscher
patent: 3725956 (1973-04-01), Reisen
patent: 3740767 (1973-06-01), Schuessler
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patent: 3823418 (1974-07-01), Piper
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patent: 3943575 (1976-03-01), Bolker
patent: 4095290 (1978-06-01), Obrien
patent: 4180868 (1980-01-01), Snow
patent: 4250577 (1981-02-01), Smith
patent: 4259748 (1981-04-01), Miller
patent: 4300240 (1981-11-01), Edwards
patent: 4641379 (1987-02-01), Martin
patent: 4886079 (1989-12-01), Mooney
patent: 4941211 (1990-07-01), Blutstein
patent: 5035006 (1991-07-01), Hetz et al.
patent: 5058211 (1991-10-01), Hanks
patent: 5062163 (1991-11-01), Avey
patent: 5109548 (1992-05-01), Balaban et al.
patent: 5214804 (1993-06-01), Carey et al.
patent: 5251336 (1993-10-01), Nevins
patent: 366884 (1906-10-01), None
Gator Catalog.
Seirus Outdoor Stuff catalog.
Ad and instructions for use of the mask, extreme cold weather.
Photograph of a person wearing a mask.
Photograph of a person wearing a mask.
Frontline catalog and price list 1990-1991.
Seirus gloves and accessories catalog.
Seirus skiing, skating, hiking, biking, running and hunting catalog.
Primos masks & accessories product list.
Seirus skiing, skating, hiking, biking, running, outdoor and athletic catalog—1993.
Carey Michael J.
Edwards Joseph H.
Calvert John J.
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
Moran Katherine
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