1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to recreational face masks designed to protect the face and nose from sunburn and frostbite.
2. Background Information
Today's society is increasingly involved in outdoor sports and recreational activities yet concerns about avoiding skin cancer and other harmful effects of the sun are also greater than ever. In particular, there is a need among outdoor enthusiasts (e.g. mountaineers, cyclists, skiers) to protect their nose and face from exposure to harmful Ultraviolet light and extreme cold, wind, and particulate matter that may cause frostbite or discomfort. Importantly, there is a need for face masks that are versatile and can be easily attached to various types of eyewear, such as eyeglasses and goggles. Some masks are made of non-breathable, plastic material which causes the skin to sweat and causing condensation to reach the user's eyewear, fog the lenses, and obstruct vision. Flexibility and comfort are often sacrificed for durability, and vice versa. Other masks on the market do not comfortably attach or conform to the face, such as those that utilize a plastic clip-on mechanism to attach to the user's eyeglasses. Other masks have utilized a relatively thick (e.g. 2-inch) strap that wraps around the user's head and attaches using a hook and loop (i.e. VELCRO®) mechanism. These clip-on mechanisms are often irritating and the masks feature nose covers that are not sufficiently flexible and do not properly conform to the nose. Because prior art face masks do not offer sufficient flexibility and often come in only one size, it is difficult for the user to achieve a good fit. Moreover, due to their rigid structure and poor fit, existing face masks seriously hinder eating and talking. Existing face masks either lack comfort, cannot be used with various eyewear, do not adequately conform to a user's nose and face, are not breathable, cause excess perspiration and eyewear fogging, are not suitable for physical outdoor activity, and/or do not offer sufficient protection from the elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,875 to Weisberger (1967) discloses a nose and lip cover which detachably connects to each other and to a pair of eyeglasses. However, such a device is limited for use with eyeglasses and does not provide a comfortable fit or attractive appearance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,036 to Daprato (1992) discloses a nose protector configured to attach to eyeglasses, but consists of a shield and a complex system of cords for attaching the protective nose cover to the eyeglasses. Again, this device can only be used with eyeglasses and does not have an easy means of attachment. Similarly, the sun-protective nose cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,992 to Tilghman (1998) can only be attached to eyeglasses via a loop strap, and does not provide a conforming fit due to a lack of flexibility.
Breathability is also an important factor for reducing sweat and providing comfort, and minimizing the fogging of eyewear. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,847 to Lauttamus (1994) discloses a sun-protective nose cover that attaches to eyeglasses or goggles using a strap that is looped over the bridge of the eyewear. However, the Lauttamus nose cover is described as being of tear-able and crease-able material, which limits the device to non-breathable materials such as paper or plastic. Other more fashion-oriented garments exist to cover the head and face, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,340 to Frislie (1998). Frislie discloses a face and head garment that fully covers the head and face of the user with eye, nose, and mouth openings. However, this garment is uncomfortable and does not allow the user to communicate, and is more akin to a costume mask. U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,290 to O'Brien (1978) discloses a face mask made of a three-part lamination process that includes a thermal barrier. However, this mask covers the entire face of the user and is only designed for cold weather use. Moreover, the nose opening of this mask is a flap that does not adequately protect the nose from frostbite. U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,424 to Tredup (2000) claims a protective face mask made of hard plastic to block the sun's harmful rays wherein the entire mask is a hard plastic or UV lens material. Such a device is relatively heavy, and nevertheless not flexible, resulting in an uncomfortable and non-deal fit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,210 to King, et al. (1997) discloses a cardboard face shield for protection against the sun. Although such a device may be lightweight and provide adequate sun protection, it is essentially a disposable one-time use item. Furthermore, it does not attach to eyewear, and it is not breathable or comfortable because it rigidly covers the entire face.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,252 to Tobin (2006) discloses a face mask formed of an impact-resistant sheet to contour of a face, with a series of resilient pads mounted on the inner surface of the mask adjacent to forehead and cheek areas. This device, however, falls into the category of protective sports equipment, and is only designed for avoiding injury due to physical impact. U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,545 to Kleman, et al. (2007) discloses a facemask that purportedly reduces or eliminates fogging of the eyewear worn by the user of the face mask. However, this device is a medical mask intended for medical purposes. In summary, existing sun-protective face masks suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages:                Lack of versatility with respect to uses (e.g. not suitable for outdoor and athletic activities);        Lack of versatility with respect to attachment or interface with various types of eyewear;        Lack of sun or UV protection;        Lack of flexibility and conformity fit to the face;        Lack of breathability, causing sweating and eyewear fogging; and        Lack of comfort with respect to the size, weight, or means of attachment to the face.        
Thus, there is a need in the market for a sun-protective, breathable face mask that attaches to various types of eyewear and is durable but comfortably conforms to the face for physical, outdoor activities. The face mask disclosed herein addresses these needs.