GB2115686A - One piece head and body costume - Google Patents

Abstract

A costume 11 which provides covering for both the body and the head which costume is formed from a plastic material of two continuous sides and heat sealed or otherwise joined in a generally triangular shape such that a plurality of such costumes may be formed from the continuous sides with a minimal or no loss of material. The costume provides a head and body portion with facial apertures 16, the vent apertures 17, 19 and arm apertures 18 for the user and wearer. A variety of head styles may be provided which will add to the costume effect. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION One piece head and body costume This invention relates to costumes and methods of making them.

Many costumes have been produced or proposed which disclose draping type body coverings with separate head pieces which include cloaks and face masks as well as sheet type costumes which may cover the head and body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a one piece body and head covering to serve as a costume for the wearer or user.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method of making a costume which is of a generally triangular configuration such that the manufacture of the costume may be accomplished with a minimal loss of material.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a costume which is constructed to cover at least the head of the wearer and selected portions of the wearers body, such costume including: a. a generally triangular unit having an upper portion and a lower portion; b. said upper portion of said unit including at least one aperture to allow facial visibility therethrough; and c. said upper portion including a selected one of designs for formation of the area of said unit normally above the head of the wearer.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a method of making a costume in which a plurality of costumes are produced from superposed sheets of material adjacent costumes being formed with the base of one triangular costume adjacent the apex of the next triangular costume whereby waste of sheet material is minimised.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the one piece body and head costume as the same would be worn; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the costume as the same would be produced from two sheets of plastic material and further illustrating the formation and production of a pair of such costumes, the second such form being illustrated by dotted lines; Figure 3 is a rear elevation which particularly illustrates the venting apertures of the costume; Figure 4 is a side elevation taken from Figure 3; Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views which illustrate the various configurations that may be utilized to form the upper or head portions of the costumes, all of which are arranged in the generally triangular configuration of the unit as manufactured.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the applicant's one piece body and head costume is generally designated 11. The costume 11 is formed, in the form shown, from two individual sheets of a plastic material, as best illustrated in Figure 5, with the rear sheet being of one selected mil thickness and the front sheet being of another selected mil thickness. This thickness is a matter of design and is not critical to the invention. In the form shown, the front sheet is designated 1 2 and the rear sheet is designated 1 3. In the production of the costume, sheets 12, 13 are aligned in sideby-side fashion and the seams 1 4a, 1 4b forming the side edges thereof are formed by heat sealing the material.As illustrated in Figure 2, the triangular configuration of the preferred costume 11 will permit a pair of adjacent units to be formed from a selected length of material. Such design permits full useage of the provided material with a minimal loss of same.

As illustrated in the various views, certain apertures are provided at the seams 1 4a, 1 4b and on the front sheet 12 and back sheet 1 3. The front sheet 12 includes a facial aperture 1 6 and the back or rear sheet 1 3 may include a plurality of venting apertures which are designated 1 7.

Arranged along the side seams 1 4a, 1 4b are arm apertures 1 8 and ear apertures 1 9. All of such apertures may be provided for total useability of the costume, but it should be obvious that certain of these apertures may be omitted without departing from the scope and concept of the invention.

Various forms and shapes of the upper extremity of the costume are illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 6 through 10. All of these configurations are front illustrations of the costume which show the facial aperture 1 6 with various upper designs.

All of these designs are within the triangular configuration of the costume and such designs should not be considered to be limiting but only illustrative of various shapes that can be provided.

Figures 2 and 3 are simply conical shapes; Figure 6 may be termed to be a joined ear configuration; Figure 7 is an obvious top-hat configuration; Figure 8 is a split ear configuration; Figure 9 may be termed a unicorn or candle configuration and Figure 10 may be termed a ghost configuration.

It should be noted that the material will cover the head and body portion of the user and the material will be effective to support the upper extremity configuration. The material is selected to be flame retarded and will drape about the body of the user. The user will then be able to cover its body and clothing with the costume and the same will serve as, not only a costume, but will be protective as raingear while permitting total visibility, sound access, arm mobility and venting.

The entire costume may be shortened to the height of the user and one size will fit a wide variety of shapes and sizes of persons.

It should be obvious that the applicant has provided a new and unique concept in costume structures which provides a singular unit for covering both a body portion and the head of the user which will permit a variety of portrayal configurations and which, through its design will provide for a maximai useage of the material from which the costume is provided.

It will also be apparent that with the unique design of the unit that various-heat sealing and die mechanisms will provide a variety of configurations to the ultimate design of the costume.

Claims (12)

1. A costume which is constructed to cover at least the head of the wearer and selected portions of the wearers body, such costume including: a. a generally triangular unit having an upper portion and a lower portion; b. said upper portion of said unit including at least one aperture to allow facial visibility therethrough; and, c. said upper portion including a selected one of designs for formation of the area of said unit normally above the head of the wearer.

2. A costume according to Claim 1 and said upper portion of said unit having a plurality of venting apertures formed on the side opposite of said facial aperture.

3. A costume according to Claim 1 or 2 and said upper portion being provided with apertures to allow the wearer to expose its arms through the same.

4. A costume according to any of Claims 1 to 3 which is formed from a pair of sheets of material joined together by at least one seam.

5. A costume according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which said upper portion of said unit being substantially self supporting whereby said upper portion may be formed to provide shaped areas.

6. A costume according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which said sheets of material being of selected thicknesses.

7. A costume substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of making a costume as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 in which a plurality of costumes are produced from superposed sheets of material adjacent costumes being formed with the base of one triangular costume adjacent the apex of the next triangular costume whereby waste of sheet material is minimised.

9. A method according to Claim 8 in which apertures are selectively formed in said sheets of material to provide at least one aperture for facial visibility.

10. A method according to Claims 8 or 9 in which apertures are selectively formed in said sheets of material to provide at least one aperture for facial visibility on one of said sheets and venting means arranged generally opposite said visibility aperture on said other sheet.

11. A method according to any of Claims 8 to 10 in which arm apertures are formed in the seams joining said sheets.

12. A method of making a costume substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.