GB2390808A

GB2390808A - Pre-shave face mask

Info

Publication number: GB2390808A
Application number: GB0216479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Cross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-16
Filing date: 2002-07-16
Publication date: 2004-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-16
Also published as: GB2390808B; GB0216479D0

Abstract

The face mask has a moisture-absorbent towelling layer 14 for placement next to the skin and a heat-retentive outer layer 15. The mask is shaped to fit the face, with a front portion 2, two side portions 3 and 4 and a bottom portion 5. The front portion has a notch 6 in its upper periphery to fit around the nose and an opening 7 for the mouth. The heat-retentive layer includes a fluid heat-retentive material such as ethylene glycol which is held in separate cells formed by an envelope of flexible sheet material. Retaining straps 10a and 10b attached to the side portions may be secured around the rear of the head to hold the mask in place. Once pre-heated by immersion in water at 60{C it can be placed on a persons face to warm and moisten the skin causing skin pores and hair follicles to open which urges hairs to protrude from the skin to aid subsequent shaving.

Description

;3038#) '''8

P 1 084

Mark Cross PRE-SHAVE FACE MASK

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a face mask for use prior to shaving.

BACKGROUND

Before the widespread use of electric shavers men would regularly visit barbers shops for a shave, but with today's concerns about AIDS, hepatitis and other disease and safety risks, most barbers are no longer able to offer such a service. The quality of the shave which could be obtained was extremely good. Barbers provided a wet shave using an open razor, which involved heating the face prior to shaving by application of hot towels. This had the effect of opening up the skin pores and hair follicles causing the hairs to protrude from the skin, following which the skin would be lathered and shaved. The face would then be doused with cold water causing the hair to retract into the skin, leaving a smooth feel and resulting in a longer-

lasting shaven appearance.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of face mask which can be used prior to shaving with the aim of significantly

( 2 improving the quality of shave which can be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENT1011

The present invention provides pre-shave face mask which includes a moisture-absorbent layer for placement next to the skin and a heatretentive layer. The mask is preferably shaped to fit the face, with a front portion, two side portions and a bottom portion joined to the front ens side portions. The front portion preferably has a notch in its upper periphery to fit around the nose.

Furthermore, the front portion may have an opening for the mouth.

The heat-retentive layer may include a flowable material which is held in an envelope of flexible sheet material. The flowable material may thus conform closely to the surface contours of the face. The envelope preferably includes a plurality of mutually discreet cells. The envelope may be formed of two superimposed sheets which are sealed together. In a preferred form of the mask the front, side and bottom portions each include at least one such cell.

A preferred heat-retentive flowable material includes ethylene glycol.

The mask may be provided with retaining means which fits around the rear of the head to hold the mask in place.

f P1084 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein

are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a pre-shaving mask in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the mask; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the mask; and Figure 4 is a detailed section through part of the mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig.s 1 to 3, the mask 1 is shaped to fit over the bearded area of a users face. The mask has a front portion 2 with a pair of side portions 3 and 4 extending rearwardly from opposite edges, and a bottom portion 5 is joined to the lower edges of the front and side portions. The front portion 2 has a notch 6 in its upper edge to locate under the nose of the user, and contains an opening 7 for registration with the users mouth. The rear edge 8 of the bottom portion 5 is curved to fit around the users neck, while the side portions 3 and 4 are also provided with notches 9 to locate under the lower part of the users ears. An attachment element 10a' 10b may be provided to extend around the back of the users head to hold the mask in

( 4 P1084 place. The attachment element may be a single extensible element or two separate sections as shown, which can be tied together or secured by hook and loop fastenings 12 and 13 (e.g. velcro) or a tvo-part snap catch etc. Fig. 4 shows a section through the mask, which has an inner layer 14 of cotton towelling or similar moisture-absorbent material for placement next to the skin, and a heat-retentive outer layer 15. In this example the outer layer 15 includes a viscous fluid formed by a mixture of ethylene glycol and water, although other liquid or granular heat-retentive materials could be used. The fluid layer 15 is held within a sealed envelope formed by inner and outer sheets 16 and 17 of a nonporous flexible material such as pvc which are secured together by heatwelded seams 18. The absorbent layer 14 is bonded to the inner sheet 16. As can be seen in Fig.s 1 and 2, the seams 18 form a number of closed flattened cells which are each filled with a quantity of the fluid 15. The cells thus allow the fluid to conform to the contours of the face whilst ensuring that a substantially even layer of the fluid is maintained over the whole area of the mask. As a minimum requirement, each of the front, side and bottom portions preferably includes at least one cell, but in the case of low viscosity fluids a larger number of cells may be required to prevent pooling of the liquid.

Prior to use the mask is immersed in hot water at a temperature of around 60 C for approximately two minutes The heat-retentive layer 15 becomes heated so that when the mask is removed from the water and placed against the skin the inner layer 14 provides a warm wet surface in close contact with the skin. The mask remains effective for a considerable period (typically at least 20 minutes). The application of the mask increases blood flow to the bearded areas of the face and opens up the pores and hair follicles causing

( P 1 084

the facial hairs to protrude from the skin. Application of the mask would normally be followed by lathering of the skin and shaving using an open razor, but it would also be possible to use the mask preceding a shave using a dry electric shaver. When shaving is complete the face may be washed and a a proprietary "after shave" may be applied to the skin if desired.

The results obtained are comparable to the use of a traditional barber's shave using hot towels.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on

those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

* * * * * * *

Claims

f 6 P1084 CLAIMS

1. A pre-shave face mask which includes a moisture-absorbent layer for placement next to the skin and a heat-retentive layer.

2. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 1, in which the

mask is shaped to fit the face, with a front portion, two side portions and a bottom portion joined to the front and side portions.

3. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 2, in which the front portion has a notch in its upper periphery to fit around the nose.

4. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the front portion has an opening for the mouth.

5. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the bottom portion is crescent-shaped.

6. A pre-shave face mask according to any of Claims 2 to 5, in which the side portions both have notches in their upper rear periphery to fit around the ears.

7. A pre-shave face mask according to any preceding claim, in which the heat-retentive layer includes a heat-retentive flowable material which is held in an envelope of flexible sheet material.

P1084

8. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 7, in which the envelope includes a plurality of cells which are mutually discreet to prevent the flowable material from passing from one cell to another.

9. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the envelope is formed of two superimposed sheets which are sealed together.

10. A pre-shave face mask according to Claims 2 and 8, in which the front, side and bottom portions each include at least one such cell.

1 1. A pre-shave face mask according to any of Claims 7 to 10, in which the heat-retentive flowable material includes ethylene glycol.

12. A pre-shave face mask according to any preceding claim, in which the moisture-absorbent layer is provided by a layer of towelling material.

13. A pre-shave face mask according to any preceding claim, having retaining means which fits around the rear of the head to hold the mask in place.

14. A pre-shave face mask according to Claims 2 and 13, in which the retaining means is secured to rear peripheral margins of the two side portions.

15. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the retaining means comprises a single extensible element.

( 8

P1084

16. A pre-shave face mask according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the retaining means comprises two separate sections which can be secured together.

17. A pre-shave face mask substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

* * * * * *