US2028206A - Disguise - Google Patents

Description

W. A. HALL DISGUISE Jan. 21, 1936.

Filed May 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR ATTORNEY w. A. HALL Jan. 21, 1936.

DISGUISE Filed May 51 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR fll/fi? A //0// 8% ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 21, r 1936 William A. Hall, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Max Factor & 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 31, 1932, Serial No. 614,455

8 Claims. (01. 2-206) This invention relates to a method of and means for producing artificial semblances, or disguises. By the aid of this invention, any body portion canbe arranged to take on either a usual or grotesque or abnormal appearance, either ani-' 1 mal or human. This-appearance is not only obtained for quiescent or immobile purposes; since with the aid of the'invention, motions or actions of the disguised body portion cause equivalent and quite natural motions of the overlying disguising material.

The'body portion so disguised or altered in appearance, can for example, be an arm or a leg, the .trunk, or head, or any parts thereof. Thus an arm and hand can be overlaid with the disguise, and the bending of thearmat the elbow will not be interfered with, but on the contrary, the artificially created disguise will appear to move quite in accordance with the assumption that it represents living'parts. Such artificial effects have been heretofore difficult in connection withthe face and head especially. Such acts as talking, smiling, winking, etc., havebeen, before this invention, substantially impossibleto reproduce in such manner that these acts appear natural to the disguised parts. Forexample, the simple act of opening and closing the mouth is impossible of reproduction through ausual mask,except by the very apparent and crude expedient of hinging the jaw part of the mask to the main part thereof. An expedient of this sort can of course deceive no one.

On the contrary, by the aid of this invention, an actor can be caused to take on the guise of "a natural or particular person, of dilferent appearance; and the disguise will appear to act entirely naturally. This makes it possible to produce unusual or abnormal effects either on the stage or for motion pictures, the finished oreation being to all intents and purposes, capable of exhibition as an entirely natural (that is,

non-artificial) being. All muscular actions such as talking, laughing, walking, etc., can be indulged in without danger of anyone penetrating the disguise. Of course, where the make-up effect is purposely grotesque, macabre or fanci ful, it is tentatively and in a matter-of-fact way recognized as an artificial creation solely because of the character of the creatiomand not because of any serious flaw in the natural or non-artificial actions of the creation.

It is possible to create these efiects by providing an overlying cover upon the body portion the appearance of which is to be changed, the cover being in accurate register with the overreadily to muscular actions.

. paratus in use for producing the creation;

laid parts, and of flexible nature to conform For example, if the head is to be overlaid, an integral head covering closely fitting the head of the wearer, is. used; and the outer contour is made to conform 5 to the desired appearance. The shape of the head so created as well as the features of the disguise can be totally different from those of the wearer.

It is therefore one of the objects of this inven- 10 tion to make it possible to alter the appearance of a body member, such as the head and features,

'while yet retaining a natura or non-artificial appearance.

It is another object of this invention to pr0- l5 vide a method of procedure whereby the desired simulations are accurately fitted to the wearer.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other-objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of 20 several embodiments of the invention. For this I purpose there is shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms shall now be described in detail, which illustrate the general 26 principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

, Figure 1 is a perspective or pictorial view of a disguise to be used on the head and neck of a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of the ap- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another .partof the apparatus;

Figs. 4, ,5 and6 are detail sections, for elucidating one of the steps in the process of producing the disguise; 40

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic section of a face with the disguise in place; I

Figure 8 is a detailsection of the eye portion of the disguise; and

Fig. 9 is a diagram of an arm and its disguise, incorporating the invention.

The following description will be made for a disguiseto be used by a living wearer, as this the body. The disguise may be grotesque or beautiful, as determined by the requirements,

In order to make such a disguise appear natural, the muscular actions of the wearer must be right position, the lips being slightly parted, and the eyes closed, but otherwise relaxed. The slight parting of the lips is advantageous to provide a medial or average condition of the contacting permitted by the disguise in a'natural way. This layer. Such a replica is shown at l in Fig. 2. 5 is accomplished by proper considerations to the The process of plaster casting is probably the anatomy of the part disguised. For example, if most satisfactory way to secure this replica, care the head is to be overlaid with the disguise, the being taken to fashion the ears, lips, nose, and movements of the mouth inspeaking, should be, xeye regions in exactitude with the wearer.: For not only left unhindered, but the disguise-should-- this purposesupplemental measurements can be 10 simulate these movements without the necessity made to obtain exact head contours at the back, of forming severed parts for the mask portions. the exact shape of the eye regions below the Perhaps the most difficult element in this conbrows,. ,and the exact shape of the ears and lips. nection is in relation to the buccal or check Preferably the mouth cavityZis extended through muscles, and the lip muscles, which are capable .21 the neck- 3, an-d the entire replica can be mounted 15 of a wide variety of muscular actions,,-such.as to ;:--for c'onvenientihandling-on a spindle or support laugh, smile, and in general, to express a wide 4, embedded or cast therein. variety of emotions. The muscles neighboring, The replica ,Lis then covered with some matet y are a of e Same general character. rial (such as soapy water) that will not adhere It has been found that this naturalness can be-- I to rubber-composition. This composition is then 20 readily attaine d byan integral unsevered Diem: sprayed, over nthe replica} Alternativelythe 5;? be th 1 with ut.ma efial.,res ta ge L0 replica l can bedippedinthe solution.- :"ThiS first fii aad thahesverthele sl et rns .l n fsp the rd r o 11 1 .inchesthick s ofrepose whe 19h? IQLL CI WQL 'Q. L i, e.fiucceedingoippingsor sprayingscan be made-to, .P ;.,li. s pparsh tha ii,ame e.,,,,bui1c1, the layer,.,5 .toqthe desired thickness,;= 93 of i q i ma rialhe U Q .Whichmaybepf, the ordenof one sixty-fourth of orm ng .a l lqq rlnath pa J9. -.-..an inch.,, This.composition.is--elastic and thin edi aes s lya n ,thi knessni m srialisz- .enou nso.thatihwm stretchreadiiy andlr ump y W e desired s a a cr mer; to normal position in simulationrof-gthe musculam fi g hli; %PQ .Q .'P? tre .mu q lanagt qns actions;of, .,the wearer} p O hJNQWQPFW? t..me er al..mn eu1ar,. Q In some places, such as adjacent the naturali lrh: and sgalter suph a. 91 fi sf q fi kg ita pearul .openings,,,(.eyes, ,lips,,nostrils),, or adjacent the r,@, points of little muscularzaction, asatthe bridge;

n Order t solve t s p m' is a am, 0f the nose, cheek bones a1-few oints-tor the n ew 9; thi iey iiqar -ara ,oi ar rs. foreheadrr-the e a membrane -5 "sh0i11d-shade in $9 1 2?. llt fil, 2 5 fi i .q t ime r leofi qs n ethickness. To accomplishthis con.- i ?h h r lev Qr IiemPr nQ 1 .1 1 .,..v 'lfilyr'afiih he firsr-layeris-made,aspoms thin 4. 2 f P.j 5 5 1 9. 9. 9 31 1 9Ql Sm-'soap .,or:.othe r. non-adherent can be painted aor', with .21 9 Par fia hgl It. 9 Q.iLQ-. ..-m rked; on. the surface-that is,-,tostay thinQMIhe 3"? 9 @RP '9%.@..... 3 115034 2 succeeding layenwill notadhereeto this spot;-; -and a. h ut r W Z .-Qm $1. mm rea y. the eglgesom e thin spot can begraduallythick xsna ea lwhi h. Z 911. d?! E Y .1 99! ......ened.-as@by subsequent ;painting: of overlying ior form 1 91 1 mu cu ar Eliti p 1 1 1 9 11 ,ofie n overlapping spotsh Then rafter-completion; the resistatlce her t F h er ss.Where/th re. unadheredhlayrs can be removed;- by carefull leas i g m lar, ay qmia at, he k 1.cutting,.the m,at .the edges of-the thinned spot h per fit'Fpi icr he lam P 1? The area of, the firstspot of' soapyr layer if mad bridge P 1 110.597 i 9, X l can b inte r ll ."for example for thepurposeof defining an orifice edl- At theseroinh s s e c for e y p i a e?ihbdhforhmi-tywiththe eye be ne n s by an ad siv nt e l fwopening sp that the edge of-;the orificejust de-; h Voids befiween the two *3 id stem. -finesthe out er.edges-:ofthe eyelids and when this b'filled; as iqm rs ch 1 Qb PiW edge is :attached,-.-the exterior surfaces -of the 15mg: ee iq r 'a '9 '1t be l t wearers eyelids will be exposed-and form a natu-z: filled the thickness of the outer layer being builtm appeaping, a ti ti .ofth The u sufficientlrbetWeen h e o t i ne same-is t'r u orth edges of the-dip ear and nostril b ia l n iiin st Y d defining openings. #The lip portionisprovide'd -1- h movementspf e ipner l fi ;--with;reentrant.rparts to overlie;the lips of the AS an Q' 'W h a 'm n wearer;- completely-;.- This reentrant portion 'enters: --:1 head and neck disgusafxaggerated orabnor mal; Between the lips and the teeth. in appearanceinlor er o bring out these'points f in a clear .and distinct manner. It is-hereseen By appmm'lat'e vanatmns of'ythe forms Ofthe 6 0,

that the nose, lips, chin and the dome oil'the'head fg' i if pg m qffi i' is if g are enlargedand madeto havesunusualshapes; e en mg'away euna ac f Howeveri in mo'st instances suchrdisguises con; can b.e.=;e1thentabrupt orwsquare ortaper1ng-'1nfomlggnglq-iqlpsely .to the nfi urati n 10 the i fifi oumzardhf f 1 a wearer. At the edges of the naturali-lopenings," epspc.) 9 1 s y 5 such asatheeyes {lips ears and nostrils the simllanreductmns-m thickness are desirable withggy fih' u b h d .0111; actually removing all of the rubber: For naturalness} but elusewnerefithqreis) example, th s may occur at;the cheek-bones, at"

tion (in ga; nkto which i ....the bridgeof the nose, at the edge of ,the lower,. can departfrom the inner membrane,to build J 9 a the for he d. th 'd g After sufficient thicknessflof the elastic. layer 'I'hstep of fbrmingtheinner, closelycontactis thus ,obtained, ..it can readily be pulledoffi of ing laye will now be-.-de scr ibed An exact replica; .the replicarl and .the unnecessarythicknesses. r of the, arer siirst made, as byga plasterpasth; .cut away, as just described.-

-- rep ca .Wh? ear nis in aqua. There will now bedcscribed the process oiform tion, providing the layer 9 (Fig. 4).

The first step is to model over the replica I or a duplicate thereof, as with clay, the features of the disguise. replica'of the wearers appearance, and will look in generalQlike. the head of Fig. 1. From this completed replica, a female mold 8 is made, the face portion being shown in Fig. 3. This mold. is then covered with soap to keep the rubber composition from adhering to it. Then the mold surfaces are sprayed or dipped with the composi- Repeated dippings or sprayings, such as shown in Fig. 5, build up this layer. As before, spots like IU of non-adhering material can be painted on successive layers to control the building up of the composition at these points. The bridge of the nose and the nostril areas are shown as thus treated.

The thickness of all layers are shown greatly exaggerated.

The completed outer membrane ll '(Fig. 7) can be much heavier than the elastic membrane 5. The deeper cavities inside member I I can be partially filled with the plastic material, such as in the chin or nose. The final thicknesses are somewhat as shown in Fig.6. After membrane l I has been built up, it can be removed from mold 8, and the natural apertures cut out. This then forms a supplemental yielding layer having the semblance of the desired disguise. It can then be cut and fitted around the inner layer 5, and attached to it in spots such as the area covering the cheek bones, the forehead, the edges of the lips, nostrils, and eye openings, or other places corresponding to little muscular action. After this is done, the out part can be reunited as by sewing or dipping or painting with plastic composition. Then the larger voids, such as 12 (Fig. 7) can be filled as by batting, liquid, or the like to render the parts self-supporting.

In some instances the outer membrane II can be omitted, especially where the disguise is not intended materially to alter the shape of the disguised member, but only to change its appearance, such as to make the wearer appear younger a only, when the wearer is a woman having sufficient hair to hide all other naturally exposed parts of the head.

In Fig. '7, the disguise is shown as it would be disposed on the wearer. The thin resilient layer is preferably attached to the head at points where there is little muscular action, whereby the disguise is simulative of muscles, being free and anchored in substantial exactness with the muscles that are moved by the wearer. Thus the bridge of the nose, the cheek bones, the lower edge of the lower jaws, etc. can serve as anchoring places. A detail of theeye opening is illustrated in Fig. 8, showing how the edges of the disguise are joined to the brows and to the lower line of the lower lids. The disguise can extend down as far as the shoulders, where the inner and The completed deviceis then a anchoring spots wouldbe the knucklesand jointsof the hand andarm.

The finishing off of the disguise will n w be described. After the two layers are united, there i may be a complete layer of transparent. or opaque A background flesh color is obtained by mixing into, this coating, powder ;1

rubber on the disguise.

color which almost but not quite dissolves therein, leaving a textured appearance. The powder color should be vegetable or other material that is inert chemically as regards the rubber composition.

After this background color is obtained, pastels can be applied and rubbed in without a binder, by hand, to provide the'final color appearance. Then the disguise is again dipped in transparent compound to provide a sealing and protecting to be disguised, and a supplemental yielding layer .joined to the resilient layer at places corresponding to little or no muscular movement.

2. A disguise comprising a thin resilient layer for closely contacting with the part of the wearer to be disguised, and a supplemental yielding layer capable of yielding in accordance with muscular actions of the disguised part without appreciable resistance, joined to the resilient layer at places corresponding to little or no muscular movement.

3. A disguise for a muscularly actuated part of a wearer comprising an integral member having a surface closely contacting with the wearer, and joined to the wearer where there is little or no muscular action, said member being in two layers, one for forming said contact, and the other for providing the altered appearance.

4. A disguise for a muscularly actuated part of a wearer comprising an integral member having a surface closely contacting with the wearer, and joined to the wearer where there is little or no muscular action, said member being in two layers, one for forming said contact, and the other for providing the altered appearance, said two layers being joined at the places where there is little or no muscular action.

5. A disguise for the head portion, comprising a thin resilient layer completely overlying and contacting with the head portion, and a supplemental layer, said supplemental layer being connected to the resilient layer only at places where there is little or no muscular action.

6. A disguise adapted to be worn over the face of the wearer, comprising a thin closely contacting elastic layer, said layer having openings corresponding to the natural openings of the face, the material of the layer adjacent the openings gradually decreasing in thickness as the edges of the openings are approached.

'7. A disguise adapted to be worn over the face of the wearer, comprising a thin closely contacting elastic layer, said layer having openings corresponding to the natural, openings. of the face, and a supplemental layer fastened to the conta'mfig'fmyr"adjacent s tnereof; i-gradually decreasing" in thickne s as'" the edges: and having parts unattached to thethin layeri" of the openings are approached, '..and aisupplezi,

8. A disguise adapted to be worn over the face mentallayef fastened to "the contacting layer. of me wearer; comprising a thin closely-contact- 1 adjacent the openings thereof, and. having-parts J ing el'itic layer, said layer having openings corunattached to'thethin layers responding to'the natural openings of-the face, the material ofthe' layer adjacent the openings WILLIAMA;

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