Mask

Abstract

A mask includes rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face and a resilient exterior portion. The interior shell includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion. The second portion is operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user. The resilient exterior portion is coupled to the interior shell, and at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion is moved from the first position to the second position.

1 . A mask comprising:
 a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising:
 a first portion; 
 a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user; and 
   a resilient exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion is moved from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein the interior shell second portion is hingedly secured to the interior shell first portion via one or more elastic bands. 
     
     
         3 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein the interior shell first portion overlays an upper portion of the face of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the interior shell second portion engages the jaw of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein the resilient exterior portion is formed from polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein the resilient portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the resilient portion deforms. 
     
     
         7 . The mask of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the interior shell is exposed from behind the exterior portion when the exterior portion deforms. 
     
     
         8 . A mask comprising:
 a rigid interior shell for placing over a user's face, the interior shell comprising:
 a first portion; 
 a second portion hingedly secured to the first portion, the second portion operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to movement by the user; 
   a resilient exterior portion positioned over the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the resilient member is capable of moving between a first position and a second position; and   a band extending between the interior shell second portion and resilient exterior portion, wherein the band is operable to move the resilient exterior portion from the resilient exterior portion first position to the resilient exterior portion second position when the interior shell second portion is moved from the interior shell first position to the interior shell second position.   
     
     
         9 . The mask of  claim 8  wherein the interior shell second portion is hingedly secured to the interior shell first portion via one or more elastic bands. 
     
     
         10 . The mask of  claim 8  wherein the interior shell first portion overlays an upper portion of the face of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The mask of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the interior shell second portion engages the jaw of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The mask of  claim 8  wherein the resilient exterior portion is formed from foam latex. 
     
     
         13 . The mask of  claim 8  wherein the resilient portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the resilient portion moves from the resilient portion first position to the resilient portion second position. 
     
     
         14 . A mask comprising:
 an interior shell comprising:
 an upper portion for placing over an upper portion of a user's face; 
 a lower portion for placing over a lower portion of the user's face such that a portion of the shell lower portion engages the jaw of the user, wherein the second portion is hingedly coupled to the interior shell first portion and wherein the lower portion is moved between a closed position and an open position in response to corresponding movements by the user's jaw; and 
   an exterior portion coupled to the interior shell, wherein at least a portion of the exterior portion deforms when the interior shell second portion moves from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         15 . The mask of  claim 14  wherein the interior shell lower portion is hingedly coupled to the interior shell upper portion via one or more elastic bands. 
     
     
         16 . The mask of  claim 14  wherein the exterior portion is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         17 . The mask of  claim 16  wherein the resilient material is polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The mask of  claim 14  wherein the exterior portion includes an aperture, wherein the aperture becomes larger when the exterior portion deforms. 
     
     
         19 . The mask of  claim 14  wherein a portion of the interior shell is exposed from behind the exterior portion when the exterior portion deforms. 
     
     
         20 . The mask of  claim 14  further comprising a band extending between the interior shell lower portion and the exterior portion, wherein the band is operable to deform the exterior portion when the interior shell lower portion is moved to the open position.