Reflected light glare minimization for athletic contest participants while providing a non-verbal communication

Abstract

A method and product for reducing reflected light glare into a human's eyes from the human's cheeks while simultaneously providing a non-verbal communication to others is provided, especially for use by participants in athletic contests. Underneath the human's eyes on the cheeks at a reflective location on the cheeks at which incident direct or indirect light is likely to be reflected into a human's eyes a non-toxic, non-reflective colored and finished material in the form of a predefined clearly demarcated geometric shape is applied. Within a week after the application (typically within less than a few hours after the athletic contest is over) the non-reflective material is removed. The non-reflective material may comprise eye black, applied using a stencil, or it may comprise a temporary tattoo or decal, applied in the conventional manner. The shape preferably is a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo and/or letters, or a team name, mascot or logo. The material is preferably black or dark colored, and any non-black or non-dark colored portions providing demarcation between elements of the shape comprises a dull or matte color having a wavelength of greater than about 650 nm and less than about 470 nm.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of reducing reflected light glare into a human's eyes from the human's cheeks while simultaneously providing a non-verbal communication to others, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) applying underneath the human's eyes, on the human's cheeks, generally covering a reflective location on the cheeks at which incident direct or indirect light is likely to be reflected into the human's eyes, a non-toxic material having a non-reflective colored and finished exterior in the form of a predefined clearly demarcated geometric shape which provides a non-verbal communication to others; and    (b) within a week after application of the non-reflective material from step (a), removing it.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the human is a participant in an athletic contest, and wherein step (a) is practiced within a few hours or less before the start of the athletic contest and so that the material substantially eliminates reflection of incident direct or indirect light off the participant's cheeks into the participant's eyes, and step (b) is practiced within a few hours or less after the athletic contest is over.  
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein step (a) is practiced by placing a stencil underneath one of the human's eye and over the reflective location on a cheek, the stencil having a cutout of the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape, and then applying eye black to the cheek reflective location under the cutout, and then removing the stencil; and wherein step (b) is practiced by wiping off the eye black, or washing it off with soap and water, or both wiping it off and washing it off.  
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein step (a) is further practiced by repeating the steps of  claim 3  for the other of the human's eyes.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein the material is a decal comprising a substrate, having top and bottom faces, the top face of the decal being the non-reflective material, and the bottom face of the decal having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon; and wherein step (a) is practiced by applying the bottom face of the decal to the reflective cheek portion and pressing so that the adhesive holds the decal in place.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein the material is a temporary tattoo, provided on a substrate, the temporary tattoo provided on a top face of the substrate and illustrating the reverse of the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape, and the substrate having a bottom face: and wherein step (a) is practiced by cleaning a cheek where the temporary tattoo is to be applied, putting the temporary tattoo on the top face of the substrate on the reflective location of the human's cheek to which it is to be applied, wetting the bottom face of the substrate with water and pressing it into contact with the cheek for sufficient time for the temporary tattoo to adhere to the cheek, and sliding off the substrate from the temporary tattoo.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 6  wherein step (b) is practiced by rubbing the temporary tattoo off using alcohol or baby oil, or applying tape thereto and then pulling off the tape.  
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein step (a) is practiced to provide as the clearly demarcated predefined geometric shape a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo, the logo having a size complying with regulations of any regulatory body which overseas the athletic contest.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein step (a) is practiced to provide as the clearly demarcated predefined geometric shape a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo and/or letters identifying the manufacturer or distributor within a primarily black or dark colored area, and sized to comply with regulations of any regulatory body which overseas the athletic contest, with the letters or logo, or any demarcation between any letters or logo and the primarily black or dark colored area, appearing as a dull or matte color and absorbing most of the light in the visible spectrum.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein step (a) is further practiced by providing the letters, or any demarcation between any letters and the primarily black or dark colored area, appearing as a dull or matte color having a wavelength of greater than about 690 nm and less than about 430 nm, and absorbing most of the light in the visible spectrum.  
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 2  wherein step (a) is practiced to provide as the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape a representation of a sports team name, mascot or logo.  
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein step (a) is practiced to provide as the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo and/or letters identifying the manufacturer or distributor.  
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein step (a) is further practiced to apply a logo having a directional bias, and by applying the logo with the correct directional bias under one of the human's eyes, and with the reverse of the correct directional bias under the other of the human's eyes.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein step (a) is practiced by placing a stencil underneath one or both of the human's eyes and over the reflective location on a cheek, the stencil having a cutout of the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape, and then applying eye black to the cheek reflective location under the cutout, and then removing the stencil; and wherein step (b) is practiced by wiping off the eye black, or washing it off with soap and water, or both wiping it off and washing it off.  
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the material is a decal comprising a substrate, having top and bottom faces, the top face of the decal being the non-reflective material, and the bottom face of the decal having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon; and wherein step (a) is practiced by applying the bottom face of the decal to the reflective cheek portion and pressing so that the adhesive holds the decal in place.  
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the material is a temporary tattoo, provided on a backing, the temporary tattoo provided on a top face of the backing and illustrating the reverse of the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape, and the substrate having a bottom face; and wherein step (a) is practiced by cleaning a cheek where the temporary tattoo is to be applied, putting the temporary tattoo on the top face of the backing on the reflective location of the human's cheek to which it is to be applied, wetting the bottom face of the backing with water and pressing it into contact with the cheek for sufficient time for the temporary tattoo to adhere to the cheek, and sliding off the backing from the temporary tattoo.  
     
     
         17 . A decal or temporary tattoo having a clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape and dimensioned to substantially cover the area of a reflective location on the cheek at which incident direct or indirect light is likely to be reflected into the human's eye, said temporary tattoo or decal being non-toxic and having an exterior, when applied, surface of non-reflective colored and finished material sufficient to substantially eliminate the reflection of incident direct or indirect light off the human's cheek into the human's eye.  
     
     
         18 . A decal or temporary tattoo as recited in  claim 17  wherein the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape is a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo and/or letters identifying the manufacturer or distributor, no part of the shape that is not a dull or matte black or dark color having a size significant enough to allow significant reflection of incident direct or indirect light off the human's cheeks into the human's eyes.  
     
     
         19 . A decal or temporary tattoo as recited in  claim 17  wherein the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape consists of a sports apparel or equipment manufacturer's or distributor's logo, and wherein the clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape has a size complying with regulations of any regulatory body which overseas the participants in an athletic contest by whom the decal or temporary tattoo is utilized.  
     
     
         20 . An eye black clearly demarcated geometric and predefined shape produced according to the method of claim  3 .