Protective face covering

Abstract

An apparatus which may be used to protect a user's mouth, nose, chin, ears, and jaw from projectiles, direct impacts, air contaminants, and reduce concussive impact to the ears. Before air flowing into the apparatus is filtered by a filter member upstream of a mouthpiece, the air flow first passes through a plurality of conduits in a nose and protection member, where the nose and chin protection member is fabricated from an impact resistant material. Each of the conduits has a deflection member which changes the direction of the air flow. The user's exhalations do not flow back through the filter member but are rather redirected through side ports in the mouth piece.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing protection to a user's face, namely the user's mouth, nose, chin, ears and jaw, the apparatus comprising, in an ordered arrangement from a position configured to be adjacent to the user's mouth and proceeding away from the user's face: a breathing piece having an opening configured to fit over the mouth and nose of the user, the breathing piece further comprising a peripheral wall for sealing around the user's mouth and nose; an air dispersing member having a perforated front wall disposed against the opening in the breathing piece; a filter member having an inward facing side and outside facing side, the inward facing side disposed against the perforated front wall; a nose and chin protection member fabricated from an impact resistant material, the nose and chin protection member having a back side and a front side, a plurality of openings extending from the back side to the front side, wherein the outside facing side of the filter member is disposed against the back side of the nose and chin protection member; a mandibular-shaped outer member defined by a front piece and an integral left side member and an integral right side member, the mandibular-shaped outer member having an interior face and an exterior face, wherein the breathing piece, the air dispersing member, the filter member and the nose and chin protection member are encapsulated between the integral left side member and the integral right side member, wherein the nose and protection member comprises a plurality of air conduits extending from the front side to the back side, each air conduit having a deflection member configured such that a stream of air flowing from the front side to the back side impacts the deflection member as the stream of air flows from the front side to the back side, the stream of air thereafter accessible to the user by flowing through the filter member and through the perforated front wall to the user's mouth and nose, when the apparatus is worn by the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fastening unit having a first portion which attaches to the integral left side member of the mandibular-shaped outer member, the fastening unit having a second portion which attaches to the integral right side member of the mandibular-shaped outer member, wherein the fastening unit is configured to encircle a back portion of a head of the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first portion comprises a left ear engagement surface and the second portion comprises a right ear engagement surface, the left ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's left ear and reduce concussive impacts and the right ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's right ear and reduce concussive impacts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mesh member disposed between the nose and chin protection member and the mandibular-shaped outer member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall of the breathing piece comprises a cushioning portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mandibular-shaped outer member comprises a protective airway covering.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the mandibular-shaped outer member comprises a nasal opening adjacent to the mesh member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a communications system attached to the mandibular-shaped outer member, the communications system comprising a microphone and an ear piece.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the communications system further comprises a camera.

10. An apparatus for providing protection to a user's face, namely the user's mouth, nose, chin, ears and jaw, the apparatus comprising: a mandibular-shaped outer member defined by a front piece and an integral left side member and an integral right side member, the mandibular-shaped outer member having an interior face and an exterior face; and a nose and chin protection member fabricated from an impact resistant material, the nose and chin protection member comprising an integral air filtering package, the nose and chin protection member attached to the mandibular-shaped outer member, the air filtering package comprising, in facing relation, a breathing piece having an opening defined by a peripheral wall configured to encircle the user's mouth and nose, an air dispersing unit having a perforated front wall disposed against the opening in the breathing piece, a filter member sandwiched between the perforated front wall on an inside face of the filter member and a back side of the nose and chin protection member, wherein, when the apparatus is being worn by the user, inhalations of the user flow, in order, through the mandibular-shaped outer member, the nose and chin protection member, the filter member, the air dispersing unit and into the breathing piece and where the user's exhalations flow, in order, out of the breathing piece, into the air dispersing unit and exiting the air dispersing unit through side vents of the air dispersing unit without the exhalations flowing through the filter member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a fastening unit having a first portion which attaches to the integral left side member of the mandibular-shaped outer member, the fastening unit having a second portion which attaches to the integral right side member of the mandibular-shaped outer member, wherein the fastening unit is configured to encircle a back portion of a head of the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first portion comprises a left ear engagement surface and the second portion comprises a right ear engagement surface, the left ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's left ear and reduce concussive impacts and the right ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's right ear and reduce concussive impacts.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a mesh member disposed between the nose and chin protection member and the mandibular-shaped outer member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the peripheral wall of the breathing piece comprises a cushioning portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mandibular-shaped outer member comprises a protective airway covering.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a communications system attached to the mandibular-shaped outer member, the communications system comprising a microphone and an ear piece.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the communications system further comprises a camera.

18. An apparatus for providing protection to a user's face, namely the user's mouth, nose, chin, ears and jaw, the apparatus comprising: a mandibular-shaped outer member defined by a front piece and an integral left side member and an integral right side member, the mandibular-shaped outer member having an interior face and an exterior face; a left side ear member attached to the integral left side member and a right side ear member attached to the integral right side member, the left side ear member comprising a left ear engagement surface and the right side ear member comprising a right ear engagement surface, the left ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's left ear and the right ear engagement surface configured to seal around the user's right ear; a nose and chin protection member fabricated from an impact resistant material, the nose and chin protection member comprising an integral air filtering package, the nose and chin protection member attached to the mandibular-shaped outer member, the air filtering package comprising, in facing relation, a breathing piece having an opening defined by a peripheral wall configured to encircle the user's mouth and nose, an air dispersing unit having a perforated front wall disposed against the opening in the breathing piece, a filter member sandwiched between the perforated front wall on an inside face of the filter member and a support member on an outside face of the filter member, wherein, when the apparatus is being worn by the user, the user's exhalations flow, in order, out of the breathing piece, into the air dispersing unit and exiting the air dispersing unit through side vents of the air dispersing unit without the exhalations flowing through the filter member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention, the protective face covering shown as worn over the face of a user.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention, the protective face covering shown as worn over the face of a user.

(3) FIG. 2a a side view of alternative embodiment from FIG. 2, wherein the fastening unit is integral to the mandibular-shaped outer member.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention, taken along line 4 of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a mandibular-shaped outer member of the present invention showing an ornamental feature thereof. Alternatively, the mandibular-shaped outer member may be camouflaged or fabricated of a non-reflecting material as required for a particular tactical situation.

(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 11 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 12 is a front and side perspective view of an embodiment of a protective face covering of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a portion of an embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment including a communications system.

(15) FIG. 14 is a detailed view of a communications element which may be used in various embodiments of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective face covering showing how the mandibular-shaped outer member of the present invention may have ornamental features.

(17) FIG. 16a schematically depicts the flow of an inhalation flowing into an embodiment of the present invention.

(18) FIG. 16b schematically depicts the non-linear flow path of an inhalation through an embodiment of the present invention.

(19) FIG. 17a schematically depicts the flow of an exhalation flowing into the nose and mouthpiece of an embodiment of the present invention.

(20) FIG. 17b schematically depicts how an exhalation is redirected to flow out through side vents in the nose and mouthpiece of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(21) The embodiments of the present invention described below are intended to be illustrative of the various principles and features of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope in the invention, except when such limitations are explicitly stated. In the course of describing the present invention, the phrases interior-facing and exterior-facing may be used to describe surfaces of various components of the present device. It is to be understood that when such phrases are used, the phrase interior-facing refers to a surface disposed toward the head of the user of the present invention, and exterior-facing refers to surfaces disposed toward the external environment, away from the head of the user.

(22) The present invention provides a protective face covering sized and shaped to fit over the face of a user and to be held snugly thereto for a variety of situations in which such protection is desirable, which may include applications in combat operations, police actions, firefighting and motor vehicle operation. The protective face covering provides protection for portions of the face not covered by many traditional helmets, providing protection from injury through impact by projectiles or, in the case of motor vehicle operation, from contact with the road, ground, or other vehicles or riders in the event of an accident. and does not require attachment to an existing helmet structure in order to be used. The protective face covering may also be used independently of any other helmet or protective device, providing protection for only those areas shown in the drawings herewith, and not encompassing the head in the manner of a full helmet. The present invention also filters the air which passes through the invention to the user, providing a non-linear flow path from the exterior of the apparatus to the interior. Exhalations do not pass through the filter, but are vented in a manner which prevents fogging up of a user's eye wear or face shield. The air venting further equalizes pressure and thereby prevents pressure build-up around the user's ears which might exacerbate concussive injury.

(23) Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The numeral 10 refers generally to the various embodiments of the protective face covering of the present invention. Protective face covering 10 includes generally a mandibular-shaped outer member 11 which may include a protected airway 12 as depicted in FIG. 1 which allows air passage into the interior of the mask. Alternatively, air passage may be directed through protected nasal openings 38 as shown in FIG. 12, or through slots 112 as depicted in FIGS. 16a-16b.

(24) Mandibular-shaped outer member 11 further comprises a front piece 13, an integral right side member 14 and an integral left side member 16. Protective face covering 10 may also comprise a fastening unit 22, which may comprise a first portion 22a which may attach to the integral right side member 14 and a second portion 22b which may attach to the integral left side member 16. First portion 22a may attach to integral right side member 14 and second portion 22b may attach to integral left side member 16 by hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, snap-buttons or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastening unit 22 encircles a back portion of the head of a user. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 2a, fastening unit 22 may be integral to mandibular-shaped outer member 11. A user would don this embodiment by pulling it over his or her head like a pullover garment.

(25) FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of a fastening unit 122 which attaches to integral right side member 14 and an integral left side member 16 by clip members 52.

(26) The first portion 22a of the fastening unit 22 may comprise a right ear engagement surface 18 and the second portion 22b may comprise a left ear engagement surface 20. The right ear engagement surface 18 is configured to seal around the user's right ear and reduce concussive impacts and the left ear engagement surface 20 is configured to seal around the user's left ear and reduce concussive impacts. The material used for right ear engagement surface 18 and left ear engagement surface 20, as well as the sealing configuration around each of the user's ears may be modified according to the particular intended application of the protective face covering 10, and the expected sound wave exposure related to the application.

(27) The other components of the protective face covering 10 are, in ordered arrangement beginning a position adjacent to the user's face and moving outwardly therefrom, include a breathing piece 36, an air dispersing member 34, a filter member 26, and a nose and chin protection member 30. Filter member 26 is sandwiched between the air dispersing member 34 to the inside and the nose and chin protection member 30 to the outside. Filter member 26 may be any suitable filtering structure or material, ranging from a portion of cloth or other material, to a sponge-like material, to a HEPA filter or other more advanced filtration system. The precise nature of filter 26 is dictated by the degree of filtration of air desired to be achieved by a given embodiment of the present invention. The breathing piece 36 has an opening 37 which is configured to fit over the mouth and nose of the user, where the opening is defined by a peripheral wall 39 which seals around the mouth and nose of the user. Air dispersing member 34 has a perforated front wall 35 which is disposed in facing relation with opening 37.

(28) Nose and chin protection member 30 has a plurality of openings 31, described in greater detail below, which extend from the front side to the back side, where the plurality of openings provide air flow to filter 26. Nose and chin protection member 30 is fabricated from impact resistant materials and provides the primary protection to a user's mouth, nose and chin. Such materials will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. Exemplary materials that are suitable for use for the nose and chin protection member 30 are carbon fiber, graphite, metals, metal alloys, fiberglass, and para-amid synthetic fibers (such as KEVLAR). Other components for the protective face covering 10 are polyethylene fibers (such as SPECTRA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, lexan, and combinations of these. The materials used to construct the present device may vary based on a given use for the present device. For military applications, for example, the materials used to construct the present device may be chosen to withstand or provide some protection from blasts, shock, or projectile impacts such as from a bullet. Embodiments of the present device intended for use in extreme weather conditions may be fabricated from materials such that the face of the user of the device is protected and/or insulated against the elements.

(29) The breathing piece 36, the air dispersing member 34, the filter member 26, and the nose and chin protection member 30 are encapsulated between the integral right side member 14 and the integral left side member 16. As best shown in FIG. 16A, the plurality of openings 31 in nose and chin protection member 30 are air conduits which extend from the front side of the nose and chin protection member to the back side, where each opening has a deflection member 33 such that a stream of air flowing from the front side to the back side impacts the deflection member as the stream of air flows from the front side to the back side, the stream of air thereafter accessible to the user by flowing through the filter member 26 and through the perforated front wall 35 to the user's mouth and nose. Breathing piece 36 may have cushioned portion constructed from foam or other material, where the cushioned portion has an extended perimeter that contacts the face of a user of protective face covering 10. Breathing piece 36 forms a seal around the nose and mouth of the user to prevent dust, insects, and other debris from entering between protective face covering 10 and the user's face.

(30) Embodiments of the disclosed protective face covering 10 may also have a mesh member 32 disposed between the nose and chin protection member 30 and the mandibular-shaped outer member 11. Mesh member 32 may be fabricated from stainless steel, although any suitable material may be used. It is contemplated that mesh member 32 may provide some initial filtering of large particulate matter from an air stream passing through protective face covering 10, and that mesh member 32 may also provide an aesthetic or ornamental feature in that portions of mesh member 32 may be visible from the outside of protective face covering 10 through nasal opening(s) 38 and/or mouth opening(s) 40 as indicated in FIGS. 7 and 12.

(31) It should be noted that the various portions of protective face covering 10 described herein cover just those portions of the user's face described herein and shown in the drawings, either in whole or in part. As such, protective face covering 10 as described herein, in addition to other uses, may be utilized with existing helmets that leave those portions of the user's face exposed, but without interfering with the wearing or use of the existing helmet or head covering.

(32) In some embodiments of the present invention, protective face covering 10 may an ornamental feature associated therewith. Mandibular-shaped outer member 11 may be molded, shaped, or otherwise sculpted to provide the desired ornamental feature or camouflage, as suggested in FIGS. 7, 12 and 15.

(33) Protective airway covering 12 includes one or more openings to allow air to pass therethrough, where the air is provided in a non-linear flow to the interior of the mask. This may be accomplished through the use of deflection members 33 described above in either the mandibular-shaped outer member 11 or in the nose and chin protection member 30.

(34) FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the protective face covering 10. The cross-sectional view shows the relative positioning of each of the components of this embodiment of the invention described above. Mandibular-shaped outer member 11 is shown forming the outermost layer of the front portion of the device. Then, moving inward, is shown mesh member 32, nose and chin protection member support 30, filter member 26, air dispensing member 34, and breathing piece 36. Also shown is fastening unit 22.

(35) In some embodiments of the present invention, breathing piece 36 and air dispensing member 34 may be provided as a separate, removable portion of the protective face covering. This allows a user to wash breathing piece 36 when necessary, or to replace breathing piece 36 and air dispensing member 34 when necessary or desired. Breathing piece 36 may be fixedly attached to air dispensing member 34, such as through the use of an adhesive or glue, and air dispenser 34 may include includes at least one fastener for affixing the air dispenser to the protective face covering 10. The fastener may be a screw, for example, passing through reinforced aperture 42 shown in FIG. 8, or may be any other suitable fastener.

(36) In some embodiments of the present invention, a communications link may be provided, such as, for example, by providing a microphone and speaker embedded in the present device so that a wearer of the present device may communicate to others while wearing the device. Such a communications device preferably operates using radio transmission, and may be used for law enforcement, public safety, military applications, or any other situation in which the user of the present device desires to remain in contact with others. The radio communications may be short-range or long-range, and are preferably full-duplex devices, though it is contemplated that half-duplex devices may also be used. In one embodiment of the invention, the communications link of the present device transmits via a standard cellular telephone network.

(37) FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of protective face covering 10 that includes a built-in microphone 44, ear phone 46, and camera 48. Camera 48 may be associated with a recording device for recording events taking place around the user of protective face covering 10. Microphone 44 may also be associated with the recording device, and the recording device may also be adapted to record incoming communications from other users. FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment of protective face covering 10 wherein a camera and ear phone are contained within a single housing 50. In some embodiments of the present invention, housing 50 may also include a microphone.

(38) FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate the air flow provided when a user inhales through the protective face covering 10. The user's inhalations flow, in order, through the mandibular-shaped outer member 11, nose and chin protection member 30 which acts as a support member for the filter, the filter member 26, the air dispersing unit 34 and into the breathing piece 36. FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate the flow of a user's exhalations through the protective face covering 10. The user's exhalations flow, in order, out through the breathing piece 36, through the air dispersing unit 34 and out of the air dispersing unit through side ports 60, without passing through filter member 26. It is to be appreciated that the above-described flow paths for inhalations and exhalations are facilitated by the above-described structure of the nose and chin protection member, wherein the plurality of openings 31 in nose and chin protection member 30 are air conduits which extend from the front side of the nose and chin protection member to the back side, where each opening has a deflection member 33 such that a stream of air flowing from the front side to the back side impacts the deflection member as the stream of air flows from the front side to the back side.

(39) It is contemplated that the protective face covering 10 of the present invention may be constructed from any suitable material. It should be noted, again, that the present invention covers those areas described an shown and does not extend beyond those areas to an appreciable degree. Thus, the present device can be worn independently of any other head covering, to provide protection (both physical and from the elements, dust, insects, and the like). Alternatively, the present device can be used to supplement the protection provided by many helmets that do not extend over the areas covered by the present device, and the present device does not need to be designed to attach to those existing helmets in order to be used by a user thereof. Moreover, the present invention may be used in a variety of other endeavors not discussed above, including use by medical personnel, sky divers, industrial and factory workers, painters, miners, welders, automobile body shop workers, oil field workers, farm workers, heavy equipment operators, winter sports enthusiasts, skate boarders, paintball participants, and hunters.

(40) Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: