FACE GUARD DEVICE WITH SUN VISOR

Abstract

A face mask or face guard with a removable and reattachable bill or visor.

Claims

1. A face guard for use by a softball or baseball player comprising: (i) a face protecting frame wherein the face protecting frame comprises: a lower frame region; an upper frame region; side frame regions; (ii) a means for attaching the face protecting frame to the player's head; and (iii) a removably attachable bill or visor that is attached to the upper frame region of the face protecting frame by a releasable and reusable attachment means.

2. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the bill or visor attaches to a smooth or flat surface of the upper frame region.

3. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the bill or visor attached to a projection extending outwardly from the upper frame region.

4. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the bill or visor comprises a T shaped flange for attaching the bill or visor to the upper frame region.

5. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the bill or visor comprises a L shaped flange for attaching the bill or visor to the upper frame region.

6. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the face protecting frame to the player's head comprise a set of straps or bands.

7. The face guard of claim 6 wherein the set of straps or bands comprise at least one rear strap or band that extends from the side frame regions and around the rear of the player's head and at least one top strap or band that extends from a portion of the upper frame region over the player's head and attaches to the at least one rear strap.

8. The face guard of claim 1 wherein the releasable and reusable attachment means is selected from the group consisting of snaps, buttons, adhesive, hook and loop material or a combination thereof.

9. A face guard for use by a softball or baseball player comprising: (i) a face protecting frame wherein the face protecting frame comprises: a lower frame region; an upper frame region; side frame regions; (ii) at least one strap or band for attaching the face protecting frame to the player's head; and (iii) a removably attachable bill or visor that is attached to the upper frame region of the face protecting frame by a releasable and reusable attachment means selected from the group consisting of snaps, buttons, adhesive, hook and loop material or a combination thereof.

10. The face guard of claim 9 wherein the bill or visor attaches to a smooth or flat surface of the upper frame region.

11. The face guard of claim 9 wherein the bill or visor attached to a projection extending outwardly from the upper frame region.

12. The face guard of claim 9 wherein the bill or visor comprises a T shaped flange for attaching the bill or visor to the upper frame region.

13. The face guard of claim 9 wherein the bill or visor comprises a L shaped flange for attaching the bill or visor to the upper frame region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The appended drawings are only for purposes of illustrating example embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top side perspective view of an embodiment of a removably attached bill or visor of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a top side perspective view of an embodiment of a removably attached bill or visor of the present invention.

[0024] FIGS. 5a and 5b are a top side perspective views of an embodiment of a removably attached bill or visor of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The following is a detail description of exemplary embodiments for the face guard in accordance with the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

[0026] As used herein the terms face mask and face guard will and can be used interchangeably.

[0027] As used herein the terms bill and visor will and can be used interchangeably.

[0028] As used herein the meaning of a, an, and the includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used herein the meaning of in includes in and on unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] The face guard of the present invention will desirably incorporate structural concepts developed based on the distinct ball size for the sport in which the face guard will be used or worn. The face guard should provide a structural barrier that prevents either a softball or baseball from direct contact with a player's face including but not limited to the player's mouth, teeth, nose, eyes, forehead, check bones and jaw. The face guard should be constructed of a light weight material and strategically reinforced and designed to minimize visual obstruction and reduce material and manufacturing costs. Likewise, the face guard should be constructed of strong materials that resist distortion under heavy impact, but which is inexpensive and convenient to use in manufacturing the face guard. Common materials for construction of the frame or barrier elements of the face guard include metal, plastics or a combination thereof.

[0030] The face guard of the present invention may also incorporate padding or foam material on the interior portion of the face mask or face guard, i.e, the area closest to the player's face to provide for a comfortable and secure fit. The padding or foam material will also serve to cushion and/or reduce the impact force when a softball or baseball contacts the face guard and may help to absorb or remove sweat from the player's face and head. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by reference numerals 500, the face guard may include a padding or foam material in the lower frame region near the player's chin, the side frame regions and upper frame region may have padding or foam material on the interior portion near the forehead and temple region. The padding or foam material will be placed between the player's face and the face guard to provide a comfortable wearing experience and provide additional protection in the event a softball or baseball contacts the face guard.

[0031] Under certain circumstances, it may also be desirable for a player to adjust the position of the padding or foam material or to interchange the padding or foam material of varying shapes, sizes, styles, etc. on a face guard so as to obtain a custom fit, for sanitary purposes, or for any other purpose.

[0032] As shown if FIG. 1, the present invention is a face guard, preferably for use by a softball or baseball player comprising: [0033] (i) a face protecting frame 10 wherein the face protecting frame comprises: interior surface that is adjacent to the player's face when the guard is worn, an outer surface that is away from the player's face when the guard worn, a lower frame region 130 that protects the player's chin, mouth and/or nose area from contact with a softball or baseball, an upper frame region 140 that protects the player's forehead from contact with a softball or baseball; side frame regions 150a and 150b that connect the lower and upper frame regions and protect the player's checks, jaw and/or temple areas from contact with a softball or baseball and an opening 160 between the lower frame region 130 and upper frame region 140 that allows the player to see through the face protecting frame 10 but is sized to prevent the player's eyes from contact with a softball or baseball; [0034] (ii) a means for attaching the face protecting frame 10 to the head of the player; and [0035] (iii) a removably attachable bill or visor 300 that is attached to the upper frame region 140 of the face protecting frame 10.

[0036] The face protecting frame 10 may be formed from metal, plastic or a combination of metal and plastic materials. The face protecting frame 10 may be formed in a single unitary construction such as by injection molding or in separate pieces that were permanently connected or bonded together. The face protecting frame 10 and its individual structural components or regions, i.e lower frame region 130, upper frame region 140 and side frame regions 150a and 150b may be of any commonly known shape or structure such as bars, grids, solid or perforated panels provided the construction allows the player to breath and see the field of play while simultaneously protecting the player's face from direct contact with a softball or baseball.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the means for attaching the face protecting frame 10 to a player's head may be any means commonly known in the art such as a plurality of straps or bands 201, 202, 203, that extend from various portions of the face protecting frame 10 such as the side frame portions 150a and 150b and the upper frame portion 140. The straps or bands may be made of elastic or non-elastic material such as cloth, fabric, foam, plastic, rubber, paper, cardboard or a combination thereof. The straps or bands may be attached to the face protecting frame 10 by any commonly known means such as snaps, buttons, rivets, screws, pins, sewing/stiching, hook and loop (also known as VELCRO) or adhesives. In one embodiment, the straps or bands are attached to the face protecting frame 10 by weaving or threading the straps or bands thorough openings formed in the upper frame region 140 and openings formed in the side frame regions 150a and 150b. The straps or bands may further be threaded through an adjuster, so as to permit a player or user to create a customized fit of the face guard 1.

[0038] In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the means for attaching the face protecting frame 10 to a player's head includes a rear head strap 201 that is attached to the face protection frame 10 by weaving one end of the strap through an opening 151 on the side frame region 150a and an adjuster 250 and the opposite end of the rear head strap 201 is weaved through opening 151 on side frame region 150b. The rear head strap 201 may be permanently attached to the face protecting frame 10 by sewing/stitching or permanently adhering the free end to the strap to itself once it has been looped or weaved through the opening 151. Alternatively, the rear head strap 201 may be releasably attached by use of releasable fastening means such as a snap, button or hook and loop material. The rear head strap 201 is sized to go around the rear of the player's head when the face guard is worn.

[0039] The means for attaching the face protecting frame 10 to the player's head may further comprise a top head strap 202 that extends from a portion of the upper frame region 140 and attaches to the rear head strap 201. In one embodiment, not shown, the top head strap 202 is a single strap that extends from the upper frame region 140 and attaches to the rear head strap 201. The top head strap 202 extends over the top of the player's head when worn. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 the top head strap 202 extends from the upper frame region and divides into two or attaches to two or more retaining straps 203 that are in turn attached to the rear head strap 201. The top head strap 202 and retaining straps 203 may form a T, V or W shape at the attachment point. The top head strap 202 may be attached to the upper frame region in any manner as described previously for the attachment of the rear head strap 201 to the side frame portions 150a and 150b, including weaving one end of the top head strap 202 through an opening 141 in the upper frame portion 140 with or without an adjuster 250. The top head strap 202 and/or retaining straps 203 may be connected to the rear head strap 201 by any means previously described including by sewing/stitching, and or adhering the top head strap 202 and/or retaining straps 203 to the rear head strap 201 or by the use of snaps, buttons, hook and loop material. Similarly the top head strap 202 may be attached to the retaining straps 203 by sewing/stitching or adhering together, by the use of snaps, buttons or hook and loop material or combinations thereof.

[0040] The removably attachable bill or visor 300 may be attached to the upper frame region by any releasable and reusable means known in the art such as snaps, buttons, adhesive (i.e. glue or double sided tape), hook and loop material or combinations thereof. In one embodiment the removably attachable bill or visor 300 has a releasable and reusable attachment means 301, preferably a hook or loop material on either a top or bottom surface of a portion of the bill or visor 300 and the corresponding hook and loop material on the upper frame region 140 of the face protecting frame 10. In one embodiment, the upper frame region 140 may comprise a structure that projects outwardly from the outer surface of the upper frame region 140 to which the removably attached bill or visor 300 attaches. Alternatively, the removably attached bill attaches to the top surface of the upper frame region 140. These embodiments preferably employs the removably attached bill shown in FIG. 3 wherein the attachement means are located on the top or bottom surface of the removably attached bill or visor 300.

[0041] In another embodiment, the upper frame region 140 comprises a smooth or substantially smooth surface to which the removably attachable bill or visor 300 attaches. This embodiment may employ the removably attached bill shown in FIG. 4, 5a or 5b.

[0042] In a still further embodiment, the removably attached bill may be a combination of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 5a and/or 5b. In this further embodiment, the attachment means, such as a hook and loop material, will be on the top or bottom surface of the bill and on the L shaped flange of the bill. For example, in this further embodiment, the corresponding hook or loop material will be on the structure that projects outwardly from upper frame region 140 for interaction with the hook and loop material on the top or bottom of the bill or visor 300 and on a smooth or substantially smooth surface adjacent to the structure that projects outwardly from the upper frame region 140 for interaction with the hook and loop material on the L shaped flange. Alternatively, the corresponding hook or loop material will be on the top surface of the upper frame region 140 for interaction with the hook and loop material on the bottom of the bill or visor 300 and on a smooth or substantially smooth surface on the outer portion of the upper frame region 140 extending downwardly from the top surface of the upper frame region 140 for interaction with the hook and loop material on the L shaped flange or the bill or visor 300.

[0043] In one embodiment, outer surface of the upper frame region 140 comprises a smooth, flat or substantially smooth and/or flat and the removable bill or visor 300 comprise a T shaped flange 303 as shown in FIG. 4 or a L shaped flange 304 as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. In this embodiment, the T or L shaped flange is used to removably attach the bill or visor 300 to the smooth, flat or substantially smooth or flat surface of the upper frame region 140. This embodiment, allows the player to conform or shape the removably attachable bill or visor 300 to a desired or preferred shape and location. For example, the player may prefer an arch or curve shape to the bill or visor 300. The player may mold or bend the bill or visor 300 to the desired shape then attached the bill or visor 300 to the upper frame region and maintain the desired shape during normal use in a game or practice situation. Similarly, the player can move the bill or visor 300 higher or lower on the upper frame to the desired or preferred position to provide optimal sun and/or light protection.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the removably attachable bill or visor 300 may be formed with an opening 142 to accommodate or interact with the top head strap 202. This opening will allow the top head strap 202 to pass through the removably attachable bill or visor 300 and help to hold the removably attachable bill or visor 300 in place and attached to the face protecting frame 10. Alternatively, the removably attachable bill or visor 300 may have a notch or cut out to accommodate the top head strap 202.

[0045] In addition to allowing the player to adjust the removably attachable bill or visor 300 to the desired or optimal shape and placement on the face protecting frame, the present invention further allows the removably attachable bill or visor 300 to be changed for different colored bill or visors 300 thereby allowing the player to use the same face guard when playing on different teams during the course of a seasons such as a school team and a travel or community team. It also allows the player to customize the bill or visor 300 to the team color from season to season.

[0046] The present invention also allows the player to easily and quickly replace a bill or visor 300 to accommodate a particular condition or position. For example, on a very bright sunny day the player may wish to use a bill or visor that is larger, i.e. longer to provide better sun or light protection.

[0047] The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein, any of the terms comprising, consisting essentially of and consisting of may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims.