Universal non-helmeted protective facemask

Abstract

A protective non-helmeted single molded facemask for sports includes a frame structure formed of a polycarbonate polymer and an integrally molded rigid eye shield formed of a transparent polycarbonate polymer composition. The peripheral frame structure is structured and configured to engage a user's forehead, side and cheek facial structure and chin. An arrangement of vertical and horizontal bars in the lower portion of the face area of the facemask are structured and configured to protect the users nose and mouth from direct contact with external objects, while the rigid eye shield on the upper face area of the facemask protects the users eyes from direct impact and contact with external objects. Upper and lower straps extend from slotted openings on the sides of the facemask and are positioned and arranged to extend around the lower back of the wearer's head to secure the facemask on the wearer's head.

Claims

1. A protective non-helmeted single molded facemask for contact sports and non-contact sports comprising: a peripheral frame single molded structure formed of a polycarbonate polymer and being configured and structured to engage a user's forehead, side and cheek facial structure and chin, and the peripheral frame structure surrounding a face area including an upper face area and a lower face area; an arrangement of vertical and horizontal bars in the lower portion of the face area integrally formed with the peripheral frame structure of the polycarbonate polymer material and the arrangement of vertical and horizontal bars being structured and configured to protect the user's nose and mouth from direct contact with external objects; a rigid eye shield formed of a transparent polycarbonate composition, and the rigid eye shield extending across a front of the upper face area and terminating at opposite side edges adjacent left and right side open areas of the upper face area to allow air flow and ventilation that prevents fogging of the eye shield while also providing better peripheral vision of the wearer, and the rigid transparent eye shield being structured and disposed for protecting the user's eyes from direct impact and contact with external objects; the transparent polycarbonate composition of the rigid eye shield including an ultraviolet light absorbing compound that protects against the ultraviolet rays passing through the rigid eye shield and onto the user's face and eyes; the combined structure of the peripheral frame, the rigid eye shield and the arrangement of vertical and horizontal bars are integrally molded as a single unitary structure; a pair of slots on a left side of the peripheral frame and a pair of slots on a right side of the peripheral frame and each pair of slots including an upper slot and a lower slot, and a top center slot in the peripheral frame at a location that is positioned over the user's forehead; and an upper strap secured at opposite ends to the upper slots on the left and right sides of the peripheral frame structure of the facemask and a lower strap secured at opposite ends to the lower slots on the left and right sides of the peripheral frame structure of the facemask, and the upper and lower slots on the left and right sides of the peripheral frame being positioned and arranged to angle the upper and lower straps so that the upper and lower straps extend around the lower back of the wearer's head, and a top strap secured at a first end to the top center slot of the peripheral frame and extending over the top of the wearer's head, down the back of the head and joining the upper and lower straps at the lower back of the wearer's head to secure the facemask on the wearer's head in a fully protective position over the wearer's face including the wearer's forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, cheekbones and chin and to discourage the facemask from being dislodged from the fully protective position.

2. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein the combined structure of the peripheral frame, the arrangement of vertical and horizontal bars and the rigid eye shield provide full protection to the face, eyes, nose, mouth and teeth of a wearer.

3. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 2 further comprising a protective headband that includes an outer material that is structured and disposed to absorb and dissipate the wearer's perspiration and an inner polymer material structured and disposed to absorb and dissipate significant forces of impact to the wearer's head.

4. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 3 wherein the combination of the protective facemask and the headband absorbs and dissipates forces of impact to the facemask and the wearer's head, and absorbs and dissipates the wearers perspiration.

5. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 4 wherein the headband is worn as a separate component in combination with the facemask.

6. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 4 wherein the protective headband is removably attached to the inner surface of the facemask.

7. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein an inner surface of the peripheral frame single molded structure includes at least one cushioning pad attached thereto for providing increased comfort to the wearer.

8. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein the transparent polycarbonate composition of the rigid eye shield is formulated to provide glare resistance from any bright light including sunlight.

9. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein the transparent polycarbonate composition of the rigid eye shield is formulated to provide scratch resistance.

10. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein the transparent polycarbonate composition of the eye shield is formulated to be clear.

11. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 1 wherein the transparent polycarbonate composition of the eye shield is formulated to include any of a plurality of colors.

12. The protective non-helmeted single molded facemask as recited in claim 4 wherein the combination of the protective facemask and the headband is structured and disposed to absorb and dissipate forces of impact from baseballs and softballs striking the facemask at velocities in excess of 80 mph and thereby significantly reducing impact forces to the wearer's face and head to protect the wearer's face and head from injury.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side, front perspective view of the universal facemask of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the universal facemask of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the universal facemask of the present invention worn on a user's head and in conjunction with the universal headgear and showing the securing straps of the universal facemask extending from the side angled slots of the facemask to the back of the wearer's head below the curvature on the back of the wearer's head;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the universal facemask showing the inner surfaces of the facemask including a chin support and cheek engagement pads;

(6) FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the universal facemask according to a further embodiment, wherein the transparent eye shield is open at opposite sides; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the universal facemask of FIG. 5 worn on the user's head and in conjunction with the universal headgear, and wherein the open areas on opposite sides of the eye shield allows for greater ventilation to prevent fogging of the eye shield.

(8) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the non-helmeted single molded universal protective facemask of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10. The universal facemask includes a single molded structure 12 formed of a polycarbonate polymer and including a peripheral frame structure 14 that is shaped, structured and configured to engage the user's forehead, side and cheek facial structure and chin, and includes a forehead portion 20, opposite sides 22, 24 and a lower portion 26 that extends in front of the wearer's chin.

(10) The non-helmeted single molded universal protective facemask 10 further includes a lower face area 30 and an upper face area 40. The lower face area 30 includes an arrangement of protective bars or ribs including an arrangement of spaced vertical bars 32 and at least one horizontal bar 34 intersecting with each of the vertical bars 32 to create openings 36 between the bars. It should be noted that the openings 36 are not large enough to allow the end of a hockey stick, floor hockey ball or puck or softball to penetrate through the openings 36, thereby preventing contact with the user's face including the mouth, teeth, jaw and nose.

(11) The upper face area 40 includes an integrally formed transparent eye shield 42 that is part of the single molded structure of the universal protective facemask. The rigid eye shield 42 is formed of a transparent polycarbonate polymer composition and covers the upper face area. The rigid transparent eye shield is structured and disposed for protecting the user's eyes from direct impact and contact with external objects, including hockey sticks, balls, pucks, softballs and other objects, as well as elbows, fingers and other body parts of participants in the sports activities, as described above. The transparent rigid eye shield 42 is preferably formulated to be glare proof, while allowing for full and unobstructed vision of the wearer while participating in the sports activity. The transparent rigid eye shield 42 is formulated with an ingredient that significantly reduces and/or eliminates glare from any bright light including sunlight. This ingredient can include any of a variety of color pigments to provide a vast selection of colors of the eye shield. However, it should be noted that the transparent rigid eye shield 42 can be made to be entirely clear by simply modifying the formulation of the polycarbonate polymer. Additionally, the formulation of the transparent polycarbonate eye shield includes a UV absorbing compound that eliminates or significantly reduces the amount of UV rays impacting the wearer's face and eyes, thereby significantly reducing harmful exposure to UV light from the sun and/or other UV light sources that might otherwise damage the wearer's facial skin and eyes.

(12) As seen throughout the several views of the drawings, the non-helmeted single molded universal protective facemask further includes an arrangement of slots to accommodate straps that secure the universal protective facemask on the wearer's head, as seen in FIG. 3. More particularly, the universal protective facemask 10 includes a pair of slots on each of the sides 22, 24, including upper slots 60 and lower slots 62. The universal protective facemask 10 further includes a slot 64 in the center of the forehead portion 20, for attachment of a center strap that may be used and which would extend over the top of the wearer's head, as seen in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 3, an upper strap 50 is secured through the upper slots 60 on opposite sides of the facemask, while a lower strap 52 is secured to the lower slots 62 on the opposite sides of the facemask. The upper slots 60 and lower slots 62 are specifically positioned and arranged to angle the position of the upper strap 50 and the lower strap 52 so that the upper and lower straps 50, 52 extend behind the wearer's head, below the back curvature of the head, with the upper strap 50 meeting the lower strap 52 at the back of the wearer's head, as seen in FIG. 3. To enhance the secure attachment of the universal protective facemask 10 over the wearer's face, as see in FIG. 3, and to discourage dislodging or undesirable movement, an upper strap 54 may further be used. As previously described, the upper strap 50 secures to the top center slot 64 on the forehead portion 20 of the universal protective facemask 10 and extends over the top of the wearer's head, down the back of the head and joins the upper and lower straps 50, 52 behind the wearer's head, below the back curvature of the wearer's head.

(13) The universal protective facemask 10 may further be provided with ventilation slots 68 along the lower portions 26 to assist with ventilation and antifogging of the rigid eye shield 42. As described above, the openings 36 between the vertical and horizontal bars 32, 34 allow for sufficient ventilation while the wearer breaths during the sports activity, to prevent fogging of the rigid eye shield 42.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, for added comfort and to help secure the universal protective facemask 10 on the wearer's head, a chin pad 80 is provided, as well as a forehead pad 82. Additionally, cheek pads 84 may be provided on the opposite inner facing surfaces of the sides 22, 24 of the facemask. A soft polymeric material extends about the inside periphery on all surfaces that engage the face, thereby allowing for a comfortable non-irritating fit.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a further embodiment of the single molded universal protective facemask 10 includes open areas 46 at opposite sides of the transparent rigid eye shield 42 to allow for greater air flow and ventilation that eliminates fogging of the eye shield even when the wearer is hot, perspiring and breathing heavy when participating in a sports activity. The open areas 46 at opposite sides of the eye shield 42 also provide for better peripheral vision of the wearer.

(16) As previously described, the universal protective facemask 10 can be worn in conjunction with the universal protective headgear 90, as seen in FIG. 3. The universal protective headgear 90 can be attached to the universal protective facemask 10 or worn as a separate article, but still used in conjunction with the universal protective facemask 10.

(17) While the present invention has been shown in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except as defined in the following claims as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents.