Sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth

Abstract

A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth. Such sports apparatus includes a shield member. A securing device attached at a first end thereof to a back side of the shield member at a predetermined location thereon. A second predetermined end of such securing means is removably securable to a boom microphone arm extending from a user's audio headset communication apparatus to a space in front of a mouth of such user such that when the shield member is secured to such boom microphone arm such user's mouth will be entirely hidden by the shield member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/865,942 filed Nov. 13, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to sports apparatus and, more particularly, this invention relates to a mouth covering sports apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, no shields have existed to cover the mouths of coaches to prevent others from seeing what plays and what instructions the coaches verbalize.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth. The sports apparatus includes a shield member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness. A securing means is attached at a first end thereof to a back side of such shield member at a predetermined location thereon. A second predetermined end of the securing means is removably securable to a boom microphone arm extending from a user's audio headset communication apparatus to a space in front of a mouth of such user such that when such shield member is secured to such boom microphone arm such user's mouth will be entirely hidden by such shield member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will prevent a coach's mouth from being seen as the coach verbalizes instructions to his team.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient way for a coach to shield his or her mouth from being seen.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an invention that will allow a coach to keep such coach's mouth covered while such coach's hands remain free.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to shield a coach's mouth from possible lip-readers while providing a surface upon which advertising may be placed.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-8. Illustrated therein is a sports apparatus, generally designated 10, for covering a user's mouth 12 during use.

Such sports apparatus 10 includes a shield member 14, manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness. It is presently preferred that such shield member is between about 8 to 12 inches long, between about 1 to 3 inches wide and between about 1/16 to ¼ inches thick. It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic.

A securing means 16 is attached at a first end 18 thereof to a back side 20 of such shield member 14 at a predetermined location 22 thereon.

A second predetermined end 24 of such securing means 16 is removably securable to a boom microphone arm 26 extending from a user's audio headset communication apparatus 28 to a space in front of a mouth 12 of such user 30 such that when such shield member 14 is secured to such boom microphone arm 26 such user's mouth 12 will be entirely hidden by such shield member 14.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such shield member 14 includes a layer of foam backing 32 having a second predetermined thickness. The layer of foam backing 32 is preferably adhesively bonded to a back side 34 of such shield member 14 between shield member 14 and securing means 16.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such securing means 16 is a spring-loaded clip 36.

It is also presently preferred that such shield member 14 be formed such that such shield member 14 is curved so as to be aligned generally to the contour of such user's face 38.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the front side 40 of such shield member 14 includes advertising.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, a sports apparatus, generally designated 42, for covering a user's mouth 12 is provided. Such sports apparatus 42 includes an audio headset communication apparatus 44 which has an arm member 46 rotatably connected at a first end 48 thereof to a predetermined location 50 on such audio headset communication apparatus 44.

Such arm member 46 is operably connected at a second end 52 thereof to a wireless microphone 54. Such second end 52 and such wireless microphone 54 extend to a space in front of a user's mouth 12 such that when such user 56 verbalizes such wireless microphone 54 will relay such verbalization to at least one receiving means (not shown) such that a person using such receiving means hears such verbalization.

Such second embodiment of the invention further includes a shield member 58 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and first predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness. Such shield member 58 is attached on a back side 60 thereof to a predetermined location 62 on such arm member 46 such that when such wireless microphone 54 is directly in front of such user's mouth 12, such user's mouth 12 will be entirely hidden by such shield member 58. Such arm member 46 is capable of rotating upward and outward when such user does not feel the need to cover such user's mouth 12 with such shield member 58. In this particular embodiment of the invention it is preferred that such shield member 58 includes a layer of foam backing 64 adhesively bonded to the back side 60 of such shield member 58. It is further preferred that such shield member 58 is formed such that such shield member 58 is curved so as to be aligned generally to the contour of such user's face 38.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth comprising;

a. a shield member manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size and predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness; and

b. a securing means attached at a first end thereof to a back side of said shield member at a predetermined location thereon, a second predetermined end of said securing means being removably securable to a boom microphone arm extending from a user's audio headset communication apparatus to a space in front of a mouth of such user such that when said shield member is secured to such boom microphone arm such user's mouth will be entirely hidden by said shield member.

2. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member includes a layer of foam backing having a second predetermined thickness, said layer of foam backing being adhesively bonded to said back side of said shield member between said shield member and said securing means.

3. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said securing means is a spring-loaded clip.

4. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is formed such that said shield member is curved so as to be aligned generally to the contour of such user's face.

5. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about 8 to 12 inches long.

6. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about 1 to 3 inches wide.

7. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about 1/16 to ¼ inches thick.

8. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said front side of said shield member includes advertising.

9. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material is plastic.

10. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth comprising;

a. an audio headset communication apparatus including an arm member rotatably connected at a first end thereof to a predetermined location on said audio headset communication apparatus, said arm member being operably connected at a second end thereof to a wireless microphone, said second end and said wireless microphone extending to a space in front of a user's mouth such that when such user verbalizes said wireless microphone will relay such verbalization to at least one receiving means such that a person using such receiving means hears such verbalization; and

b. a shield member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and first predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness, such shield member being attached on a back side thereof to a predetermined location on said arm member such that when said wireless microphone is directly in front of such user's mouth, such user's mouth will be entirely hidden by said shield member.

11. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 10, wherein said shield member includes a layer of foam adhesively bonded to a back side of said shield member.

12. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 10, wherein said shield member is formed such that said shield member is curved so as to be aligned generally to the contour of such user's face.