FACE SHIELD

Abstract

A face shield for attachment to a face mask. The face shield includes a shield portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper arcuate edge, a lower arcuate edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. A strip of hook and loop fastener is adhered to the outer surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge. The strip of hook and loop fastener of the face shield attaches to a strip of hook and loop fastener of the face mask, thereby releasably attaching the face shield to the face mask.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/510,992, filed May 25, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a face shield and, more particularly, to a face shield releasably attachable to a protective mask.

Softball is a variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. In any form of softball, any player (other than fastpitch catchers on defense) can wear a protective face mask or face guard. A face mask is intended to prevent facial injuries. To protect a user's eyes from the sun, players may wear sunglasses underneath the face mask. Sunglasses can be cumbersome when worn underneath a face mask. Further, sunglasses become fogged during a humid day, which obstructs a user's vision.

As can be seen, there is a need for a face shield that easily attaches to a protective face mask.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a face shield for attachment to a face mask comprises: a shield portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper arcuate edge, a lower arcuate edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; a first strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the inner surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge; and a second strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the outer surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge.

In another aspect of the present invention, a face mask comprises: a frame comprising a first side vertically disposed, a second side vertically disposed, a transverse member horizontally disposed and connecting the first side to the second side, and a first strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to an inner surface of the transverse member; a face protector comprising at least one bar horizontally disposed and curving from the first side to the second side; head straps secured to the first side, the second side and the transverse member of the frame; and a face shield comprising a shield portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper arcuate edge, a lower arcuate edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a second strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the outer surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge, wherein the face shield is releasably attached to the frame by way of the first strip of hook and loop fastener being attached to the second strip of hook and loop fastener.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section detail view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a face shield 12 for attachment to a face mask 10. The face shield 12 includes a shield portion having an inner surface 26, an outer surface 28, an upper arcuate edge 30, a lower arcuate edge 32, a first side edge 34, and a second side edge 36. A strip of hook and loop fastener 14 is adhered to the outer surface 28 of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge 30. The strip of hook and loop fastener 14 of the face shield 12 attaches to a strip of hook and loop fastener of the face mask 10, thereby releasably attaching the face shield 12 to the face mask 10.

The face shield 12 of the present invention may be made of a durable impact resistant material. The face shield 12 of the present invention may be any style of transparent face shields, including face shields composed of various materials and face shields having various colors and various degrees of shading.

The upper arcuate edge 30 of the face shield 12 is oriented in a generally horizontal two-dimensional plane, the upper arcuate edge 30 having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end. The lower arcuate edge 32 of the face shield 12 is oriented in a generally horizontal two-dimensional plane, the lower arcuate edge 32 having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

The first side edge 34 of the face shield 12 is oriented in a generally vertical two-dimensional plane connecting the first end of the upper arcuate edge 30 and the first end of the lower arcuate edge 32, the first side edge 34 having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end. The second side edge 34 of the face shield 12 is oriented in a generally vertical two-dimensional plane connecting the second end of the upper arcuate edge 30 and the second end of the lower arcuate edge 32, the second side edge 34 having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

The inner surface 26 and the outer surface 28 is in a generally vertical orientation between the upper arcuate edge 30 and the lower arcuate edge 32 and extending arcuately between the first side edge 34 and the second side edge 34. A distance between the inner surface 26 and the outer surface 28 form a shield thickness. The face mask 10 of the present invention includes a frame 22, a face protector 24, and head straps 20. The frame 22 may include a first side vertically disposed, a second side vertically disposed, and a transverse member horizontally disposed and connecting the first side to the second side. A strip of hook and loop fastener 14 is adhered to an inner surface of the transverse member. The face protector 24 includes at least one bar horizontally disposed and curving from the first side to the second side. The at least one bar may include two or more bars horizontally disposed. The head straps 20 may be elastic and may include adjustable buckles. The head straps 20 are secured to the first side, the second side and the transverse member of the frame 22. The face shield 12 is releasably attached to the frame 22 behind the face protector 24 and resting against an inner portion of the face protector 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a looped fastener is adhered to the inner surface 26 of the face mask 10. In such embodiments, a hooked fastener may be adhered to the outer surface 28 of the face shield 12. The present invention may further include a foam padding 18. The foam padding 18 may include a hooked fastener that secures to a looped fastener adhered to an inner surface of the face shield 12.

The above described face mask 10 is a typical mask used for softball, field hockey, lacrosse and the like. However, the face shield 12 of the present invention is not limited to use with the described face mask 10 and may be used with helmets, such as, but not limited to, football helmets, lacrosse helmets, hockey helmets, ski helmets, motorcycle helmets and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A face shield for attachment to a face mask comprising:

a shield portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper arcuate edge, a lower arcuate edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge;

a first strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the inner surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge; and

a second strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the outer surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge.

2. The face shield of claim 1, wherein the first strip is a loop fastener and the second strip is a hook fastener.

3. The face shield of claim 1, wherein the upper arcuate edge is oriented in a generally horizontal two-dimensional plane, the upper arcuate edge having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

4. The face shield of claim 3, wherein the lower arcuate edge is oriented in a generally horizontal two-dimensional plane, the lower arcuate edge having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

5. The face shield of claim 4, wherein the first side edge is oriented in a generally vertical two-dimensional plane connecting the first end of the upper arcuate edge and the first end of the lower arcuate edge, the first side edge having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

6. The face shield of claim 5, wherein the second side edge is oriented in a generally vertical two-dimensional plane connecting the second end of the upper arcuate edge and the second end of the lower arcuate edge, the second side edge having a first end, a second end, and an edge surface extending between the first end and the second end.

7. The face shield of claim 6, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface is in a generally vertical orientation between the upper arcuate edge and the lower arcuate edge and extending arcuately between the first side edge and the second side edge, wherein a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface form a shield thickness.

8. A face mask comprising:

a frame comprising a first side vertically disposed, a second side vertically disposed, a transverse member horizontally disposed and connecting the first side to the second side, and a first strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to an inner surface of the transverse member;

a face protector comprising at least one bar horizontally disposed and curving from the first side to the second side;

head straps secured to the first side, the second side and the transverse member of the frame; and

a face shield comprising a shield portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper arcuate edge, a lower arcuate edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a second strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the outer surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge, wherein

the face shield is releasably attached to the frame by way of the first strip of hook and loop fastener being attached to the second strip of hook and loop fastener.

9. The face mask of claim 8, wherein the face shield further comprises a third strip of hook and loop fastener adhered to the inner surface of the shield portion adjacent to the upper arcuate edge.

10. The face mask of claim 9, further comprising a foam padding comprising a fourth strip of hook and loop fastener, wherein the foam padding is releasably attached to the face shield by way of the third strip of hook and loop fastener being attached to the fourth strip of hook and loop fastener.