FENCING MASK AND REINFORCED MASK ACCESSORY THEREOF

Abstract

A fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory thereof are provided. The fencing mask includes a front mesh, a lateral mesh and a front bib. The fencing mask in an embodiment further includes a rear mesh fastened at a rear end of the lateral mesh. The reinforced mask accessory in another embodiment includes a rear plate fastened with the lateral mesh and/or the front bib, thereby protecting the occipital and rear neck portions of the user. The reinforced mask accessory in another embodiment further includes a front plate fastened at the front mesh to protect the forehead portion of the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims benefit from U.S. provisional application No. 62/526,402 filed on Jun. 29, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This non-provisional application also claims benefit from China Patent Application No. 201820153458.4 filed on Jan. 30, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The instant disclosure relates to mask protection, and particularly relates to a fencing mask and reinforced mask accessory thereof.

Related Art

Fencing is a sport in which each player uses a fencing sword to attach and make winning points through the sword's contact with the opponent. A fencing mask is to protect the head and neck portions of the player from strikes, slashes, thrusts or any other hits of the opponent's fencing sword. Fencing swords vary in types, weights and shapes for different fencing sports. Generally, lightweight (e.g. 400-700 grams) and rapier-style swords, such as the foil, the epée, and the sabre, are used in Olympic fencing competitions. On the other hand, as HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) fencing emerging recently, the players use heavier (such as more than 1 kilogram) and longer swords. Current fencing masks do not design for HEMA fencing and fail to meet the requirements for the player's head and neck protection from such highly destructive swords. In addition, the traditional Olympic fencing mask lacks of rear-side protection, which is lethal during sport fencing or HEMA fencing when the players use longer/heavier swords or do not have strict sword attacking rules as Olympic fencing.

SUMMARY

Based on the technical problem mentioned above, various embodiments of the instant disclosure each provides a fencing mask and reinforced mask accessory thereof.

In some embodiments of the instant disclosure, a fencing mask comprising a front mesh, a lateral mesh and a rear mesh is provided. The front mesh has a plurality of first mesh holes defined thereon and has a rear edge that defines an opening thereof. The lateral mesh has a front end, a rear end and a plurality of second mesh holes defined between the front end and the rear end of the lateral mesh. The front end of the lateral mesh is fastened with an upper portion of the rear edge of the front mesh. The rear mesh has a front edge, a bottom and a plurality of third mesh holes defined between the front edge and the bottom. The front edge of the rear mesh is formed at the rear end of the lateral mesh.

In other embodiments of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask further comprises a front bib fastened with the front mesh and the lateral mesh.

In another embodiment of the fencing mask, the front bib extends downwards and backwards from the front mesh to form a bib opening facing backwards.

In yet another embodiment of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask further comprises a cross bar and/or a forehead cap, wherein the cross bar and/or a bottom end of the forehead cap is configured along an upper angle within a range of 25-60 degree.

In other embodiments, the fencing mask further comprises a plurality of support bars configured lengthwise and fastened with the cross bar.

In some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask further comprises a forehead cap fastened at an upper portion of the front mesh, wherein the forehead cap has a half-circle top and a V-shaped bottom.

In yet some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the forehead cap comprises a cross cap and a top cap independent to each other, in which the cross cap is a V-shaped obtuse-angle belt-like plate while the top cap is a plate with a diamond-shaped bottom and an arc top.

In certain embodiments, the fencing mask further comprises a front bib and a rear plate, wherein the front bib is fastened with the front mesh and the lateral mesh, and the rear plate is fastened with the lateral mesh, and/or the rear mesh, and/or the front bib.

In specified embodiments of the fencing mask, the rear plate comprises a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side is shorter than the bottom side to form two inclined guiding sides in between, and bottom sections of the guiding sides extend outside of two lateral sides of the front bib.

In some embodiments of the instant disclosure, a reinforced mask accessory for being removably configured on a fencing mask with a front mesh, a lateral mesh and a front bib is provided. The reinforced mask accessory comprises a rear plate, which is configured as a platelike part with a top side and a bottom side and is fastened with two lateral sides of the front bib and/or a rear end of the lateral mesh.

In another embodiment, the reinforced mask accessory further comprises a forehead cap fastened at an upper portion of the front mesh, wherein the forehead cap has a half-circle top and a V-shaped bottom.

In another embodiment of the reinforced mask accessory, the forehead cap comprises a cross cap and a top cap independent to each other, in which the cross cap is a V-shaped obtuse-angle belt-like plate while the top cap is a plate with a diamond-shaped bottom and an arc top.

In other embodiments of the reinforced mask accessory, the top side of the rear plate is shorter than the bottom side of the rear plate to form two inclined guiding sides in between.

In some embodiments of the reinforced mask accessory, bottom sections of the guiding sides extending outside of the two lateral sides of the front bib.

In yet another embodiment, the rear plate comprises a tail section extended and bended backwards. The tail section comprises two tail ends respectively extending outwards to form at least an exposed portion on each of two guiding sides of the rear plate that extends outside of each of the two lateral sides of the front bib.

In an embodiment of the reinforced mask accessory, the fencing mask comprises a rear mesh fastened at the rear end of the lateral mesh and the rear plate is fastened underneath a bottom of the rear mesh.

In certain embodiments of the reinforced mask accessory, the rear plate further comprises a buffering layer.

In specified embodiments of the reinforced mask accessory, the rear plate comprises a main section with a plurality of positioning holes.

In different embodiments of the reinforced mask accessory, the front bib of the fencing mask comprises a plurality of Velcro straps; each of the Velcro straps has a hook portion and a loop portion, and each of the Velcro straps penetrates the positioning hole with the hook portion and the loop portion being mounted to each other, so as to fasten the rear plate thereto.

In some practical examples of the reinforced mask accessory, the rear plate comprises a plurality of air holes.

In brief, by applying the integral technical solutions disclosed in various embodiments of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask provides sufficient protection ranges and strengths for users' fencing activities in Olympic, HEMA or sport fencing, or other types of fencing. The rear mesh provides additional parietal and occipital protections for the user's head. The rear plate of the reinforced mask accessory has the guiding sides allowing the blade of the fencing sword to slide outwards and downwards along the inclined angles of the guiding sides, away from the fragile occipital and rear neck portions of the user. The guiding sides undertake and buffer the hitting force of the fencing sword, majorly decreasing the danger and the possibility of directly hitting and hurting the user's occipital and rear neck portions, and increasing the protection effect. Furthermore, the forehead cap and/or the cross/support bars reinforce the structural strengths of the front mesh. These inventive technical features either independently or jointly increase the partial or overall protection effects, and further resolving the issues of insufficient protection at the rear side and poor protection strengths of the conventional fencing masks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an explanatory perspective view of a fencing mask according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a fencing mask according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory perspective view of a fencing mask according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a rearguard section of a fencing mask according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a right-side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is another top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16A illustrates a perspective view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16B illustrates a front view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16C illustrates a rear view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16D illustrates a left view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16E illustrates a right view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16F illustrates a top view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 16G illustrates a bottom view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (forehead cap) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (forehead cap) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 19 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (forehead cap) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20A illustrates a perspective view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20B illustrates a front view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20C illustrates a rear view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20D illustrates a left view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20E illustrates a right view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 20F illustrates a top view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; and

FIG. 20G illustrates a bottom view of a forehead cap of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fencing masks are introduced in the following embodiments of the instant disclosure. According to the embodiments of the instant disclosure disclosed in the following descriptions, the fencing masks introduced hereinafter may be used in different types of fencing sports, including without limitation to Olympic fencing or HEMA fencing, for the purpose of sport, competition or simply pleasure.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates an explanatory perspective view of a fencing mask 10 according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, with a portion of meshes being omitted for better illustration of a cross bar 110 and support bars 120, 130. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask 10 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. The fencing mask 10 mainly includes a front mesh 100 with a circular rear edge, a lateral mesh 200 extending rearwards from the circular rear edge of the front mesh 100, and a rear mesh 300 (FIG. 2) mounted at a rear end of the lateral mesh 200. In other words, the lateral mesh 200 is mounted between the front mesh 100 and the rear mesh 300.

Numerous mesh holes, spacing with each other, are respectively formed and defined on the front mesh 100, the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300, e.g. first mesh holes for the front mesh 100, second mesh holes for the lateral mesh 200, and third mesh holes for the rear mesh 300. In an embodiment, these mesh holes on the front mesh 100, the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300 may be formed by wire crossing, metal punching, 3D printing or any other available processes. Through these processes, the formed mesh holes may be defined in shapes of circles, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, other polygons or any combinations thereof, with various sizes and layouts. In another embodiment, the front/lateral/rear meshes 100/200/300 may be made of metal, carbon fiber, glass fiber, reinforced plastic, other non-metal or hybrid materials or any combinations thereof; and the front/lateral/rear meshes 100/200/300 may be made of materials differentiating from each other. The mesh holes thereof allow air flows to dissipate heat from the user, and reduce the weights of the front/lateral/rear meshes 100/200/300.

The front mesh 100 is adapted to be doom-shaped at its front side, with its front surface raising forwards and outwards, so as to fit a general external shape of the user's face and protect the forehead and face portion of the user. As mentioned above, the front mesh 100 has a circular rear edge, which forms at a rear side of the front mesh 100 and defines a circular opening at its rear side.

The lateral mesh 200 is adapted to be a shape of a half cylinder shell, with its half-circular front end formed at its front side and a half-circular rear end formed at its rear side. The shapes and sizes of an upper section of the rear edge of the front mesh 100 and the front end of the lateral mesh 200 match each other in opposite. Therefore, (the upper section of) the rear edge of the front mesh 100 and the front end of the lateral mesh 200 are able to mount with each other correspondingly. In some embodiments, the lateral mesh 200 may has a shape closer to an entire cylinder shell, such two thirds, three quarters or four fifth of a cylinder shell; alternatively, in another embodiment, the lateral mesh 200 forms an entire cylinder shell at its front half section with its rear half section being formed a half cylinder shell, which lets open the bottom side of the rear half section and the whole rear side; as long as the opening at the rear side (and the rear bottom side) of the lateral mesh 200 is suitable for the user to push his/her head into the inner space of the fencing mask 10 and be accommodated between the front mesh 100, the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300.

The rear mesh 300 is adapted to be half-circle shaped with an arc front edge, a curved, nearly horizontal bottom (raising rearwards and outwards), and a positive camber convex (raising rearwards and outwards) mesh structure between the arc front edge and the curved horizontal bottom. The shapes and sizes of an upper portion of the half-circular rear end of the lateral mesh 200 and the arc front edge of the rear mesh 300 match each other in opposite. Therefore, the half-circular rear end of the lateral mesh 200 (the upper portion thereof) and the arc front edge of the rear mesh 300 are able to mount with each other correspondingly. With the existence and the design of the rear mesh 300, the fencing mask 10 may provide additional parietal and occipital protections for the user's head.

In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the front mesh 100 is mounted securely with the lateral mesh 200 by welding, soldering, adhering or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof, in which the rear edge of the front mesh 100 may be mounted outside the front end of the lateral mesh 200; or the opposite, the rear edge of the front mesh 100 may be mounted inside the front end of the lateral mesh 200. These means are also applicable to the mounting process between the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300. The rear end of the lateral mesh 200 may be mounted outside the front edge of the rear mesh 300; or the opposite, the rear end of the lateral mesh 200 may be mounted inside the front edge of the rear mesh 300. In another embodiment, the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300 are integrally manufactured as an one-piece part (not shown), in which the front edge of the rear mesh 300 is formed at the rear end 220 of the lateral mesh, with or without reinforced bars/ribs being disposed around the similar position of the rear end 220 of the lateral mesh 200 (as shown in FIG. 2).

In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask 10 further includes a front bib 400 and a rear bib 600. The front bib 400 has an upper front end securely fastened to a lower, half-circular portion of the rear edge of the front mesh 100. The front bib 400 also has two top ends securely fastened at two lateral ends of the lateral mesh 200. In addition, the front bib 400 may extend downwards and backwards to cover the front and lateral neck portions of the user, plus the upper chest and shoulder portions thereof, if necessary. The rear bib 600 is mainly fastened at the bottom of the rear mesh 300 and extends downwards to cover the occipital and rear neck of the user, plus the upper back thereof if necessary. In other embodiments, two lateral ends of the rear bib 600 may extends forwards to overlap with the front bib 400, fastened with the rear end or the two bottom ends of the lateral mesh 200 if necessary, to combine the coverage ranges of the front bib 400 and the rear bib 600, as long as the user may still easily put on the fencing mask 10.

In some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the front bib 400 is fastened securely with the front mesh 100 and the lateral mesh 200 by adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, Velcro strap or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof. Likewise, the rear bib 600 is fastened securely with the rear mesh 300 (and the lateral mesh 200 if necessary) by adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, Velcro strap or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof. The front bib 400 and rear bib 600 may be made of flexible fabric or cloth to jointly surround 360 degree of the user's neck portions uncovered by the front/lateral/rear meshes 100/200/300, including partial portions of the user's chest, shoulder and back closed to the user's neck. Buffering and reinforcing materials may be utilized in the front bib 400 and rear bib 600 to protect from the hitting and penetrating forces of a fencing sword and reach certain protection levels. In another embodiment, the front bib 400 and rear bib 600 is integrated into an one-piece front bib that fastens with the front/lateral/rear meshes 100/200/300 and covers the entire neck, and adjacent chest, should and back portions of the user.

In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, inner paddings (not shown) are configured inside the fencing mask 10. Thicker or additional inner paddings with complex designs may be applied to the internal spaces of the fencing mask 10 to absorb and buffer the hitting forces from heavy fencing swords. Thinner or less inner paddings are configured within the fencing mask 10 to provide protections from the hitting forces of lightweight fencing swords. The fencing masks with thicker or additional inner padding with complex designs may be bigger as more space is required.

In an embodiment, an axial length (from the front end to the rear end) of the lateral mesh 200 is adapted longer to well protect the lateral and rear sides of the user's head and neck. To take the hitting forces of lightweight fencing swords, the axial length of the lateral mesh 200 may be around 45% or less percentage of a vertical length of the front mesh 100. In another embodiments, the axial length of the lateral mesh 200 may be 50-75%, or 75-100% of the vertical length of the front mesh 100. The extra space provided in the longer lateral mesh 200 may be utilized for configuring the inner paddings, accompanying with size adjustments for the front bib 400 and rear bib 600 if necessary. Such extended lateral mesh 200, along with the rear mesh 300, front bib 400 and rear bib 600, may provide sufficient parietal and occipital protections for the user's head, as well as the rear protections for the back side of the user's neck. In another embodiment, when the lateral mesh 200 has a shape closer to an entire cylinder shell, such two thirds, three quarters or four fifth of a cylinder shell, or the lateral mesh 200 forms an entire cylinder shell at its front half section with its rear half section being formed a half cylinder shell and let open the bottom side of the rear half section and the whole rear side, the front bib 400 is mostly fastened with the lateral mesh 200, and lesser portion or even none of the front bib 400 would be still fastened with the front mesh 100.

A round section closed to the rear edge of the front mesh 100, according to another embodiment, may be raised outwardly to have its radius lengths at this round section greater than the radius lengths at the rear edge of the front mesh. Such round section of the front mesh 100 provides additional inner spaces for configuring the inner paddings, and for buffering the user's face and head. Since the user's head leans on the inner paddings at the rear edge of the front mesh 100 while wearing the fencing mask 10, said raised round section of the front mesh 100 also provides additional buffer space to absorb the forces while hit by a fencing sword.

In an embodiment, the lateral mesh 200 includes a circular front band 210, fastening securely and covering at the position of the rear edge of the front mesh 100 and the front end of the lateral mesh 200. Since the user's head leans on the inner paddings at the rear edge of the front mesh 100 and the front end of the lateral mesh 200 while wearing the fencing mask 10, namely this portion is where the hitting forces are conducted from the fencing mask 10 to the user's head, the front band 210 provides additional structural supports for the fencing mask 10 and the user. In some embodiment, the front band 210 is made of metal, carbon fabric, glass fabric, reinforced plastic, or elastomeric materials such as rubber, reinforce silicone (polymerized siloxane), artificial fabric, or any combinations of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the lateral mesh 200 further includes a half-circular back band 220, fastened securely at the rear end of the lateral mesh 200. In an embodiment, the rear mesh 300 further includes a linear bottom band 310 securely fastened at the bottom edge of the rear mesh 300. The back band 220 and bottom band 310 may be made of the material(s) as described above for the front band 210, so as to provide structural supports respectively for the lateral mesh 200 and the rear mesh 300. In some embodiments, the front band 210, back band 220 and bottom band 310 may be formed of folded belt-shaped materials; in other examples, the front band 210, back band 220 and bottom band 310 are respectively fastened by welding, soldering, adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a fencing mask 10 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure, with an exploded forehead cap 140, and a portion of meshes being omitted for better illustration of a cross bar 110 and support bars 120, 130; and FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory perspective view of a fencing mask 10 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure, with a portion of meshes being omitted for better illustration of a cross bar 110 and support bars 120, 130.

The front mesh 100, according an embodiment, further includes a cross bar 110 securely fastened widthwise between two lateral sides of the rear edge of the front mesh 100. The two ends of the cross bar 110 are fastened respectively with the rear edge of the front mesh 100, and/or the front end of the lateral mesh 20, or even jointly fastened with the front band 210. The cross bar 110 is provided to protect the user's eyes and forehead portions, without blocking the user's upper visual angle. Depending on the relative positions of the user's eyes within the fencing mask 10, in some embodiments, a middle point of the cross bar 110 is positioned higher than the two ends of the cross bar 110, such that the cross bar 110 is configured behind the front mesh 100 with an upper angle A (between the cross bar 110 and a virtual horizontal line). The appropriate upper angle A varies when the two ends of the cross bar 110 are positioned lower or higher on the rear edge of the front mesh 100. In an embodiment, the cross bar 100 is configured along an upper angle between 25 and 30 degree, while in another embodiments, the upper angles may be greater, such 30-45 degree, or ever 45-60 degree, namely within a general range of 25-60 degree. In another embodiment, the front mesh 100 further includes one or more linear support bars, such as two support bars 120, 130 as shown in FIG. 1, securely fastened between the cross bar 110 and the rear edge of the front mesh 100 respectively. The support bars 120, 130 are configured lengthwise (as to the front mesh 100) and underneath (behind) the front mesh 100. One of their two ends respectively is fastened with the cross bar 110. And the other of their two ends is fastened respectively with the rear edge of the front mesh 100, and/or the front end of the lateral mesh 20, or even jointly fastened with the front band 210. The cross bar 110 and support bars 120,130 may be curved to fit the degrees of curves on the curved surface of the front mesh 100.

In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask 10 further includes a forehead cap 140, fastened securely on an upper section of the front mesh 100 to provide frontal and upper face protections for the user, and prevent from dents on the front mesh 100 caused by fencing swords. The forehead cap 140 is in a shape of a half-circle convex, or has at least an inner surface thereof adapted in a half-circle shape; if necessary, the inner surface of the forehead cap 140 is curved corresponding to the degrees of curve for the upper section of the front mesh 100 covered by the forehead cap 140. The forehead cap 140 may be made of metal, carbon fiber, rubber, reinforce silicone, artificial fabric, glass fiber, reinforced plastic, other non-metal or hybrid materials or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the forehead cap 140, with an end thereof configured onto or underneath the front band 210, is fastened securely with the front mesh 100, and/or the front end of the lateral mesh 200, or even jointly fastened with the front band 210 by welding, soldering, adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof. The position of the forehead cap 140, in another embodiment, may be corresponding to the cross bar 110, and/or the support bars 120, 130. A bottom end of the forehead cap 140, if necessary, may be further aligned with the cross bar 110, namely the forehead cap 140 is configured to fasten on the front mesh 100 with its bottom end defining an angle exactly or configured along the previously mentioned upper angle A within a range of 25-60 degree. In other words, a middle end of the bottom end of the forehead cap 140 is positioned to be higher than two lateral sides of the bottom end of the forehead cap 140. In addition, to reinforce the relevant structure, the forehead cap 140 may be fastened jointly with the front mesh 100 and the cross bar 110 and/or support bars 120/130 with one or more ohm-shaped (e.g. Ω) fastening members and screws/bolts with nuts, or with the fastening or interlocking methods/members mentioned above. However, in some embodiments, the forehead cap 140 may be configured to reinforce the front mesh 100 without the cross bar and/or the support bars; such forehead cap may still need to be fastened on the front mesh 110 directly, with or without being fastened on the front end of the lateral mesh 200 or the front band 210.

Please refer to FIGS. 5-12. FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a rearguard section of a fencing mask according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a left side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is a right side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. And FIG. 12 is another top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 5-12 illustrates a unique design of a fencing mask 10, especially focusing on the appearances defined by a half-circular back band 220 (of a lateral mesh 200) and a bottom band 310 of a half-circle shaped rear mesh 300. Dotted lines in FIGS. 5-12 indicate portions or features that are not limited/included in the design.

Referring to FIGS. 13-20G, in some embodiments of the instant disclosure, a fencing mask 10 includes a front mesh 100, a lateral mesh 200, a rear mesh 300 and a front bib 400, and further comprising a reinforced mask accessory 500. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13-15 and 17-19, the front bib 400 extends both downwards and backwards to form a vertical bib opening facing backwards (the bib opening faces the backward direction of the fencing mask 10).

In FIGS. 13-16G, the reinforced mask accessory 500 further includes a rear plate 510. FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 15 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask and a reinforced mask accessory (rear plate) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16A illustrates a perspective view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16B illustrates a front view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16C illustrates a rear view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16D illustrates a left view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16E illustrates a right view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 16F illustrates a top view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; and FIG. 16G illustrates a bottom view of a rear plate of a reinforced mask accessory according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure.

The rear plate 510 is an important part of a reinforced mask accessory for being removably configured onto the fencing mask 10, which is configured as a platelike part with a narrow top side and wide bottom side, approximately as a trapezoid, or as the optimized shape as shown in the above drawings. The rear plate 510 is mainly fastened at the bottom (or the bottom band 310) of the rear mesh 300 (the rear plate 510 is located underneath the bottom of the rear mesh 300) and extends downwards to protect the user's occipital and rear neck portions when wearing the fencing mask 10. If necessary, in another example, the rear plate 510 may further extend downwards to be long enough to partially cover the upper back portion of the user. As shown in the drawings mentioned above, the rear plate 510 has a top side 511 and a bottom side 513. The top side 511 of the rear plate 510 is shorter than the bottom side 513. In an embodiment, two inclined guiding sides 515/517 are formed descending downwards and outwards (with or without changing a slop thereof) from the top side 511 to the bottom side 513. In some examples, the bottom side 513 extends outwards and wider, and the bottom sections of the guiding sides 515/517 extend outside of two lateral side of the front bib 400, as shown in FIG. 15.

The rear mesh 300 is not essential for every embodiment of the instant disclosure; instead, in another embodiment, the top side 511 of the rear plate 510 extends upwards to mount with the rear end (or the back band 220) of the lateral mesh 200. In such embodiment, the top side 511 of the rear plate 510 has the same half-circular shape corresponding to the rear end (or the back band 220) of the lateral mesh 200. In some embodiments, depending on the relative positions between the rear plate 510, the front bib 400 and the lateral mesh 200, the rear plate 510 may optionally fasten on the front bib 400 and/or the lateral mesh 200; namely, the rear plate 510 may be fastened on two lateral sides of the rear end of the front bib 400 only, or fastened on the two lateral sides of the rear end of the lateral mesh 200 only, or jointly fastened on the two lateral sides of both the rear end of the front bib 400 and the rear end of the lateral mesh 200.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16A-16G, the rear plate 510 includes a slightly-curved (raising backwards), generally-rectangular main section 512 with a nearly-fixed width top to bottom, and a trapezoid tail section 514. The main section 512 includes one or more positioning holes 512a1/512a2/512a3. In another embodiment, each of the front bib 400 (and/or lateral mesh 200) and/or the rear mesh 300 of the fencing mask 10 comprises one or more Velcro straps (not shown) fastened thereon. Each of the Velcro straps has a hook portion and a loop portion detachably mounted with each other. Each Velcro strap penetrates one of the positioning holes 512a1/512a2/512a3 of the rear plate 500 and has its hook portion and loop portion mounted to each other, so as to fasten the rear plate 510 between the front bib 400 and the rear mesh 300. In addition, if necessary, the main section 512 of the rear plate 510 comprises one or more air holes 512b1/512b2/512b3, each of which allows air flow to help heat dissipation for the user's head portion. In another embodiment, the lateral sides of the rear plate 510 may extend forwards to overlap and fasten with the front bib 400 or the lateral mesh 200. In another embodiment, the tail section 514 of the rear plate 510 extends from the bottom of the main section 512 and bends backwards, and the tail section 514 has two tail ends 516/518 respectively extending outwards to form at least an exposed portion on each of the two guiding sides 515/517 that extends outside of two lateral sides of the front bib 400, as shown in FIG. 15. When a fencing sword hits a portion of the rear plate 510 corresponding to the user's occipital and rear neck portions, the guiding sides 515/517 allow the blade of the fencing sword to slide outwards and downwards along the inclined angles of the guiding sides 515/517, away from the fragile occipital and rear neck portions of the user. The guiding sides 515/517 undertake and buffer the hitting force of the fencing sword, majorly decreasing the danger and the possibility of directly hitting and hurting the user's occipital and rear neck portions, and increasing the protection effect.

Furthermore, in another embodiment, the rear plate 510 has a bottom side 513 and a top side 511 shorter than the bottom side 513 with two inclined guiding sides 515/517 forming in between, wherein the two guiding sides 515/517 may start to incline outwards and downwards from the two lateral ends of the top side 511 to the bottom side 517, or start to incline from any point of the lateral sides of the main section 512/tail section 514. Moreover, in other examples, the rear plate 510 comprises a buffering layer (configured on, not limited to the entire or partial surface of the rear plate 510, or merely the guiding sides 515/517 and adjacent surfaces thereof). The buffering layer for example, may be realized by a zigzag structure, a rough surface with numerous convex-concave portions, or a high friction coefficient cushion (such as a silicon gel pad or silicon gel layer). With such buffering layer, the hitting forces when the sword hits the rear plate 510 may be effectively reduced, lowering the undertaking force per unit area from the fencing sword eventually applied onto the user's body (no matter what is finally hit is a portion of the fencing mask 10, a upper body jacket or a shoulder-back foil lame).

In different embodiment, the rear plate 510 may be securely fastened with the rear mesh 300 and/or the lateral mesh 200 (if necessary) by adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, Velcro strap or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof. The interior of the rear plate 510 may be configured with buffering materials to provide certain protections from the hitting or penetrating forces of the fencing sword. The rear plate 510 may be made of metal, alloy, carbon fiber, glass fiber, reinforced plastic, reinforced rubber, other non-metal or hybrid materials or any combinations thereof.

Refer to FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and FIGS. 20A/20B/20C/20D/20E/20F/20G. FIG. 17 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fencing mask 10 and a reinforced mask accessory 500 (forehead cap 520) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a fencing mask 10 and a reinforced mask accessory 500 (forehead cap 520) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 19 illustrates a front view of a fencing mask 10 and a reinforced mask accessory 500 (forehead cap 520) thereof according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20A illustrates a perspective view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20B illustrates a front view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20C illustrates a rear view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20D illustrates a left view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20E illustrates a right view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; FIG. 20F illustrates a top view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; and FIG. 20G illustrates a bottom view of a forehead cap 520 of a reinforced mask accessory 500 according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure.

As shown in the above drawings, in other embodiments, the reinforced mask accessory 500 of the fencing mask 10 further comprises a forehead cap 520, fastened on the upper portion of the front mesh 100, thereby reinforcing the protection at the face and upper head portions of the user and preventing the front mesh 110 from dents thereon caused by the fencing sword. The forehead cap 520 has a half-circle top and a V-shaped bottom and is in a shape of a half-circle convex or has at least an inner surface thereof adapted in a half-circle shape; if necessary, the inner surface of the forehead cap 140 is curved corresponding to the degrees of curve for the upper section of the front mesh 100 covered by the forehead cap 140. In different embodiments, the forehead cap 520 comprises two independent parts including a cross cap 521 and a top cap 522, or instead, an integrated one-piece part. The cross cap 521 is an approximately V-shaped obtuse-angle belt-like plate, while the top cap 522 is a plate with an approximately diamond-shaped bottom and an arc top. In different embodiments, the forehead cap 520 may be configured outside the front mesh 100 (FIGS. 17-18), or inside the front mesh 100 (FIG. 19). The forehead cap 520 may be made of metal, alloy, carbon fiber, glass fiber, reinforced plastic, reinforced rubber, other non-metal or hybrid materials or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the top edge of the top cap 522 and/or the forehead cap 520, may be fastened onto/under the front band 210, and fastened together with the rear edge of the front mesh 100 and/or the front end of the lateral mesh 20. Fastening the top cap 522 and/or the forehead cap 520 onto/under the front band 210 may be realized by adhering, sewing or any other attaching processes, or by various types of rivets, buckles, screws/bolts with nuts, Ω-shaped fastening member or any other fastening or interlocking members, or any combinations of the processes and/or fastening or interlocking members thereof. In some embodiments the forehead cap 520 (the cross cap 521 and/or the top cap 522) may be fastened onto the front mesh 100 by the similar means introduced above.

In short, by applying the integral technical solutions disclosed in various embodiments of the instant disclosure, the fencing mask provides sufficient protection ranges and strengths for users' fencing activities in Olympic, HEMA or sport fencing, or other types of fencing. The rear mesh provides additional parietal and occipital protections for the user's head. The rear plate of the reinforced mask accessory has the guiding sides allowing the blade of the fencing sword to slide outwards and downwards along the inclined angles of the guiding sides, away from the fragile occipital and rear neck portions of the user. The guiding sides undertake and buffer the hitting force of the fencing sword, majorly decreasing the danger and the possibility of directly hitting and hurting the user's occipital and rear neck portions, and increasing the protection effect. Furthermore, the forehead cap and/or the cross/support bars reinforce the structural strengths of the front mesh. These inventive technical features either independently or jointly increase the partial or overall protection effects, and further resolving the issues of insufficient protection at the rear side and poor protection strengths of the conventional fencing masks.

Claims

1. A fencing mask, comprising:

a front mesh, having a plurality of first mesh holes defined thereon, and having a rear edge that defines an opening thereof;

a lateral mesh, having a front end, a rear end and a plurality of second mesh holes defined between the front end and the rear end of the lateral mesh, the front end of the lateral mesh being fastened with an upper portion of the rear edge of the front mesh; and

a rear mesh, having a front edge, a bottom and a plurality of third mesh holes defined between the front edge and the bottom, the front edge of the rear mesh being formed at the rear end of the lateral mesh.

2. The fencing mask according to claim 1 further comprising a front bib fastened with the front mesh and the lateral mesh.

3. The fencing mask according to claim 2, wherein the front bib extends downwards and backwards from the front mesh to form a bib opening facing backwards.

4. The fencing mask according to claim 1 further comprising a cross bar and/or a forehead cap, wherein the cross bar and/or a bottom end of the forehead cap is configured along an upper angle within a range of 25-60 degree.

5. The fencing mask according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of support bars configured lengthwise and fastened with the cross bar.

6. The fencing mask according to claim 1 further comprising a forehead cap fastened at an upper portion of the front mesh, wherein the forehead cap has a half-circle top and a V-shaped bottom.

7. The fencing mask according to claim 6, wherein the forehead cap comprises a cross cap and a top cap independent to each other, in which the cross cap is a V-shaped obtuse-angle belt-like plate while the top cap is a plate with a diamond-shaped bottom and an arc top.

8. The fencing mask according to claim 1 further comprising a front bib and a rear plate, wherein the front bib is fastened with the front mesh and the lateral mesh, and the rear plate is fastened with the lateral mesh, and/or the rear mesh, and/or the front bib.

9. The fencing mask according to claim 8, wherein the rear plate comprises a top side and a bottom side, the top side being shorter than the bottom side to form two inclined guiding sides in between, and bottom sections of the guiding sides extending outside of two lateral sides of the front bib.

10. A reinforced mask accessory for being removably configured on a fencing mask with a front mesh, a lateral mesh and a front bib, the reinforced mask accessory comprising:

a rear plate, configured as a platelike part with a top side and a bottom side, fastened with two lateral sides of the front bib and/or a rear end of the lateral mesh.

11. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10 further comprising a forehead cap fastened at an upper portion of the front mesh, wherein the forehead cap has a half-circle top and a V-shaped bottom.

12. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 11, wherein the forehead cap comprises a cross cap and a top cap independent to each other, in which the cross cap is a V-shaped obtuse-angle belt-like plate while the top cap is a plate with a diamond-shaped bottom and an arc top.

13. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the top side of the rear plate is shorter than the bottom side of the rear plate to form two inclined guiding sides in between.

14. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 13, wherein bottom sections of the guiding sides extend outside of the two lateral sides of the front bib.

15. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the rear plate comprises a tail section extended and bended backwards, the tail section comprising two tail ends respectively extending outwards to form at least an exposed portion on each of two guiding sides of the rear plate that extends outside of each of the two lateral sides of the front bib.

16. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the fencing mask comprises a rear mesh fastened at the rear end of the lateral mesh and the rear plate is fastened underneath a bottom of the rear mesh.

17. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the rear plate further comprises a buffering layer.

18. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the rear plate comprises a main section with a plurality of positioning holes.

19. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 18, wherein the front bib of the fencing mask comprises a plurality of Velcro straps, each of the Velcro straps having a hook portion and a loop portion, each of the Velcro straps penetrating the positioning hole with the hook portion and the loop portion being mounted to each other, so as to fasten the rear plate thereto.

20. The reinforced mask accessory according to claim 10, wherein the rear plate comprises a plurality of air holes.