Patent Publication Number: US-2023138236-A1

Title: Transparent face protector and interchangeable mount device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2022/050973, filed Aug. 24, 2022, which claims the benefit of and priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2021902673, filed Aug. 24, 2021, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In military or other situations involving extreme danger, where there might be an elevated risk of projectiles hitting the face causing life changing facial disfigurement, it is desirable to have a face shield to protect the wearer of the helmet. Often times, the face shield adds considerable heat, weight or other discomfort to the wearer. In many situations, the wearer needs to be acutely aware of their surroundings, so visibility is important, even peripheral vision. What is needed is a transparent face protector which provides visibility at least from the wearer&#39;s perspective, yet is durable and strong enough to resist impacts that might be encountered in the field. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a preferred aspect, the present disclosure sets forth a face protector to shield a face of a wearer. The face protector includes a transparent lower face covering portion, the portion being: an ambidextrous hinge release permitting opening of the facial protection system from either side to access the mouth and nose; opposed vertically adjustable attachment arms configured to position the face covering; an adaptor on one end of each vertical attachment arm configured to engage with a corresponding attachment rail; a horizontal adjustment arm configured to position the face covering to ensure sufficient clearance from the user&#39;s face; and a horizontal adjustment arm configured to position the face covering to ensure sufficient clearance from the user&#39;s face when wearing a tactical respirator. The lower face covering portion is adjustably fixed to the approximate vertical attachment arms by an attachment means permitting movement of the transparent lower face covering portion through a swivelling motion. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed, unless otherwise stated. In the present specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers, but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. The claims as filed with this application are hereby incorporated by reference in the description. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of one or more forms of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    shows a side view of a face protector mounted to a helmet. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the face protector of  FIG.  1   , showing anthropomorphic eye movement ranges allowed by the face protector. 
         FIG.  3    shows a front view of a face protector and one embodiment of a hinged clasp. 
         FIG.  4    is a side and front view of the face protector of  FIGS.  1  and  3   , showing the opening movement allowed by the hinged clasp on the face protector. 
         FIG.  5    is a progressive side view of the face protector of  FIG.  1   , showing a multiplicity of helmet rail adapters and the individual components of the face protector assembly. 
         FIG.  6    are progressive side and perspective views of a rail adaptor of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of the face protector connected to the helmet on a user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS.  1 - 7    show views of a face protector shield system  100  for attachment to a helmet  10 . Protector shield  100  includes a covering portion  102  and arms or rails  104 , and a rail adaptor  110 . Preferred aspects and features of the protector shield will be further described below.  FIGS.  1  and  2    show face protector  100  mounted to helmet  10 . Face protector  100  has a lower face covering portion  102  and near vertical attachment arms  104 . Face protector  100  covers the lower portion of the face incorporating the mouth and nose of the wearer of the wearer to provide a level of impact protection to the face. The level of impact protection may include laser protection, ballistic protection and/or other inherent protective properties. 
     Generally vertical attachment arms  104  and generally horizontal attachment arms are preferably made of a heat resistant plastic or hybrid material, such as a carbon fibre-impregnated material, to optimise strength while remaining lightweight. 
     One vertical attachment arm  104  and one horizontal attachment arm may be positioned on each side of the face protector  100  as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   . Each attachment arm  104  is preferably oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, for example, in a range of 30 to 60 degrees, preferably roughly 45 degrees. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , face protector  100  is connected to the near vertical arm  104  and the horizontal arm with a hinged clasp and clip assembly  106  on a side of the face protector. Assembly  106  is preferably made of a harder material such as a metal, plastic or carbon fibre. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , clasp  106  may be attachable on both sides of the face protector if desired. Vertical attachment arm  104  may be fitted with a form of vertical adjustment  105  may be a slot to optimally align the vertical height of the face protector to the wearer. Adjustment  105  may allow a range of adjustment between 10 mm to 25 mm, and may be adjusted by vertical rods, screws, interlocking sleeves or other mechanism to enable adjustment. The surface of vertical attachment arm  104  may include vents or channels  107  to provide airflow to the wearer. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , vertical attachment arms  104  and the horizontal attachment arms are configured to engage with corresponding attachment rails  108  on the helmet. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6   , face protector  100  may affix securely to any helmet fitted with standard attachment rails  108 , such as an ARC® or Picatinny® rail or other similar mounting systems, using a multiplicity of adapters  110  suited to different rail systems. Provision may be made for a quick release attachment/detachment to enhance quick disengagement from one helmet to attach to another helmet if desired. 
     Face protector  100  may be moulded into different shapes to suit different applications, such as a motorcycle helmet, or to integrate with a respirator or filter system to be worn concurrently. For military applications, face protector  100  may include a concave indent  112  (shown in  FIG.  2   ) on both sides to allow the wearer to align their cheek closely to their weapon system to optimally align their eye to a mounted optical sight mounted onto the weapon. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the lover face covering portion  102  of face protector  100  is aligned with the midpoint of the helmet when mounted on the attachment rails  104  on the helmet. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , face protector  100  is shaped and positioned when attached to the helmet to minimise obstruction or occlusion to the lower limit of the visual field. Face protector  100  permits a direct field of view up to 40 degrees below a horizontal plane projecting central to the wearer&#39;s eyes. Lower face covering portion  102  of face protector  100  is preferably made of a transparent material. Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate, or a bullet-proof transparent material. Preferably face protector  100  is made of a material that is light, yet durable. 
     The transparent material may be between 2 to 5 millimetres in thickness. The height of lower face covering portion  102  between a bottom (chin) to top (covering nose) may be in a range between 7 to 12 cm. It will be appreciated that the dimensions may be varied depending upon the intended wearer size. 
     The transparent material provides a level of protection without obstructing, minimising or occluding the direct field of view at the lower limit of maximum eye rotation (up to 40° below a horizontal plane projecting central to the wearer&#39;s eye). The transparent material is see-through from the wearer&#39;s side and may also be see-through from the outside. Alternatively, the face protector may be slightly opaque or translucent, or mirror-like from the observer&#39;s view to partially or completely obscure the wearer&#39;s identity if desired. The transparent material is preferably scratch-proof. It may be fitted with tear-away clear protective sheets on the outer surface to further protect from scratches, and prolong the life of the transparent face protector. The transparent material preferably has anti-fogging properties, which may include air flow channels or vents to physically prevent fogging. 
       FIG.  4    shows a side view of the face protector with opening movement permitted by the face protector. Lower face covering portion  102  of face protector  100  is fitted to vertical attachment arms  104  and the horizontal attachment arms with a mechanical or magnetic clasp and clip assembly  106  to enable opening of one or both sides of the face protector to provide unobstructed access to the mouth and nose to enable clear speech, and not interfere with eating. 
     Either side of lower face covering portion  102  of the face protector may be openable with clasp and clip assembly  106 , that preferably incorporates a hinge, and the opposing side of the lower face covering portion  102  of the face protector may be secured with assembly  106  to enable horizontal opening of the face protector to provide unobstructed access to the nose and mouth to enable clear speech and not interfere with eating. This dual clasp, hinge, and clip mechanism advantageously enables one handed opening from either the left or the right side. 
       FIG.  5    is an exploded view of the components of the face protector, including lower face covering portion  102 , adjustable vertical arms  104 , a clasp and clip assembly  106  and helmet rail specific adapters  110 . 
       FIG.  6    shows an embodiment of helmet rail specific adapter  110  to fit an ARC® rail  108 . A T-shaped insert  113  fits into detent  114  to secure adaptor  110  into one of retaining slots  116 . Rail adaptor  110  permits horizontal frontwards and backwards movement of lower face covering portion  102  away or toward a user&#39;s face to provide room for facial hair growth, and to accommodate breathing in cold conditions so as not to cause fogging to a transparent face shield. The attachability and detachability of the various components (e.g., rail adaptors  110  to helmet  10 ; arms  104  to the rail adaptors  110 ; and one or both ends of the lower face covering to arms  104 ) provide a wide range of adjustments and versatility to adapt to a variety of field environments. 
       FIG.  7    is a side view of the face protector of  FIG.  1    fitted with a horizontal arm to provide horizontal structural integrity to the system, suitable for use as a motorcycle, bicycle or other helmet system designed to protect the wearer from strong horizontal impact. Horizontal bar  116  is preferably shaped to fit around acoustic hearing protection  118  without physically interacting with it, or interfering with the function of hinged clasp  106  ( FIG.  5   ). 
     The foregoing description is by way of example only, and may be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantage of being lightweight whilst still highly protective. The present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantage of being interchangeable between helmets, to suit helmets worn by different users, for different activities. This means the face protector may be used more often than if it was permanently affixed to a helmet designed for a one-sized user, or for one specific purpose (e.g., combat or motorcycle riding). The present disclosure in a preferred form also provides the advantages of anti-scratch and anti-fog properties which are beneficial when the covering portion is transparent. In addition, the present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantage of being adjustable and moveable, to facilitate clear speech and ability of the user to eat while wearing the helmet. In addition, the present disclosure in a preferred form provides the advantage of being able to be operated by the left or right side by one hand and is therefore suited to both left and right-handed users. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of forms of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.