Patent Publication Number: US-2011061152-A1

Title: Faceguard

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of protective faceguards and facemasks for use on protective helmets worn by participants playing various sports such as football, rugby, lacrosse, and hockey. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various activities in industry, the military, and sports require the use of a helmet with a faceguard. The faceguard must protect against the anticipated hazards while providing for maximum achievable vision, appropriate ventilation, and communication. A wide variety of faceguards accommodate these needs by use of metal rods welded together with spaces between the rods to allow for visibility, ventilation, and communication. Others are constructed of non-metallic materials which replace the metal rods. Finally, some are constructed of durable, transparent material that has strength, impact resistance, melting point, and other characteristics that protect against the anticipated hazards. 
     A variety of fasteners are used to secure the various faceguards to their respective helmets. These fastening devices generally take the form of clasps and are separate from both the faceguard and the helmet. Hardware, such as screws, is generally used to secure the fastening device to the helmet while the fastening device clasps the faceguard. The fastening devices are durable. Certain varieties absorb at least some of the impact from the faceguard when it is struck, which reduces the impact transferred to the helmet and then to the wearer&#39;s head. 
     Despite these efforts, injuries resulting from objects penetrating a faceguard still occur. Faceguards or face guards are prevalent in any contact sport, to include hockey, football, lacrosse, etc., but there are none that effectively address the safety concerns regarding grabbing of the face guard by another player. This type of action by another player is illegal, yet frighteningly common in the game of football. A simple examination of game photos can prove that this type of action could be a cause of serious head and neck injuries. The excerpt below is pulled from the  Annual Survey of Football Injury Research  1931-2005*: 
     Since 1960 most of the direct fatalities have been caused by head and neck injuries, and in fact since 1990 all but three of the direct deaths have been brain injuries. We must continue to reduce head and neck injuries. (Mueller). 
     Another important effort has been and continues to be the improvement of football protective equipment. It is imperative that old and worn equipment be properly renovated or discarded and continued emphasis be placed on developing the best equipment possible. Manufacturers, coaches, trainers, and physicians should continue their joint and individual efforts toward this end. (Mueller) 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     “Impact Resistant Face Shield” (U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,705) by Jarvis&#39; teaches a face shield which covers approximately from the nose upward and therefore does not protect the mouth, chin or lower jaws. If Jarvis were to extend his faceguard down to protect these areas of the face, breathing would cause fogging, communication would be impaired, and the wearer would have difficulty drinking without removing the faceguard. Jarvis is concerned primarily with optical lenses and view clarity of a faceguard whereas the instant invention is emphasizes the safety aspects associated with making it difficult for an opposing player to grip or hold the faceguard of the wearer due to the sizing and positioning of the openings in the grid and flush fit of the guard to the helmet for protection of the wearer&#39;s face and neck. Attachment means for Jarvis&#39; face shield stick out in such a way as to become snagged on the clothing and equipment of other players. 
     There have been, however, inventions in the past that have attempted to solve this safety problem, but have stopped short of providing the full protection required to make the intended additional safety a reality. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,856 for “Facemask Protection Device” by DuVall, the inventor addresses the safety concern of a player&#39;s hand penetrating through an existing metal rod facemask assembly with a contoured internal plastic cover. However, DuVall fails to address the fact that grabbing can, in fact, still occur to the left and right of the wearer&#39;s upper face opening and that the penetration that is allowed by the mask (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) may still be enough to cause injury to the wearer. 
     Neither of the above patents provides means for connecting the faceguard to a helmet which are free from protruding edges or corners which will catch on clothing, e.g., or possibly injure others in contact with the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an injection molded one piece faceguard with a clear viewing surrounded by a frame area reaching down over the mouth and chin. The area covering the mouth is provided with slots or otherwise shaped apertures which are too small for finger penetration but allow a drinking straw to pass through and provide for breathing without fogging of the viewing area and for easy communication with others. The faceguard is shaped so that when it is mounted onto a standard football helmet, the edges are tapered and/or contoured to blend in with the general shape of the helmet so that the resulting interface is generally smooth with minimal irregularities or protruding edges or points. Even the fasteners are attached in such a way as to minimize irregularities or protruding edges. It is expected that the faceguard will be attached in a fixed manner such that it will not easily detach or pivot during use. The overall shape of the faceguard is somewhat streamlined to blend in with the smooth streamlined nature of a football helmet. 
     Elastomeric bushings are provided on the periphery of the faceguard for mounting to a helmet. When the faceguard is attached to the helmet with these bushings, there are no edges or parts protruding out from the resulting assembly. 
     The present invention teaches a faceguard protection device for mounting to a football helmet comprising an upper viewing area surrounded by an integral frame section which extends downwards and outwards to cover a user&#39;s nose, cheeks, mouth and chin, and has formed therein a number of apertures of sufficient size to enable a user to speak, breathe and pass a drinking straw therethrough. The apertures are incapable of allowing finger sized objects passage therethrough and the faceguard is shaped to yield a generally streamlined interface between the faceguard and the helmet when it is mounted onto the helmet, without stray or protruding edges at any joining parts of the faceguard or helmet and therefore preventing the hooking or grabbing of opposing players garments or fingers and preventing opposing players from gripping the wearer&#39;s helmet by the facemask which can result in injuries to the head and neck region of the wearer. The faceguard also has at least three mounting lugs, wherein are formed apertures, the at least three lugs are integrally attached to the periphery of the faceguard for attaching the faceguard to the helmet. 
     It is an objective of this invention is to provide a faceguard. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will reduce the ability of an opponents hand or other object to penetrate the faceguard. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will reduce the capability of the faceguard being grabbed by an outside agent, such as an opposing player, thus reducing the opportunity for injury to the wearer&#39;s head, neck, and spine by preventing another player from grabbing the faceguard and using it to twist the wearer&#39;s head, or injury to an opposing player&#39;s fingers, wrist or hand by not allowing said opposing player&#39;s fingers or hand to penetrate into the interior of the faceguard or to grab it. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will reduce the opportunity for injury to the wearer&#39;s nose, mouth, and chin by preventing the penetration of the faceguard by an opposing player&#39;s fingers or hand. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will reduce the opportunity for injury to the wearer&#39;s head, neck, and spine by incorporating elastomeric flush bushing mounting points into the faceguard allowing it to be secured directly to the helmet with reduced use of clasps and thus providing a shock absorbing characteristic to the mount. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will provide improved visibility for the wearer. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will provide a faceguard which is easier to manufacture as compared to a welded rod face guard. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will be easier to install than faceguards attaching to the helmet by clasps and hardware. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will be lighter than faceguards constructed of welded metal. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which will maintain a clear and clean appearance with reduced maintenance effort compared to existing designs. 
     It is also an objective of this invention to provide a faceguard which can be tinted, giving better vision when looking into the sun or bright lights. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a football helmet with the faceguard of the present invention installed. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the flush elastomeric mounting bushing used to mount the faceguard to a football helmet. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a football helmet with the faceguard of the present invention installed including a wire frame molded within the periphery of the faceguard to add strength. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a football helmet with a two piece faceguard assembled together and onto the helmet. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a football helmet with a faceguard which extends below the chin to protect more of the player 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a faceguard to be mounted onto a helmet such as a standard football helmet which prevents penetration of opponents fingers, etc. into the face area and reduces the possibility of an opponent grabbing the faceguard and twisting or using it as a tool to throw the user to the ground. 
     The present invention achieves its intention as a safety device with the following components as referenced in the drawings: A molded main viewing window  18  and lower face protection section  19  make up the two main sections of the faceguard  8 . Molded in left and right mounting arms  22  and mounting tabs  12 R and  12 L are provided with flush elastomeric mounting bushings  10  through which screws  11  are passed and threaded into threaded insert  15  to attach the faceguard  8  to the helmet  14 . There exists a bridge  24  that is a molded feature to connect and strengthen the mounting tabs  12 R and  12 L with the main viewing window  18  of the faceguard  8 . A flush elastomeric mounting bushing  10  comprised of a flexible urethane or other such plastic material allows the faceguard to be mounted and absorb shock between it and the football helmet  14 . Openings  16  in the clear or tinted main viewing window  18  allow for ventilation of the players head and upper face while being small enough to prevent another player&#39;s finger from penetrating the exterior surface of the main viewing window  18 . Openings  20  allow for ventilation of the player&#39;s breath, escape of audible sounds from the player, and allow the player to intake water without removing the faceguard  8  or helmet  14  while being small enough to prevent another player&#39;s finger from penetrating the exterior surface of the lower face protection section  19 . Openings  21  in the lower face protection section  19  allow for ventilation of the players breath and body heat while being small enough to prevent another player&#39;s finger from penetrating. As shown in one preferred embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the openings comprise a plurality of trapezoidal shaped openings forming a grid in the center of the faceguard or mask covering the mouth and a plurality of slits disposed on each side of the center grid. Moreover, the cross members forming the grid can be formed having a rounded or tapered edge further decreasing the ability of an opposing player to grip the lower portion of the mask . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention contains the addition of a metal rod frame  26  which adds strength to the faceguard. The plastic faceguard may be molded around the metal frame  26  or the frame  26  may be attached in other ways such as screws, glue or the like. 
     Shown in  FIG. 4 , another embodiment comprises a faceguard  8  which has the upper section viewing window  18  and lower face protection section  19  molded as separate components. 
     The lower edge of the viewing window  18  has an outer lip  38  wherein bores are contained to allow fasteners such as screws  34  to pass. The upper edge of lower section  19  has a lip  36  wherein bores are contained wherein screws  34  can be threaded. Other means for fastening include rivets, snaps or the like. In addition, upper section  18  contains attachment lugs  32 R and  32 L ( 32 L is not shown). This embodiment enables a user to select differing combinations of viewing windows  18  and lower face protection sections  19 , either of which can be tinted with various colors. 
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment comprising a lower face protection section  19  which has been extended down to protect at least one and one half inches below the chin area. 
     Other embodiments include the following: 
     A faceguard that meets the description above, yet uses conventional facemask straps and features molded into the faceguard to attach to the football helmet; 
     A faceguard that achieves ventilation through non-visible openings in the external surface of the faceguard or uses a “breathable” type material which requires no openings for ventilation; 
     A faceguard which uses opaque rather than transparent or tinted plastic or a combination of both to achieve the same safety and functional goals; 
     A faceguard achieving the same safety and functional goals with an aesthetically different design of ventilation openings; 
     The mounting arms and tabs attaching the faceguard to the helmet could be shaped differently to mount to different helmet mounting scenarios used by various helmet manufacturers; and 
     The exterior or interior surface of the faceguard could be coated with any number of films or substrates to improve vision characteristics, reduce glare, or change the color of the faceguard. 
     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.