Abstract:
A head shield device having a frame and a replaceable lens. An engagement axle having an large dimension and a small dimension is attached to the frame. The lens defines an aperture with a neck and an enlarged inner body. The small dimension of the axle is adapted to pass through the neck and rotation of the axle to the large dimension locks the lens in place on the frame. The axle rotation is controlled by a control device located on a tab assembly forming the engagement axle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/740,616, filed Nov. 29, 2005. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a shield apparatus to be worn by an individual to protect his forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and the top of his head from projectiles thrown or shot at the wearer. More particularly, it relates to a shield apparatus of the described type which is molded of a plastic material, is light-weight and inexpensive in comparison to helmet-type protective head gear which primarily protects only the head and not the face. The shield device is designed to include a removable eye shield. The eye shield can easily be removed to allow a user to exchange eye shields or to clean the eye shield. An eye shield can then be inserted into the shield device. The shield device is designed so that the eye shield can not be removed while the shield device is in use on the wearer. 
   2. Description of the Known Art 
   Protective head gear or helmets are worn for safety reasons by many individuals on their jobs and in playing many sports. In particular, most construction workers are required to wear “hard hats,” one example of the many different types of protective head gear. In some instances workers wear both a hard hat and safety goggles to protect their heads and eyes from injury. In sports, football for example, the players wear football helmets to protect their heads. The same is true with hockey players. They generally wear face masks. These head gears and/or face masks generally protect either the head or face, but not both. Furthermore, they do not protect both the face and head from objects thrown or shot at the wearer. Recently, paint ball, another sport, has increased in popularity. During this game the players shoot paint pellets at one another. These paint pellets travel at a relatively high velocity, and if a player is hit in the face by one of them, serious injury can result. Helmets designed to protect the head from injury will not protect the face in such cases, and those designed to protect the face do not protect the head. 
   Details of different types of masks are outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,183 issued to DeHaan et al. on May 3, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,098 issued to Lee on Oct. 22, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,749 issued to Cyr on May 7, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,410 issued to Dondero on Apr. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,580 issued to Arnette on Sep. 22, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,834 issued to Wilson on Nov. 25, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,876 issued to Cooper et al. on Aug. 29, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,550 issued to Hodgkinson et al. on Sep. 22, 1992; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,697 issued to Hodnett on Jun. 7, 1988. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. Several of these patents describe different areas of the various arts as noted by the following comments. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,183 issued to DeHaan et al. on May 3, 2005 discusses a goggle frame and lens assembly in which a secure assembly and disassembly is provided by the tab retention system including a plurality of tabs and mating tab retention holes, a central stability tab and a flush fit between the tabs and the goggle frame when the lens is secured within the front gutter of the frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,098 issued to Lee on Oct. 22, 2002 discusses goggles with removable lenses comprising a pair of soft lens rim each with a lens and a cushion in sucker format is formed with the soft lens rim into one body. Two soft lens rims are tied together with a bridge, the soft lens rims and the bridge are formed into one body with soft plastic. A groove in stair shape for the fixing ring and a hole for the fixing mechanism are inside the soft lens rim for a lens. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,749 issued to Cyr on May 7, 2002 discusses a protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in physical games comprises a body consisting of a lens receiving portion. The lens receiving portion displays an opening which is covered by a removable flexible transparent lens having its opposite extremities configured with engagement portions that mount the lens to the body. A pair of anchor clamps is inserted at each opposite end of the lens to further secure the engagement of the lens to the mask body. The lens receiving portion defines an opening and includes first engaging means adjacent each opposite side end of the opening. The lens has, at each opposite side end, second engaging means adapted to snapingly engage the first engaging means; the lens is flexible in a direction enabling distance variation between the side ends thereof so that manual pressure exerted on the lens causes the lens to snapingly engage with or to disengage from the first engaging means; and removable anchor means mounted at each opposite side end of the lens receiving portion and insertable at the opposite side ends of the lens to further secure the first and second engaging means together in an engagement position. In one form of the invention, the removable anchor means are shaped, on the one hand, to fittingly receive the ends of the lens and, on the other hand, with a slot to receive therethrough the strap that serves to mount the mask to the user&#39;s head. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,410 issued to Dondero on Apr. 11, 2000 discusses a goggle system comprised of a lens having a series of notches which interfit with posts, two of which are seen as small cross members in a lens slot which supports and interfits with the edge of the lens. Lens slot exists in both the upper frame and the lower frame. The posts are used to better help the lens to interlock into the upper and lower frames. U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,580 issued to Arnette on Sep. 22, 1998 discusses a multi-sport goggle having a tear-away lens system comprising a “permanent” lens having opposite side edges is provided which fits within grooves formed along the top and bottom frame extents. Permanent lens is first placed into the frame as described above, with the side edges of the lens lying over the outwardly facing surfaces of side extents. Once lens is in place on frame, brackets are secured to areas as described, with top wall portions extending over lens. Each outer-most lens further includes a first pair of holes at the opposite ends of the front pane which may be aligned with and passed over knobbed posts thereby removably securing the stack of outer-most lenses over permanent lens. The lateral pull-straps are secured to one side of the goggle frame, in the manner described below, such that the wearer can successively pull at the outer-most strap, lifting the outer-most lens off of posts and thereby revealing a clean lens therebeneath as needed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,834 issued to Wilson on Nov. 25, 1997 discusses goggles with a front wall frame having a lens aperture for receiving a lens assembly that would cover both the wearer&#39;s left and right eyes. A lens groove removably receives the peripheral edge of lens assembly. Goggles also have a rear frame member. Rib members have their rear ends connected to rear frame member and their front ends connected to front wall frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,876 issued to Cooper et al. on Aug. 29, 1995 discusses protective eyewear having a wrap-around type lens and a frame which surrounds the upper and side edges of the lens. The frame includes a slot to receive the lens, and the slot has spaced pawls within the slot. The lens includes mating detents within the face of the lens to receive the pawls and thus retain the lens to the frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,550 issued to Hodgkinson et al. on Sep. 22, 1992 discusses fastener means using a pair of studs affixed to the side portions with ends which are rotatable to lock and release the lens. The lens has a pair of slots formed in it for receiving therethrough the studs and once the studs are extended through the slots, the ends and are rotated to lock the lens in place. A safety lock in the form of a wire is provided for each of the studs to prevent the lens from being inadvertently detached from the field mask. The wires are extended through apertures formed in the ends of the studs and prevent the lens from being detached if the ends of the studs are rotated to a position which would permit the studs to disengage from the slots in the lens through which the studs extend. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,697 issued to Hodnett on Jun. 7, 1988 discusses a face mask which is characterized by a soft rubber or plastic cowl provided with a track insert having pair of tracks spanning an open lens window for receiving a transparent lens slidably mounted in the tracks and closing the lens window. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is a tear-away lens connected at a perforated interface to the next one of several additional lenses wound in end-to-end relationship in a roll, which roll is located inside a canister attached to the track insert of the face mask. Each lens is individually, selectively and sequentially extended through a slot in the canister and through the parallel lens tracks to a track lip projecting from the opposite side of the track insert, when the preceding lens is damaged or coated so as to adversely affect visibility and is removed from the lens tracks. When the damaged lens is slidably extended from the lens tracks in the face mask for removal, a second lens is unrolled from the canister and slidably positioned over the lens window and the damaged lens is torn from the leading edge of the newly positioned lens at the perforated interface between the lenses. 
   These prior art patents fail to teach the eye shield that can be releasably attached to a frame for a shield apparatus for quick cleaning and replacement and the other advantages of the present invention. Thus, it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved shield apparatus is needed to overcome these limitations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an eye shield that is quickly and easily removed and replaced into a head shield for cleaning and/or replacement of the eye shield. The eye shield is formed from a shaped translucent or transparent material with an end receiving aperture provided on at least one end of the eye shield such that the eye shield may be inserted onto a shaft of an engaging lock. The end receiving aperture in the eye shield has an enlarged internal end and the engaging lock shaft has a narrow profile in one direction and an enlarged profile in another direction. Once the eye shield has been inserted onto the narrow profile of the shaft, the shaft is rotated such that the enlarged profile fills into the enlarged internal end of the eye shield so that the eye shield cannot be removed from the shaft. Subsequent removal of the eye shield merely requires rotation of the shaft back to the narrow profile. A lock system for the handle that operates the shaft ensures that the eye shield does not become dislodged during actual use of the eye shield. The lock system uses a tab and aperture system as a lock, and uses a raised guard to ensure that random encounters with foreign objects are deflected over the handle to avoid unintentional operation of the lock. Furthermore, operation of the handle lock is done using the internal space of the head shield such that the lock operation is only performed when the user is not wearing the head shield. 
   The shield apparatus of the present invention is extremely suitable for use by individuals playing paint ball, as well as any type of job-related or sport-related activity in which a user would need to protect both his face and his head, as will be apparent from the description below. 
   The shield apparatus is strong, light-weight, and relatively inexpensive in comparison to helmets which protect only the head and face masks which protect only the face. The shield apparatus is molded of a plastic material such as virgin ABS or virgin nylon, depending on its specific use and the strength required. In some cases, it is preferred to use the virgin nylon because of its strength and its flexibility. For example, in playing paint ball, if the shield apparatus is struck by a paint pellet traveling at a high velocity, it will absorb the impact and will not crack or shatter. The shield apparatus is vented and includes die-cut foam liners or padding for cushioning the face and head for comfort. The shield apparatus also has an eye shield that provides a wide field of vision wherein the eye shield is easily removed and replaced if desired. 
   The shield apparatus includes an eye shield that defines a retention aperture. The aperture engagement device of the shield apparatus engages the retention aperture in order to secure the eye shield to the frame. The aperture engagement device can be manipulated so that an engagement bit of the aperture engagement device can be adjusted between a neck retain position and a neck release position. The eye shield can be removed from the frame or inserted into the frame when the engagement bit is in a neck release position. Once inserted, the eye shield cannot be removed from the frame while the engagement bit is in a neck retain position. 
   The user adjusts the engagement bit from a neck release position to a neck retain position by adjusting the user-operable lever that is adjustably attached to the frame. The user-operable lever includes a frame head. The frame head is adapted to secure the eye shield in an attached position during use of the shield apparatus. The aperture engagement device includes a retention device. The retention device limits the movement of the engagement bit. The retention device prevents the eye shield from being accidentally released from the frame while the shield apparatus is in use. The retention device can include a lock aperture or a retention impediment or both a lock aperture and a retention impediment. The lock aperture and/or the retention impediment restrict movement of the engagement bit in order to prevent release of the eye shield from the frame while the shield apparatus is in use. 
   It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved light-weight, inexpensive protective face and head gear which is adaptable for many different uses, whether it is job related or sports related. 
   More particularly still, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved protective face and head gear which protects both the face and head of the user. 
   Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a means for a user to more easily replace the eye shield of a shield apparatus. 
   Another object of the invention to provide a safety means for ensuring that the eye shield will not be released from the frame while the shield apparatus is in use. 
   Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that this detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
       FIG. 1  displays a front left plan view of the shield device. 
       FIG. 2  displays a side plan view of the eye shield device. 
       FIG. 3  displays a side plan view of the shield device with the eye shield in the released position. 
       FIG. 4  displays a side plan view of the eye shield. 
       FIG. 5  displays a partial top view of the aperture engagement device in a neck retain position. 
       FIG. 5A  is a partial side view of the device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  displays a partial top view of the aperture engagement device in a neck release position. 
       FIG. 6A  is a partial side view of the device shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  displays a partial side view of the engagement bit of the aperture engagement device. 
       FIG. 8  displays a partial side view of the engagement bit of the aperture engagement device in a neck retain position. 
       FIG. 9  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with the engagement bit in a neck retain position. 
       FIG. 10  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with the engagement bit in a neck release position. 
       FIG. 11  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with an alternative engagement bit in a neck retain position. 
       FIG. 12  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with the alternative engagement bit in a neck release position. 
       FIG. 13  displays an exploded schematic illustration of the alternative engagement bit. 
       FIG. 14  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with an alternative engagement bit in a neck retain position. 
       FIG. 15  displays a schematic illustration of the eye shield slot with the alternative engagement bit in a neck release position. 
       FIG. 16  displays a side plan view of an alternative eye shield device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 through 16  illustrate a shield device  100  having a bottom portion  110 , side portions  120  and  130 , an eye shield  200 , and a top portion  140 , all molded from a flexible and resilient plastic material. The top portion  140 , side portions  120  and  130  are shaped so as to flow together to form a shell which extends across the top of the head and about the sides of the head. The bottom portion  110  covers the face and also covers a portion of the throat. 
   The eye shield  200  is placed in the frame  300  of the shield device  100  and extends around the respective side portions  120  and  130  so as to provide an opening  150  which gives the user a field of vision of approximately 180 degrees. The opening  150  is covered with an eye shield  200  which is releasably attached to the frame  300 . A shield engagement device attached to the shield device  100  is in a position to accept the eye shield  200 . The eye shield  200  has an engagement area for the engagement device to make contact in order to frictionally attach the eye shield  200  to the frame  300 . The shield engagement device is designed so that it can frictionally attach the eye shield  200  with minimum effects on limiting the user&#39;s field of vision. 
   For the present invention, an aperture engagement device  400  represents the shield engagement device. The aperture engagement device  400 , as illustrated by  FIGS. 1-10 , comprises an engagement bit  410 , a movement device  440 , a user-operable lever  450 , and a retention device  460 . The engagement bit is a cylindrical shaft with two flats on the engagement portion of the shaft. The eye shield  200  has a retention aperture  210  formed in it for receiving the engagement bit  410 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the flats  411  in the engagement bit  410  allow for it to pass within the engagement aperture  210  where the engagement bit  410  may then be rotated to hold the eye shield  200  in position. The retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200  represents the engagement area of the eye shield  200 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , once the engagement bit  410  is extended through the retention aperture  210 , the engagement bit  410  can be adjusted to a neck retain position in order to secure the eye shield  200  to the frame  300 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the shield device  100  includes an eye shield  200  in the attached position. The user-operable lever  450  of the aperture engagement device  400  is in a neck retain position as shown in  FIG. 9 . The aperture engagement device  400  is engaged with the retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200 . The eye shield  200  can not be removed from the frame  300  when the aperture engagement device  400  is in the neck retain position. Movement of the user-operable lever  450  is limited by a retention device  460 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the retention device  460  can include a retention impediment  462  that acts both as a stop for the lever  450  and as a deflector for foreign objects that might attempt to disengage the lever  450 , a lock aperture  464  that securely locks the lever  450  in position, or both a retention impediment  462  and a lock aperture  464  as shown in the preferred embodiment. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , a retention bit  454  of the user-operable lever  450  is inserted into the lock aperture  464  when the user-operable lever  450  is placed into a neck retain position. The user operable lever  450  can not be adjusted until the retention bit  454  is removed from the lock aperture  464 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the retention impediment  462  limits the rotational movement of the user-operable lever  450 . The user-operable lever  450  cannot easily be adjusted beyond the retention impediment  462 . By limiting movement of the user-operable lever  450 , the retention device prevents the eye shield  200  from being accidentally removed or displaced from the frame  300 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user-operable lever  450  is in a neck release position corresponding to the schematic of  FIG. 10 . The retention bit  454  of the user-operable lever  450  has been disengaged from the lock aperture  464  to allow rotation of the lever  450  and the connected engagement bit  410 . The user-operable lever  450  has been adjusted in a direction away from the deflection and retention impediment  462  such that the impediment  462  will not restrict movement of the user-operable lever  450 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , by adjusting the user-operable lever  450 , the user has also adjusted the engagement bit  410 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the aperture engagement device  400  is no longer engaged with the retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200 . Thus, the eye shield  200  can be removed from the frame  300  when the aperture engagement device  400  is in the neck release position. 
   In the adjustments, the rotational change may be seen in the engagement bit  410  from the neck retain position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9  to the neck release position of  FIGS. 3 and 10 . In the neck retain position, the engagement bit  410  secures the eye shield  200  to the frame  300 . When the engagement bit  410  is in the neck retain position, the aperture neck  250  will not allow the engagement bit  410  to pass. The aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200  will accept the engagement bit  410  when the engagement bit  410  is in the neck release position. The interaction between the aperture engagement device  400  and the retention aperture  210  will be described in greater detail below in discussions of  FIGS. 7-8 . 
     FIG. 4  displays a side plan view of the eye shield  200  with the detail of the upper arm  230 , the lower arm  240 , the upper finger  220 , the lower finger  222 , the aperture neck  250 , and the enlarged aperture body  260 . The fingers  220  and  222  of the eye shield  200  define an aperture neck  250 . Relating to  FIGS. 9 and 10  one may see that the aperture neck  250  is smaller than the engagement dimension  414  of the engagement bit  410 . The aperture neck  250  is at least as large as the release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410 . The aperture neck  250  is sized so that the engagement dimension  414  of the engagement bit  410  can not pass through the aperture neck  250 . The release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410  can pass through the aperture neck  250 . 
   The eye shield  200  is shaped such that it contains both an upper arm  230  and a lower arm  240 . The arms  230  and  240  define an enlarged aperture body  260  inward from the aperture neck  250  formed by the upper finger  220  and the lower finger  222 . The arms  230  and  240  include an inside bevel  231  along the interior of the aperture neck  250  allowing easier insertion of the engagement bit  410  between the arms  230 ,  240 . The outside bevel  232  along the exterior of the fingers  220 ,  221  is larger than the inside bevel  231  preventing snagging of the engagement bit  410  when removing or inserting. The enlarged aperture body  260  is at least as big as the engagement dimension  414  of the engagement bit  410 . The enlarged aperture body  260  is sized so that the engagement bit  410  can be rotated while the engagement bit  410  is inside of the enlarged aperture body  260 . 
   Rotation of the engagement bit  410  allows different dimensions of the engagement bit  410  to come into contact with the aperture neck  250 . Depending upon the dimension of the engagement bit  410  in contact with the aperture neck  250 , the frame  300  can either release or retain the eye shield  200 . If the engagement dimension of the engagement bit  410  is in contact with the aperture neck  250 , the eye shield  200  cannot be removed from the frame  300 . If the release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410  is in contact with the aperture neck  250 , the eye shield  200  can either be removed from the frame  300  or inserted into the frame  300 . 
     FIG. 5  displays a partial top view of the aperture engagement device  400  in a neck retain position. The retention bit  454  of the user-operable lever  450  is engaged with the lock aperture  464  of the frame  300 . The lock aperture  464  limits movement of both the user-operable lever  450  and the engagement bit  410 . The engagement bit  410 , the user-operable lever  450 , and the frame head  452  are adjustably attached to the frame  300 . The aperture engagement device  400  includes a movement device  440  that allows movement of the engagement bit  410 , the user-operable lever  450 , and the frame head  452 . In a preferred embodiment, the movement device  440  is an axle adjustably secured to the frame  300 . The movement device  440  allows the engagement bit  410  to be adjusted between the neck release position and the neck retain position. 
   Continuing to refer to  FIG. 5 , the engagement bit  410  is in a neck retain position. The engagement dimension  414  of the engagement bit  410  is in contact with the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The frame head  452  is attached to the engagement bit  410 . The frame head  452  is adapted to secure the eye shield  200  in an attached position during use of the shield application.  FIG. 5A  is a partial side view of  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 6  displays a partial top view of the aperture engagement device  400  in a neck release position. The release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410  is in contact with the aperture neck  250 . The user-operable lever  450  is no longer engaged with the lock aperture  464 . Furthermore, the user-operable lever  450  has been adjusted away from the retention impediment  462 . The user-operable lever  450  is adjusted by rotation of the user-operable lever  450  on the movement device  440 . The movement device  440  can take many forms. The preferred embodiment is for the movement device  440  to be an axle secured to the frame  300 . However, the movement device  440  is not limited to an axle secured to the frame  300 . The engagement bit  410  can be adjusted through other methods known to one ordinarily skilled in the art.  FIG. 6A  is a partial side view of  FIG. 6 . 
     FIGS. 7-8  demonstrate the rotational method of attaching the eye shield  200  to the frame  300 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the engagement bit  410  is adjusted to the neck release position. In the neck release position, the release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410  is engaged with the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The release dimension  412  allows passage of the engagement bit  410  through the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The engagement bit  410  can be fully inserted into the enlarged aperture body  260  of the retention aperture  210  of the eye shield. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the eye shield  200  can only be advanced into the frame  300  as far as the attachment impediment  310  will allow the eye shield  200  passage onto the frame  300 . The eye shield  200  will also be limited in its passage onto the frame  300  by the engagement bit  410  contacting the eye shield  200  after the engagement bit  410  is fully inserted into the large aperture body  260 . 
   Continuing to refer to  FIG. 7 , one can see that because the engagement bit  410  is in a neck release position the eye shield  200  can also be removed from the frame  300 . The release dimension  412  will allow passage of the engagement bit  410  through the aperture neck  250  in both removing and attaching the eye shield  200 . To remove the eye shield  200 , a user simply adjusts the engagement bit  410  so that the engagement bit  410  will be in a neck release position. The user can then remove the eye shield  200  from the frame  300 . 
   To attach the eye shield  200 , a user simply adjusts the aperture engagement device  400  to a neck release position. The user inserts the eye shield  200  into the opening  150  of the frame  300 . The user inserts the eye shield  200  until the engagement bit  410  has fully passed through the aperture neck  250  and is in the enlarged aperture body  260 . To secure the eye shield  200 , the user then adjusts the engagement bit  410  so that it is in a neck retain position. While adjusting the engagement bit  410  into the neck retain position, the user can further limit movement of the engagement bit  410  by inserting the retention bit  454  of the user-operable lever  450  into the lock aperture  464 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the engagement bit  410  has been adjusted to a neck retain position. The engagement bit  410  has been fully inserted into the enlarged aperture body  260 . The enlarged aperture body  260  is large enough that the engagement bit  410  can be adjusted while inside of the enlarged aperture body  260 . The enlarged aperture body  260  must be at least as large as the engagement dimension  414  of the engagement bit  410  so that the engagement bit  410  can be rotated while the engagement bit  410  is inside of the retention aperture  210 . 
   The user-operable lever  450  has been adjusted to a neck retain position. By adjusting the user-operable lever to a neck retain position, the engagement bit  410  has also been adjusted to the neck retain position. In the neck retain position, the engagement dimension  414  is in contact with the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The engagement dimension  414  does not allow passage of the engagement bit  410  through the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The eye shield  200  can not be inserted onto the frame  300  while the engagement bit  410  is in the neck retain position because the engagement bit  410  cannot pass the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . Furthermore, the eye shield  200  can not be removed from the frame  300  while the engagement bit  410  is in the neck retain position because the engagement bit  410  cannot pass the aperture neck  250 . 
   The retention bit  454  of the user-operable lever  450  has been inserted into the lock aperture  464  of the frame  300 . By placing the retention bit  454  into the lock aperture  464 , the user has limited movement of both the engagement bit  410  and the user-operable lever  450 . By limiting the movement of both the engagement bit  410  and the user-operable lever  450 , the user has ensured that the eye shield  200  will not be released from the frame  300  while the shield device  100  is in use. 
   To remove the eye shield  200 , a user must adjust the aperture engagement device  400  into a neck release position. The release dimension  412  of the engagement bit  410  will be in contact with the aperture neck  250 . A user will detach the eye shield by passing the aperture neck  250  over the engagement bit  410 . After the aperture neck  250  passes the engagement bit  410 , the eye shield  200  is no longer attached to the frame  160  and the eye shield  200  can be removed from the shield device  100 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate the difference between the engagement dimension  414  and the release dimension  412 . The differences between the two dimensions allows the eye shield  200  to be secured to the engagement bit  410  so that the eye shield  200  will not be released until the release dimension  412  is aligned with the length of the aperture neck  250  of the retention aperture  210 . The release dimension allows the retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200  to be inserted and removed from the engagement bit  410 . 
   Note from  FIG. 1 through 10  that the shield device  100  also has a number of air vents formed in it to provide air circulation through the shield device  100 . These air vents can be in the form of elongated, spaced-apart slots, as illustrated, or another suitable shape to provide air flow into the shield device  100 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, an aperture engagement device  400  represents the shield engagement device. The aperture engagement device  400 , as illustrated by  FIGS. 11-16 , comprises an engagement bit  410  and a movement device  440 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the engagement bit is formed by mating an interior tab  401  with an exterior tab  402  to form the engagement portion of the engagement bit  410 . Exterior tab  402  and interior tab  401  both feature mating projections  403 ,  404 ,  405  which form the engagement portion of the engagement bit  410 . Interior tab  401  features two mating projections  403 ,  404  which fit around the exterior tab mating projection  405 . In this manner, the engagement portion is stabilized and aligned by the interior tab projections  403 ,  404 . A fastener  406 , such as a screw or a bolt, may be utilized to secure the exterior tab to the interior tab. For safety, the fastener  406  should point away from the interior of the shield away from a user&#39;s head. The engagement portion spaces the tab pieces  401 ,  402  apart providing an aperture for the eye shield between the tabs  401 ,  402 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-12  and  FIGS. 14-15 , the mating of interior tab  401  and exterior tab  402  forms an aperture which covers the retention aperture of the eye shield. The tabs  401 ,  402  include overlapping shoulders surrounding the upper finger  220  and lower finger  222  of the eye shield  200 . The engagement portion provides a structure with two shorten parallel sides and two longer parallel sides. The eye shield  200  has a retention aperture  210  formed in it for receiving the engagement bit  410 . As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 15 , the when turned with the shorten sides facing the eye shield aperture  210 , the engagement bit  410  passes within the engagement aperture  210  where the engagement bit  410  may then be rotated to hold the eye shield  200  in position. The retention aperture  210  of the eye shield  200  represents the engagement area of the eye shield  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 14 , once the engagement bit  410  is extended through the retention aperture  210 , the engagement bit  410  can be adjusted to a neck retain position in order to secure the eye shield  200  to the frame  300 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the exterior tab  402  includes a control device  511  for user manipulation of the engagement bit  410  within the shield device. As shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , the exterior tab  402  includes a control device  512  for user manipulation of the engagement bit  410  from the exterior of the shield device. The control device  511 ,  512  for the exterior and interior tab  402 ,  401  may include a ridge, an indentation or a latch for easy manipulation by a user. The control device  511  within the interior of the shield device is preferably low profile to minimize contact with a user&#39;s head. The control device  511 ,  512  is preferably smooth to minimize injury during use. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , the engagement device  400  further includes an attachment projection  513  attached to the exterior tab  402 . The attachment projection  513  is adapted to connect to a strap  514  for use with holding the shield device upon a user&#39;s head. As shown in the drawings, when the strap  514  is motivated, the exterior tab  402  additionally is motivate to allow for the engagement bit  410  to be motivated within the eye shield aperture. 
   The inside of the shield device  100  has a number of die-cut foam liners or pads for the face and head. One of these pads is adhesively or otherwise affixed inside of the shield device  100  to provide padding for the top of the head and so as to not block the air flow through the air vents in the shield device  100 . Another one of the pads is adhesively or otherwise affixed to the inside of the shield device  100  so as to provide padding for the face, particularly the cheeks. Still another one of the pads is adhesively or otherwise affixed to the shield device  100  so as to provide padding for the face and particularly the nose. 
   Accordingly, from the above description, it can be seen that a shield device  100  which is strong, light-weight and relatively inexpensive is provided. The shield device  100  is vented and has foam liners or padding for cushioning the head and face for comfort. The shield device  100  has an eye shield which provides a wide field of vision and can also be easily replaced by a user. 
   Although the invention has been described above with respect to one specific form, it is evident that it may be varied and refined in various ways. For example, the mask could be modified to suit other physical games, such as ice hockey or sports, such as moto-cross, motorcycling, where protection is required, where the replacement of an eye shield is needed or where hard impact on the eye shield may cause its dislodgement from its actual engagement to the frame. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention should not be limited in scope, except by the terms of the following claims.