Patent ID: 8336123

Claim:
A protective face shield comprising: a crown having a shape contoured to conform to the shape of a forehead, said crown having a forward edge, a rearward edge and an opposing pair of rotational studs extending inwardly from an inner surface of said forward edge at opposing sides thereof; a head gear pivotably secured to said crown; an arcuate lens having an upper peripheral edge and opposing side edges, said upper peripheral edge including an opposing pair of keyhole-shaped slots adjacent said opposing side edges, said keyhole-shaped slots being configured and arranged to receive and rotatably engage said rotational studs whereby said lens is rotatable upwardly about said studs into interfitting engagement within said forward edge of said crown, a latch lever having an upper actuator end, a lower engagement end and a fulcrum located therebetween, said lower engagement end including at least one forwardly extending detent, said fulcrum being secured to an inner surface of said crown above said forward edge wherein said lower engagement end extends toward said forward edge of said crown and said upper actuator end extends toward said rearward edge of said crown and is accessible from said rearward edge of said crown, said upper peripheral edge of said lens further including an opening therein configured and arranged to receive and releasably engage said forwardly extending detent on said lower engagement end of said latch lever, said latch lever being pivotably movable about said fulcrum between an engaged position wherein said detent on said lower engagement end projects forwardly into engagement with said opening in said upper peripheral edge of said lens and a released position wherein said detent is disengaged from said opening; and a spring captured between said upper actuator end of said latch lever and said inner surface of said crown adjacent said rearward edge of said crown, said spring normally biasing said latch lever to said engaged position.