Patent ID: 8225421

Claim:
For a face shield assembly, a protective element in combination with a support frame for holding the protective element, said support frame having a top portion, a bottom portion and opposite side portions, said protective element having a peripheral edge region that is adapted to engage about an opening in said support frame, substantially opposed retaining areas of said peripheral edge region having interlocking members including, respectively, a protective element interlock member and a support frame interlock member, said interlock members adapted for releasable interlocking engagement to hold the protective element in place in said support frame, said opening defined by an inner edge of the support frame that extends in an outward direction continuously about the support frame bottom portion and side portions, a lip that also extends in an outward direction from the support frame, said lip disposed inwardly of and substantially in parallel to the inner edge, said lip furthermore extending continuously about the opening, inboard of the inner edge, and extending along a length that is substantially coterminous with the inner edge, said inner edge and lip forming therebetween a continuous channel that is constructed and arranged to receive a major length portion of the peripheral edge region of the protective element wherein the protective element interlock member includes at least one of a hole and slot and the support frame interlock member includes at least one of a pin, post and projection.