US2065410A - Face guard or mask - Google Patents

Description

P.' J. WOLOSON FACE GUARD 0R MASK Dec. 22V, 1936.

Filed Feb. 18, 1956 VIIIIIIIH Patented Dec. 22, 1936 l UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in face guards or masks.

The primary object of the invention -is to provide a face guard or mask especially designed for use in playing the game of soft ball and as 'contrasted with known masks used Vin the game of baseball and the like, the same is of a skeleton type to reduce the weight thereof to a minimum, being of one-piece construction whereby the same may be stamped or pressed to reduce the cost of manufacture and designed to give clear vision to the wearer thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide a mask of the foregoing character wherein a le'af spring is positioned at the front side thereof to provide an effective shock absorber with `flexure of thev spring limited by a front bar of the mask frame, the mask frame carrying face engaging cushions or pads removably retained in 2O position'on the frame by spring devices.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel for-m, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawing'and claimed.

In the drawingz- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a soft -ball mask constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure `2`is a side elevational view showing the shock absorbing spring at the forward side of the mask frame and the head strap carried bythe temple bar;rr

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the pad carried by the temple bar;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the pad carried by the chin bar; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the face guard or mask that is especially designed for playing the game of soft ball comprises a skeleton frame including a forwardly arched vertical front bar I0 having a cross head of arcuate formation at its upper end constituting a temple bar II. An arcuate foot extends transversely of the lower end of the front bar I0 and constitutes a chin bar I2. An arcuate arm projects laterally of each side of the front bar 4I0, being curved in the general direction of the temple and chin bars and constitutes cheek bars I3. The mask frame described is of one-piece construction and may be stamped, moldedor pressed'andmaybe formed of any suitable light weight material, such as aluminum.

A shock absorbing spring I4 in the form of a strap or leaf is carried 'by the front bar I0 at the forward side thereof and as shown more clearly in Figure'Z, recesses or pockets I5 are formed in the forward'side of the front bar I0 Afor the reception of the ends of the leaf spring I4 with the spring spaced from the front bar as illustrated.

A temple pad is carried by the temple bar II and comprises a tubular casing I6 of soft leather or similar material with a padding insert Il therein, the pad being connected to the temple bar II by means of a leaf spring I8 located interiorly of the casing I6 with the projecting ends IBa of the spring I8 at each end of the casing I6 having snap engagement with lugs I9 carried by the ends of the temple Abar II at the inner side thereof.

A similar pad is carried by the chin bar I2 and is identied by reference characters corre sponding to the temple pad, the projecting end I8a of the spring I S-having snap engagement-V with the lugs 20 carried by the opposite ends of the chin bar I2.

A head strap is carried by the mask and includes a crown strap 2| having a loop 22 at one end for sliding engagement with a band strap 23. The other end of the crown strap 2l is looped and provided with an adjustable clamp 24, Vthe looped end of the strap carrying a tab 25 that is frictionally or otherwise retained in position between the temple bar 'II and temple. pad. The opposite ends of the band strap 23 have pivoted link connections 26 with lugs 2l respectively projecting from the lower sides of each end of the temple bar Il.

When the mask is in position on the head of the user the arched front bar I0 and the cheek bars I3 are positioned forwardly of the nose and cheeks of the wearer while the pads I6 carried by the templeand chin bars II and I2 are engaged with the temple and chin of the wearer, the mask being retained in position by the head straps. It will'be observed that the cheek bars I3 are so positioned as to permit clear vision of the wearer. The leaf spring I4 is arched forwardly of the front bar I0 and when contacted by a soft ball or other object during play of the game, the same flexes toward the front bar I0 and is limited in such movement by said bar, the spring I4 effectively absorbing shocks, In the event of wear or injury to the pads I6, the same are easily removed from the mask frame by disengaging the ends l8r:I of the leaf springs from the lugs I9 and 2U of the temple and chin bars respectively. The face of the wearer is fully protected by the skeleton type of mask and ad vantages of this mask over prior known types are lightness in weight, inexpensive manufacture, resulting from the simplied construction and clear vsion of the wearer in view of the placement and relationship of the several protecting bars.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departingv from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuatetemple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, and an arched leaf spring carried by the front bar and projecting forwardly thereof.

2. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, includingv a Vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, arcuate cheek bars extending laterally of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, a recess formed in the upper and lower ends of the forward side of the front bar, and a leaf spring having its ends removably received in the recesses and bulging forwardly of the front bar.

3. In a mask cf the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate templer and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, arcuate cheek bars extending laterally of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, and a pad carried by the temple and chin bars and including a leaf spring embedded therein and having projecting ends removably engaged With abutments of the associated bars.

4. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, a head Strap carried by the temple bar, an arched leaf spring carried by the front bar and projecting forwardly thereof, and a pad carried by the temple and chin bars and including a leaf spring embedded therein and having projecting ends removably engaged with abutments of the associated bars.

5. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, arcuate cheek bars extending laterally of the the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, a recess formed in the upper and lower ends of the forward side of the front bar, a leaf spring having its ends removably received in the recesses and bulging forwardly of the front bar, and a pad carried by the temple and chin bars and including a leaf spring embedded therein and having projecting ends removably engaged with abutments of the associated' bars.

6. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, arcuate cheek bars extending laterally of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, the head strap including a crown strap and a band, one end of the crown strap being frictionally retained between the temple bar and pad and link and lug connections between opposite ends of the temple bar and band strap.

'7. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, an arched leaf spring carried by the front bar and projecting forwardly thereof, the head strap including a crown strap and a band, one end of the crown strap being frictionally retained between the temple bar and pad and link and lug connections between opposite ends of the temple bar and band strap.

8. In a mask of the character described, a skeleton frame, including a vertical front bar, arcuate temple and chin bars extending transversely of the upper and lower ends respectively of the front bar, arcuate cheek bars extending laterally of the front bar, a head strap carried by the temple bar, a recess formed in the upper and lower ends of the forward side of the front bar, a leaf spring having its ends removably received in the recesses and bulging forwardly of the front bar, the head strap including a crown strap and a band, one end of the crown strap being frictionally retained between the temple bar and` pad and link and lug connections between opposite ends of the temple bar and band strap.

PETER J. WOLOSON.

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