Athletic mask and helmet
OwnerKeith Nelsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Novel and advantageous masks and helmets to protect an athlete's head and face from impacts and injuries. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous masks and helmets to help protect a baseball or softball catcher's face and head from concussive forces of an incoming ball strike. A mask of the present disclosure may be coupled to a helmet, or may be configured for use without a helmet in some embodiments. The mask may provide a generally cone-shaped structure in front of a wearer's face, so as to provide an angled surface for contact with an incoming ball. Additionally, a shock absorbing material may be provided at an interface between the helmet and mask to reduce and distribute force transfer between the mask and the helmet.
Claims20
An athletic mask comprising:
- a lens portion comprising a seamless curved sidewall forming an at least partially conical shape extending between an edge of the sidewall at least partly defining a first opening dimensioned to fit around a face of a wearer of the mask and a tip configured to be positioned between approximately 5 and 15 inches in front of the face of the wearer, and horizontally aligned with a point on the face of the wearer between a nose and a chin of the wearer, when the mask is worn by the wearer;
- and
- a strap extending from a first side of the mask to a second side of the mask and configured to extend around a back of the head of the wearer to maintain the mask on the wearer with the first opening positioned around the face of the wearer.
An athletic mask comprising:
- a lens portion comprising a sidewall extending between an edge of the sidewall at least partly defining a first opening dimensioned to fit around a face of a wearer of the mask and a tip configured to be positioned between approximately 5 and 15 inches in front of the face of the wearer, and horizontally aligned with a point on the face of the wearer between a nose and a chin of the wearer, when the mask is worn by the wearer, wherein the first opening has a first diameter, and a cross-sectional diameter of the sidewall decreases from the first diameter as the sidewall extends to the tip;
- and
- a strap extending from a first side of the mask to a second side of the mask and configured to extend around a back of the head of the wearer to maintain the mask on the wearer with the opening positioned around the face of the wearer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.