Diver's helmet and face mask for use therewith

A face mask to be worn within a helmet provided with means to hold the user's head in a predetermined position and with means including an apertured rigid pressure plate backed by the front of the helmet, said mask consisting of first and second integral portions, the first portion having a cavity shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the nose of a user and to overlie his mouth, and the second portion an exposed marginal, planar shoulder continuously surrounding the open end of the cavity, said pressure plate shaped and dimensioned to overlie and continuously engage said shoulder, and a body shaped and dimensioned to conform generally to facial features marginally of the nose and mouth without interferring with a user's vision and provided with a planar outer surface to which said second portion is sealed, said face mask of pliant material and the body of a material sufficiently compressible to comply to the particular facial features of the user and become continuously sealed thereto when said pressure plate is seated against said shoulder with pressure applied to opposite portions thereof.

A helmet for use with a face mask consisting of first and second integral portions, the first portion having a cavity shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the nose of a wearer and to overlie his mouth, and the second portion an exposed marginal, planar shoulder, continuously surrounding the open end of the cavity, and a body shaped and dimensioned to conform generally to facial features marginally of the nose and mouth without interferring with a wearer's vision and provided with a planar outer surface against which said second portion is sealed, said body sufficiently compressible to comply to the particular facial features of the wearer and become continuously sealed thereto when pressure is applied to said shoulder, said helmet including a rigid pressure plate having an aperture dimensioned to enable said plate to be seated against said second portion and a plurality of spacing means connected to the front of the helmet and extending inwardly on opposite sides of the cavity of the face mask, said plate connected to said spacing means and said spacing means of a length such that with the face mask in place and the helmet worn, mask sealing pressure is applied uniformly to said shoulder by the pressure plate.