Protective face guard with transparent shield

Abstract

A protective face guard for use in playing sports. The guard includes a shield having a transparent portion extending over an unobstructed viewing area to enable the wearer to have a clear line of vision. The unobstructed viewing area is preferably greater in diameter than about 44 mm for baseball play and greater in diameter than about 60 mm for softball play so as to enhance visibility over more conventional face guards. The transparent portion of the shield is constructed of a material that will withstand the impact of a ball, and is preferably made of clear or tinted polycarbonate material. The guard is configured to be secured to a helmet or other headgear in a manner to further support the shield upon impact and minimize flex.

1 . A sports helmet comprising:
 a rigid shell configured to cover a portion of the head of a wearer, wherein said shell defines a face opening;   a face guard secured to said rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of said face opening, said face guard comprising a shield having a substantially transparent region configured to fully cover an unobstructed viewing area within said face opening, the unobstructed viewing area having a vertical dimension generally greater than about 44 mm, wherein portions of an outer periphery of said shield are engaged with supports.   
   
   
       2 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said face guard additionally comprises a lower face cage secured to said rigid shell and configured to cover a lower portion of said face opening below the unobstructed viewing area. 
   
   
       3 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said supports are selected from the group consisting of: corresponding portions of the rigid shell, intermediate supports secured to and extending from the rigid shell, corresponding portions of the lower face cage, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       4 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein top, side, and bottom portions of an outer periphery of said shield are positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding portions of said protective helmet adjacent said face opening. 
   
   
       5 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said bottom portion of an outer periphery of said shield is positioned in overlapping relationship with an upper portion of said lower face cage. 
   
   
       6 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said helmet additionally comprises cushioning provided between at least some of said top, side, and bottom portions of said outer periphery of said shield and said supports. 
   
   
       7 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a substantially transparent material that will withstand the impact of a ball. 
   
   
       8 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a polycarbonate material. 
   
   
       9 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a material that is clear. 
   
   
       10 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a material that tinted. 
   
   
       11 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a polycarbonate material. 
   
   
       12 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said sports helmet comprises a catcher's helmet. 
   
   
       13 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said sports helmet comprises a batter's helmet. 
   
   
       14 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a vertical dimension greater than about 60 mm. 
   
   
       15 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area extends horizontally a distance beyond the outer edge of each eye of the wearer and extends vertically a distance at least as great as 44 mm. 
   
   
       16 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area extends horizontally a distance beyond the outer edge of each eye of the wearer and extends vertically a distance at least as great as 60 mm. 
   
   
       17 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 125 to 250 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 45 to 150 mm. 
   
   
       18 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 170 to 240 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 55 to 125 mm. 
   
   
       19 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 125 to 225 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 45 to 250 mm. 
   
   
       20 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 170 to 215 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 55 to 185 mm. 
   
   
       21 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said lower cage is formed of tubular metal. 
   
   
       22 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said lower cage is formed of a hard polymeric mask having vent holes. 
   
   
       23 . A catcher's helmet, said catcher's helmet comprising
 a rigid shell configured to cover a portion of the head of a wearer, wherein said shell defines a face opening; and   a face guard secured to said rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of said face opening, said face guard having a substantially transparent region formed of a material that will withstand the impact of a ball and having a width or horizontal length ranging from about 125 to 225 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 55 to 185 mm, wherein top, side and bottom portions of an outer periphery of said shield are engaged with corresponding portions of the rigid shell.   
   
   
       24 . A catcher's helmet in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said helmet additionally comprises cushioning provided between at least some of said top, side, and bottom portions of said outer periphery of said shield and said rigid shell. 
   
   
       25 . A catcher's helmet in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a polycarbonate material. 
   
   
       26 . A catcher's helmet in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said substantially transparent region has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 170 to 215 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 80 to 155 mm. 
   
   
       27 . A sports helmet, said helmet comprising
 a rigid shell configured to cover the head of a wearer, wherein said shell defines a face opening;   a substantially transparent shield configured to cover an unobstructed viewing area within said face opening, the unobstructed viewing area having a vertical dimension generally greater than about 44 mm;   a lower face cage secured to said rigid shell and configured to cover a lower portion of said face opening below the unobstructed viewing area.   
   
   
       28 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a substantially transparent material that will withstand the impact of a ball. 
   
   
       29 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said substantially transparent region is formed by a polycarbonate material. 
   
   
       30 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said sports helmet comprises a catcher's helmet. 
   
   
       31 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said sports helmet comprises a batter's helmet. 
   
   
       32 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a vertical dimension generally greater than about 60 mm. 
   
   
       33 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 125 to 250 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 45 to 150 mm. 
   
   
       34 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said unobstructed viewing area has a width or horizontal length ranging from about 170 to 240 mm and a height or vertical length ranging from about 55 to 125 mm. 
   
   
       35 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said lower cage is formed of tubular metal. 
   
   
       36 . A sports helmet in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said lower cage is formed of a hard polymeric mask having vent holes.