Ballistic resistant face mask

Abstract

A neck extension includes at least one layer of ballistic material that is shaped to have a nose portion and a throat portion located below the nose portion, which generally correspond to a nose area and mouth area of a face mask. A left neck portion and a right neck portion each extend from the nose portion and throat portion and are configured to wrap around a user's neck when worn. An inner surface of the neck extension attaches to the face mask. The throat portion may be shaped to extend below the mask to provide protection to the user's throat.

1 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a face mask shaped to cover at least a portion of a user's face including a face mask inner surface and a face mask outer surface, a nose area, a mouth area located below the nose area, and goggles located above the nose area; and   a neck extension including at least one layer of ballistic material, the ballistic material comprising a nose portion and a throat portion located below the nose portion, the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to the nose area of the face mask and the throat portion shaped to generally correspond to the mouth area of the face mask and extend below the face mask, a left neck portion and a right neck portion each extending from the nose portion and throat portion and configured to wrap around the user's neck when worn,   an inner surface, and   an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface of the neck extension attached to the face mask outer surface.   
   
   
       2 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic material is selected from the group consisting of aramid, para-aramid, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), and polyester. 
   
   
       3 . The ballistic resistant garment of claim I further comprising a first half of a fastener disposed on the face mask outer surface and a second half of a fastener disposed on the inner surface of the neck extension and located to align with the first half of the fastener on the face mask, the first half of the fastener and the second half of the fastener enabling the neck extension to attach to the face mask outer surface. 
   
   
       4 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 3  wherein the first half of the fastener and the second half of the fastener are selected from the group consisting of a snap, a hook and loop fastener, a button, and tape. 
   
   
       5 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  further comprising a first half of a removable connector disposed adjacent a distal end of the left neck portion and a second half of a removable connector disposed adjacent a distal end of the right neck portion, the first half and the second half of the removable connector configured to enable the left neck portion and right neck portion to be held around the user's neck. 
   
   
       6 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 5  wherein the first half of the removable connector and the second half of the removable connector are selected from the group consisting of a snap, a hook and loop fastener, a button and a two piece buckle. 
   
   
       7 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface and outer surface of the neck extension are a cover material disposed around the ballistic material. 
   
   
       8 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 7  wherein the cover material is selected from the group consisting of ballistic material, non-ballistic material, fabric and resin. 
   
   
       9 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  wherein the face mask is made of a ballistic resistant material. 
   
   
       10 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  wherein the face mask is configured to be worn with a helmet. 
   
   
       11 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  wherein the face mask is configured to integrally fit with a specific helmet. 
   
   
       12 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic material comprises more than one layer of ballistic material. 
   
   
       13 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 12  wherein the ballistic material is selected from the group consisting of aramid, para-aramid, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), polyester or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the ballistic material is treated with a resin. 
   
   
       15 . The ballistic garment of  claim 12  wherein at least one layer of the ballistic material is treated with a resin. 
   
   
       16 . The ballistic garment of  claim 12  further comprising a layer of felt core material treated with a resin. 
   
   
       17 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1  further comprising a hard armor element disposed on the ballistic resistant neck extension. 
   
   
       18 . The ballistic garment of  claim 17  wherein the hard armor element is selected from the group consisting of ceramic, titanium, boron carbide, silicon carbide, alumina, zirconia, magnesia, cubic boron nitride, silicon nitride, steel, and aluminum. 
   
   
       19 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a face mask shaped to cover at least a portion of user's face, including a face mask inner surface and a face mask outer surface, the face mask inner surface being adjacent a user's face when worn by the user, a nose area generally located adjacent the user's nose when worn by the user, a mouth area located below the nose area and generally located adjacent the user's mouth when worn by the user, goggles located above the nose area and generally located adjacent the user's eyes when worn by the user, and a plurality of a first half of a fastener disposed on the face mask outer surface; and   a neck extension comprising:   at least one layer of ballistic material, the ballistic material including a nose portion and a throat portion located below the nose portion, the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to the nose area of the face mask and the throat portion shaped to generally correspond to the mouth area of the face mask and extend below the face mask, a left neck portion and a right neck portion each extending from the nose portion and throat portion;   an outer cover disposed around the ballistic material;   a first half of a removable connector disposed on the outer cover and adjacent a distal end of the left neck portion and a second half of a removable connector disposed on the outer cover and adjacent a distal end of the right neck portion, the first half and the second half of the removable connector configured to enable the left neck portion and right neck portion to be held around the user's neck;   an inner surface;   an outer surface; and   a plurality of a second half of a fastener, the plurality of the second half of the fastener disposed on the inner surface and located to align with the plurality of the first half of the fastener on the face mask and attach the neck extension to the face mask outer surface.   
   
   
       20 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 19  wherein the ballistic material is selected from the group consisting of aramid, para-aramid, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), and polyester. 
   
   
       21 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 19  wherein the first half of the fasteners and the second half of the fasteners are selected from the group consisting of snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, and tape. 
   
   
       22 . The ballistic garment of  claim 19  wherein at least one layer of the ballistic material is treated with a resin. 
   
   
       23 . The ballistic garment of  claim 19  wherein the face mask is made of a ballistic resistant material. 
   
   
       24 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a face mask shaped to cover at least a portion of a user's face including a face mask inner surface and a face mask outer surface, a nose area, a mouth area located below the nose area, and goggles located above the nose area; and   a ballistic neck extension including at least one layer of ballistic material, the ballistic material comprising a nose portion and a throat portion located below the nose portion, the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to the nose area of the face mask and the throat portion shaped to generally correspond to the mouth area of the face mask, a left neck portion and a right neck portion each extending from the nose portion and throat portion and configured to wrap around the user's neck when worn,   an inner surface, and   an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface of the ballistic neck extension attached to the face mask outer surface.   
   
   
       25 . A ballistic resistant neck extension for a face mask comprising:
 at least one layer of ballistic material, the ballistic material comprising a nose portion and a throat portion located below the nose portion, the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to a nose area of the face mask and the throat portion shaped to generally correspond to a mouth area of the face mask, a left neck portion and a right neck portion each extending from the nose portion and throat portion and configured to wrap around a user's neck when worn,   an inner surface, and   an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface of the ballistic resistant neck extension attached to the face mask.   
   
   
       26 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 25  wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the ballistic neck extension are a cover material disposed around the ballistic material. 
   
   
       27 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 25  the ballistic material is selected from the group consisting of aramid, para-aramid, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), polyester or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       28 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 25  further comprising a second half of a fastener disposed on the inner surface of the ballistic neck extension and located to align with a first half of a fastener on the face mask, the first half of the fastener and the second half of the fastener enabling the ballistic neck extension to attach to an outer surface of the face mask. 
   
   
       29 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 28  wherein the first half of the fastener and the second half of the fastener are selected from the group consisting of a snap, a hook and loop fastener, a button, and tape. 
   
   
       30 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 25  wherein the throat portion is shaped to extend below the mouth area of the face mask. 
   
   
       31 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 25  wherein at least a portion of the ballistic material is treated with a resin. 
   
   
       32 . The ballistic resistant neck extension of  claim 31  wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, phenolic, vinyl ester, epoxy, and any other suitable thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. 
   
   
       33 . A ballistic resistant neck extension for a face mask comprising:
 at least one layer of ballistic material comprising a nose portion shaped to generally correspond to a nose area of the face mask and a throat portion located below the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to a mouth area of the face mask and extend below the mouth area of the face mask; and   an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface attached to the face mask.   
   
   
       34 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a face mask including a face mask outer surface, a nose area, and a mouth area located below the nose area; and   a ballistic neck extension including at least one layer of ballistic material comprising a nose portion shaped to generally correspond to the nose area of the face mask and a throat portion located below the nose portion shaped to generally correspond to the mouth area of the face mask and extend below the mouth area, and   an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface attached to the face mask outer surface.