Face Protection Device for Head Gear

Abstract

A personal protective device is removably mounted to head gear such as to the brim of a cap. The device has a thin transparent body that extends down in front of the user's face. The device blocks items such as the discharge from another person's cough or sneeze from contacting the user's face. The device also blocks items disposed in the air from coming into contact with the user's face by contacting them first as the user moves or by creating a dam of air that pushes them off to the side as the user moves. The device can be rapidly mounted and rapidly dismounted to a wide variety of caps which are owned by a majority of the population in the United States. The ease of mounting the device to the bill of a cap increases the likelihood that a person will use the device when leaving a car to interact with the public. The device can be worn in conjunction with a cloth face mask that fits closely over the mouth and nose.

1 . A face protection device for use with head gear, the device comprising:
 a thin, transparent body that defines an elongated opening having a length that is longer than its width; the body and opening adapted to allow the body to be carried by the brim of head gear when the brim of the head gear is inserted through the elongated opening.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening has a central portion and two end portions that curve down from the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated opening is centered with respect to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each end portion defines a tip and the straight line distance between the tips is five to nine inches. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening has a width of one eighth inch to a half inch. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is flexible. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is trapezoidal with an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion having a width; the lower portion having a width; the width of the upper portion being larger than the width of the lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated opening is disposed in the upper portion of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one locking finger extending from the body into the elongated opening. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines two fold lines spaced from the sides of the body; the two fold lines allowing lateral portions of the body be folded rearwardly along the sides of the user's face back toward the user's ears. 
     
     
         11 . A face protection device for use with head gear, the device comprising:
 a thin, transparent body that defines a curved elongated opening; the curbed elongated opening having a length greater than its width;   the body having an upper portion and a lower portion; the curved elongated opening being defined by the upper portion of the body;   the curved elongated opening having a central portion and two end portions that curve down from the central portion toward the lower portion;   the body defining two fold lines spaced from the sides of the body; the two fold lines allowing lateral portions of the body be folded rearwardly such that the lateral portions are disposed along the sides of the user's face when the device is worn; and   the body and opening adapted to allow the body to be carried by the brim of head gear when the brim of the head gear is inserted through the elongated opening.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated opening is centered with respect to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each end portion defines a tip and the straight line distance between the tips is five to nine inches. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated opening has a width of one eighth inch to a half inch. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one locking finger extending from the body into the elongated opening. 
     
     
         16 . A face protection device for use with head gear that includes a suspension, the device comprising:
 a thin, transparent body having a top portion that defines a pair of oppositely-projecting mounting flanges; and   the body and mounting flanges adapted to allow the body to be carried by the head gear when the mounting flanges are disposed between an inner surface of the head gear and the suspension carried by the head gear.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the body is trapezoidal with an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion having a width; the lower portion having a width; the width of the upper portion being larger than the width of the lower portion. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein each mounting flange is defined by a flat lower edge, a curved end wall, and a flat upper edge that is shorter than flat lower edge.