GB2296854A - Protective facemask - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective facemask comprises a shield (10) of plastics material adapted to protect the face of a wearer and being supported in an operative position by goggles (11) worn by the wearer. Various means are described, preferably detachable, for securing the face shield to the front of the frame of the goggles. The shield may be transparent or at least partly opaque.

Description

"PROTECTIVE FACEMASK" This invention relates to a protective facemask incorporating a shield for protecting the face of a wearer.

Conventionally, various means have been provided for protecting the eyes of a wearer, especially in workshops and factories where it is important to avoid accidental damage being caused to the eyes. Such protective means may comprise spectacles or goggles where it is the eyes only of the wearer which are to be protected, and facemasks for protecting the entire face of the wearer, for example in welding operations.

Such facemasks are, conventionally, quite heavy and cumbersome, being mounted by a frame to the head of the wearer, and are either provided with a slit which is left open and the mask is worn in conjunction with a separate pair of goggles or the slit itself is provided with a transparent insert. Because of the generally cumbersome nature of such a conventional facemask, there is a tendency for it not to be worn upon all the occasions on which it should be worn.

The present invention is directed at providing an essentially lightweight facemask which is light and provides the minimum restriction to the user, such that it can be worn easily, whilst providing substantial protection.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a protective facemask comprising a shield adapted to protect substantially the entire face of a wearer, said shield being provided with means for securing the inside of the shield to a pair of goggles, whereby the shield can be worn by a wearer supported by the goggles.

Whilst the securing means may simply comprise an adhesive layer adapted to engage the front of the frame of the goggles, it is preferred that the securing means are adapted detachably to secure the shield to the goggles. A particularly simple means of doing this is to have the securing means project rearwardly from the faceshield to engage in the lens-retaining means of a conventional pair of goggles since such a lens is not required, due to the protection being given by the overlying shield. The securing means can conveniently comprise a projection, projecting portion or frame, mounted to the rear surface of the faceshield for engagement with the goggles.

Whilst that frame of the securing means can be moulded integrally with the faceshield itself, it is preferred that it be formed separately, for securement to the moulded shield, whereby a single shield pattern can be used with a plurality of different designs of goggles by utilising appropriate securing means mounted to its rear surface.

The shield may be entirely transparent, or may be made opaque, for instance to provide protection against harmful light, e.g. from lasers, electric or gas welding or other infrared or ultraviolet radiation as may be absorbed by a suitable plastics material. Where the shield is mostly opaque, a window may be provided, either of transparent material, or left empty in which case a filter lens element is carried and this may be mounted in the ridge of the securing means.

Advantageously, a valve or baffle may be provided in the faceshield so as to allow the wearer to be heard more clearly while wearing the facemask. The valve or baffle substantially prevents the entry of dust or liquids through the aperture in the faceshield.

The faceshield may extend so as to protect the entire face of the wearer, or may be cut-down so as to allow a helmet to be worn together with the facemask.

An illustrated embodiment of the invention in which the shield is specifically designed for use with a design of goggles has snap-fit securing means provided on the faceshield and on the front of the goggles whereby a shield can be readily replaced on the goggles, should it become damaged with use.

The invention will be further understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, and in which: Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the facemask of the present invention mounted to the head of a wearer; Figure 2 is a sketch of a second embodiment of the facemask of the invention illustrating an alternative means of securing a shield to a pair of goggles; Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figure 2 with the goggles further separated from the shield; Figure 4 is a detail illustrating the manner of attachment to the face shield to the goggles in the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the facemask of the present invention mounted to the head of a wearer; Figure 6 is a partially exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 5 showing the mounting of the lens element; and, Figure 7 is a similar view to that of Figure 6 showing an alternative face shield.

Figure 1 illustrates a facemask in accordance with the invention comprising a face shield 10 mounted to the front of a pair of goggles 11. The goggles 11 are shown mounted on the head 14 of a wearer using a strap 12. The shield 10 is detachably mounted to the frame of the goggles by securing means received within the lens-receiving recess 20 of the frame of the goggles, no lens being necessary in the goggles themselves in view of the protection given by the shield 10 which itself is transparent. As illustrated, the retaining means comprise a ridge 16 having an angled extension 18 which is received within the recess 20. Alternatively, the securing means projecting rearwardly from the shield 10 may comprise a plurality of projections, each with an individual angled projection for receipt within the lens receiving recess 20 at spaced locations around the recess.

Alternatively, the securing means for mounting the face shield 10 to the front of the goggles may simply comprise an adhesive. Preferably, if an adhesive is used, it is not such as to provide a permanent connection to the goggles but should be adhesive which will provide adhesive support for the face shield in use but which will enable the face shield to be detached and replaced as necessary, should it become damaged in use.

Figure 2 illustrates a preferred construction in which a snap-fit connection is given by securing means cooperating between the face shield 10 and the goggles 11. As shown, a plurality of projections 22 are receivable within a snap-fit within recesses 24 to mount the face shield 10 detachably to the goggles 11. As shown, the securing means on the shield comprises a rearwardly projecting frame 28 having a flange portion 26 in which are provided the recesses 24. The projections 22 are provided on the front of the face of the frame of the goggles.

Figure 4 illustrates a detail of the projections 22 and recesses 24 with the arrangement preferably being such that there are two directions of snap-fit. Thus, while as shown in Figures 2 and 3, there should be a snap-fit action as the shield is slid upwardly, relative to the goggles, with the projections 22 engaging in the recesses 24, preferably also there is a snap action which will permit the shield to be snapped into securement with the frame of the goggles by direct rearward motion of the shield into engagement with the goggles.

Preferably, the face shield 10 is made of transparent plastics material and may conventionally be moulded from polycarbonate. While the securing means can be moulded integrally with the polycarbonate, it is preferred for the securing means to be separately moulded and then secured to the inside of the face shield since, by operating in this manner, it is possible to have a single mould for manufacture of the transparent face shield itself with different securing means being attachable thereto, for example by adhesive, whereby the shields can be adapted for use with different designs of goggles.

As an alternative to the above embodiments, the faceshield may be of reduced size to allow the wearer also to wear a safety helmet, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the facemask, in which the faceshield is opaque for the purposes of protecting the wearer against injury from radiation such as may be emitted from either gas or electric welding processes, lasers or other sources of ultraviolet or infrared radiations. The rearwardly projecting frame 28 has, as clearly shown in Figure 6, a slot 36 and a receptacle 34 for receiving a filter lens element 32, for protecting the wearer's eyes from injury through radiation.

Figures 5 and 6 show an optional feature of all the above embodiments, namely a valve or baffle 30 which is positioned within the face-shield to oppose the wearer's mouth; this allows the wearer's speech to be more audible, but resists the flow into the mask of dusts or liquids.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, where the face-shield covers the full face of the wearer, for instance where a helmet is not worn.

Claims (21)

1. A protective facemask comprising a shield adapted to protect substantially the entire face of a wearer, said shield being provided with means for securing the inside of the shield to a pair of goggles, whereby the shield can be worn by a wearer supported by the goggles.

2. A facemask according to claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive layer adapted to engage the front of the frame of the goggles.

3. A facemask according to claim 1, wherein the securing means is adapted detachably to secure the shield to the goggles.

4. A facemask according to claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises means projecting rearwardly from the shield for engagement within the lens retaining means of the goggles.

5. A facemask according to claim 4, wherein the projecting means comprises a ridge projecting rearwardly from the shield for engagement within the lens retaining means of the goggles.

6. A facemask according to claim 4, wherein the projecting means comprise a plurality of projections, each with an angled extension, the extensions being adapted to be received at a plurality of spaced locations within the lens retaining means of the goggles.

7. A facemask according to claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises projections or recesses in the rear of the shield adapted releasably to engage recesses or projections on the front of the frame of the goggles.

8. A facemask according to any preceding claim, in combination with a pair of goggles to the frame of which the shield is secured.

9. A facemask according to claim 8, when appendant to claim 7, wherein the projections are a snap-fit into the recesses.

10. A facemask according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing means on the shield comprises a separately formed portion secured to the rear face of the shield.

11. A facemask according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the securing means on the shield is integrally moulded therewith.

12. A facemask according to any preceding claim, wherein the shield is moulded from transparent plastics material.

13. A facemask according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the shield is moulded from opaque plastics material, with a window provided to be adjacent to the goggles in use.

14. A facemask according to any preceding claim, wherein the shield is moulded from polycarbonate material.

15. A facemask according to any preceding claim, wherein the mask is adapted to support a filter lens in way of the window.

16. A facemask according to claim 15 when appendant on claim 5, wherein the ridge includes a slotted receptacle to secure, in use, the filter lens adjacent the goggles.

17. A facemask according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the filter lens is interchangeably removable.

18. A facemask according to any preceding claim comprising a baffle positioned to be adjacent the wearers mouth.

19. A facemask according to any preceding claim wherein the uppermost extent of the shield is sufficiently low so as in use to allow a helmet to be worn together with the facemask.

20. A facemask according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the shield is adapted to protect the entire face of the wearer.

21. Facemasks constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.