WO2009060106A1 - Protective mask for martial arts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mask formed by a transparent polycarbonate body provided internally with transparent padding. The body includes an upper section (1) to be fitted to the frontal bone of the user's face, said section (1) extending downward into a portion (3) to be fitted to the sphenoid bone. In addition, said section (1) extends laterally backward into side portions (4) which, in turn, extend into lower forward-projecting portions (5), which portions are joined in a continuous manner in a front segment (6) to be fitted to the lower soft part of the nose, while the side portions (4 and 5) are fitted to the cheeks and malar bones. The mask includes a wide open front area (9) for the eyes and the upper part of the nose, providing a clear view and optimum perspiration management. The mask also includes straps (13) for securing same to the head.

Description

 PROTECTIVE MASK FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective mask for the practice of sport, which has design and configuration features that, in combination with fastening means thereof on the user's head, allow obtaining significant advantages over the traditional protective masks.

The object of the invention is to provide a protective mask that not only achieves optimal adaptation to the user's face, but also achieves effective cushioning, and even better vision and breathing by the user than those obtained with the masks used. Until now.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is known, in sports activities and in martial arts in particular, transparent masks are used that cover the face of the fighters, to protect them from possible blows, masks that are constituted in an appropriate material such as transparent polycarbonate, even with padded areas to cushion bumps in certain areas or parts of the face, as well as tie straps for fastening the mask to the corresponding face and head. In this regard, the document corresponding to the

American patent US 70003252 Bl, which describes a mask whereby the entire front of the face is protected, exposing the eyes and mouth, with lateral tapes and a top fixing mask.

This type of mask has the disadvantage that the vision is not adequate, since when the entire nose is covered, and even the upper part of it, the vision is reduced, in addition to being a mask that covers the entire of the face, it is uncomfortable, since breathing / perspiration is not effective.

Also, the American invention patent US 5392468, which constitutes a kind of helmet covering the face and most of the head, where there is a transparent front part and a protector based on a lattice located at the mouth level and nose, so that this protector is complex and difficult to use in sports practice.

In summary, so far the protectors or masks known for the purpose referred to above, have the inconvenience of covering the eyebrow and upper part of the nose, which does not allow a correct perspiration and increases sweating with the consequent problems and inconveniences to the fighter.

In addition, masks or protectors, those that include padded parts, only affect certain areas, exposing other important and not equipped with padding. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mask that is recommended, has been conceived to solve the above-mentioned problem, based on a simple but effective solution, so that being constituted from a body preferably made of transparent polycarbonate, it has the peculiarity that said body comprises a part or upper and arcuate sector that covers and adapts to the entire frontal bone, with a lower extension, slightly arched, of adaptation to the sphenoids, while the upper sector referred to first extends to the sides in an arched way, to then project forward, with a configuration perfectly adaptable to the cheekbones and malarles, with the particularity that the front and lower lateral parts join together without continuity solution, in an anterior section of adaptation to the soft and lower part of the nose, this section being vertically offset forward with respect to the cor extension Responding to the upper sector, resulting in a free area for the eyes and upper part of the nose.

The mask thus constituted is complemented by a pair of fastening clips or vertical grooves on each of its sides, associated with respective tie tapes, which are conveniently related to each other to subsequently determine a triangular configuration that even allows the release of a Pigtail or tail corresponding to the user's hair, resulting in a better and more correct attachment to the skull.

In addition, the mask is complemented with an inner padding with an internal fixing flange on which determines the free area of the mask itself, while said padding presents perimeter in correspondence with its outer edge a kind of tongue that acts as a shock absorber in the blows, as an element that allows a better fixation of the protector to the support base and as an adapter to the different configurations or face structures.

In accordance with the aforementioned characteristics, its benefits and advantages over conventional ones can be summarized as follows:

- Vision is facilitated by releasing the middle orbital and nasal area, which is important to fight well. A better perspiration is achieved by having a free zone in correspondence with the eyes and nose, avoiding the accumulation of sweat in said eyes and avoiding the production of fog.

Breathing is facilitated since the nostrils are completely free, since the anterior and inferior part of the mask adapts to the soft and external part of the nose, leaving the nostrils completely free to allow optimal breathing.

The eyebrow area is perfectly protected and yet being free that area does not interfere with the vision.

The area corresponding to the nose is separated from the area corresponding to the face, which makes it adapt to different nose lengths, so that by giving it that shape the resistance of the mask to deformation is reinforced by a blow, both front and side. The malar bones, which are the weakest parts of the face, are protected with the special configuration of the mask and with the padding that incorporates the same inside.

Being the mask completely transparent, the identity of the fighter is perfect. - The support is made only with three tapes and not with a helmet, avoiding problems of vertebral lesions that occur when wearing helmets, since hitting the head goes backwards. The pressures exerted by the mask on the face are better distributed by virtue of the external shape of the face, increasing the contact surface, so that when arriving more through the sphenoids it makes the pressure better distributed and does not move. The padding is transparent, preferably of an SBS material, which also does not hide the identity of the combatant, making that padding establish a better distribution of the mask pressures on the face and the impact of the blow on the mask itself. The padding is located only in the areas attached to the face, so that vision is not affected.

By virtue of the special perimeter tongue that includes the padding, it makes the cushioning greater and has room for adaptation for different face widths, as it is not completely glued to the face. - The fastening on the basis of three tapes, two of them fastened in the upper and lower lateral area of the mask and the third located in the upper frontal area, has the particularity of joining later forming a triangle that achieves an optimal distribution of the tension zone, which causes the upper belt to not move to the side and prevents the Mask scroll down in case of hit.

In addition to the advantages and benefits mentioned above, it is worth mentioning that the padding will be an over-injected piece, while the fastening straps will be equally transparent as well as the padding and the body of the mask, being those resistant and with a minimum elasticity so that it is sufficient to carry out the placement, but to prevent the mask from moving, these tapes must be adjusted with a clip that will also be transparent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is to be followed and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of said description is attached as an integral part of said description. Drawings where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a representation according to a front perspective on the back or inside of the mask object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view according to side elevation of the same mask represented in the previous figure.

Figure 3.- Shows a view according to a higher perspective of the same mask. Figure 4.- Finally shows a practical application of the mask of the invention located on one face and held by the corresponding tapes fixed in correspondence with the back of the head.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the mask of the invention is constituted by a transparent polycarbonate body, in which an upper part or sector (1) is established for adaptation to the frontal bone corresponding to the head (2), as shown in figure 4, so that that front and upper sector (1) can have an amplitude of, for example, 6 cm., being arched as shown clearly in figure 2, and prolonged inferiorly in one part also arched (3) that adapts to the corresponding area of the sphenoids, being able to have an amplitude of 5 cm. The upper and arched sector (1) extends into other sectors or lateral parts (4) which in turn extend forward and inferiorly into parts (5) of considerable smaller width, which join without continuity solution in a section horizontal intermediate (6) protruding, with respect to the frontal sector (1) and extension (3), for example 1 cm. forward, all in order that the body thus constituted in its arrangement on the user's face, as shown in Figure 4, the frontal sector (1) and lower extension (3) adapt to the frontal bone and sphenoid, while the posterior lateral parts (4) and lower extensions (5) are adapted to the cheekbones and malarles, the frontal and inferior section (6) being in front of the nose, specifically in correspondence with the lower soft area thereof, since the eye area (7) and upper part (8) of the nose are free, as a consequence of determining a free and anterior zone in the general body of the mask, a free zone that is referenced with the number (9) and that leaves the previously referred and corresponding areas of the eyes (7) and upper part free (8) of the nose.

The fastening of the mask on the face of the user, as shown in Figure 4, is carried out by means of two lateral ribbons (13) through the grooves (11 and 12) provided in the lateral parts (4), so that the Ribbons (13) that pass through the lateral grooves (11) are attached to the ribbons (13) that pass through the grooves (12), forming a posterior triangle, which allows the passage of a tail or braid of the user's hair although said grooves can be replaced by any other means of fixing the tapes, such as pressure clips or the like.

On the other hand, it can be said that the body of the mask described, with the exception of the area corresponding to the anterior and frontal section (6) for the nose, incorporates a padding (10) on its inner face that, like the body of the mask It is transparent, all in such a way that in combination with the interrupted opening or free zone (9) of the mask, it allows a perfect vision and also the total identification by the observer.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S I ^a .- Protective mask for sports activities, which being constituted by an injected body, preferably transparent polycarbonate, is characterized in that it has an upper and arched sector (1) for its adaptation to the user's frontal bone (2), extending inferior and centrally in a part (3) with a slight curvature of adaptation to the sphenoids, while posteriorly and laterally it is extended into two broad sectors or parts (4) that project forward determining narrower parts (5), for adaptation both to the upper area of the cheekbones and the malars, joining said lateral and front parts (5) without continuity solution, determining a frontal section (6) of adaptation to the soft and anterior part of the nose, standing out vertically said section (6) of the upper sector (1) corresponding to the frontal bone, delimiting between said upper, lateral and frontal sections (6), a free zone re (9) for the eyes (7) and the upper part (8) of the nose; with fixing straps (13) running laterally, having subsequently determined a triangular area between them. 2 .- Protection mask for sports, according to claim 1, wherein the front section (6) of adaptation to the front and soft part of the nose has a separation from the side and front portions (5) adaptation to the malars, allowing their adaptation to different nose lengths. 3 .- Protection mask for sports activities, according to previous claims, characterized by including padding (10) on the inner surface with a perimeter and external tab and a fastening flange in correspondence with the perimeter of the free area (9 ) for the eyes (7) and upper part (8) of the nose.