US4021858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Face mask
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-11
•
Granted: 1977-05-10
•
Expires: 1996-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A face mask for use with a protective helmet, particularly a hockey helmet. The mask comprises a main support member adapted to be attached to the helmet at each of its upper ends and shaped to extend down each side of the face of a wearer of the helmet and under the chin. A cage extends outwardly from the main support member and across the lower face and under the chin of the wearer to protect the lower face. Lower attachment means attach the face mask to the helmet at a point remote from its attachment to the main support member. A transparent, break-resistent screen to protect the eyes and upper face is attached to the main support member. The bottom edge of the screen is close to the upper edge of the cage.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Patrick Neeld
- 👤 Norman George Neeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:28
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/08; A63B71/10; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/08; A42B3/18; A42B3/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A face mask for use with a hockey helmet the mask comprising a main support member, substantially U shaped and adapted to be attached to each side of the helmet at each upper end of the support member, said support member being shaped to extend down each side of the face of the wearer of the helmet and under the chin; a cage rigidly attached to and extending outwardly from the main support member and across the lower face and under the chin of the wearer to protect the lower face; lower attachment means to attach the face mask to the helmet at a point remote from the attachment of the main support member to the helmet; and a transparent, substantially U shaped screen of a break resistant material to extend completely around the face of the wearer of the face mask to protect the eyes and upper face of the wearer, and attached to the main support member at each side of the face mask, the screen being positioned to extend so that its upper edge overlaps with the lower edge of the hockey helmet and is spaced from the helmet at its upper edge, the bottom edge being close to the upper edge of the cage to prevent entrance of a relatively small object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A face mask for use with a hockey helmet the mask comprising a main support member, substantially U shaped and adapted to be attached to each side of the helmet at each upper end of the support member, said support member being shaped to extend down each side of the face of the wearer of the helmet and under the chin; a cage rigidly attached to and extending outwardly from the main support member and across the lower face and under the chin of the wearer to protect the lower face; lower attachment means to attach the face mask to the helmet at a point remote from the attachment of the main support member to the helmet; and a transparent, substantially U shaped screen of a break resistant material to extend completely around the face of the wearer of the face mask to protect the eyes and upper face of the wearer, and attached to the main support member at each side of the face mask, the screen being positioned to extend so that its upper edge overlaps with the lower edge of the hockey helmet and is spaced from the helmet at its upper edge, the bottom edge being close to the upper edge of the cage to prevent entrance of a relatively small object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower attachment means of the helmet comprises a strap extending from the base of the cage and provided with snapon clips that engage with corresponding clips positioned on the side of the helmet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 2 in which a loop extends backwardly from the bottom of the cage and in which there is a strap provided with clips at each of its ends, the strap engaging with the loop and extendable backwardly to engage with corresponding clips on each side of the helmet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A helmet as claimed in claim 1 in which the transparent screen is provided with an opening positioned to be in the vicinity of the nose and mouth of a wearer and in which the cage has lugs that extend upwardly to prevent entry of an object of appreciable size through the hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the main support member is a flat bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the cage has attached to it a cup adapted to contact the chin of a wearer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mask as claimed in claim 6 in which the cup is provided with clips so that it can be folded around the cage and clipped to locate it on the cage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the screen is bolted to brackets that engage the main support member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the screen is attached to the main support member by clips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 provided with slots that engage with bolts attached to the support member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the cage is of metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the cage is of graphite reinforced resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 12 in which the resin is an epoxy resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the main support member is provided with a plurality of holes at each of its upper ends so that the position of the face mask on a helmet can be varied to suit varying sizes of faces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A face mask as claimed in claim 1 in which the screen is of a polycarbonate resin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2686912A
Cited
US2718006A
Cited
US3009158A
Cited
US3113318A
Cited
US3274613A
Cited
US3897597A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |