Protective face guard

Claim 1

A protective face guard for a game using a ball or the like struck play piece and to be worn on the head of a participating player who also wears a cap having a visor, comprising: (a) an integrally molded mask piece formed from a lightweight sheet of molded thermoplastic material having: (i) a front portion of generally outward curvature protective of the player's forehand, eyes, nose, mouth, chin and throat area including: (aa) a visor aperture positioned in an upper region of the front portion such that when the protective face guard is worn, the visor aperture resides substantially opposite the player's forehead, said visor aperture extending across substantially the full width of the front portion and being of sufficient size to accept the insertion of a visor of a cap worn by the player; and (bb) a vision aperture positioned below the visor aperture and extending across substantially the full width of the front portion and being of sufficient size to provide the player with substantially unobstructed forward and peripheral vision; and (ii) side portions formed to provide unbroken exterior side surfaces forming continuations of the generally outward curvature of said front portion and located at respective opposite sides of and molded integral with the front portion and protective of the player's temple, cheek and lower jaw areas; (b) a forehead pad secured to the inside surface of said front portion of the mask piece and positioned above said visor aperture, said forehead pad being of sufficient size to cushion a substantial portion of the player's forehead from impacts and being of sufficient thickness to prevent any portion of the player's face from protruding from the mask piece through said visor or vision apertures and such that the mask piece is spaced a sufficient distance outwardly from the player's face to avoid interference with a player's eyeglasses when worn; (c) a mouth pad secured to the inside surface of said front portion of the mask piece and positioned below said vision aperture, said mouth pad being of sufficient size to cushion a substantial portion of the player's mouth and teeth area from impacts and being of sufficient thickness to prevent any portion of the player's face from protruding from the mask piece through said visor or vision aperture and such that the mask piece is spaced a sufficient distance outwardly from the player's face to avoid interference with a player's eyeglasses when worn; (d) means operatively associated with said mask piece for releasably securing said mask piece to the head of the player wearing said face guard; (e) a mouth guard insertable into the mouth of the player wearing the face guard between the player's top and bottom teeth, releasably secured to said mouth pad and extending inwardly therefrom and operative to stabilize said mask piece when in sue; and (f) said mouth guard and mouth pad being formed with respective operatively associated cooperating means enabling the level of said mouth guard to be adjusted relative to said mouth pad.