Breath deflector with seal

Claim 2

A breath deflector in combination with a helmet and sealed across the bridge of a nose and extending generally forwardly from the nose to an inside portion of the helmet, comprising: a) a piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; b) with the piece being formed of a polymeric material which is insulative; c) with the material further being substantially impermeable to air and water vapor; d) with the width of the piece along the proximal end edge portion being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; e) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to the inside portion of the helmet in a general forwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from a transparent portion of the helmet; and f) a skin-friendly seal on at least a section of the proximal end edge portion such that the proximal end edge portion is sealable across the bridge of the nose, with the length of the seal being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that the permeation of moisture and air is minimized between the proximal end edge portion and the bridge of the nose and other portions of the face to which the seal is affixed whereby fogging of glasses or the transparent portion of the helmet is minimized.

Claim 3

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the length of the piece is at least sufficient to extend downwardly beyond the mouth.

Claim 4

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the width of the piece along the distal end edge portion is at least sufficient to extend beyond the corners of the mouth.

Claim 5

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the material comprises closed cells having air trapped therein, with the closed cells being distributed over said length of said piece and over said width of said piece.

Claim 6

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the material is resilient such that proximal end edge portion form fits to the bridge of the nose and such that the distal end edge portion is resiliently bendable against the inside portion of the helmet whereby the distal end edge portion bends downwardly when the helmet is pulled over one's head.

Claim 7

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the material is resilient at temperatures less than about zero degrees C.

Claim 8

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the width of the piece extends short of side portions of the helmet to permit air flow along side portions of the face and helmet.

Claim 9

The breath deflector of claim 1 wherein the piece is relatively thin so as to have generally a thickness of a swatch, wherein the piece includes an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, and opposing side edge portions between the upper and lower edge portions, wherein the skin-friendly seal is on at least a section of the upper edge portion, and wherein the lower edge portion and opposing side edge portions remain generally unrestricted of either a user's face or helmet when the skin-friendly seal is engaged with the face.

Claim 10

In combination with a helmet, a breath deflector sealed across the bridge of a nose and extending generally forwardly beyond the nose, comprising: a) a piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; b) with the piece being formed of a polymeric material which is insulative; c) with the material further being substantially impermeable to air and water vapor; d) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; e) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the nose in a general forwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and f) a skin-friendly seal on at least a section of the proximal end edge portion such that the proximal end edge portion is sealable across the bridge of the nose, with the length of the seal being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that the permeation of moisture and air is minimized between the proximal end edge portion and the bridge of the nose and other portions of the face to which the seal is affixed whereby fogging of a portion of the helmet in front of the eyes is minimized.

Claim 11

In combination with a helmet, a breath deflector sealed across the bridge of a nose and extending generally forwardly beyond the nose, comprising: a) a piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; b) with the piece being formed of a polymeric material which is insulative; c) with the material further being substantially impermeable to air and water vapor; d) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; e) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the nose in a general forwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and f) a skin-friendly seal on at least a section of the proximal end edge portion such that the proximal end edge portion is sealable across the bridge of the nose, with the length of the seal being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that the permeation of moisture and air is minimized between the proximal end edge portion and the bridge of the nose and other portions of the face to which the seal is affixed whereby fogging of a portion of the helmet in front of the eyes is minimized.

Claim 12

The breath deflector of claim 9 wherein the length of the piece is sufficient to extend beyond the mouth, and wherein the width of the piece is sufficient to extend beyond the corner portions of the mouth.

Claim 13

The breath deflector of claim 9 wherein the material comprises closed cells having air trapped therein, with the closed cells being distributed over said length of said piece and over said width of said piece.

Claim 14

The breath deflector of claim 9 wherein the material is resilient such that proximal end edge portion form fits to the bridge of the nose.

Claim 15

The breath deflector of claim 12 wherein the material is resilient at temperatures less than about zero degrees C.

Claim 16

The breath deflector of claim 9, with the helmet having an inside front portion, and with the length of the piece being sufficient to extend to the inside front portion of the helmet, with the skin friendly seal solely anchoring the piece to a user's face and with the piece being unengaged relative to the helmet.

Claim 17

The breath deflector of claim 9 in combination with a pair of glasses, with the glasses comprising a frame and a pair of transparent portions engaged with the frame, and with the piece being disposed between a portion of the glasses and the skin of the face such that the piece insulates the skin of the face from the glasses.

Claim 18

The breath deflector of claim 9 in combination with a pair of goggles, with the goggles comprising a frame, a pair of transparent portions engaged with the frame, and a resilient periphery about each of the transparent portions to minimize air flow to an inside face of the transparent portions, with the resilient peripheries riding on the proximal end edge portion of the piece; and further comprising a swatch portion of said material, with the swatch portion having a surface with said skin friendly seal on at least a section of said surface, and with the swatch portion being affixed with the seal on an exposed portion of the face of the one wearing the goggles.

Claim 19

A breath deflector sealed across the bridge of a nose and extending generally forwardly beyond the nose, comprising: a) a piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; b) with the piece being formed of a material which is insulative; c) with the material further being moisture-resistant; d) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; e) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the nose in a general forwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; f) a skin-friendly seal on at least a section of the proximal end edge portion such that the proximal end edge portion is sealable across the bridge of the nose, with the length of the seal being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that the permeation of moisture and air is minimized between the proximal end edge portion and the bridge of the nose and other portions of the face to which the seal is affixed whereby fogging of a vision tool in front of the eyes is minimized; and g) a stand alone strip of skin friendly sealing adhesive which comprises a strip portion with two faces, with each of the faces having the skin friendly adhesive thereon, and with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering the skin friendly adhesive, with the length of each of the faces being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby the stand alone strip may be applied to the proximal edge end portion over an existing seal or adhesive such as when the existing seal or adhesive deteriorates.

Claim 20

A breath deflector sealed across the bridge of a nose and extending generally forwardly beyond the nose, comprising: a) a piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; b) with the piece being formed of a material which is insulative; c) with the material further being moisture-resistant; d) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; e) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the nose in a general forwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; f) a skin-friendly seal on at least a section of the proximal end edge portion such that the proximal end edge portion is sealable across the bridge of the nose, with the length of the seal being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that the permeation of moisture and air is minimized between the proximal end edge portion and the bridge of the nose and other portions of the face to which the seal is affixed whereby fogging of a vision tool in front of the eyes is minimized; and g) a stand alone strip of skin friendly sealing adhesive which comprises a strip portion with two faces, with each of the faces having the skin friendly adhesive thereon, and with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering the skin friendly adhesive, with the length of each of the faces being approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby the stand alone strip may be applied to the proximal edge end portion over an existing seal or adhesive such as when the existing seal or adhesive deteriorates.

Claim 21

A breath deflector kit, comprising, in combination: a) a set of pieces, i) with each of the pieces having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; ii) with each of the pieces being formed of a material which is insulative; iii) with the material further being moisture-resistant; iv) with the width of each of the pieces being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; and v) with the length of each of the pieces being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the mouth in a general forwardly and downwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and b) a plurality of skin friendly sealing adhesive strips, i) with each of the strips having two faces, with at least a portion of each of the faces having an adhesive thereon such that one face is affixable to a person's face and such that the other face is affixable to the piece; ii) with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering its respective adhesive; and iii) with the length of each of the faces having the adhesive being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby each of the strips may be applied to the proximal edge end portion of one of the pieces or over existing adhesive such as when the existing adhesive deteriorates.

Claim 22

A breath deflector kit, comprising, in combination: a) a set of pieces, i) with each of the pieces having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; ii) with each of the pieces being formed of a material which is insulative; iii) with the material further being moisture-resistant; iv) with the width of each of the pieces being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; and v) with the length of each of the pieces being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the mouth in a general forwardly and downwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and b) a plurality of skin friendly sealing adhesive strips, i) with each of the strips having two faces, with at least a portion of each of the faces having an adhesive thereon such that one face is affixable to a person's face and such that the other face is affixable to the piece; ii) with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering its respective adhesive; and iii) with the length of each of the faces having the adhesive being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby each of the strips may be applied to the proximal edge end portion of one of the pieces or over existing adhesive such as when the existing adhesive deteriorates.

Claim 23

The breath deflector kit of claim 18 and further comprising: a set of swatches of said material, with each of the swatches having a shape different from each of the pieces whereby the swatches may be distinguished from the pieces and whereby the swatches may be affixed to a person's face with the skin friendly adhesive strips.

Claim 24

A breath deflector kit, comprising, in combination: a) a piece, i) with the piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; ii) with the piece being formed of a material which is insulative; iii) with the material further being moisture-resistant; iv) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; and v) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the mouth in a general forwardly and downwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and b) a set of skin friendly sealing adhesive strips, i) with each of the strips having two faces, with at least a portion of each of the faces having an adhesive thereon such that one face is affixable to a person's face and such that the other face is affixable to the piece; ii) with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering its respective adhesive; and iii) with the length of each of the faces having the adhesive being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby each of the strips may be applied to the proximal edge end portion of the piece or over existing adhesive such as when the existing adhesive deteriorates.

Claim 25

A breath deflector kit, comprising, in combination: a) a piece, i) with the piece having first and second opposite faces defining a thickness, proximal and distal end edge portions defining a length, and side edge portions defining a width; ii) with the piece being formed of a material which is insulative; iii) with the material further being moisture-resistant; iv) with the width of the piece being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult such that breath is deflected away from the eyes; and v) with the length of the piece being at least approximately the distance from the bridge of the nose to a point beyond the mouth in a general forwardly and downwardly direction whereby breath is deflected away from an area in front of the eyes; and b) a set of skin friendly sealing adhesive strips, i) with each of the strips having two faces, with at least a portion of each of the faces having an adhesive thereon such that one face is affixable to a person's face and such that the other face is affixable to the piece; ii) with each of the faces having a removable backing thereon covering its respective adhesive; and iii) with the length of each of the faces having the adhesive being at least approximately the distance between the outer corner portions of the eyes of an average sized adult whereby each of the strips may be applied to the proximal edge end portion of the piece or over existing adhesive such as when the existing adhesive deteriorates.