U.S. patent application number 11/355379 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for protective mask.
Invention is credited to Brent Sheldon, Neville Sheldon.
Application Number | 20070186324 11/355379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38366772 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070186324 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sheldon; Neville ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Protective mask
Abstract
A protective mask includes a main body and a lens portion. The
main body includes an opening, and two latch cases provided
respectively on left and right sides of the opening. Each latch
case has a front latch insert hole, top and bottom holes disposed
rearwardly of the insert hole, and top and bottom abutment portions
each formed between the insert hole and a corresponding one of the
top and bottom holes. The lens portion includes a frame covering
the opening, and two latches engageable respectively with the latch
cases. Each latch includes two spaced-apart resilient arms
insertable respectively into the top and bottom holes, and two
protrusions projecting outwardly and respectively from the
resilient arms and extendable outwardly of the top and bottom holes
so as to engage respectively the top and bottom abutment
portions.
Inventors: |
Sheldon; Neville; (St.
Lambert, CA) ; Sheldon; Brent; (Montreal,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARGER JOHNSON & MCCOLLOM, P.C.
210 SW MORRISON STREET, SUITE 400
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
38366772 |
Appl. No.: |
11/355379 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/20 20130101; A63B
71/10 20130101; A42B 3/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/009 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00 |
Claims
1. A protective mask for sports, comprising: a main body including
a lens receiving section having an opening, and two latch cases
provided respectively on left and right sides of said opening, each
of said latch cases having a front latch insert hole, top and
bottom holes disposed rearwardly of said front latch insert hole,
and top and bottom abutment portions each formed between said front
latch insert hole and a corresponding one of said top and bottom
holes; and a lens portion including a frame covering said opening,
and two latches provided respectively on left and right sides of
said frame and engageable respectively with said latch cases, each
of said latches including two spaced-apart resilient arms
insertable respectively into said top and bottom holes via said
front latch insert holes, and two protrusions projecting outwardly
and respectively from said resilient arms and extendable outwardly
of said top and bottom holes so as to engage respectively said top
and bottom abutment portions.
2. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein each of said latches
further includes a plate member extending rearwardly from said
frame, said resilient arms extending rearwardly from said plate
member.
3. The protective mask of claim 2, wherein said resilient arms have
adjoining ends connected to said plate member, said adjoining ends
respectively having indentations which are opposite to each
other.
4. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions
has a rounded shape.
5. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein said lens portion
further includes a lens member provided on and formed integrally
with said frame.
6. The protective mask of claim 1, wherein said main body further
includes two opposite rear ends, and two buckle holes provided
respectively on said rear ends.
7. The protective mask of claim 6, further comprising an elastic
head strap engaging said buckle holes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a protective mask for sports.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional protective mask 1
for a paintball game includes a main body 11, a lens portion 12
provided in front of the main body 11, and an elastic head strap 13
provided at the back of the main body 11. The main body 11 includes
two first engaging members 111 provided respectively on left and
right sides of the main body 11, two second engaging members 112
provided respectively in front of the first engaging members 111,
and two engaging grooves 113 each defined by one of the first
engaging members 111 and the corresponding second engaging member
112. The elastic head strap 13 engages rear portions of the first
engaging members 111. Each second engaging member 112 has an insert
hole 114.
[0005] The lens portion 12 includes a lens frame 121, and two
engaging pieces 122 projecting outwardly, rearwardly, and
respectively from left and right sides of the lens frame 121 and
having a shape substantially similar to each engaging groove 113.
The engaging pieces 122 are inserted respectively through the
insert holes 114 in the second engaging members 112 so as to engage
releasably the corresponding engaging grooves 113.
[0006] When playing paintball, the lens portion 12 is frequently
hit with paint, so that it has to be removed for cleaning. To
remove the lens portion 12 from the main body 11, the user must
simultaneously press inward on the engaging pieces 122 using two
hands so as to release engagement between the engaging pieces 122
and the corresponding engaging grooves 113, after which the lens
portion 12 is pulled forwardly and out of the main body 11.
However, as a result of the structure between the engaging pieces
122 and the second engaging members 112, it is difficult for the
user to press the engaging pieces 122 to release the same from the
engaging grooves 113. As a result, the lens portion 12 cannot be
quickly and easily removed from the main body 11, thereby making it
inconvenient to remove the lens portion 12 for cleaning and
replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a protective mask that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned
drawbacks of the prior art.
[0008] According to this invention, a protective mask for sports
comprises a main body and a lens portion. The main body includes a
lens receiving section having an opening, and two latch cases
provided respectively on left and right sides of the opening. Each
of the latch cases has a front latch insert hole, top and bottom
holes disposed rearwardly of the front latch insert hole, and top
and bottom abutment portions each formed between the front latch
insert hole and a corresponding one of the top and bottom holes.
The lens portion includes a frame covering the opening, and two
latches provided respectively on left and right sides of the frame
and engageable respectively with the latch cases. Each of the
latches includes two spaced-apart resilient arms insertable
respectively into the top and bottom holes via the front latch
insert holes, and two protrusions projecting outwardly and
respectively from the resilient arms and extendable outwardly of
the top and bottom holes so as to engage respectively the top and
bottom abutment portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional protective
mask;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional
protective mask;
[0012] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the conventional
protective mask;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a protective mask according to the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates how the first preferred embodiment is
operated;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but with a lens portion
being removed from a main body;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second
preferred embodiment of a protective mask according to the present
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of the second
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of
a protective mask according to the present invention is configured
as a paintball mask 200, and is shown to comprise a main body 2, a
lens portion 3, and an elastic head strap 4.
[0021] The main body 2 includes a lens receiving section 20 formed
on a front side of the main body 2 and having an opening 21, two
latch cases 22 provided respectively on left and right sides of the
main body 2, and two buckle holes 23 formed respectively in rear
ends of the left and right sides of the main body 2. Each of the
latch cases 22 has a rectangular front latch insert hole 221, a
rear closed end 222 opposite to the front latch insert hole 221,
top and bottom holes 223 formed respectively in top and bottom ends
of the corresponding latch case 22 and disposed rearwardly of the
front latch insert hole 221, and top and bottom abutment portions
224. The top and bottom ends of each latch case 22 extend curvedly
and inwardly toward each other. The top and bottom holes 223 are in
spatial communication with the front latch insert hole 221. Each of
the top and bottom abutment portions 224 is formed between the
front latch insert hole 221 and a corresponding one of the top and
bottom holes 223.
[0022] The lens portion 3 includes a frame 31, a lens member 32,
and two latches 33. The frame 31 has a shape corresponding to that
of the opening 21 so as to cover the same. The lens member 32 is
disposed on and is formed integrally with the frame 31. The latches
33 are provided respectively on left and right sides of the frame
31, and are engageable respectively with the latch cases 22 so as
to releasably connect the lens portion 3 to the mainbody 2. Each of
the latches 33 has a plate member 331 extending rearwardly from the
corresponding side of the frame 31, and two spaced-apart resilient
arms 332 extending rearwardly and respectively from top and bottom
ends of the plate member 331.
[0023] The resilient arms 332 are insertable respectively into the
top and bottom holes 223 in each latch case 22 via the
corresponding front latch insert hole 221. Each of the resilient
arms 332 has a free end provided with a protrusion 333. The
protrusion 333 has a rounded shape, projects outwardly from the
corresponding resilient arm 332, and is extendable outwardly of a
corresponding one of the top and bottom holes 223 so as to engage
the corresponding one of the top and bottom abutment portions 224.
The resilient arms 332 further have adjoining ends connected to the
plate member 331. The adjoining ends respectively have indentations
334 which are opposite to each other to increase the resiliency of
the arms 332.
[0024] The elastic head strap 4 engages the buckle holes 23 in the
main body 2.
[0025] During assembly, the latches 33 of the lens portion 3 are
brought to engage with the respective latch cases 22 of the main
body 2. Since the engagement between the latches 33 and the
corresponding latch cases 22 are similar, only the engagement
between one of the latches 33 and the corresponding latch case 22
will be described hereinafter. Because of the presence of the
indentations 334 in the adjoining ends of the resilient arms 332,
the protrusions 333 on the free ends of the resilient arms 332 can
be pressed toward each other by the abutment portions 224 during
insertion of the resilient arms 332 into the front latch insert
hole 221, so that the resilient arms 332 can pass through the front
latch insert hole 221 and into the top and bottom holes 223,
respectively. When the protrusions 333 extend respectively into the
top and bottom holes 223, the resilient arms 332 are restored to
their original positions, and therefore force the protrusions 333
to abut respectively against the top and bottom abutment portions
224. Hence, the lens portion 3 is retained on the main body 2.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, to remove the lens portion 3
from the main body 2, the hands of the user (only one is shown) are
positioned on the left and right sides of the paintball mask 200,
after which the forefingers and the thumbs of the user's hands
press simultaneously the protrusions 333 of the latches 33 toward
each other so as to release engagement between the protrusions 333
of each latch 33 and the corresponding top and bottom abutment
portions 224. The lens portion 3 can then be pulled out forwardly
of the main body 2 with the protrusions 333 of each latch 33 moving
away from the respective top and bottom holes 223, and out of the
main body 2 via the corresponding front latch insert hole 221.
Hence, the lens portion 3 of the mask 200 can be quickly and easily
removed from the main body 2.
[0027] Therefore, when the lens portion 3 is made dirty by paint
while playing paintball, the user simply presses the protrusions
333 of each latch 33, and pulls out the lens portion 3 from the
main body 2 to proceed with cleaning of the lens portion 3.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the second preferred embodiment
of a protective mask according to the present invention is
configured as a ski goggle 500, and is shown to be similar to the
first preferred embodiment. The only difference between the first
and second preferred embodiments resides in the shape of the main
body 5. Similarly, to remove the lens portion 6 for cleaning, the
user simply presses the protrusions 633 of each latch 63 toward
each other so as to release engagement between the protrusions 633
and the respective top and bottom abutment portions 524 of each
latch case 52, after which the lens portion 6 is pulled out
forwardly of the main body 5. Hence, the lens portion 6 of the
present invention can be quickly and easily removed from the main
body 5.
[0029] From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that by
engaging the protrusions 333, 633 of the latches 33, 63 with the
top and bottom abutment portions 224, 524 of the corresponding
latch cases 22, 52, the lens portion 3, 6 can be retained on the
main body 2, 5, and by pressing the protrusions 333, 633 toward
each other, the protrusions 333, 633 can be disengaged from the
respective top and bottom abutment portions 224, 524. Hence, the
lens portion 3, 6 can be quickly and easily removed from the main
body 2, 5 for cleaning. Therefore, the protective mask of the
present invention is very convenient to use.
[0030] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *