Protective face mask

Abstract

There is provided an improved protective face mask for use in hockey, or other sports requiring facial protection, comprising a plurality of wire members defining a grid of a plurality of apertures of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a hockey stick through the grid to contact the face of a wearer when the mask is in place and yet to maintain very good vision for a wearer and to comply with safety and strength requirements due to the use of relatively thin wire members of a particular form and placement within the grid.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A protective face mask comprising: 
 a plurality of wire members defining a grid of a plurality of apertures, wherein said grid is defined by a top and a bottom and first and second sides and a convex wire mesh structure defined by a plurality of substantially horizontal transverse wire members from said first side to said second side and a plurality of substantially vertical wire members from said top to said bottom affixed to said plurality of horizontal transverse wire members;    at least one laterally disposed arcuate wire member at each of said first and second sides over said horizontal transverse wire members, said arcuate wire members each defining a substantially semi-circular area and disposed such that said arcuate members are in a position proximate to an ear of a user of said mask when said mask is in use.    
     
     
         2 . The protective face mask of  claim 1  further comprising a plate within each of said semi-circular areas.  
     
     
         3 . The protective face mask of  claim 1 , wherein said wire members have a diameter of at least 0.075 inches and not more than 0.225 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The protective face mask of  claim 1 , wherein said wire members have a diameter of at least 0.090 inches and not more than 0.120 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The protective face mask of  claim 1 , wherein said wire members have a diameter of at least 0.092 inches and not more than 0.110 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The protective face mask of  claim 1 , wherein said wire members are composed of steel of a grade in the range of C1008 to C1032.  
     
     
         7 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein said wire members are coated with a marine or automotive high grade paint.  
     
     
         8 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein said wire members are coated with nylon or PVC plastic or equivalent.  
     
     
         9 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said apertures are disposed of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a hockey stick through said grid to contact the face of a wearer when said mask is in use.  
     
     
         10 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said apertures are disposed of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a ringette stick through said grid to contact the face of a wearer when said mask is in use.  
     
     
         11 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said apertures are disposed of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a baseball bat or ball through said grid to contact the face of a wearer when said mask is in use.  
     
     
         12 . The protective face mask of any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said apertures are disposed of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a lacrosse stick through said grid to contact the face of a wearer when said mask is in use.  
     
     
         13 . The protective face mask of  claim 1 , wherein said vertical wire members include two vertical wires disposed towards a centre of a wearer's face, said central vertical wires being further disposed in a relatively proximate position in relation to each other, such that said central vertical wires do not obstruct the wearer's vision when the mask is in use.  
     
     
         14 . The protective face mask of  claim 9 , wherein said central vertical wires are fused together to form a single central fused wire, said central fused wire disposed vertically at the centre of a wearer's face when the mask is in use.  
     
     
         15 . The protective face mask of  claim 1  wherein said vertical wire members include a single centre wire disposed towards a centre of a wearer's face.  
     
     
         16 . The protective mask of  claim 1  including fastening means to secure said mask to a helmet.  
     
     
         17 . A protective face mask comprising: 
 a plurality of wire members defining a grid of a plurality of apertures, said apertures disposed of a size and configuration sufficient to prevent penetration of a stick through said grid to contact the face of a wearer when said mask is in use, said wire members possessing a diameter of at least 0.090 inches and not more than 0.120 inches and composed of steel of a grade in the range of C1008 to C1032, wherein said grid is defined by a top and a bottom and first and second sides and a convex wire mesh structure defined by a plurality of substantially horizontal transverse wire members from said first to said second side and a plurality of substantially vertical wire members from said top to said bottom affixed to said plurality of horizontal transverse wire members;    at least one laterally disposed arcuate wire member at each of said first and second sides over said horizontal transverse wire members, said arcuate wire members each defining a substantially semi-circular area and disposed such that said arcuate members are in a position proximate to an ear of a user of said mask when said mask is in use;    laterally disposed plates within said semi-circular area;    a coating of marine or automotive high grade paint, nylon or PVC plastic, or equivalent, on said wire members and said laterally disposed plates;    a fastening means to secure said mask to a helmet.