Protective mask for paintball

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in the game of paint ball comprising a main body formed of rigid plastic material, and adapted to cover the front, sides, chin and cheek portions. A removable flexible transparent lens is adapted to be locked into a housing formed in the mask. The invention also comprises a strap supporting the mask on a wearer's head and a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element. The gasket-shaped element is provided to securely support and anchor the mask on the wearer's face in the forehead, temple and nose areas. It is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles. The invention also comprises a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock the strap to the mask and to lock the lens within the housing in a positive immobilizing manner thus preventing any disengagement of the lens from the housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking the mask.

1 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a strap supporting said mask on a wearer's head;    a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element, said gasket-shaped element provided to securely support and anchor said mask on the wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas;    said gasket-shaped element is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles;    a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means, said lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock said strap to said mask and to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    
   
   
       2 . Protective mask according to  claim 1 , wherein said lens locking means adapted to be engaged to said strap by means of a strap clip element.  
   
   
       3 . Protective mask according to  claim 2 , wherein said lens adapted to be locked in said housing by means of a lens locking element.  
   
   
       4 . Protective mask according to  claim 3 , wherein said lens locking element is adapted to be immobilized from sliding rearwardly from said lens by means of a locking immobilizing element.  
   
   
       5 . Protective mask according to  claim 4  wherein said strap clip element, said lens locking element and said locking immobilizing element are adapted to interlock and cooperate between each other to facilitate immobilizing said lens within said housing and to keep said mask on the wearer's head.  
   
   
       6 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a strap adapted to support said mask on a wearer's head;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element, said gasket-shaped element provided to securely support and anchor said mask on a wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas,    said gasket-shaped element is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles;    a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means, said lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock said support strap to said mask and to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    
   
   
       7 . Protective mask according to  claim 6 , wherein said face engaging portion comprises a continuous wall extending inwardly substantially perpendicular around areas corresponding to forehead, temple and nose areas of said mask and a peripheral edge extending inwardly vertically around an outer perimeter of said continuous wall, wherein said peripheral edge forms a flat surface adapted to comfortably engage said forehead, temple and nose areas of the wearer's face.  
   
   
       8 . Protective mask according to  claim 7 , wherein said face engaging portion further comprises two symmetrical nose lips extending inwardly from said nose portion.  
   
   
       9 . Protective mask according to  claim 6 , wherein said face engaging portion is made from a material having rigidity not less than 55 duro.  
   
   
       10 . Protective mask according to  claim 9 , wherein said face engaging portion is made of material having rigidity between 55 and 70 duro, said material provides an increased wear resistance in use.  
   
   
       11 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a strap adapted to support said mask on a wearer's head;    a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element, said gasket-shaped element provided to securely support and anchor said mask on the wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas,    said gasket-shaped element is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles;    a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means, said lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock said support strap to said mask and to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    wherein said lens locking means adapted to be engaged to said strap by means of a strap clip element.    
   
   
       12 . Protective mask according to  claim 11 , wherein said lens adapted to be locked in said housing by means of a lens locking element.  
   
   
       13 . Protective mask according to  claim 12 , wherein said lens locking element is adapted to be immobilized from sliding rearwardly from said lens by means of a locking immobilizing element.  
   
   
       14 . Protective mask according to  claim 13  wherein said strap clip element, said lens locking element and said locking immobilizing element are adapted to interlock and cooperate between each other to facilitate immobilizing said lens within said housing and to keep said mask on wearer's face.  
   
   
       15 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a strap provided to support said mask on a wearer's head;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element, said gasket-shaped element provided to securely support and anchor said mask on the wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas,    said gasket-shaped element is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles;    a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means, said lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock a support strap to said mask and to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    wherein said face engaging portion comprises a continuous wall extending inwardly substantially perpendicular around areas corresponding to forehead, temple and nose areas of said mask and a peripheral edge extending inwardly vertically around an outer perimeter of said continuous wall, wherein said peripheral edge forms a flat surface adapted to comfortable engage said forehead, temple and nose areas of the wearer's face.    
   
   
       16 . Protective mask according to  claim 15 , wherein said face engaging portion further comprises two symmetrical nose lips extending inwardly from said nose portion.  
   
   
       17 . Protective mask according to  claim 15 , wherein said face engaging portion is made from a material having rigidity not less than 55 duro.  
   
   
       18 . Protective mask according to  claim 17 , wherein said face engaging portion is made of material having rigidity between 55 and 70 duro, said material provides an increased wear resistance in use.  
   
   
       19 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a strap provided to support said mask on a wearer's face;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a face engaging portion comprising a gasket-shaped element, said gasket-shaped element provided to securely support and anchor said mask on a wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas,    said gasket-shaped element is made of a resilient rubber-like material having a sufficient rigidity to withstand a high impact of projectiles;    a lens locking assembly adapted to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    
   
   
       20 . Protective mask according to  claim 19 , wherein said lens locking means adapted to be engaged to said strap by means of a strap clip element.  
   
   
       21 . Protective mask according to  claim 20 , wherein said lens is adapted to be locked in said housing by means of a lens locking element.  
   
   
       22 . Protective mask according to  claim 21 , wherein said lens locking element is adapted to be immobilized from sliding rearwardly from said lens by means of a locking immobilizing element.  
   
   
       23 . Protective mask according to  claim 22  wherein said strap clip element, said lens locking element and said locking immobilizing element are adapted to interlock and cooperate between each other to facilitate immobilizing said lens within said housing and to keep said mask on wearer's face.  
   
   
       24 . A protective mask adapted to be worn by persons engaging in paint ball game comprising: 
 a main body formed of rigid plastic material and adapted to cover a front, sides, a chin and cheek portions;    a strap adapted to support said mask on a wearer's head;    a removable flexible transparent lens adapted to be locked into a housing formed in said mask;    a face engaging portion provided to securely support and anchor said mask on a wearer's face in a forehead, temple and nose areas,    a lens locking assembly comprising a lens locking means, said lens locking means adapted to simultaneously lock a support strap to said mask and to lock said lens within said housing in a positive immobilizing manner, thus preventing any disengagement of said lens from said housing caused by high impact of projectiles striking said mask.    
   
   
       25 . Protective mask according to  claim 24 , wherein said face engaging portion comprises a continuous wall extending inwardly substantially perpendicular around areas corresponding to forehead, temple and nose areas of said mask and a peripheral edge extending inwardly vertically around an outer perimeter of said continuous wall, wherein said peripheral edge forms a flat surface adapted to comfortable engage said forehead, temple and nose areas of the wearer's face.  
   
   
       26 . Protective mask according to  claim 25 , wherein said face engaging portion further comprises two symmetrical nose lips extending inwardly from said nose portion.  
   
   
       27 . Protective mask according to  claim 24 , wherein said face engaging portion is made from a material having rigidity not less than 55 duro.  
   
   
       28 . Protective mask according to  claim 27 , wherein said face engaging portion is made of material having rigidity between 55 and 70 duro, said material provides an increased wear resistance in use.