Face guard frame, system and method

Abstract

A face guard frame having a forehead support extending laterally across a forehead of a wearer during use, a connection point on the forehead support, side supports extending downwardly from the forehead support and extending about a face of a wearer during use, an upper crossbar, a lower crossbar, at least one blocking bar, and a chin plate. The upper crossbar may extend from a first side support to a second side support thereby forming a viewing region with the forehead support. The lower crossbar may extend from the first side support towards a chin area of a wearer during use of the face guard and to the second side support. The blocking bar may extend from the upper crossbar to the lower crossbar and the chin plate may be centrally located on an interior portion of the lower crossbar.

1 . A face guard frame comprising:
 a unitary facial support comprising a forehead support configured to extend laterally across a forehead of a wearer and having a connection point for receiving a head strap, first and second side supports extending downwardly from the distal ends of the forehead support and about a portion of the wearer's face, each of said first and second side supports having at least one connection point for receiving a head strap;   an upper crossbar extending from the first side support to the second side support, wherein the unitary facial support and upper crossbar form a viewing region;   a lower crossbar extending from the first side support towards a chin area of a wearer during use of the face guard and to the second side support;   at least one blocking bar extending from the upper crossbar to the lower crossbar to form at least one mouth region; and   a chin plate centrally located on an interior portion of the lower crossbar.   
     
     
         2 . The face guard frame of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chin pad removably securable to the chin plate.   
     
     
         3 . The face guard frame of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a forehead support pad removably securable to an interior surface of the forehead support.   
     
     
         4 . The face guard of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 side support pads removably securable to an interior surfaces of the first and second side supports.   
     
     
         5 . The face guard of  claim 1 , wherein the forehead support connection point for receiving a head strap is an aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The face guard of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side support connection points for receiving a head strap is are apertures. 
     
     
         7 . A face guard system comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a unitary facial support comprising:
 a forehead support extending laterally across a forehead of a wearer during use of the face guard frame; 
 at least one connection point located on the forehead support; 
 a first side support extending downwardly from the forehead support and extending about a face of a wearer during use of the face guard frame; 
 a second side support downwardly extending downwardly from the forehead support and extending about a face of a wearer during use of the face guard frame; and 
 at least one connection point located on the first side support; 
 
 an upper crossbar extending from the first side support to the second side support, wherein the unitary facial support and upper crossbar form a viewing region; 
 a lower crossbar extending from the first side support towards a chin area of a wearer during use of the face guard and to the second side support; 
 at least one blocking bar extending from the upper crossbar to the lower crossbar to form at least one mouth region; 
 a chin plate centrally located on an interior portion of the lower crossbar; and 
   a head strap comprising:
 a rear strap extending from the first side support to the second side support; 
 a top strap extending from the forehead support; and 
 at least one retaining strap connecting the top strap to the rear strap so as to form an opening. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a chin pad removably securable to the chin plate. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 A fastening means located on the chin plate for removably securing a chin pad thereto. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 A fastening means located on the chin pad for removably securing the chin pad to the chin plate. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the rear strap is removably connected to the first side support. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 an aperture located on the first side support sized and shaped for insertion of at least a portion of the rear strap therethrough. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the top strap is removably connected to the forehead support. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 an aperture located on the forehead support sized and shaped for insertion of at least a portion of the top strap therethrough. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a means for adjusting a length of the rear strap. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a means for adjusting a length of the top strap. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a face guard system comprising a frame comprising: a unitary facial support comprising a forehead support configured to extend laterally across a forehead of a wearer and having a connection point for receiving a head strap, first and second side supports extending downwardly from the distal ends of the forehead support and about a portion of the wearer's face, each of said first and second side supports having at least one connection point for receiving a head strap; an upper crossbar extending from the first side support to the second side support, wherein the unitary facial support and upper crossbar form a viewing region; a lower crossbar extending from the first side support towards a chin area of a wearer during use of the face guard and to the second side support; at least one blocking bar extending from the upper crossbar to the lower crossbar to form at least one mouth region; and a chin plate centrally located on an interior portion of the lower crossbar;r a head strap comprising: a rear strap extending from the first side support to the second side support; a top strap extending from the forehead support; and at least one retaining strap connecting the top strap to the rear strap so as to form an opening; and a chin pad removably securable to the chin plate, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the head strap over a user's head, such that the top strap extends over at least a top portion of the user's head and the rear strap extends laterally across a rear portion of the user's head; and   positioning the frame over a user's face, such that the chin pad is adjacent to a user's chin.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of:
 adjusting the chin pad to a desired position on the chin plate.