Protective face covering

Abstract

A protective face covering includes a protective shell sized and shaped to fit only over certain areas of a user's face. The protective shell includes a protective airway covering extending substantially over the nose and mouth of the user, the protective airway covering having a plurality of openings to allow the passage of air. The protective shell also includes first and second protective jaw coverings that extend away from the protective airway covering along either side of the user's jaw. A protective chin covering extends from the protective airway covering substantially beneath the chin of the user. A filter filters air passing through the openings on the device. A fastener secures the device to the lower back of the skull of the user. The fastener extends between openings in the first and second jaw coverings, respectively, and extends around the head of the user.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A protective face covering comprising:
 a protective shell sized and shaped to fit over a face of a user of the protective face covering, the protective shell comprising:
 a protective airway covering extending substantially over a nose and mouth of the user of the protective face covering and not extending substantially over other areas of the head of the user, the protective airway covering having a plurality of openings therein for allowing the passage of air through the protective airway covering; 
 a first protective jaw covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially along a length of a first side of a jaw of the user and substantially over a first ear of the user, the first protective jaw covering not extending substantially over other areas of the head of the user; 
 a second protective jaw covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially along a length of a second side of the jaw of the user and substantially over a second ear of the user, the second protective jaw covering not extending substantially over other areas of the head of the user; and 
 a protective chin covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially beneath a chin of the user; 
   a filter in fluid communication with the protective airway covering for filtering air passing through the protective airway covering; and   a fastener extending between said first protective jaw covering and said second protective jaw covering along a lower portion of the back of the skull of the user, and not extending substantially over other areas of the back of the skull, the fastener securing the protective face covering to the face of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The protective face covering according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ornamental attachment removably fastenable to an exterior of said protective shell and extending substantially thereover. 
     
     
         3 . The protective face covering according to  claim 1  wherein the filter is a high-efficiency particulate air filter. 
     
     
         4 . The protective face covering according to  claim 1  wherein the protective shell comprises a cushioning portion attached thereto and disposed along at least a portion of a surface of the protective shell between the protective shell and the face of a user, the cushioning portion forming a seal between the protective shell and the face of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The protective face covering according to  claim 4  wherein the cushioning portion is comprise of a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         6 . The protective face covering according to  claim 1  wherein the protective shell comprises a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, fiberglass, para-amid synthetic fibers, polyethylene fibers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fiber, metals, metal alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A protective face covering in combination with an upper head covering, the combination comprising:
 a protective shell sized and shaped to fit over a face of a user of the protective face covering, the protective shell comprising:
 a protective airway covering extending only substantially over a nose and mouth of the user of the protective face covering and not beyond, and having a plurality of openings therein for allowing the passage of air through the protective airway covering; 
 a first protective jaw covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially along a length of a first side of a jaw of the user to a first ear of the user, and not beyond; 
 a second protective jaw covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially along a length of a second side of the jaw of the user to a second ear of the user, and not beyond; 
 a protective chin covering extending from said protective airway covering substantially beneath the chin of the user and not beyond; and 
   a fastener extending between said first protective jaw covering and said second protective jaw covering, along a lower portion of the back of the skull of a user and not beyond, the fastener securing the protective face covering to the face of the user; and   a helmet substantially covering an upper portion of the head of the user,   wherein said protective shell and fastener are not attached to said helmet.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the first protective jaw covering defines a first opening therein for receiving a first end of the fastener therein and the second protective jaw covering defines a second opening therein for receiving a second end of the faster. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7  further comprising a filter in fluid communication with the protective airway covering for filtering air passing through the protective airway covering. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the protective airway covering further comprises an ornamental feature. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein the ornamental feature is molded as an integral part of the protective airway covering. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising an ornamental attachment removably fastenable to an exterior of said protective shell and extending substantially thereover. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the filter is a high-efficiency particulate air filter. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the protective shell comprises a cushioning portion attached thereto and disposed along at least a portion of a surface of the protective shell between the protective shell and the face of a user, the cushioning portion forming a seal between the protective shell and the face of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the soft material is a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the protective shell comprises a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, fiberglass, para-amid synthetic fibers, polyethylene fibers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fiber, metals, metal alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A protective face covering comprising:
 a) a protective shell sized and shaped to fit over a face of a user of the protective face covering, the protective shell having an interior-facing surface and comprising:
 a protective airway portion extending only substantially over a nose and face of the user; 
 a first protective jaw portion extending only from said protective airway portion substantially along a length of a first side of a jaw of the user to a first ear of the user; 
 a second protective jaw portion extending only from said protective airway portion substantially along a length of a second side of the jaw of the user to a second ear of the user; and 
 a protective chin portion extending only from said protective airway portion substantially beneath a chin of the user, 
   b) a filter support having an exterior-facing surface and an interior-facing surface, the exterior-facing surface of the filter support mating with the interior facing surface of the protective shell;   c) a cushion frame having an exterior-facing surface and an interior-facing surface, the exterior-facing surface of the cushion frame mating with the interior-facing surface of the filter support;   d) a filter disposed between the filter support and the cushion frame;   e) a cushion having an exterior-facing surface, the exterior-facing surface of the cushion mating with the interior-facing surface of the cushion frame, the cushion comprising a perimeter extending to form an interior-facing surface for contacting the face of the user, the cushion further comprising a central opening about which the perimeter is disposed, the central opening sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the nose and mouth of the user; and   f) a fastener extending from said first protecting jaw portion to said second protective jaw portion, the fastener adapted to extend around at least a portion of a head of the user, thereby securing the protective face covering to the head of the user.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17  further comprising a mesh disposed between said protective shell and said filter support. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein said protective shell comprises at least one opening in said protective airway portion, said mesh being visible therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 17  further comprising a communications system, the communications system comprising a microphone, speaker, and, optionally, a camera.