Face shield for a hockey helmet

Abstract

A face shield for a hockey helmet, comprising a transparent visor portion, a bottom portion, right and left side portions, and a top portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion. The top portion comprises a top central transversal bar, right and left bars extending upwardly and rearwardly on the right and left sides from the top edge of the visor portion and a central projection between the right and left bars projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion. The central bar and central projection define a transversal gap therebetween and the central bar, right and left bars and central projection define right and left hollow spaces therebetween. The transversal gap and right and left hollow spaces together define a central aeration aperture being sized to prevent a hockey stick blade or puck from impacting the wearer's face.

1 . A face shield for a hockey helmet adapted to protect a head of a wearer, the helmet having an outer shell with a front for at least partially covering a forehead of the wearer's head, the face shield having a longitudinal axis, a transversal axis and a height axis, the face shield comprising:
 a transparent visor portion for at least partially covering the wearer's forehead, a nose and eyes of the wearer and right and left sides of a face of the wearer, wherein the visor portion has top and bottom edges, an inner surface that is concave and an outer surface that is convex;   a bottom portion for at least partially covering and encircling a mouth and a chin of the wearer;   right and left side portions for at least partially covering the right and left sides of the wearer's face; and   a top portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion, wherein the top portion comprises: a top edge portion having a curvature for generally following a curvature of the front of the outer shell, the top edge portion comprising a central bar extending along the transversal axis and being located on right and left sides with respect to the height axis; right and left bars extending upwardly and rearwardly on the right and left sides from the top edge of the visor portion and being each connected to the top edge portion; and a central projection between the right and left bars projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion;   wherein the central bar and the central projection define a transversal gap therebetween;   wherein the central bar, the right and left bars and the central projection define right and left hollow spaces therebetween; and   wherein the transversal gap and the right and left hollow spaces together define a central aeration aperture being sized to prevent a hockey stick blade or puck from impacting the wearer's face.   
     
     
         2 . The face shied of  claim 1 , wherein the transversal gap has a width being sized to allow movement of right and left connectors along the central bar. 
     
     
         3 . The face shield of  claim 2 , wherein the transversal gap and right and left hollow spaces allow movement of the right connector towards the right bar along a right distance of between 0.4 inch and 1.4 inches and movement of the left connector towards the left bar along a left distance of between 1 inch and 2 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The face shield of  claim 3 , wherein the right and left distances are each between 0.8 inch and 1.2 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The face shield of  claim 2 , wherein the transversal gap and right and left hollow spaces allow movement of a right connector towards the right bar and movement of a left connector towards the left bar such that holes of the right and left connectors are spaced apart of a distance between 0.8 inch and 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The face shield of  claim 1 , further comprising right and left connectors for mounting the face shield to the front of the outer shell, wherein each of the right and left connectors comprises a base portion defining a substantially cylindrical aperture for receiving the central bar and first and second legs extending from the base portion, the first and second legs having first and second holes for allowing passage of a screw therethrough, and wherein the transversal gap has a width being sized to allow movement of the right and left connectors along the central bar. 
     
     
         7 . The face shield of  claim 6 , wherein the transversal gap and right and left hollow spaces allow movement of the right connector towards the right bar along a right distance of between 0.4 inch and 1.4 inches and movement of the left connector towards the left bar along a left distance of between 0.4 inch and 1.4 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The face shield of  claim 7 , wherein the right and left distances are each between 0.8 inch and 1.2 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The face shield of  claim 6 , wherein the transversal gap and right and left hollow spaces allow movement of the right connector towards the right bar and movement of the left connector towards the left bar such that the holes of the right and left connectors are spaced apart of a distance between 0.8 inch and 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further comprises right and left side ends joining together the top edge portion and the visor portion, wherein the right side end, the top edge portion, the top edge and the right bar define a right aeration aperture therebetween and the left side end, the top edge portion, the top edge and the left bar define a left aeration aperture therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the right and left bars are first right and left bars and wherein the top portion further comprises right and left side ends joining together the top edge portion and the visor portion and second right and left bars extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion and being each connected to the top edge portion, wherein the first right bar, the top edge portion, the top edge and the second right bar define a first right aeration aperture therebetween, wherein the right side end, the top edge portion, the top edge and the second right bar define a second right aeration aperture therebetween, wherein the first left bar, the top edge portion, the top edge and the second left bar define a first left aeration aperture therebetween, and wherein the left side end, the top edge portion, the top edge and the second left bar define a second left aeration aperture therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a bottom edge portion extending downwardly and rearwardly for at least partially facing a bottom surface of the wearer's chin and wherein the bottom edge portion comprises top and bottom edges. 
     
     
         13 . The face shield of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a plurality of bottom bars extending downwardly and rearwardly from the bottom edge of the visor portion towards the top edge of the bottom edge portion and being each connected to the bottom edge portion. 
     
     
         14 . The face shield of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of bottom bars comprise a right bottom bar located on the right side and a left bottom bar located on the left side, and wherein the right bottom bar, the bottom edge of the visor portion, the left bottom bar and the top edge of the bottom edge portion define therebetween a central bottom aeration aperture for facing the wearer's mouth. 
     
     
         15 . The face shield of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of bottom bars comprise a right bottom bar located on the right side and a left bottom bar located on the left side, wherein the bottom portion further comprises a bottom transversal bar extending from the right side portion to the left side portion along a curvature and being located between the bottom edge of the visor portion and the top edge of the bottom edge portion, wherein the right and left bottom bars are each connected to the bottom transversal bar, wherein the right bottom bar, the bottom edge of the visor portion, the left bottom bar and the bottom transversal bar define therebetween a first central bottom aeration aperture for facing the wearer's mouth, and wherein the right bottom bar, the bottom transversal bar, the left bottom bar and the top edge of the bottom edge portion define therebetween a second central bottom aeration aperture for facing the wearer's mouth. 
     
     
         16 . The face shield of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second central bottom apertures have first and second sizes, the first size being larger or similar than the second size. 
     
     
         17 . The face shield of  claim 15 , wherein the right and left bottom bars are first right and left bottom bars, wherein the plurality of bottom bars comprise second and third right bars extending between the bottom edge of the visor portion and the top edge of the bottom edge portion and being each connected to the transversal bottom bar and second and third left bars extending between the bottom edge of the visor portion and the top edge of the bottom edge portion and being each connected to the transversal bottom bar for defining four additional aeration apertures on the right side and four additional aeration apertures on the left side. 
     
     
         18 . A face shield for a hockey helmet adapted to protect a head of a wearer, the helmet having an outer shell with a front for at least partially covering a forehead of the wearer's head, the face shield having a longitudinal axis, a transversal axis and a height axis, the face shield comprising:
 a transparent visor portion for at least partially covering the wearer's forehead, a nose and eyes of the wearer and right and left sides of a face of the wearer, wherein the visor portion has top and bottom edges, an inner surface that is concave and an outer surface that is convex;   a bottom portion for at least partially covering and encircling a mouth and a chin of the wearer;   right and left side portions for at least partially covering the right and left sides of the wearer's face; and   a top portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion, wherein the top portion comprises: a top edge portion having a curvature for generally following a curvature of the front of the outer shell, the top edge portion comprising a central bar extending along the transversal axis and being located on right and left sides with respect to the height axis; right and left bars extending upwardly and rearwardly on the right and left sides from the top edge of the visor portion and being each connected to the top edge portion; and a central projection between the right and left bars projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion;   wherein the central bar and the central projection define a transversal gap therebetween;   wherein the central bar, the right and left bars and the central projection define right and left hollow spaces therebetween; and   wherein the transversal gap and the right and left hollow spaces together define a central aeration aperture being sized to prevent a hockey stick blade or puck from impacting the wearer's face and wherein one of the right and left hollow spaces allows a connector mounted on the central bar to pivot within the hollow space.   
     
     
         19 . The face shield of  claim 18 , wherein the right and left hollow spaces each allows the connector mounted on the central bar to pivot within the hollow space. 
     
     
         20 . A face shield for a hockey helmet adapted to protect a head of a wearer, the helmet having an outer shell with a front for at least partially covering a forehead of the wearer's head, the face shield having a longitudinal axis, a transversal axis and a height axis, the face shield comprising:
 a transparent visor portion for at least partially covering the wearer's forehead, a nose and eyes of the wearer and right and left sides of a face of the wearer, wherein the visor portion has top and bottom edges, an inner surface that is concave and an outer surface that is convex;   a bottom portion for at least partially covering and encircling a mouth and a chin of the wearer, the bottom portion comprising a bottom edge portion extending downwardly and rearwardly for facing a bottom surface of the wearer's chin and wherein the bottom edge portion comprises top and bottom edges;   right and left side portions for at least partially covering the right and left sides of the wearer's face; and   a top portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion, wherein the top portion comprises: a top edge portion having a curvature for generally following a curvature of the front of the outer shell, the top edge portion comprising a central bar extending along the transversal axis and being located on right and left sides with respect to the height axis; right and left bars extending upwardly and rearwardly on the right and left sides from the top edge of the visor portion and being each connected to the top edge portion; and a central projection between the right and left bars projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of the visor portion;   wherein the central bar and the central projection define a transversal gap therebetween;   wherein the central bar, the right and left bars and the central projection define right and left hollow spaces therebetween;   wherein the transversal gap and the right and left hollow spaces together define a central aeration aperture being sized to prevent a hockey stick blade or puck from impacting the wearer's face; and   wherein the bottom portion comprises a right bottom bar located on the right side and a left bottom bar located on the left side, and wherein the right bottom bar, the bottom edge of the visor portion, the left bottom bar and the top edge of the bottom edge portion define therebetween a central bottom aeration aperture for facing the wearer's mouth.