Filtered protective mask for a helmet

Abstract

A protective face mask has a face shield arranged to fully span a face area of the user while being secured relative to a protective helmet worn by the user. The face mask has a central viewing portion formed of a transparent material that is rigid so as to resist deformation when impacted. One or more breathing openings are formed in the face shield so as to be arranged to receive breathing air when inhaling and/or exhaling. A control structure is supported on the face shield in operative association with each breathing opening in non-interference with the central viewing portion of the face shield in which the control structure is one of (i) a filter member spanning across the breathing opening, or (ii) a valve member operable between open and closed positions so as to only allow flow through the breathing opening in one direction.

1 . A protective face mask for use with a helmet worn by a user, the protective face mask comprising:
 a face shield arranged to fully span a face area of the user in which at least a central viewing portion of the shield is formed of a transparent material, the shield being rigid so as to resist deformation when impacted;   a mounting arrangement arranged to secure the shield relative to the helmet such that the face shield spans the face area of the user when the helmet is worn by the user;   at least one breathing opening formed in the face shield so as to be arranged to receive breathing air therethrough; and   a control structure supported on the face shield so as to be operatively associated with said at least one breathing opening in non-interference with the central viewing portion of the face shield, the control structure comprising one of:
 (i) a filter member spanning across the breathing opening; or 
 (ii) a valve member operable between open and closed positions so as to only allow flow through the breathing opening in one direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one breathing opening includes an inhalation opening in which the control structure comprises the filter member spanning across the inhalation opening. 
     
     
         3 . The mask according to  claim 2  wherein the filter member is removably supported relative to the inhalation opening. 
     
     
         4 . The mask according to  claim 3  wherein the filter member includes snap fit connectors arranged to releasably support the filter member relative to the inhalation opening. 
     
     
         5 . The mask according to  claim 2  wherein the inhalation opening is adjacent a top of the face shield. 
     
     
         6 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one breathing opening includes an exhalation opening in which the control structure comprises the valve member operable to only allow outward flow through the exhalation opening to an exterior of the face shield. 
     
     
         7 . The mask according to  claim 6  wherein the exhalation opening is located adjacent a bottom of the face shield. 
     
     
         8 . The mask according to  claim 6  wherein the exhalation opening includes a rigid external frame supported externally of the valve member so as to protect the valve member from external impacts. 
     
     
         9 . The mask according to  claim 1  further comprising a resilient gasket member supported about a portion of a perimeter of the face shield so as to be arranged to form a seal between the face shield and a portion of the face area of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The mask according to  claim 9  wherein the resilient gasket member is supported continuously along a bottom edge and along both opposing sides edges of the face shield so as to be arranged to form a seal between the face shield and a full jaw of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The mask according to  claim 9  wherein the resilient gasket member comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         12 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein further comprising a hydration opening formed in the face shield so as to be arranged for alignment with a mouth area of the user, and a hydration valve member operatively connected to the face shield for movement relative to the hydration opening between open and closed positions, the hydration valve member being biased to the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The mask according to  claim 12  wherein the hydration valve member comprises one or more panels of resilient material which flex between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         14 . The mask according to  claim 12  wherein the hydration valve member is movable against biasing towards the open position under force of a stream of liquid directed into the face shield through the hydration opening. 
     
     
         15 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting arrangement includes a hinge structure at a top of the face shield, the hinge structure being arranged to support the face shield on the helmet for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the face shield fully spans the face area of the user and an open position allowing removal of the helmet from the user. 
     
     
         16 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting arrangement includes a pair of strap assemblies supported at laterally opposing sides of the face shield, each strap assembly comprising (i) a lower attachment secured to the face shield adjacent a bottom end thereof, (ii) an upper attachment secured to the face shield at a location spaced above the lower attachment, and (iii) a rear attachment arranged to be releasably attached to the helmet at a location spaced rearwardly of the face shield. 
     
     
         17 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one breathing opening includes (i) one or more inhalation openings in which the control structure comprises the filter member spanning across the inhalation opening and (ii) one or more exhalation openings in which the control structure comprises the valve member operable to only allow outward flow through the exhalation opening to an exterior of the face shield, the inhalation and exhalation openings comprising the only openings in the face shield. 
     
     
         18 . The mask according to  claim 1  wherein an entirety of the face shield is formed of the transparent material such that the control structure of said at least one breathing opening is supported by the transparent material. 
     
     
         19 . The mask according to  claim 1  in combination with the helmet, the helmet comprising a sports helmet having a brow portion covering a forehead of the user and side portions covering temporal areas of the user, the mounting arrangement joining the face shield to the brow portion and the side portions of the helmet in a mounted position.