Face shield for rigid protective headwear

Abstract

A thermoformed protective face shield includes a curved top portion adapted to conform to a curved lower portion of a rigid protective headwear. The face shield further includes a visor portion extending outward from a lower end of the curved top portion, thereby creating a space between the user's face and a face cover portion. The visor portion includes one or more channels formed therein for structural support and/or allowing release of heat and/or moisture from the face cover portion. The face cover portion extends downward from the visor portion and covers and provides protection for the face of a user. A side shield portion extends inwardly from the face cover portion. For shielding the sides of a user's face. Further, a perimeter flange may extend perpendicular to the perimeter of the face shield for providing structural support to the face shield.

What I/we claim is: 
     
         1 . A thermoformed protective face shield comprising:
 a) a curved top portion adapted to conform to a curved lower portion of a rigid protective headwear;   b) a visor portion extending outwardly from a lower end of said curved top portion and adapted to conform to a brim portion of the rigid protective headwear, said visor portion including a plurality of channels each having a first end and a second end;   c) a face cover portion extending downward from said visor portion for shielding the face of a user of the rigid protective headwear;   d) a side shield portion extending inwardly from the face cover portion for shielding the sides of a user's face; and   e) a perimeter flange extending substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the face shield for providing structural support to the face shield.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , further wherein at least one of said plurality of channels comprises an airway having an intake end and a discharge end for allowing movement of moisture and/or heat away from said face cover portion. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 2 , further wherein each of said plurality of channels comprises an airway having an intake end and a discharge end for allowing movement of moisture and/or heat away from said face cover portion. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said face cover portion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said side shield portion comprises a plurality of side segments extending rearwardly from said face cover portion. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of side segments are relatively planar and come together at an angle to provide a shield that substantially surrounds the sides and bottom of a user's face. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 5 , further comprising intermediate side segments positioned between said side shield portion and said face cover portion. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said perimeter flange is present around the perimeter of said thermoformed protective face shield. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said visor portion, said face cover portion, and said side shield portion are formed from an optically clear material. 
     
     
         10 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 9 , further wherein at least one of said visor portion, said face cover portion, and said side shield portion is comprised of or layered with a blocking material that at least partially blocks one or more portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 10 , wherein said blocking material is a photochromic material. 
     
     
         12 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 9 , wherein said optically clear material is polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         13 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of said visor portion and said curved top portion comprises tape having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is attached to said outer surface and said second portion is configured for attachment to the rigid protective headwear. 
     
     
         14 . The thermoformed protective face shield of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of said visor portion and said curved top portion comprises at least one of:
 a. double-sided tape,   b. the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener,   c. the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener,   d. the female half of a snap fastener,   e. the male half of a snap fastener, and   f. an adhesive.