Face shield

Abstract

A face shield includes a shield portion formed from a sheet of transparent plastic, a fastening system adapted to secure the shield portion to a wearer's head such that the shield portion is positioned in front of the wearer's face, and a resilient brow pad mounted adjacent an upper edge of the shield portion on an inner face thereof to rest against the wearer's forehead. The brow pad incorporates an elastically deformable portion on at least one side of a central brow portion thereof adapted to elastically deflect and/or compress towards the wearer's head when the face shield is worn.

1 . A face shield comprising:
 a shield portion formed from a sheet of transparent plastic;   a fastening system adapted to secure said shield portion to a wearer's head such that said shield portion is positioned in front of the wearer's face; and   a resilient brow pad mounted adjacent an upper edge of said shield portion on an inner face thereof, wherein said brow pad is adapted to rest against the wearer's forehead;   wherein said brow pad incorporates an elastically deformable portion on at least one side of a central brow portion thereof, said elastically deformable portion adapted to elastically deflect or compress towards the wearer's head when said face shield is worn.   
     
     
         2 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said brow pad incorporates an elastically deformable portion on each side of said central brow portion thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said elastically deformable portion is defined by a reduced thickness portion of said brow pad. 
     
     
         4 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said elastically deformable portion incorporates one or more voids to permit elastic deflection of at least a region of said elastically deformable portion towards the wearer's head when said face shield is worn. 
     
     
         5 . The face shield of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more voids are each defined by recess formed in a respective end of the said brow pad. 
     
     
         6 . The face shield of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more voids each comprises a V-shaped or U-shaped recess formed in a respective end of said brow pad. 
     
     
         7 . The face shield of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more voids are each defined by a recess formed in a rear face of said elastically deformable portion of said brow pad, said recess defining a gap between said elastically deformable portion of said brow pad and the wearer's head when said face mask is worn. 
     
     
         8 . The face shield of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more voids each comprises a hole extending through the or each said elastically deformable portion. 
     
     
         9 . The face shield of  claim 3 , wherein said elastically deformable portion comprises a reduced thickness end portion of said brow pad shaped to flare outwardly away from the wearer's head, in use. 
     
     
         10 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said brow pad is pre-curved such that at least said brow portion thereof fits against the wearer's head. 
     
     
         11 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said brow pad is formed from self skinning foam. 
     
     
         12 . The face shield of  claim 11 , wherein said brow pad is formed from closed cell polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         13 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said brow pad is releasably mounted on said shield portion by a detachable mounting system permitting removal of said brow pad from said shield portion to facilitate cleaning of said face shield following use. 
     
     
         14 . The face shield of  claim 13 , wherein said detachable mounting system comprises first and second projections formed respectively on a first face of said brow pad at or adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein said projections are received in receiving apertures formed in said shield portion when said first face of said brow pad is placed against an inner face of said shield portion to thereby detachably secure said brow pad to said shield portion. 
     
     
         15 . The face shield of  claim 14 , wherein each receiving aperture in said shield portion comprises a rectangular window, each of said projections having a corresponding rectangular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         16 . The face shield of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second projections each comprise rearwardly extending tab portions adapted to retain said projections within said respective apertures in said shield portion once said brow pad has been attached to said shield portion. 
     
     
         17 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening system is integrally formed with said shield portion. 
     
     
         18 . The face shield of  claim 17 , wherein said fastening system comprises a pair of straps extending from opposing side edges of said shield portion, said straps being provided with fasteners to permit attachment of said straps to one another to form a band around the wearer's head, a first of said pair of straps being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures along at least a portion of its length and a second of said pair of straps is provided with an integrally formed tab adapted to engage a selected one of said plurality of apertures to permit adjustment of the length of said fastening system. 
     
     
         19 . The face shield of  claim 1 , wherein said shield portion is formed from polyethylene terephthalate sheet material.