Coupler to connect an appliance to a face mask

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a coupler to be connected to a face mask of the kind having a pair of lenses surrounded by a frame. The face mask is worn by a user (e.g., a swimmer or an underwater diver) so that an appliance (e.g., a light source or a camera) can be attached to the coupler and carried by the face mask to allow the user's hands to remain free. The coupler includes an upstanding attachment leg detachably connected to the frame of the face mask and an appliance support that is joined to the top of the attachment leg. The appliance support of the coupler is held up by the attachment leg of the coupler so as to be accessible above the frame of the face mask. The appliance is attached to the appliance support of the coupler by a removable appliance fastener that extends therethrough.

1 . A combination comprising:
 a face mask to be worn against the face of a user, said face mask including a frame having a pair of lenses located at opposite sides thereof to cover the eyes of the user and a bridge extending between the pair of lenses;   an appliance to be attached to and carried by the face mask; and   a coupler by which to connect the appliance to the face mask, said coupler including an attachment leg to be connected to the face mask and an appliance support joined to said attachment leg, said appliance being attached to said coupler at said appliance support.   
     
     
         2 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment leg of said coupler is connected to the frame of the face mask at the bridge thereof such that the appliance support of said coupler is held up by said attachment leg so as to lie above said frame. 
     
     
         3 . The combination recited in  claim 2 , wherein the bridge of the frame of the face mask has a recess formed therein such that the attachment leg of said coupler is received within said recess. 
     
     
         4 . The combination recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a coupler fastener receiving hole formed in the attachment leg of said coupler, a mounting hole formed in said bridge at the recess thereof, and a coupler fastener extending through each of said coupler fastener receiving hole and said mounting hole such that said attachment leg is held within said recess and said coupler is thereby connected to the frame of the face mask at said bridge. 
     
     
         5 . The combination recited in  claim 4 , wherein said coupler fastener is removable from each of said mounting hole and said coupler fastener receiving hole such that the attachment leg of said coupler is removed from the recess formed in said bridge and said coupler is detached from the frame and separated from the face mask. 
     
     
         6 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein said coupler has a top, a bottom and a pair of sides, said coupler also including a pair of wings extending outwardly and in opposite directions from said pair of sides to lay on top of the frame of said face mask to prevent said coupler from rocking back and forth on the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an appliance fastener extending through each of the appliance support of said coupler and said appliance in order to attach said appliance to said coupler so that said appliance is carried by said face mask. 
     
     
         8 . The combination recited in  claim 7 , wherein the appliance support of said coupler has at least first and second support portions that are aligned side-by-side and separated from one another by a space, and said appliance has at least one coupling tab projecting therefrom and being sized for receipt within the space between the first and second support portions of said appliance support, said appliance fastener extending through the first and second support portions of said coupler and the coupling tab of said appliance to attach said appliance to said coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The combination recited in  claim 8 , wherein said appliance fastener is removable from each of the at least one coupling tab of said appliance and the first and second support portions of the appliance support of said coupler such that said appliance is detachable from said coupler. 
     
     
         10 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein said appliance to be attached to and carried by said face mask is a light source. 
     
     
         11 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein said appliance to be attached to and carried by said face mask is a camera.