Padded facemask shield

Abstract

A padded facemask shield assembly is provided for a protective helmet having a facemask with an inboard surface and an outboard surface. The padded facemask shield assembly has a frame, including an elastic frame, at least one resilient pad connected to the frame, and a coupler connected to at least one of the frame and the at least one resilient pad, wherein the coupler is configured to releasably engage the facemask and locate the frame and the at least one resilient pad on the outboard surface of the facemask.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly for a protective helmet having a facemask, the shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly comprising:
 (a) a frame including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the frame is a continuous layer;   (b) a padded structure connected to the outer surface of the frame, wherein the padded structure is configured to conform to a curvature of a facemask, wherein the padded structure extends away from the inner surface of the frame; and   (c) at least one coupler connected to at least one of the frame and the padded structure, the at least one coupler configured to releasably engage the facemask and locate the inner surface of the frame on an outboard surface of the facemask, wherein the outboard surface of the facemask extends away from an interior of a corresponding helmet; and wherein both the inner surface of the frame and the padded structure cover a majority of a surface area of the outboard surface of the facemask.   
     
     
         2 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the padded structure includes a plurality of padded projections, wherein the plurality of padded projections extends away from the inner surface of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the padded structure includes a plurality of flexing lines, wherein each flexing line of the plurality of flexing lines separates at least two padded projections of the plurality of padded projections, wherein the plurality of flexing lines enables the padded structure to conform to the curvature of the facemask. 
     
     
         4 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the frame and the padded structure is configured to pass air. 
     
     
         5 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupler is a hook and loop fastener or a strap, wherein the at least one coupler is configured to engage the facemask. 
     
     
         6 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the padded structure includes at least one of a foam, a gel, or a molded polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the padded structure includes a molder polymer, wherein the molded polymer comprises at least one of polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and silicone polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is elastic. 
     
     
         9 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the padded structure is integrated into the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein both the inner surface of the frame and the padded structure extend laterally and vertically across at least 75% of the surface area of the outboard surface of the facemask. 
     
     
         11 . The shock-absorbing padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupler includes a plurality of couplers, wherein the plurality of couplers includes at least one coupler positioned near a top of the frame, at least one coupler positioned near a bottom of the frame, and at least one coupler positioned on a side of the frame. 
     
     
         12 . A padded facemask shield assembly for a protective helmet having a facemask, the padded facemask shield assembly comprising:
 (a) a main body having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface configured to contact an outboard surface of a facemask, wherein the outboard surface of a facemask extends away from an interior of a corresponding helmet, wherein the facemask includes at least one bar, wherein the rear surface is a continuous layer, wherein the main body further includes a padded structure; and   (b) a coupler connected to the main body, the coupler configured to releasably engage the facemask and retain the main body on the outboard surface of the facemask, wherein the main body is configured to conform to a curvature of the outboard surface.   
     
     
         13 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the padded structure includes a plurality of pads. 
     
     
         14 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pads is disposed between at least a portion of the front surface and the rear surface of the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pads extends away from the rear surface of the main body, wherein the main body and the padded structure cover a majority of a surface area of the outboard surface of the facemask. 
     
     
         16 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the padded structure includes a plurality of flexure lines, wherein each flexure line of the plurality of flexure lines separates at least two pads of the plurality of pads, wherein, via the plurality of flexure lines, the main body is configured to conform to the curvature of the facemask. 
     
     
         17 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the padded structure includes at least one of a foam, a gel, or a molded polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein, the padded structure comprises a molded polymer, wherein the molded polymer comprises at least one of polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and silicone polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the main body includes an elastic frame connected to the padded structure. 
     
     
         20 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the main body is flexible. 
     
     
         21 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the coupler includes a plurality of couplers, wherein the plurality of couplers includes at least one coupler positioned near a top of the main body, at least one coupler positioned near a bottom of the main body, at least one coupler positioned on a side of the main body. 
     
     
         22 . The padded facemask shield assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the main body includes an elastic frame, wherein the padded structure is integrally molded into the elastic frame.