FR2775907A1 - FENCER MASK - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fencing mask formed from a carcass comprising a rigid protective face (2) intended to cover the face and extending rearward in its upper part by a gallery (3) partially protecting the head and in its lower part, as a lateral extension of the gallery (3) and of the face (2), by a neck protection flap (4), characterized in that the protective face (2) of the carcass comprises a zone central (5) made of a solid transparent and resistant material, offering a perfect visual field at least at eye level and several ventilation zones (6, 7, 8, 9) made of a resistant material provided with orifices.

Description

The present invention relates to a fencing mask traditionally

  consisting of a carcass comprising a rigid protective face intended to cover the face and extending rearward in its upper part by a gallery partially protecting the head and in its lower part, in lateral extension of the gallery and the face ,

  by an added neck protection flap.

  In such masks, the rigid protective face is traditionally constituted by a metallic fabric or mesh forming very tight meshes, obtained at

  from a wire of an appropriate diameter.

  With regard to the aforementioned gallery, this is also obtained by a grid of the same type produced separately and connected to the face by means of a peripheral connection ring, subsequently covered by

  a plastic cover, for aesthetic reasons.

  Such a design has many drawbacks, the main one being that of making the face of both practically imperceptible.

  opponents during a fight.

  Even if this fact is preferred by some fencers, it is generally felt to be a disadvantage because the expression of the face of a shooter during

  the assault is often rich in information for the adversary.

  Beyond this consideration which can be controversial, by the actors according to their type, it is important to take into consideration the fact that these fights are the subject of national, international, even even Olympic competitions, and are followed by

a very large audience.

  However, it is forced to follow only mechanical movements of the body, having to disregard all expressive signs of the face giving this sport a

  certain coldness from the very fact that the faces are hidden.

  This is felt all the more when the fight is followed at a certain distance or according to a

television broadcast.

  One of the goals is therefore to make fencing a more spectacular and attractive sport by making it more user-friendly, especially for television reasons. Another drawback of this type of traditional mask is that, due to the

  materials used, it represents a certain weight.

  Another object of the invention is therefore to obtain a

relief from it.

  Another drawback is the complexity

  of assembly of the various constituent elements.

  Another goal is to simplify the design

  and mounting in different parts of the mask.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy

  all these disadvantages and achieve the aforementioned goals.

  To this end, the invention relates to a fencing mask formed of a carcass comprising a rigid protective face intended to cover the face and extending backwards in its upper part by a gallery partially protecting the head and in its lower part, in lateral extension of the gallery and the face, by an attached bib for protecting the neck, characterized in that the protective face of the carcass comprises a central zone closed by a viewing element made of a full transparent material and resistant, offering a perfect visual field at least at eye level and o several areas closed by a ventilation element made

  in a resistant material provided with holes.

  Such a mask makes it possible to achieve the main objective of the invention, namely to make the face of the fencer visible, while offering a compromise with the necessary ventilation of the mask during fights involving significant physical effort and consequently, causing sweating. In a particularly advantageous manner, the carcass is formed of a single-piece shell made of an anti-shock material, integrating the gallery, to constitute a support and assembly part of the assembly of the constituent elements of said mask. This shell delimits at least two open areas intended to be covered respectively with a central vision element in solid transparent material and with a ventilation element in material

resistant with holes.

  In a preferred embodiment, the facial surface of the shell comprises an upper frontal ventilation zone situated above the central vision zone and extending between the upper part of the facial opening of the shell and a rib upper arch shape joining the two lateral sides of said face substantially at the level of the temples, and a lower bucco-nasal ventilation zone situated below the central zone of vision and extending between the lower part of the facial opening and a lower arch-shaped rib joining the two lateral sides of said face

noticeably at the level of the chin.

  In a simplified embodiment, intended in particular for children, the monobloc shell is made entirely of a solid, transparent and resistant material, and is provided with at least one ventilation zone placed outside the field of vision and in which at least one orifice surrounded by a rebate is pierced, said zone being covered with an element made of a resistant material provided with orifices and fitting into said rebate so as to be in continuity with the external face of the shell. These different characteristics which will emerge in

  during the description which follows, may be

  considered in isolation or in all their combinations

possible techniques.

  This description, given by way of example not

  limiting, will better understand how the invention can be realized, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mask according to the invention worn by a fencer; - Figure 2 is a side view of the mask according to Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a front view of the shell, with a partial view of the resistant elements; - Figure 4 is a detail view, in section at

level of a rib.

  The mask 1 designated as a whole in the figures, is formed of a carcass comprising a rigid protective face 2 intended to cover the face and extending rearwards in its upper part by a gallery 3 partially protecting the head and in its lower part, in lateral extension of the gallery 3 and the face

  2 by an attached flap 4, for protecting the neck.

  According to the invention, the protective face 2 of the carcass comprises a central zone 5 made of a transparent and resistant solid material, offering a perfect visual field at least at eye level and several ventilation zones 6, 7, 8, 9 made of a material

resistant with holes.

  According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the carcass is formed of a single-piece shell 10 made of an anti-shock material integrating the gallery 3, to constitute a support and assembly part of all the constituent elements of said mask 1 More specifically, the shell 10 delimits open areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 intended to be covered with a central vision element 5A made of full transparent material, on the one hand, and ventilation elements 6A , 7A, 8A, 9A of resistant material provided with orifices, on the other hand. Elements 5A, 6A and 7A are indicated in dashed lines on the

figure 2.

  This shell 10 consists of a peripheral lateral part including the gallery 3 and delimiting a facial opening whose entire surface is sectored by ribs 11, 12 delimiting the open areas 5, 6, 7 which are to be covered by the central element

  of vision 5A and the ventilation elements 6A, 7A.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the facial surface of the shell 10 consists, on the one hand, of a first frontal ventilation zone 6 situated above the central vision zone 5 and delimited one of the other by a rib 11 in the form of a hoop joining the two lateral sides of said face and, on the other hand, of a second bucco-nasal aeration zone 7 situated below the central vision zone 5 and delimited one from the other by a generally triangular rib 12, the base of which merges with a lower peripheral part of the face which forms

a chin rest.

  Furthermore, the gallery 3 forming an integral part of the shell 10 has open areas 8 and 9 at the ears, intended to be covered with elements 8A, 9A of resistant material provided with orifices, to constitute

hearing aids.

  The opening zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the shell 10 intended to receive the central vision element 5A, the frontal ventilation element 6A, the bucco-nasal ventilation element 7A, and the lateral or air ventilation elements 8A, 9A have a rabbet f around their periphery intended to integrate these various elements, so that their surface merges with that of the shell 10, the

  making it free from any roughness.

  This has the advantage of avoiding the catching of the

point of a shooter.

  In fact, the two ventilation elements, respectively frontal 6A and bucco-nasal 7A, allow ventilation and cooling of the shooter's head for one and breathing and expiration for the other, while creating a sort of convection between one and the other. Preferably, the shell 10 is obtained from an injected, molded or thermoformed plastic material. he

  could for example be ABS or a polycarbonate.

  The shell 10 can also be obtained from an injected, molded or thermoformed composite material, such as for example glass fiber with resin, carbon fiber with resin. In either case, these materials have the advantage of obtaining very low weight.

important of the whole mask.

  As regards the viewing element 5A, this is preferably obtained by preforming a bulletproof quality polycarbonate, according to the curve of the

  shell 10 which it integrates without roughness.

  This polycarbonate could for example be the product

sold under the brand LEXAN.

  The purpose of preforming is to make the vision element 5A work under the ideal conditions of the material, without tension, which would be likely to

  eventually cause microcracks and breaks.

  In addition, vision element 5A has undergone treatment

anti-fog and anti-scratch.

  According to another characteristic shown in detail in FIG. 4, this preformed vision element 5A is attached to the rabbets f of the shell 10 by means of fixing screws or rivets 13, so as to make it interchangeable. Indeed, the vision element A is a wear part losing its optical qualities in

the weather.

  With regard to the frontal ventilation elements 6A, buccal nasal 7A and lateral 8A, 9A, these are produced from a blank of perforated sheet steel and cut to the measurements of their corresponding insertion zones and preformed according to the curve of the shell 10 to

  which they integrate without roughness.

  The ventilation elements 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A are also preformed in order to avoid tensions of the material and are profiled as a function of the shell and fit into the rebate f provided for this purpose on said shell 10,

  in order to participate in its resistance.

  Advantageously, the ventilation elements 6A, 7A, 8A,

9A will be made of stainless steel.

  The advantage of using a perforated steel sheet rather than a mesh lies in the fact that it is thus possible to obtain a sharper cut and easier bonding due to the very fact of the flatness of the sheet, which does not is not the case with a wire mesh. In addition, it facilitates shaping

of these elements.

  If the viewing element 5A is removably attached for the reasons mentioned above, on the other hand the bucco-nasal aeration elements 7A and lateral 8A, 9A are integral with the rabbets f of the shell 10 by bonding

and / or stapling 14.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the frontal ventilation zone 6A is divided by a vertical middle rib 15 on which said ventilation element 6A bears in a central zone thereof, to

  contribute to the stiffening of the shell 10.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the generally triangular rib 12 delimiting the aeration zone 7 on which the bucco-nasal aeration element 7A is applied, is doubled inwards by a profiled foam lining having for purpose of protecting the shooter's face from shocks and channeling air into the element

bucco-nasal ventilation 7A.

  Furthermore, the shell 10 is covered by a comfortable textile lining (not shown) which may be made of foam and textile extending outside by the

mud flap 4.

  Such a covering is made removable by hook-and-loop means, in order to adapt each size to different possible morphologies of the shooter's head. In fact, the flap 4 is sandwiched on

  inside and outside of the hull.

  In order to have an ideal ventilation, this lining must allow the greatest possible circulation of air and the ventilation elements must be

  also the widest possible.

  According to a simplified variant embodiment, the monobloc shell 10 is made entirely of a solid, transparent and resistant material, and is provided with at least one ventilation zone 6 placed outside the field of vision and in which at least is pierced an orifice surrounded by a rebate f, said zone being covered with an element made of a resistant material provided with orifices and fitting into said rebate f so as to be in continuity

of the external face of the shell 10.

  Such an embodiment can be interesting

  for small masks intended for children.

  Such a mask according to the invention makes it possible to give it great security, by improving its aesthetics,

  the comfort of the shooter and the cost price.

  Another advantage is that the

  carcass is made of a plastic shell is that

  this offers a surface allowing an industrial decoration

  and / or a personalized decoration.

  The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the

  claims are intended only to facilitate the

  understanding of them and in no way limit them

the scope.

Claims (19)

  1. Fencing mask formed of a carcass comprising a rigid protective face (2) intended to cover the face and extending backwards in its upper part by a gallery (3) partially protecting the head and in its part low, in lateral extension of the gallery (3) and the face (2), by a flap (4) for protecting the neck, characterized in that the protective face (2) of the carcass comprises a central zone (5 ) closed by a vision element made of a transparent and resistant solid material, offering a perfect visual field at least at eye level and one or more zones closed by a ventilation element (6, 7, 8, 9) made   in a resistant material provided with holes.   2. Mask according to claim 1, characterized in that the carcass is formed of a one-piece shell (10) made of an impact-resistant material, integrating at least the gallery (3), to constitute a support and assembly piece of all the constituent elements of said mask (1).   3. Mask according to claim 2, characterized in that the monobloc shell (10) comprises an upper part and two lateral parts forming the gallery (3) and a lower part connecting to the two lateral parts so that the assembly forms a rigid oval completely surrounding the face, the lower part being extended by a flap (4).   4. Mask according to claim 3, characterized in that the monobloc shell (10) is pierced with at least two open areas (5, 6) separated by at least one rib (11), respectively a central area (5) intended to be covered with a central viewing element (5A) made of solid transparent material and at least one peripheral zone (6) intended to be covered with a ventilation element (6A) in   resistant material with holes.   5. Mask according to claim 4, characterized in that the monobloc shell (10) is provided with two ventilation openings, respectively upper (6) at the forehead and lower (7) at the mouth, intended to be covered with an element (6A, 7A) of a resistant material provided with orifices.   6. Mask according to one of claims 4 and 5,   characterized in that the monobloc shell (10) is provided with two lateral openings (8, 9) at the level of the ears, intended to be covered with an element (8A, 9A) in one   resistant material with holes.   7. Mask according to one of claims 3 to 6,   characterized in that the open areas (5, 6, 7) of the one-piece shell (10) limit a generally oval opening whose entire surface is sectored by ribs   (11, 12) delimiting said open areas (5, 6, 7).   8. Mask according to one of claims 4 to 7,   characterized in that the facial surface of the shell (10) comprises an upper frontal ventilation zone (6) situated above the central vision zone (5) and extending between the upper part of the facial opening of the shell and an upper rib (11) in the form of a hoop joining the two lateral sides of said face noticeably at the level of the temples.   9. Mask according to one of claims 4 to 8,   characterized by the fact that the facial surface of the shell   (10) includes at least one lower buccal ventilation zone   nasal (7) located below the central vision area (5) and extending between the lower part of the facial opening and a lower rib (12) in the form of an arch joining the two lateral sides of said face noticeably at the level of the chin.   10. Mask according to claim 9, characterized in that the lower rib (12) has a generally triangular shape, the base of which merges with a lower peripheral part of the face which forms a chin rest.   11. Mask according to one of claims 3 to 10,   characterized in that the opening zones (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) of the shell (10) intended to receive the central vision element (5A), the front ventilation element (6A), the bucco-nasal aeration element (7A), the lateral or hearing aeration elements (8A, 9A) have around their periphery a rebate (f) intended to integrate these various elements, so that their surface is confuses with that of the   shell (10), making it free from any roughness.   12. Mask according to claim 3, characterized in that the monobloc shell (10) is made entirely of a solid, transparent and resistant material, and is provided with at least one ventilation zone (6) placed outside the field vision and in which is pierced at least one orifice surrounded by a rebate (f), said area being covered with an element of a resistant material provided with orifices and fitting into said rebate (f) so as to be   in continuity with the external face of the shell (10).   13. Mask according to one of claims 2 to 12,   characterized in that the shell (10) is obtained from an injected, molded or thermoformed plastic or composite material. 14. Mask according to claim 12, characterized in that the transparent one-piece shell is obtained by   preforming from high quality polycarbonate   balls according to the curve of the shell (10) to which it integrates without roughness.   15. Mask according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that the viewing element (5A) is obtained   by preforming from a quality polycarbonate   balls according to the curve of the shell (10) to which it integrates without roughness.   16. Mask according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that the preformed viewing element (5A) is attached in a rebate (f) of the shell (10) by means of fixing screws (13), so as to make it interchangeable.   17. Mask according to one of claims   previous, characterized in that the front (6A), bucco-nasal (7A) or lateral (8A, 9A) ventilation elements are made from a sheet of perforated sheet steel and cut to measure their areas of respective insertion and preformed according to the curve of the shell (10) to which they integrate without roughness.   18. Mask according to claim 17, characterized in that the frontal (6A), bucco-nasal (7A) and lateral (8A, 9A) ventilation elements are fixed in rebates (f)   of the shell (10) by gluing and / or stapling (14).   19. Mask according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that the frontal ventilation zone (6A) is divided by a vertical middle rib (15) in a central zone thereof, to contribute to the stiffening of the shell (10).