GB2446885A

GB2446885A - Fencing mask

Info

Publication number: GB2446885A
Application number: GB0707641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Rene Paul
Original assignee: Leon Paul Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Leon Paul Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-22
Filing date: 2007-04-20
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: GB0707641D0; GB0703424D0

Abstract

A fencing mask assembly comprises a main body 21 formed of plastics material for protecting the head of a wearer, and having at least one aperture in a front region thereof exposing at least the eye 23 and mouth 24 regions. A first face guard 26 and a second face guard 28 are detachably securable to the main body to cover the aperture or apertures. The first face guard 26 is mesh and securable to cover the eye and mouth aperture or apertures. The second face guard 28 is a two-part or composite guard having a lower mesh part 30 and an upper transparent screen or visor part 29, with said lower mesh part being securable either individually or combined with the visor portion over the mouth aperture, and the upper visor part 29 being securable individually or as combined with the lower mesh portion and securable over the eye aperture region.

Description

* -2446885

IMPROVED FENCING MASK

The present invention relates to an improved fencing mask.

Masks for the modern sport of fencing have been made from woven wire mesh formed into shape and welded on to a metal framework. Padding, bib and systems of attachment being added subsequently.

Various types of all in plastics material have been made over the last twenty years. Most have failed due to lack of ventilation, strength and/or optical distortion causingwearer to feel ill.

For the last four years at least the International Fencing Federation has been pushing for the introduction of the use of see -through masks at world events especially for the requirements of television.

These see-through masks have mainly have comprised traditional masks with areas cut-out in front of the eyes and a metal framework added which holds a 3.0 mm thick polycarbonate visor over the eyes. Such a known mask is The Leon Paul version (Figure 1) which has the added refinement of an outer scratch layer which is easily replaceable by undoing ten external screws. This allows inexpensive replacement of such outer layers of the visor which gets scratched easily, and also keeps the main visor undamaged and less likely to fail from a scratched surface.

Recently plastics mask has been made (mainly for children's fencing with plastics swords) initially, consisting of plastics material shell with ventilation holes in the integral mouth region and with a poIycarbonate visor.

However, because this visor fogged up too much, it was replaced by a mesh visor. A further more complicated version of this known mask has been produced having transparent onepiece polycarbonate body as being an advantageous/desirable plastics material and a mesh see-through visor.

None of the prior masks disclose a mesh part or portion in the mouth region, which is removable/replaceable. Moulded plastics material fencing mask bodies are relatively expensive. Some fencers require a fencing mask with a mesh face guard at certain times and a fencing mask with a transparent visor face guard at other times -and two such masks can be expensive and cumbersome to transport.

According to a broad aspect of the present invention a fencing mask is provided comprising a main head protecting body with an aperture or apertures in the eye and mouth regions and having a detachably securable face guard of mesh and/or a face guard comprising mesh in the mouth region and a visor of transparent plastics in the eye region possibly as a unit or separate parts individually locatable and securable.

It is intended the present invention should extend to cover the face guards themselves alone as replaceable units and also the main body, if sold alone.

More specifically, the invention is particularly described according to independent claims 1, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 32 with preferred features being defined in the dependent claims.

The mark of the present invention provides considerable flexibility in possibilities of use of masks and of upgrading for a user with such a mesh face mask. The mask of the invention enables ready replacement of components in the event of damage. It is of importance that the face guard be of mesh in the mouth region as such facilitates optimum passage of air whilst at the same time as providing strength.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a known fencing mask produced by the company Leon Paul Equipment Co. Ltd. and having a replaceable visor of transparent plastics material; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fencing mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention with continuous -surfaced clear plastics material eye visor and a wire mesh; Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the mask of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an exploded side elevation of a symmetrical mask forming a modified embodiment of the invention with an optional wire mesh face guard shown in the right hand side with solid edges and for covering the eye and mouth regions and shown detached from the main body or helmet part; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of optionally useable face guard comprising an eye visor and lower mouth wire mesh which are each securedly attachable (separately or together) to the helmet or body of Fig. 4 in place of the mesh face guard thereof, as desired, (and which may be combined together is a unitary, composite visor-mesh); Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the helmet or body of Fig. 4 without visor or mesh illustrating mounting bars or cross-pieces dividing the front aperture and having an impact absorbing rubber element (or other resilient material) between the ends and in contact therewith; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a modified embodiment according to the invention having a breath deflector (preferably clear plastics) or shield over at least the nose region for downward deflection of breath and shaped and sized to minimise any obstruction of view; A known Leon Paul mesh is shown in Fig. 1 and, as mentioned above, comprises a traditional open backed mask 1 formed of a wire mesh helmet or body part 2 which is seamed together to the front mesh parts so as not to be separable, and a flexible neck protector or bib 3 is provided. An area 4 is cut out or formed in front of the eyes and a metal framework added which holds a 3.0 mm thick replaceable transparent polycarbonate frame or visor 6.

The Leon Paul visor 6 had the added refinement of an outer scratch layer (not shown separately) which is easily replaceable by undoing ten external screws 7. This allows inexpensive replacement of the outer visors (which get scratched easily) and also keeps the main visor 6 undamaged and less likely to fail from a scratched surface The wire mesh portion 8 of the helmet part 2 beneath the visor 6 and in the chin region is fixed to the rest of the helmet part via a welded metal seam 9 and is not removable therefrom. The lower metal frame part 10 is continuous and one piece and extends in the region of the bottom of the nose of a fencer wearing such.

In Figs. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of fencing mask is illustrated comprising a main body 12 of moulded plastics material, such as polycarbonate. The body 12 is open at the back and has securing straps 13 and a bib 14. A large aperture 15 is provided in the eye region and has a transparent face guard part or visor 16 of high impact, shock-resistant plastics material detachably secured thereover. A part possibly for securing holes for securing means such as screws, the visor 16 has a continuous suilace i.e. is not apertured. A crosspiece 17 extends from each cheek or side region and may be integral although is preferably formed in two parts with a central gap for shock absorbing means (as shown) will be described in a later embodiment. Thus crosspiece 17 forms the locating seat for the lower part of visor 16. A separate mesh part 18 of the two-part face mask 19 is in the form of a wire mesh with reinforced/strengthened edges (as described later) and is detachably secured over a mouth aperture 20, e.g. by screws, through apertures.

Whilst the preferred embodiment will now be described, if it is to be appreciated additional features possessed thereby may also be utilised in the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3.

Figs. 4 to 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment according to the invention comprising a moulded body 21 of plastics material open at the back 21A (not shown) and having securing straps or other seam means (not shown) of known type. A large aperture is provided at the front of the body 2 divided by an integrally moulded, two-part cross-piece 22 into an upper eye space or aperture 23 and a lower mouth space or aperture 24 and the peripheral edges of the body 21 are of reduced thickness or rebated at 25 to receive the edges of face guards which are of a thickness which when securely mounted, provide a flush surface of the outer surface thereof with the outer surface of the body 21 to prevent or minimise risk of catching the tip of a foil, epee or the like.

A one-piece, integral mesh face guard 26 with solid.edge 27 may be detachably secured, for example by screws, or nuts and bolts, to the body 21 with the solid edge 27 resting in the rebate 25. In the drawing, the mesh wires are shown extending horizontal, and vertically although, preferably as described later, the mesh will be oriented for the horizontal axes of the wires to be at 45% to the horizontal. The guard 26 covers both the eye aperture 23 and the mouth aperture 24 and is supported on its inner surface by crosspieces 22, composite or two-part.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates an alternative composite or two-part face guard 28 having an upper visor part 29 of transparent plastics material such as high impact, shock resistant plastics material, in the eye region to cover the upper aperture 23 with its edges resting on rebate 25 and on part over crosspieces 22 and detachably securable thereon, and has a lower mesh part 30 to cover mouth aperture 24 and with solid edge 31 to rest on lower parts rebate 25 and on crosspieces 22. Whilst illustrated separately in Fig. 5, visor 29 and mouth mesh 30 will preferably be combined together as a unit and detachably connectable to the body 21 and replaceable perse with a like unit or by a mesh face guard 26, as desired. The crosspieces 24 may extend continously across from one side to the other although preferably is in two-parts each terminating centrally and having an impact or shock absorbing means located therebetween and will now be described.

The clear transparent visor part is of continuous, non-perforated (apart from any peripheral apertures for securement) plastics material such as polycarbonate which is impact and shock resistant.

As mentioned the body moulding 21 has the visor and lower mesh area support element or crosspiece 22 which in the preferred embodiment is incomplete/split in the middle -see Fig. 6. In between the two halves 22A, 22B of the bar 22 is placed a rubber grommet or active impact-absorbing element 32. In an alternative embodiment, crosspiece 22, which is preferably one piece, is detachably securable by its ends in pockets on body 21. Thus when using with a standard mesh mask 26, crosspiece 22 is omitted and there is no impairment of vision but when changing to a visor 29 and lower mesh mask 30 combination the crosspiece 22 is added. The element 32 has two purposes.

1. It is very difficult to ensure a mould of body 21 is complete and this means it can be produced easier (if such is manufactured higher the plastic did not need to flow together perfectly, -a crack could develop and fencers would be concerned that the mask was faulty).

2. The rubber grommet 32 allows the visor 29 and the lower section 30 to absorb larger impacts during fencing, some of the impact of the blows can be absorbed allowing these components to take larger stresses.

The bar 22, 22A, 22B is made in such a way that the mask can be assembled as: - 1. A traditional mask with a one-piece mesh 27 front edged 27 with aluminium section. This edging 27 has three purposes: It prevents sharp wire edges of mesh 26, 30 which could cause scratching to the plastic, from initiating crack development.

ii. If a hardenable aluminium is used as edging 27, 31 it can be crimped in place stabilising the meshin the desired shape to fit the cavity.

iii. The edging helps spread any point impacts especially near the edge of the mesh 26, 30.

2. With a transparent visor face guard 29, 30, the top section 29 is made as a plastics formed injection see-through polycarbonate visor 16, 29, which rests on the edge 25 around the aperture formed and along the lower bar 22. This visor 29 may be made of constant thickness or to help prevent distortion, may be modelled to different thicknesses over appropriate areas (about 0.5 mm difference) The lower part 30 is made from mesh edged with aluminium section resting around the aperture formed and along the lower bar 22..

Traditional steel mesh masks are made with the mesh running horizontal in one embodiment of the design the mesh is formed with the axis at 45 degrees, this helps in maintaining the integrity of themesh as it is formed.

Over the main body 21 of the mask (which to comply with European standards will have to be about 3.00 mm thick polycarbonate) is an outer layer (not shown) of approximately 1.00 mm thick. This has the following functions: 1. Protects the main body 21 from scratches from which cracks can occur.

2. In the case of some weapons the outside of the masks has to be electrically conductive. In these cases the layer can be made of a conductive plastic or conductive cloth.

3. For identification of fencer, country and or advertising can (if transparent) trap between the main body and the outer scratch layer Printing/pictures/advertising which can be changed easily.

Over the visor 20 is another outer scratch layer (not shown) made from fIat 1.0 mm thick sheet, which protects the visor 29 and can be easily replaced when it is scratched in use.

The mask body 21 may include built-in air ducting to avoid or minimise a residue of C02 build up when used. The mask body shape may include some bulging areas, which will allow, even with close fitting internal padding, free flow of air into the front area.

It is even envisaged that a battery-operated fan device may be provided to divert breath away from visor 29 e.g. and carried on the body of the user with air directed by tubing connectable along its length to other tubing and/or ducting in the body 21 directing fresh air onto the visor 25.

Also a shield 33 may be moulded on the cross bar 22 or the face mask to direct breathing away from the visor 29 -see Figs. 7 and 8. The shield 33 should preferably minimise the visual obstruction as the fencer looks down to his hand or the opponent's feet. Preferably the shield 33 is a flexible see-through rubber type deflector secured/fixed after the shield of the main body 21 has been mauled.

The bib (3 and 14 in Figs. 1, 2 or 3 but omitted from Figs. 4 to 8)is either held in place in the traditional way or preferably the Applicant's patented exchange system is used. The back is preferably held in place using the Applicant's patented contour system. I0

Claims

1. A fencing mask assembly or combination comprising a main body formed of plastics material for protecting the head of a wearer, and having at least one aperture in a front region thereof exposing at least the eye and mouth regions, and a first face guard and/or second face guard detachably securable to the main body to cover the aperture or apertures and securable to protect the eyes and mouth of a wearer, with the first face guard being of mesh and securable to cover the eye and mouth aperture or apertures; and wherein the second face guard is a two-part or composite guard having a lower mesh part or portion and having an upper transparent screen or visor part or potion, with said lower mesh part or portion being securable either individually or combined with the visor portion over the mouth aperture region or mouth aperture to be in front of the mouth of a wearer, and with the upper visor part or portion being securable individually or as combined with the lower mesh portion and securable over the eye aperture region or eye aperture to be in front of the eyes of a wearer.

2. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body has in front regions thereof, an eye aperture at least in the region of the eyes of the wearer and a mouth aperture below the eye aperture and at least in the region of the mouth of the wearer with the eye and mouth apertures being separated by a mounting bar or crosspieces and wherein the peripheries of the apertures and of the mounting crosspiece and the mounting crosspiece itself are such as to enable either a said first mesh face guard to be mounted to cover both apertures, or such as to enable the eye protecting transparent screen or visor member to be mounted covering the eye aperture and a mesh face guard member to be mounted to cover the mouth aperture; and wherein said members are separate components which together form said second face mask means, or wherein the panel or visor member and mesh guard member are connected together to form a unitary second face guard member.

3. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 2, in which the mounting crosspiece extends across the front of the body and is formed as two cantilever sections or parts interconnected by a resUient impactabsorbing member.

4. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 3, in which the impact-absorbing member is made of rubber or other resilient material.

5. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the mesh has a solid edge or a peripheral frame or edging or edge reirforcing means extending therearound to smooth the lateral edges of the mesh and/or to help shape the mesh and/or to spread impact forces near the edge of the mesh.

6. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 5, in which the edge or frame is aluminium sheet or section.

7. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 6, in which the aluminium is a hardenable aluminium, which may be crimped in place to stabilise the mesh in the desired shape to fit the aperture.

8. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the transparent screen or panel or visor is formed of clear impact resistant plastics material.

9. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 8, in which the plastics material is polycarbonate.

10. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which the screen or panel is mounted resting on the peripheral edge defining the eye aperture and including along the mounting crosspiece.

11. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the creen or panel formed or modelled to different thicknesses to help minimise visual distortion.

12. A fencing mask as claimed in claim 11, in which the mesh is arranged with the longitudinal axes of the wires at 45 to the horizontal.

13. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which the eye and mouth apertures are formed from a face aperture divided by said crosspiece.

14. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, in which the main body or helmet casing is of plastics material and integrally formed by moulding.

15. A fencing mask or body portion or face guard, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims I to 15, in which the main body has a scratch-resistant layer.

17. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, in which the layer is such as to provide additional strength such as to increase the grading of the mask or helmet.

18. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims ito 17, in which the layer is polycarbonate (such as of 3mm thick).

19. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18, in which the body layer is of electrically conductive material or a conductive cloth.

20. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19, in which identification and/or advertising material is located between the main body and the layer.

21. A mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, in which the visor member has a scratch resistant layer -preferably replaceable.

22. A mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21, in which the ventilation means or air ducting means are provided by formation of the shape of the wearer's body to define air-flow passages on the inner sides.

23. A mask as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22, including a shield or downwardly diverting deflector in or above the nose region to deflect wearer's breath away from the visor.

24. A helmet part or main body of a fencing mask with a front aperture or apertures exposing at least the eyes and mouth of a wearer and capable of having a face guard or two face guard parts detachably securable thereto and/or a face guard or two face guard parts including mesh at least in the mouth aperture region, detachably securable to a main body,

25. A two-part face guard detachably securable to a body of a fencing mask comprising a lower upper mesh part and an upper, transparent visor part.

26. A helmet part or main body of a fencing mask formed of plastics material for protecting the head of a wearer, and having at least one aperture in a front region thereof in front or the eyes and mouth of a user for receiving a mesh face guard or a combined or two part visor and mouth mesh face guard to cover the aperture or apertures in detachably securable manner.

27. A face guard detachably connected to the main body of a fencing mask having an aperture in the eye region and an aperture in the mouth region or a single aperture in the eye and mouth region wherein said face guard is of a size and shape to extend to cover said aperture or apertures.

28. A face guard as claimed in claim 27 in which the face guard is of mesh.

29. A face guard as claimed in claim 27, in which the face guard comprises a transparent visor or panel in the eye region and a mesh part in the mouth region.

30. A face guard as claimed in claim 28 or 29, in which the mesh has a peripheral beading or edging.

31. A face guard as claimed in claim 30, in which the beading or edging is of aluminium and preferably hardenable aluminium.

32. A fencing mask having at least one eye aperture exposing the eyes and mouth, and a detachably securable mesh face guard covering said aperture or apertures, and/or a face guard including a transparent visor panel in the eye aperture region and a mesh part in the mouth region.

33. A fencing mask as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, or 1 to 5 to 14 or 16 to 23 when dependent thereon, in which the crosspiece is formed as one piece and detachably securable to the main body, preferably by securement of its ends in receiving sockets or pockets formed in the main body of the helmet, to support the visor and lower mesh part or portion combination.