US3527461A - Face and head protector - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1970 L, L; PRATER 3,527,461

FACE AND HEAD PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 22, 1968 INVENTOR.

LLOYD L. PRATER ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,527,461 Patented Sept. 8, 1970 US. Cl. 273-1 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protector is provided for the face and head of a wearer who is participating in a game which involves being struck at these portions of the anatomy, the same including means for rendering an audible signal which indicates a blow and the approximate location thereof.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 537,346 entitled Game of Scrap, filed Mar. 25, 1966, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to games such as boxing bouts wherein the participants frequently undergo blows to the face and head, and particularly to protection against injury of these parts of the anatomy.

It is among the objects of the invention to assume protection of the type referred to while at the same time indicating to a scoring oflicial or other observer the area of contact of the blow.

Another objective is the attainment of the immediately foregoing objects in a manner which in no way impedes or inhibits the wearer.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the class described which is efiicient for its intended purposes, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in service.

Other objects, embodiments, features and arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a face and head protector which has been constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view which is similar in nature to the view of FIG. 1 but illustrating more clearly the rear. or head-protecting portion of the device.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in section, and illustrating the positioning of the protector for the entire face of the wearer including nose, cheeks, forehead and chin, as well as the top, back, ears and sides of the head.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views which are similar in nature to the view of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but which illustrate modifications.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the number 20 generally designates a face and head protector which embodies the teachings of the invention.

The face portion of the face and head protector is indicated at 21 and the head portion at 22. Both of these elements are composed of leather, rubber, plastic or other suitable soft pliable material, and contain padding as indicated at 21a and 22a.

In the face portion 21 suitable apertures are pro vided for the eyes and mouth of the wearer, as indicated at 21b and 210, respectively.

As shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, within the padding 21a which is above and forwardly of the nose of the wearer is a generally horizontally extending curvilinear resilient metallic strip or bar 23 having downwardly extending arcuate ends which are positioned beneath and forwardly of the eye sockets of the wearer.

The resiliency of the bar 23 is of considerable importance since a more rigid counterpart would be liable to transmit shock to the nose and adjacent eye areas of the wearer.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rearward extremity of the head portion 22 is vertically divided, as shown at 24, and the edges thereof held together with cooperating straps 25. However, a single pair of straps 26, or any other suitable fastening elements, may be substituted therefor.

In FIG. 4a a modified form of resilient metallic reen'forcing element is shown as a grill comprising a pair of spaced parallel bars or strips 28 which are connected by a series of spaced parallel vertically extending bars or strips 30. It will be noted that in this embodiment (FIG. 4) the center of the grill which registers with the mouth opening 210 is unobscured.

It is contemplated that in all forms or embodiments of the invention there be at least one so-caller squealer" disposed within the padding 21a and 22a at vulnerable points with respect to the face and head of the wearer.

In FIG. 1 a squealer 32 is shown as disposed adjacent the point of the chin of the wearer with a pair of squealers 34 thereabove, one being opposite each cheek.

In FIG. 3 a squealer 36 is shown as positioned immediately in front of the nose of the wearer. Since the back of the head is also a vulnerable area, a squealer 38 may be disposed adjacent thereto as well as a squealer 40 adjacent the ears and side of the face of the wearer.

While all of the squealers 32, 3434, 36, 38 and 40-41 may be in the same sound range, substantial differences therein provide an instant and satisfactory means for determining the more or less exact area of the blow to thus aid in scoring.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective and score-indicating face and head covering for use in boxing activities which comprises a padded and form-retaining but substantially pliable member; said padded member being shaped and adapted to cover substantially the entirety of the face of the wearer;

said padded member having an aperture extending cross-wise thereof to permit the substantially uninterrupted vision of the wearer and a similarly extending aperture for enabling the wearer to speak freely and clearly therethrough;

a reenfrocing member disposed between and extending parallel to the aforementioned apertures;

said reenforcing member being slightly resilient and adapted to hold adjacent portions of said padded member out of contact with the face of the wearer;

a member secured to said padded member for covering the head of the wearer;

means for securing said last-named member in place;

and'

a noise-emitting device disposed in said padded member and adapted to emit an audible signal whenever a substantial blow is applied to said padded member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the member secured to the padded member for covering the head of the wearer is also padded.

3. The device of claim 1 together with a plurality of noise-emitting devices in different locations and constnucted to emit noise in different tonal ranges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 2,777,127 1/1957 Marietta 29 XR 3,220,014 11/1965 Strohm et al 29 OTHER REFERENCES Sears Christmas Catalog, 1962, p. 446.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29

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