US802505A - Base-ball mask. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 24,1905.

E. J. GOLDSMITH.

BASE BALL MASK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1904.

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E. J. GOLDSMITH.

BASE BALL MASK. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 19'04.

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EDGAR J. GOLDSMITH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO P. GOLD- SMITHS SONS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A FIRM.

BASE-BALL WIASM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24:, 1905.

Application filed May 27, 190 Serial No. 210,044.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR J. GOLDSMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Base-Ball Masks and Attachments Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a ball-mask having my improvements and illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken at the rear, but a little to one side of a point directly behind the mask, the view being known as a threequarter rear view. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the preferred kind of cushion used for carrying my invention into effect-viz., an inflatable onetaken on the plane of the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a vertical section of the full cushion in its most complete form. Fig. 5 represents a preferred mode of securing the flexible fasteners to the mask. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section (taken from front to rear) of my mask. Fig. 7. is a bottom view of my mask.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

The frame of the mask F is for the sake of lightness, ventilation, and comfort composed of wires or rods arranged in any suitable manner. A preferred arrangement and combination of said wires is shown in the drawings. As the construction of such frames for the purposes of ball-masks is well known, further description thereof is omitted.

I provide a cushion for the mask. This cushion may extend at each side and across the forehead and across the chin, (see Fig. 4,) or the side portions may be united at the forehead and not at the chin, or the side portions may be united at the chin and a cushion or connecting-band across the forehead be dispensed with, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The latter form of cushion is the one I prefer.

The cushion may be of leather or other flexible material and may be stuffed with a resilient material; but there are important objections to a leather pad filled with resilient material, chief among which may be noted, first, that the perspiration of the wearer soaks the leather and the material with which the pad is stuffed and causes these to deteriorate; secondly, to become hard and be uncomfortable, and, finally, to be no longer a cushion to soften the impact of the framework of the mask upon the face when the mask is struck by a swiftly-thrown ball.

My preferred mode of rendering the cushion elastic or resilient consists as follows: The several portions of the cushions are made in the form of receptacles the walls of which are impervious to air. These receptacles are inflatable; but to enable all of them to be inflated by one operation they are connected by passages through which the air can pass from one receptacle to the adjacent one or ones. For example, A A are the upper side cushions, and B B are the lower side cushions, and C indicates the loweror chin cushion. The chambers of the side cushions A B are connected with each other bya passage P, and the chambers of the side cushions A B are connected with each other by a passage P Communication between the chambers of the lower side cushions B and 'B and the chamber of the chin cushion C is respectively established by the respective passages P and P. preferably likewise connected to the upper side cushions. At the outside of one of the cushions or divisions, preferably one of the upper ones, is located an inflating-tube containing a suitable device whereby the tube may be closed when the cushions are inflated. This may be a valve operating automatically or a screw-plug to be advanced and closed by the one inflating the bag. I have shown an inflating-tube D, provided with a screw-plug D Thus by opening the inflating-tube D and filling the cushions with air and then closing the tube the latter will be rendered ready for use. The amount of inflation can be regulated at will and should be according to the size of the face of the wearer of the mask.

The preferred materials of which the cushions are made consist of an inner layer N of here there is a forehead-cushion it is rubber or any material impervious to air and an outer covering M of cloth. That kind known as khaki is preferred. This cloth is not injured by perspiration and is ever soft to the skin of the wearer.

The cushions are secured at the inner surfaces of the parts of the frame of the mask substantially as indicated, and the preferred means of my invention for securing them to the rods of the mask are indicated, viz: Flexible metal strips L are duly secured to the cushion. One mode is by passing the strip through the cloth or material M and between it and the rubber layer N. Another and the preferred one is by holding the strip to the outer surface of the cushion by a piece of material duly secured to the cushion. Thus in Fig. 5 the part L is secured to the cushion, and the strip L passes between it and the cushion. Those parts of the strips L which are outside of the cloth are bent around the adjacent rods and then fastened together. Each rod has an eye L at one end and a pointed end L at the other. The pointed end is inserted through the eye and the strip drawn taut therethrough, and the free end is then bent over back and down. Thus each strip is securely locked and contributes to hold the cushion to the mask-frame.

The cushions are braced more securely to and on the frame if each strip L embraces two of the rods F of the frame, substantially as shown.

The cushions A and B might be a single one, and so might be the cushions A and B but they are preferably formed as shown to give room for the cheek-bone of the wearer and to afford a convenient place for the strap S to pass, which connects the mask to the head of the wearer by passing around the head of the latter. This strap S is secured to the front outer part of the mask-frame on one side (on the left in Fig. 1) by a connection S preferably permanent, and to the front outer partof the mask-frame on the other by a tongue S and buckle S or like. connection, which can be separated and can be adjusted so as to shorten that part of the strap which embraces the head.

The attenuated form of the cushions at the necks P and P permits the strap S to be located there without unduly pressing the cushions against the face of the wearer of the mask.

The connection between the frame and the lower portion of the cushion at or near the ends of the chin-piece I prefer to make with eyelet and cord, substantially as shown; but the eyelet is located where the parts are noninflatable, so as not to open a communication between the air-conduit or the air-chamber of that cushion and the outer air.

My invention is well applicable to fencingmasks.

A great many slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not confine myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A mask comprising a suitable frame, inflatable side cushion portions carried thereby for bearing against the sides of the face or head, said cushions having contracted portions to form recesses for the cheek-bones, and a portion directly connecting said side portions and lying in advance of the side portions, substantially as described.

2. A mask comprising a frame, inflatable side portions carried thereby having each a contracted portion with a connecting-channel, and an inflatable cross portion having its central portion lying in front of said side portions and having channels communicating therewith, substantially as described.

EDGAR J. GOLDSMITH.

Attest:

W. J. SOHNS, v R. H. WoBnrTs.

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