Background Art It is well-linown that the face is especially exposed to frostbite when it is cold and windy.

Many activities call for long time exposure to cold weather, but also short exposures to hard cold in combination with hard wind requires a good protection.

When the preserving layer of air blows away from the face the risk of frostbite quickly increases. To keep the warmth it is necessary to keep the warm layer of air in place.

Technical field.

Many cold weather face protectors covers the respiratory airways resulting in moisture on the inside of the protectors. When moisture at the inside of the protector transforms into ice at the face protector, a big part of the insulating effect is lost as moisture is a god thermal conductor.

When the respiratory airways are not clear of moisture and ice, it may affect as well comfort as quality of the air that the user inhales. Examples of such designs may be found among others in US 5,575, 009 and US 5,214, 804.

Other cold weather facemasks leave the face wholly unprotected and cover exclusively head and neck. Example of one such design is to be found among others in JP 2002004125.

For the special occasion of e. g. riding a motorcycle, there are specially designed covers often produced from neoprene as this material gives a good thermal insulation. In such applications a thermally insulating layer of air is kept between cover and face but these covers do not allow any major physical exercise, but are intended for a more static wear.

In US 5,809, 572 is shown an example of a facemask manufactured in a multilayer material to be used on the head just leaving the rest of the head covered by the hood of a garment. The problem with this facemask is that users have various shapes of their faces and that the distance between eyes, nose and mouth varies from one individual to another.

It is also necessary to carry out many outdoor activities even when it is very cold and windy.

A full freedom of motion is for instance necessary for skiers and building workers. Available cold weather face protectors are not adopted to strenuous job or sports activities demanding long time performance.

The present invention solves these problems by keeping the heat at the face and, at the same time, provides good comfort and freedom of movement for the user. The cold weather face protector is individualised in order not be obstructive and does not reduce the users freedom of movement.

Disclosure of Invention The purpose with the invention is to create a design of a cold weather face protector that gives good insulation against cold and at the same time gives full freedom of movement to the user.

The invention protects nose, cheeks, chin, neck, forehead, ears and head. Mouth and nostrils are exposed which means that moisture in exhalation air does not remain in the face protector and thus the supply of oxygen to the lungs is not negatively affected. Eyes are free so that the field of view is maximum. The face protector is matching different shapes of faces and sizes.

The present invention is developed to solve the problems with how to keep the heat to remain at the face at the same time as permitting a good freedom of movement and comfort to the user.

One condition for keeping the heat, at the same time as giving full freedom of movement, is to secure the position of the cold weather face protector so that the warming material is in

contact with the skin. The material in the invention is made of well insulating fabric with very good elasticity in all directions.

One partial aim with the invention is to create a performance that keeps the insulating material secured, which is guaranteed by the shaping of the top part (1) and the lower part (2) and how the locking and tight fitting to the skin is performed. This is effected partly by the applying of ducts (4) on the outer or inner surface of the insulating material through which an elastic line (7) is passing that, at usage is stretched, and partly by the use of double layer of the insulating material in the lower part (2), or material where the inner layer can be worked out with stretchable stitching to improve the surface contact to the skin and thus better fit to various sizes and shaping of faces.

The duct (4) for the elastic cord (7) may have various bends and may be tightened either at the nape of the neck or at the back of the head, with use of a lock (6) within the frame of the subsequent claim.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention One suggested design of the invention is shown schematically in the attached drawings where Figure 1. shows the design seen from the front put on the head and Figure 2. shows the invention ahead of applying it on the head and with the lower part (2) unfolded. The lower part (2) is here preferably attached to the top part (1), at the root of the nose.

Figure 3. is exposing the suggested invention in a side view.

In Figure 1. which is showing the face protector on a user there are: 1. The on the top of the head applied top part (1) which is produced in stretchable textile material.

2. The lower part (2) in an elastic material and with inside linings e. g. with the same elastic material. The two flaps (5) pass each other and are fastened at the nape when dressing.

3. On the inner surface of lower part (2) applied adhesive strips (3) of e. g. Velcro@ fastening which are locking the lower part (2) to the top part (1).

4. On the outside or the inner side of the top part (1) and the lower part (2) applied ducts (4) through which a stretchable line (7) goes, the role of which is to ensure the surface contact to the skin of the wearer.

In Figure 2. which is schematically showing the lower part (2) of the face cover are: 3 The adhesive strips (3) mentioned above in Figure 1.

4 The ends. the ducts (4), shown in Figure 1, running in an"8", going below the chin and crossing itself over the root of the nose.

5. The folded out flaps (5) of the lower part (2) which, when used, are folded backwards and stitched to the top part (1).

In Figure 3 which is showing the face protector in a side view, worn by a user, there are except those figures shown above in Figure 1. and Figure 2.: 6 The locking device (6) for the ends of the elastic line (7) which is also shown in the enlarged view.

7 The elastic line (7) which is strained in order to give a perfect contact to the wearers skin.