BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a face guard. More specifically, the invention relates to a ventilated face guard for ducting intake air and exhaust air to and from a breathing zone located between a user’s face and an interior surface of a protective shield operatively held in position spaced from and over the user’s face by a head worn attachment.

Ventilated face masks are well known. Most however require sealing contact with the user, either about a periphery of the user’s face or about a mouth and nose region thereof. Sealing contact with the user’s head or face, particularly over extended periods of use is uncomfortable and is acoustically inefficient.

Furthermore, and mostly as a result of their required sealing contact with the user, most of the known ventilated face masks make use of only a single intake fan, which makes clearing of exhaled exhaust air inefficient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a substantially non-contact ventilated face guard that is comfortable to wear, acoustically more efficient and capable of more effectively clearing exhaled exhaust air. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a face guard including: headwear; a face shield supported on the headwear thereby to operatively position the face shield substantially to cover and oriented spaced from a user’s face, the face shield comprising or at least partially defining thereon: an intake duct for ducting intake air between at least one intake inlet end and at least one intake outlet end thereof, the intake outlet end of the intake duct being located at or near a breathing zone of the face shield, wherein the breathing zone is that portion of the face shield operatively covering the nose and mouth region of the user’s face; and an exhaust duct for ducting exhaust air between at least one exhaust inlet end and at least one exhaust outlet end thereof, the exhaust inlet end of the exhaust duct being located at or near the breathing zone of the face shield; at least one intake fan supported on the face shield or the headwear for directing intake air through the intake duct and outwardly via the intake outlet end in the vicinity of the breathing zone; at least one exhaust fan supported on the face shield or the headwear for drawings exhaust air through the exhaust duct and outwardly via the exhaust outlet end; and a power source for powering the intake and the exhaust fans.

The at least one intake fan may be located at or near the intake inlet end of the intake duct. Furthermore, the at least one exhaust fan may be located at or near the exhaust inlet end of the exhaust duct. Generally, the face shield is sized and shaped to substantially cover the user’s face.

Typically, the face shield comprises anterior and posterior shield layers spaced proximally apart from one another by one or more dividers Preferably, the dividers further act to divide the space defined between the anterior and posterior shield layers thereby to, co-operatively with the anterior and the posterior shield layers, delimit the intake and the exhaust ducts.

It will be appreciated that one of the anterior and the posterior shield layers may be smaller than the other. Alternatively, the anterior and the posterior shield layers are substantially similar in size and shape.

Generally, the face shield comprises an upper end, a lower end and opposing lateral sides. In one embodiment, the headwear comprises a hat having a crown and a brim, with the upper end of the face shield mounted to the brim of the headwear.

In another embodiment, the headwear is in the form of a pair of sidearms operatively supportable on the user’s ears. The headwear preferably also includes a nose rest operatively supportable on the user’s nose such that the face shield is cooperatively supportable over the user’s face by the sidearms and nose rest jointly.

In yet a further embodiment, the headwear is in the form of a nose rest operatively supportable on the user’s nose and a one or more head straps operatively securable about the user’s head for cooperatively supporting the face shield over the user’s face. Preferably, the head strap is secured to the face shield, or to a support frame supporting the face shield, by opposing head strap securing formations.

In a further embodiment, the headwear is in the form of a forehead rest operatively supportable on the user’s forehead and one or more head straps operatively securable about the user’s head for cooperatively supporting the face shield over the user’s face, wherein the head strap is securable to the face shield and/or to the support frame. To cover the user’s face, the face shield has a dimension between the upper and lower ends of about 200 millimetres, and between the opposing lateral sides of about 100 millimetres.

Typically, the dividers are made up of at least: an outer divider extending between the anterior and the posterior shield layers, and running near or along an outer most periphery of the smallest of the anterior and posterior shield layers; and an inner divider extending between the anterior and the posterior shield layers, peripherally inboard the outer divider and between the intake outlet end and the exhaust inlet end of the respective intake and exhaust ducts; such that: one of the intake duct or the exhaust duct is co-operatively defined between: (i) the anterior and the posterior shield layers; and (ii) the outer and the inner dividers; and the other of the intake duct or the exhaust duct is co-operatively defined between: (i) the anterior and the posterior shield layers; and (ii) the inner divider.

The dividers may be separate dividers or alternatively divider formations integral with at least one of the anterior and the posterior shield layers.

Preferably, the one or more intake inlet ends and the exhaust outlet ends of the respective intake and exhaust ducts are located at or near the upper end of the face shield, wherein the one or more intake and exhaust fans are mounted on the brim of the headwear.

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one intake fan and exhaust fan are supported directly on top of the face shield or thereover on a support frame. In yet a further alternative embodiment, the at least one intake fan and exhaust fan are mounted on the sides of the face shield, with the one or more intake inlet ends and the exhaust outlet ends of the respective intake and exhaust ducts being located at or near at least one of the opposing lateral sides.

It will be appreciated that the position of the intake and exhaust fans are not limited to the top and lateral sides of the face shield. The fans may be positioned instead at the bottom of the face shield or in any combination of the aforementioned. For example, the inlet fan may be position on the top of the face shield, with the exhaust fan located on one of the lateral sides or on the bottom of the face shield.

Generally, the intake outlet end of the intake duct and the exhaust inlet end of the exhaust duct is made up of one or more respective intake outlet ports and exhaust inlet ports defined in the posterior shield layer and/or in one or more of the dividers.

Typically, the face shield comprises at least one or more portions that are transparent. Preferably, at least the portion of the face shield operatively covering the user’s eye region is transparent. More preferably, the portion of the face shield operatively covering the user’s mouth region is transparent.

Furthermore, the face guard may further include: at least one intake filter for filtering intake air, the intake filter being located along the one or more intake ducts, on the one or more intake fans or on an intake manifold connecting the intake fans to the intake inlet ends of the intake ducts; and/or at least one exhaust filter for filtering exhaust air, the exhaust filter being located along the one or more exhaust ducts, on the one or more exhaust fans or on an exhaust manifold connecting the exhaust fans to the exhaust outlet ends of the exhaust ducts.

Preferably, the intake manifold and exhaust manifold is a common manifold having intake branches, for connecting between the intake fans and the intake ducts, and exhaust branches for connecting between the exhaust fans and the exhaust ducts, and further wherein the respective intake and exhaust filters are mounted to the respective ducts, fans or manifolds by intake and exhaust filter housings.

It will be appreciated that the breathing zone of the face shield may comprise an outwardly bulging breathing zone formation for at least partially accommodating the user’s nose and/or mouth.

Generally, the face shield is movable relative to the headwear. In one embodiment, the face shield may be slidably movable relative to: (i) the crown of the headwear along the brim thereof; (ii) the sidearms; or (iii) the head strap securing formations; for operatively adjusting the spacing between the face shield and the user’s face.

In another embodiment, the face shield may be hingedly movable relative to: (i) the brim of the headwear; (ii) the sidearms; or (iii) the head strap securing formations; for operatively moving the face shield between a closed condition, wherein the face shield substantially covers the user’s face, and an open condition, wherein the face shield is moved clear of the user’s face.

In yet a further embodiment, the brim of the headwear may be slidably and/or hingedly movable relative to the crown thereof for operatively adjusting the spacing between the face shield and the user’s face, and/or for moving the face shield between the closed and the open conditions.

Although the face guard may be powered or recharged with a mains electricity supply, it is preferable that the power source is one or more replaceable or rechargeable batteries, carried on the body of the user or mounted on the headwear such hat the face guard is portable. Furthermore, the face guard may include one or more photovoltaic panels, worn on the user’s body or mounted on the headwear, for powering or recharging the face guard.

Generally, the face guard also includes a mean of sterilising the intake and/or exhaust air, and/or a means for air-conditioning the intake air. Typically, the sterilising means is an ozone generator and/or an ultraviolet light source, and the air-conditioning means is an evaporation wick. The face guard may further include a controller for at least adjusting the flow rates of the intake and/or the exhaust fans thereby to operatively enable the user to set the flow rates such to result in a net positive pressure in the breathing zone.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the face guard: the intake duct is co-operatively defined between: (i) the anterior and the posterior shield layers; and (ii) the outer and the inner dividers; the exhaust duct is co-operatively defined between: (i) the anterior and the posterior shield layers; and (ii) the inner divider; the intake duct comprises two intake inlet ends spaced from one another across a width dimension of the face shield between the opposing lateral sides thereof, each in fluid communication with a respective intake fan; the exhaust outlet end of the exhaust duct, and the exhaust fan in fluid communication therewith, is located between the intake fans; the one or more exhaust inlet ports are located at the exhaust inlet end of the exhaust duct; and the one or more intake outlet ports, located at the intake outlet end of the intake duct, are orientated so as to substantially surround the exhaust inlet ports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which:

Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a first embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the face guard of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the face guard of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a third perspective view of the face guard of Figure 1 , showing the face guard in use as worn by a user;

Figure 5 is a first perspective view of a second embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a second perspective view of the second embodiment of the face guard of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention; Figure 14 is a first perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 15 is a second perspective view of the tenth embodiment of the face guard;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 18 is a first perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 19 is a second perspective view of the thirteenth embodiment of the face guard;

Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the face guard of Figures 18 and 19;

Figure 21 is a first perspective view of a fourteenth embodiment of a face guard in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the face guard of Figure 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A face guard according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designated generally in the accompanying Figures by reference numeral 10. With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the face guard 10 comprises headwear 12 having mounted thereon a face shield 14 sized and shaped to cover a user’s face, a pair of intake fans 16, 18, an exhaust fan 20 and a power source in the form of batteries 22. The headwear 12 is in the hat having a crown 24 and a brim 26, the latter more preferably being in the form of a peak 26, from which the face shield 14 depends. Referring now also to Figure 3, the face shield 14 is made up of anterior and posterior shield layers 28, 30 spaced proximally apart from one another by at least an inner divider 32 and an outer divider 34, the latter running along the periphery of the anterior shield layer 28.

Although the inner divider 32 has been illustrated as being a separate component from the anterior and posterior shield layers 28, 30 and the outer divider 34 has been illustrated as being integral with the anterior shield layer 28, it will be appreciated that the dividers 32, 34 can be configured alternatively. For example, the outer divider 34 could be separate component from the anterior and posterior shield layers 28, 30 and the inner divider 32 could be integral with at least one of the anterior and posterior shield layers 28, 30.

It will be appreciated further that the dividers 32, 34 also act to divide the space defined between the anterior and posterior shield layers 28, 30 to, co-operatively with such shield layers, delimit respective intake and exhaust ducts 36, 38 as more clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

The intake duct 36 comprises a pair of intake inlet ends 40, 42 located at an upper end 43 of the face shield 14 and an intake outlet end 44 made up of a plurality of intake outlet ports 46, defined by the posterior shield layer 30 and located in a breathing zone “B” of the face shield 14 (as illustrated in Figure 2). It will be appreciated that the breathing zone “B” is that portion of the face shield 14 operatively covering the nose and mouth region of the user’s face.

The exhaust duct 38 comprises an exhaust outlet end 48 located at the upper end 43 of the face shield 14 and an exhaust inlet end 50 made up of at least on exhaust inlet port 52, defined by the posterior shield layer 30 and located in the breathing zone “B” of the face shield 14.

The peak 26 of the headwear 12 defines a plurality of apertures 54 being sized and shaped to receive the respective intake inlet ends 40, 42 and exhaust outlet end 48 of the face shield 14 therethrough to place the intake and exhaust ducts 36, 38 in fluid communication with the respective intake and exhaust fans 16, 18, 20.

The face shield 14 is mounted to an underside of the peak 26 of the headwear 12 either directly or via engagement of the intake inlet ends 40, 42 and exhaust outlet end 48 thereof with a manifold 56 mounted on an upper side of the peak 26.

The manifold 56 comprises a pair of spaced intake branches , 60 and an exhaust branch 62 positioned between the intake branches 58, 60. The intake branches 58, 60 each comprise an operatively lower end engageable with one of the intake inlet ends 40, 42 of the face shield 14 and an operatively upper end engageable with one of the respective intake fans 16, 18.

The exhaust branch 62 similarly comprises an operatively lower end engageable with the exhaust outlet end 48 of the face shield 14 and an operatively upper end engageable with the exhaust fan 20.

For air filtration, each of the intake and exhaust fans 16, 18, 20 are fitted with respective intake and exhaust filter housings 64, 66, 68 carrying respective intake and exhaust filters 70, 72, 74, which can be replaced through the life cycle of the face guard 10.

In use, and with the user’s wearing the face guard 10, it will be appreciated that the face shield 14 depends from the headwear 12 such that the face shield 14 substantially covers the user’s face and is spaced therefrom thereby to provide a personal protective equipment (PPE) that does not contact the face of the user.

With the batteries 22 powering the face guard 10, the intake fans 16, 18 draw intake air “F” through the intake filters 70, 72, downstream through the intake filter housings 64, 66 and into the intake duct 36 via the intake inlet ends 40, 42. The fresh intake air “F” passes through the intake duct 36 and is delivered via the intake outlet ports 46 into the breathing zone “B” for the user to inhale.

Exhaust air Έ”, being the air exhaled by the user, is drawn by the exhaust fan 20 into the exhaust inlet port, upwardly through the exhaust duct 38 and expelled out into atmosphere via the exhaust filter 74. In this manner, both the intake and exhaust air “F”, Έ” are filtered. The air can be further treated, sterilized or conditioned. For example, one or more of the intake and exhaust filter housings 64, 66, 68 can be outfitted with an ozone generator and/or an ultraviolet light source for sterilizing the air. Furthermore, at least the intake filter housings 64, 66 can be outfitted with an evaporation wick for air-conditioning the air.

Preferably, the flow rates of the intake and exhaust fans 16, 18 20 are either set up, or controllable via a controller, such that a net positive intake air pressure is delivered to the breathing zone “B”, as further protection against contaminated air from entering the breathing zone “B” other than via the intake duct 36.

Although headwear mounted batteries 22 are the preferred power source to make the face guard 10 portable and user friendly, it will be appreciated that alternative power sources may be considered. For example, the batteries 22 could be replaceable, or rechargeable by plugging into mains or using solar energy via a headwear mounted photovoltaic panel. If the power source is uncomfortable to wear on the user’s head, it may be carried on the body of the user in a pouch or similar carrying device. If the device is to be used by a stationary user, the device may even be powered directly into mains without the use of a battery.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be further appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. With like references designating like parts, the embodiments that follow describe a few variations on the preferred embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 5 and Figure 6 illustrate a first alternative embodiment of the face guard 110 making use of a single headwear mounted inlet fan 116 and exhaust fan 120, and having a face shield 114 defining a single inlet intake duct 136 and an exhaust duct 138 separated from each other by inner divider 132.

Figure 7 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the face guard 210 where the face shield 214 is not necessarily entirely double layered. In this embodiment, the face shield 214 is made up of an anterior shield layer 228 that is smaller in dimension than the posterior shield layer 230. Furthermore, instead of being entirely transparent, certain portions of the face shield 214, for example the portion of the posterior shield layer 230 extending beyond the dimension of the anterior shield layer 228, could be opaque.

Figure 8 illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the face guard 310 where the face shield 314 is slidably moveable along the peak 326 pf the headwear 312 via slide mechanism 327 thereby to adjust the position of the face shield 314 relative to the crown 324 of the headwear 312, to operatively adjust the spacing between the face shield 314 and the user’s face.

Figure 9 illustrates a fourth alternative embodiment of the face guard 410 where the peak 426 of the headwear is hingedly connected to the crown 424 of the headwear 412 on hinged connecters 429. Consequentially, the face shield 414 is hingedly movable is use between a closed condition, wherein the face shield 414 substantially covers the user’s face, and an open condition, wherein the face shield 414 is moved clear of the user’s face. It will be appreciated that instead of the peak 426 being hingedly moveable relative to the crown 424 of the headwear 412, the face shield 414 could be hingedly mounted to, and as a result, hingedly moveable relative to the peak 426.

Figure 10 illustrates a fifth alternative embodiment of the face guard 510, which to better accommodate the user’s nose and mouth region, the breathing zone “B” of the face shield 514 further comprise an outwardly bulging breathing zone formation 515.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 illustrate sixth and seventh alternative embodiments of the face guard 610, 710, where instead of having the outer and inner dividers defined in the posterior shield layer, the intake outlet ports 646 and the exhaust inlet ports 752 are defined by the outer divider 634 and the inner divider 732 respectively. Alternatively, the face guard 610 may be configured such that the intake outlet ports 646 are additional to the intake outlet ports 46 to provide an additional clean air curtain to hinder outside air from reaching the area between the face shield and the users face.

Figure 13 illustrates an eight alternative embodiment of the face guard 810 where the face shield 814 is substantially made up of a single shield layer having, running on a posterior surface thereof, the intake and exhaust ducts in the form of respective intake and exhaust duct channels 836, 838 extending downwardly from the headwear 812.

Figure 14 and Figure 15 illustrate a nineth alternative embodiment of the face guard 910 wherein the face shield 914 is operably supportable over the user’s face by headwear 912 in the form of a pair of ear supported sidearms 912A, 912B (also known as temples) and a nose rest 912C. In this embodiment, the at least one intake fan 916 and exhaust fan 920 are supported directly on top of the face shield 914 or thereover in a support frame 976.

Figure 16 illustrates a tenth alternative embodiment of the face guard 1010, being similar to the nineth embodiment, with the headwear being in the form of a nose rest 1012C and a head strap 1012D secured to the face shield 1014 or to the support frame 1076 by opposing head strap securing formations 1012E. Figure 17 illustrates an eleventh alternative embodiment of the face guard 1110, being similar to the tenth embodiment, where the at least one intake 1116 and exhaust fan 1120 are mounted on the sides of the face shield 1114 instead of on the top thereof.

Figures 18 to 20 illustrates a twelfth alternative embodiment of the face guard 2010, in essence combining the face shield 2014 of the preferred embodiment (as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4) with the headwear 2012A, 2012B and the support frame 2076 of the tenth embodiment (as illustrated in Figure 16), in which support frame 2076 the respective fans 2016, 2018 and 2020 are housed.

Much the same as the face shield 14 of the preferred embodiment, the face shield 2014 of the twelfth alternative embodiment is of a three-piece design made up of anterior and posterior shield layers 2028, 2030 spaced proximally apart from one another by at least an inner divider 2032 and an outer divider 2034, the latter running along the periphery of the posterior shield layer 2030.

Although the inner divider 2032 has been illustrated as being a separate component from the anterior and posterior shield layers 2028, 2030, it will be appreciated that the dividers 2032, 2034 can be configured alternatively. For example, and as illustrated in Figures 21 and 22 (being a thirteenth embodiment of the face guard 3014 and in essence a two- piece variation of the eleventh alternative embodiment), the inner divider 2032 could be integrated into the anterior shield layer 3028.

For added comfort, the headwear of both the twelfth and the thirteenth alternative embodiments of the invention comprise a forehead rest 2012C, 3012C.

It will be appreciated that the headwear could take many other different forms depending largely on the environment in which the face guard of the present invention is to be used. For example, instead of a cap-like hat as illustrated in the accompanying illustrations, the headwear could be in the form of a hardhat or an open topped sun visor type hat where the crown is substantially a band.