US2535434A - Plastic football player's mask - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 M, T, MARIETTA 2,535,434

PLASTIC FOOTBALL PLAYERS MASK Filed Dec. 29, 1949 Patented Dec. 276, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLASTIC FOOTBALL PLAYERS MASK Michael T. Marietta, Dallas, Tex.

Application December 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,777

4 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in a ball players mask aiording the wearer better protection of his face, or more particularly of his nose.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a mask of plastic exterior layer an interior one-piece padding with a single cut-out for the nose of the player, the mouth hole and eye holes of the outer layer.

Another object is to provide a mask which may be produced at low cost because of its simplicity.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the invention is fully comprehended, the" same resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter specifically described and distinctly claimed in the appended claim.

For a better understanding, the description should be read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of the application and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of the front of the mask constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective of the ilattened padding constituting a part of the mask.

In the drawing in which like characters of reierence designate like or similar elements numeral 5 denotes an exterior layer of plastic Inaterial having a generally convex outer surface and concave inner surface and provided with an opening l which when the mask is worn registers with the mouth of the player. Above the mouth opening on the convex side is a protuberance cr upwardly receding ridge s with an interior cavity opening to the exterior of the mask through the lower end of the protuberance and during use housing the nose of the wearer.

On either side of the upper end of the protuberance is a hole for an eye of the user.

A chin strap I3 has an intermediate portion underlying the wearers chin accessible through an opening in the lower end of the mask and each end is bifurcated and attached to the lateral side of the chin portion of the mask.

A lower back head strap l5 has looped ends il each inter-linked through a slit i9 in the cheek portion of the mask with the lower rear edge thereof.

An upper back head strap includes end loops similar to those described and each passing through a slit i3 in one of the temple portions of the mask and comprises sections 2|, 23 of which 2 the former carries a buckle, while the latter is provided with holes for the prong of the buckles. The buckled strap section 2| is connected to one end of a strap 25 which at the other end has a loop I1 passing through a slit I9 adjacent the rear edge of the forehead portion of the mask.

Strap 25 is connected intermediate its ends to the intermediate part of head strap 21 which is attached at either lower end to strap section 2| or 23. Side straps 29 each connects one of the strap sections 2|, 23 to one end portion of the lower back head strap.

The interior concave surface of the outer plastic layer is covered with a resilient pad 3| preferably of foam rubber. The pad has a cut out or slot 33 resembling the inverted section of a railroad rail. The upper part of the slot registers partly with the eye holes in the plastic exterior mask part and connects with a central part for the nose. This central part is in communication with the cavity of the protuberance and together with the latter houses the nose of the wearer. The central part of the slot communicates at its lower end with a slot part reg istering with the mouth opening of the outer plastic part. The central part of slot 33 has straight, parallel edges which are adapted at their inner corners to engage the base of the nose and prevent or minimize lateral shifting of the mask and contact between the nasal surfaces adjacent the rid-ge of the nose and the converging cavity surfaces.

If the padding is thick enough the nasal protuberance may be very small or may be omitted entirely.

It is believed that my mask is an ecient means of protecting the face and particularly the nose of the wearer from injury.

One of the reasons why the mask may be produced at low cost lies in the fact that the cutout of the pad may be stamped out by a die.

Having described my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an athletes mask the combination comprising an exterior plastic section having a hole for the mouth of the wearer, two eye holes and a protuberance with an interior cavity Afor the nose oi' the wearer, the cavity opening to the space exterior to the mask at the lower end of the protuberance and a one-piece pad of foam rubber having a single cutout partly receiving the nose of the wearer and partly registering with the cavity, the mouth hole and theeye holes, the part of the cutout receiving the nose and registering with the cavity having straight and parallel edges each aligned with an intei- Number sectlon of the cavity surface and tne remaining 1023 285 interior surface of the plastic section. 1272309 MICHAEL T. MARIETTA. 5 1637692 2,125,854 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number le of thls patent: m 169,544

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date White Apr. 16, 1912 Paupa July 9, 1918 Fitzpatrick et a1. Aug. 2, 1927 Standley Aug. 2, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 6. 1921

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