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  Baseball catcher's maskUSPTO Application #: 20060053521Title: Baseball catcher's mask Abstract: A protective headgear, such as a baseball catcher's mask, is disclosed. The protective headgear includes a shell, a cage, padding, and a strap/harness device. The shell includes a flared jaw area providing protection to the player/wearer's jaw. The cage includes a throat protection portion that extends downward, past the shell, and a flared ear portion, flaring away from the wearer's face, which keeps balls in front of the player/wearer. Padding is strategically placed inside the chin and forehead areas for protection. The protective headgear is designed to be used with a separate catcher's skull helmet. The strap/harness device is used to connect the protective headgear to the separate catcher's skull helmet. (end of abstract) Agent: Brouse Mcdowell Lpa - Akron, OH, US Inventor: James Rickon USPTO Applicaton #: 20060053521 - Class: 002009000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head, Face The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060053521. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] A. Field of Invention [0002] This invention pertains to the art of protective head devices for use by athletes. The invention relates more specifically to a facemask used by baseball catchers. [0003] B. Description of the Related Art [0004] It is known in the art that there have been only two general types of catcher's masks used in both amateur and professional baseball. The conventional mask is the "official" catcher's mask. Although the mask is adequate, the wearer's visibility while wearing the "official" catcher's mask is limited. Also, the jaw protection offered is poor and the impact of a foul ball is harsh. While players continue to use the "official" catcher's mask, there are a number of improvements that can be made to the mask. [0005] Also known in the art is the "hockey-style" catcher's mask. While the "hockey-style" mask provides what is lacking in the "official" catcher's mask, the hockey-style catcher's mask is heavier, much larger, uncomfortable to wear, difficult to flip on and off during play, provides no rear neck protection, and looks like a hockey mask, not a baseball catcher's mask. The way a catcher's mask looks is important since baseball is a game filled with tradition. Anything that seems to take away from that tradition is frowned upon by players and fans alike. In addition, the "hockey-style" mask makes the head area of the wearer uncomfortably hot and when the mask is removed, the wearer is bare-headed and not provided any head protection. Therefore, the "hockey-style" catcher's mask is undesirable for the game of baseball, and has a number of needed improvements. [0006] Also known in the art are "skull helmets" of U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,434, to Davia. This patent discloses the use of baseball caps, or "skull helmets", that are used to protect the player's head. The most used skull helmet is made by American Baseball Cap. This cap or helmet works well for its intended purpose, but it does not provide any face protection. [0007] The present invention achieves the combined advantages of the traditional "official" catcher's mask and the "hockey-style" catcher's mask without the disadvantages. [0008] The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for a baseball catcher's mask. This invention obviates the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results. II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a new and improved catcher's mask is provided which is a cage and shell combination with a strap/harness device on the back. This new mask is designed to be worn with a separate catcher's "skull helmet," and is known as "G-3." [0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a head protection device for use by athletes comprises a concave shell with a crown portion, forehead portion, chin portion, two jaw portions, two side portions and an elongated view opening between the forehead and the chin portions. [0011] According to another aspect of the invention, a forehead portion is connected to a chin portion by two side portions and two jaw portions. [0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the two side portions end vertically, toward the rear of the mask, prior to, and rather than, extending over and covering the wearer's ears. [0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the jaw portions follow the contour of the wearer's jaw until the two jaw portions connect with the two side portions. At this connection point, the side portions, in conjunction with the jaw portions, flare outward, away from the wearer's head. [0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the crown portion extends over the front half of the wearer's head and ends before the midpoint of the front half and back half of the wearer's head. [0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the head protection device comprises a forehead interior surface having padding therein, a chin interior surface having padding therein, and an exterior rear harness device thereon. [0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the harness device comprises a strap connected at strategic points on the head protection device. [0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the head protection device includes a shell to be used with a separate catcher's skull helmet. [0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the head apparatus device further comprises a shell that covers and protects the wearer's forehead, jaw, chin, cheeks, mouth, and ears. [0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the head apparatus device is adapted to receive a cage. [0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the cage substantially covers an elongated view opening of the shell. [0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the cage includes a lower portion extending downward over the wearer's throat area, and two ear portions that extend outward away from the wearer's face. [0022] According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for assembling a head protection device for use by athletes where the head protection device comprises a concave shell having a crown portion, forehead portion, chin portion, two jaw portions, and two side portions. The method further comprises the steps of providing an elongated view opening between a forehead portion and a chin portion and connecting a forehead portion to a chin portion by using two side portions and two jaw portions. Continue reading... Full patent description for Baseball catcher's mask Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Baseball catcher's mask patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Baseball catcher's mask or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Next Patent Application: Face guard for a sporting helmet Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Baseball catcher's mask patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.67956 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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