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  Batting helmet with adjustable face guardUSPTO Application #: 20070250992Title: Batting helmet with adjustable face guard Abstract: A batting helmet with an adjustable face guard includes a rigid shell for protecting the head of a wearer, with an adjustable face guard movably attached to the shell. An adjustment mechanism regulates the movement of the face guard between upper and lower limits to vary a wearer's line-of-sight through the face guard. An associated method of use is also provided (end of abstract) Agent: Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP Attn: Patent Group - Kansas City, MO, US Inventor: Robin J. Brown USPTO Applicaton #: 20070250992 - Class: 002424000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head, And Face The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070250992. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to protective sports equipment, and more particularly to protective helmets used in baseball and softball. Specifically, the present invention relates to batting helmets having protective face guards. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Protective helmets are commonly used in various sports to provide protection to a player's head and face. In baseball, for example, players commonly wear batting helmets to provide protection against wild pitches or foul balls. Offensive players also sometimes wear helmets when running the bases to protect against balls thrown attempting to get them out. [0005] In lower-level leagues, especially those geared to younger players, protective batting helmets must also include a face guard to protect the face of the wearer against stray balls. Typically, the face guard is configured as a wire cage, and is immovably affixed to the front and sides of the helmet. The face guard provides a rigid barrier to stray balls. Spacing between bars on the wire face cage is configured to prevent balls from entering the cage and striking the player, but still allows the player to view outwardly from behind the cage. [0006] While the fixed, one-size-fits-all face cages do provide protection, they also introduce disadvantages to the wearer. Compared to a helmet without a face cage, the view through a face cage is obstructed. The fixed horizontal cross bars and fixed vertical support members of the typical face cage may be an impediment to a wearer's upward, downward, and peripheral vision. In any direction other than straight-ahead, the line-of-sight of the wearer may be obstructed. In addition, fixed face cages are configured to provide an optimal line-of-sight only for a particular sport, and only for an average wearer. For example, a face cage configured to protect against baseballs has a particular spacing between the cross-bar members of the cage to protect against incursion by a baseball, and to allow an average wearer's line-of-sight to be directed towards the pitcher. Such a configuration, however, may not be appropriate for softball, where the pitches are thrown underhand, and approach the batter from a low angle. However, with a typical face cage affixed to a helmet, the line-of sight through the face cage is fixed, and is optimal only for the average wearer wearing the helmet in a specific position on his or her head. A taller or shorter player using this fixed configuration helmet and face guard, or a wearer positioning the helmet in a slightly different position (e.g. tilted forward or rearward), will have a different viewing angle, and may thus have a have a portion of their view obstructed compared to the average-height wearer. [0007] While specific face guards can be manufactured to provide various line-of-sight configurations for specific players, this requires that each player have his own helmet and face guard. Especially for lower-level leagues, this approach requires a burdensome additional expense and requires additional equipment handling capacity. Instead, players typically share a helmet and face guard configured for the average player, even though that configuration may not be optimal for all. [0008] Thus, it can be seen that there remains a need in the art for a protective helmet having a protective face cage that is adaptable to a particular wearer. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention is directed to a batting helmet having an adjustable face guard, allowing the line-of-sight through the face guard to be adjusted by the wearer. The face guard includes an upper vision cross bar and a lower vision cross bar defining an unobstructed viewing area through the face guard. The face guard is movably attached to the helmet such that the face guard can be moved upward to move the unobstructed viewing area closer to the bill of the helmet, or downward to move the unobstructed viewing area farther away from the bill of the helmet. Thus, the wearer's line-of-sight through the unobstructed viewing area can be varied by moving the face guard with respect to the helmet. [0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the helmet comprises a rigid shell for protecting the head of the wearer, with a face guard formed as a wire cage with horizontal and vertical members covering the front opening of the rigid shell to protect the face of the wearer. An unobstructed viewing area is defined by horizontal members of the face guard positioned above and below the wearer's eyes. The face guard is pivotally attached to the rigid shell at opposite side of the helmet, allowing the face guard to be moved between an upper position in which the wearer's line-of-sight through the unobstructed viewing area is higher, and a lower position in which the wearer's line-of-sight through the unobstructed viewing area is lower. An adjustment mechanism mounted to the underside of the bill of the rigid shell attaches to the face guard to regulate and limit the pivotal movement of the face guard. [0011] Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be leaned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The present invention will be described in greater detail in the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, in which: [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a batting helmet with adjustable face guard in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a left-side elevational view of the batting helmet of FIG. 1 with the adjustable face guard in its upper position. [0015] FIG. 3 is a right-side elevational view of the helmet of FIG. 1 with the adjustable face guard in its lower position. [0016] FIG. 4 is an upward-looking perspective view of the helmet of FIG. 1, showing the adjustment mechanism attached to the underside of the bill of the helmet. [0017] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a portion of the helmet of FIG. 4, showing the adjustment mechanism detail. [0018] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the adjustment mechanism of FIG. 5. [0019] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the adjustment mechanism of FIG. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0020] A protective batting helmet having an adjustable face guard in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 through 7. While the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to this exemplary embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific configuration shown in these embodiments. Rather, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of configurations may be implemented in accordance with the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Batting helmet with adjustable face guard Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Batting helmet with adjustable face guard 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 Batting helmet with adjustable face guard or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ventilated helmet system Next Patent Application: Integral helmet Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Batting helmet with adjustable face guard patent info. 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