Catcher's helmet
A catcher's mask comprises a two-piece plastic shell composed of a rigid front shell and a rigid rear shell. The front and rear shells are connected by a strap harness attached to the front shell and have padding assemblies. The front shell has ventilation holes including ear holes positioned over the wearer's ears and a full jaw protector integrally formed as part of front shell. A wire faceguard is removably attached to the front shell extending over the ear holes. A top upper member of the faceguard comprises a center bar part, a left side bar part bent upwardly with respect to the center bar part to form a left eyebrow area, and a right side bar part bent upwardly with respect to the center bar part to form a right eyebrow area.
1. A catcher's mask comprising:
a front shell having a face opening and an integral full jaw protector;
a rear shell attached to the front shell by straps; and
a face guard attached to the front shell;
wherein the face guard has left side bar part and a right side bar part, said left side bar part and right side bar part being bent upward with respect to a center bar part to form left and right eyebrow areas that are substantially above a top edge of the face opening.
2. The catcher's mask of claim 1 , wherein the left side bar part and right side bar part are bent upwardly to such an extent that they are above the center bar part by at least a multiple of a diameter of the center bar part.
3. The catcher's mask of claim 1 wherein the front shell has an ear hole in a left region of the shell and an ear hole in a right region of the shell.
4. The catcher's mask of claim 1 further comprising a chin pad removably attached to an inner surface of the full jaw protector to overlie at least the mental protuberance of the chin of a wearer.
5. The catcher's mask of claim 1 wherein the front shell comprises a first vent hole having a first shape and a first position on the front shell and a second vent hole formed in the shell having a second shape and a second position on the front shell, provided that the second shape is symmetrical to the first shape and the second position is symmetrical to the first position.
6. A catcher's mask comprising:
a front shell having a face opening, an integral full jaw protector, an ear hole in a left region of the shell and an ear hole in a right region of the shell, a first vent hole having a first shape and a first position on the front shell and a second vent hole formed in the shell having a second shape and a second position on the front shell, provided that the second shape is symmetrical to the first shape and the second position is symmetrical to the first position;
a rear shell attached to the front shell by straps;
a chin pad removably attached to an inner surface of the full jaw protector;
a face guard attached to the front shell having a left side bar part and a right side bar part, said left side bar part and right side bar part being bent upward with respect to a center bar part to form left and right eyebrow areas that are substantially above a top edge of the face opening.