The present invention relates to personal protection devices; more precisely, it relates to a structure of personal protection shield, in particular riot shields used by the police.

As well known, a variety exists of types of shields used by the police as riot shields.

A first type of protection shield has rectangular shape and has a size such that it can protect the body trunk and a part of the legs of the individual who uses it.

Another type of protection shield has, instead, substantially circular shape and has a size such that it covers only the trunk of the individual who uses it. This type of shield is much lighter and handy of the former. The choice among the first and the second kind of shields is carried out according to the type of use of the shield.

Both types of shield as above outlined provide a support portion that faces the user and at which the user grasps the shield and blocks it, for example, by a cord, or by a belt to a forearm.

Usually at the support portion a support is present for the forearm of the user, that has an anatomical shape and is made for example of a foam foam material, to ensure a maximum stability and increase of the comfort of the person that uses the shield.

Versions of protection shields also exist having a double handgrip to allow the use both by left-handed and of right-handed persons.

A further exemplary embodiment provides that the support portion can rotate with respect to the protection portion. In particular, the support portion has a handgrip at which a user grasps the shield. The protection portion has a first surface oriented towards the user and a second surface opposite to the first surface and is rotatable with respect to the support portion. This way it is avoided that the shield can be gripped by an aggressor a torque applied to the arm of the user and pull the shield, or hurt the user.

More in detail, the support portion has a circular portion that engages with a guide, which is circular as well and is made on the second surface of the protection portion, i.e. on the face oriented towards an aggressor. The circular guide is, in particular constrained to the protection portion through a plurality of metal rivets that are arranged radially.

However, this type of rotatable shield has some drawbacks.

Firstly, the mechanism that allows the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion is not very precise and therefore it cannot completely be avoided that an aggressor can gripp the shield and apply a torque to the arm of the user.

In particular, the metal rivets increase remarkably the overall weight of the shield.

Furthermore, in this type of shield the view of the user is partially blocked by the presence of the guide connected by the metal rivets.

In addition, between the various components of the shield slits are provided, in which, during the use, of various type can penetrate material, in particular liquid, which are thrown against the shield. This can affect the correct operation of the mechanism of rotation of the support portion with respect to the protection portion and cause damages to the shield.

A shield of this type is described, for example in DE7004097U that has a protection portion with circular shape provided with a support circular portion on the face oriented towards the user. The latter is peripherally guided by an open guide with circular shape protruding inside from the protection portion. Furthermore, in the support portion a protruding circular central portion is present that engages with a center housing that protrudes inside from the protection portion. In this shield the sliding friction in the open guide where the support portion peripherally engages tends to increase quickly owing to dirt, powder or material thrown during the riots. Therefore, the protection portion and the support portion after a short time do not rotate any longer or rotate with difficulty, frustrating the function of relative rotation between protection portion and the support portion.

A similar solution, and with further drawbacks, is described in DE3709035A1, which is referred exclusively to a rectangular shield, with the object to let the handgrip of the support portion to rotate in order to be used by both left-handed and right-handed people.

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield adapted to overcome the difficulties of similar devices of the prior art.

It is another feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield that is used both for right-handed and left-handed people without changing the support for the handgrip or without using bulky double handles.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield provided with a mechanism of rotation that does not jam owing to powder, debris or material thrown during riots.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield provided with a precise mechanism of rotation.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield that is light and handy.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide a shield structure with circular shape and rotatable, wherein a protection portion of the shield can rotate with respect to a support portion that is adapted to be gripped by a user, so that an aggressor cannot block this rotation.

It is a particular feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield that can be easily unfastened to assist the maintenance in particular in case of requiring of cleaning the different components that the constituiscono.

It is also particular feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield that has a support portion that can be used both for rectangular protection portions, adapted to provide riot containing barriers, and for circular protection portions, adapted to hand-to-hand defence.

It is still a feature of the invention to provide a structure of personal protection shield for increasing the view of the user with respect to the shields of the prior art.

These and other features are accomplished with one exemplary structure of personal protection shield, according to the invention, comprising:

• a protection portion having a first surface that, in use, faces a user who wears the shield and a second surface with function of shield opposite to the first surface;
• a support portion at which the user grasps the shield, said support portion comprised of a first surface oriented towards said first surface of said protection portion and of a second surface oriented towards said user,

In particular, said guide means forms a circular groove in which said edge of said central hole of the support portion slidingly engages.

In particular, the connection device can comprise a central body protruding centrally at the protection portion from the side of the first surface, and a plate adapted to be connected to the central body, such that said groove in which engages the edge of said central hole engages is formed between said plate and said central body. More precisely, the central body has a central protrusion that passes through the central hole of the support portion, and the plate can be fastened to the central protrusion without avoiding the rotation of the circular edge in the groove. Alternatively, between the central body and the plate a spacer is provided.

Advantageously, on the second surface of the support portion a handgrip is provided at which the user grasps the support portion.

In particular, on the second surface of the support portion a support can be provided for the forearm of a user.

Preferably, the support for the forearm of the user covers the connection device, in such a way that debris is prevented from migrating from migrating towards the guide means through the central hole.

Advantageously, the support for the forearm of the user is covered by a portion of soft material, to make a fluid tight coupling.

Advantageously between said support portion and said protection portion a wall is provided which surrounds said connection device in such a way that debris is prevented from migrating towards said guide means through the space existing between said support portion and said protection portion.

In particular, said wall extends from said first surface of said support portion, and slides on the first surface of said protection portion. Alternatively, said wall extends from said first surface of said protection portion and slides on the first surface of said support portion. This way, in particular in case of rotatable circular shields, the second surface of said protection portion is continue, and the shield does not present portions of the movable surface from the side opposite to the user and that normally is attacked in case of riots, or other situations of hand-to-hand fight with possible aggressors. In this case, an aggressor cannot avoid the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion, as it can occur with the prior art devices.

Advantageously, the first surface of the protection portion has at least one abutment member adapted to stop the rotation of the support portion with respect to the protection portion to reach an angular determined position.

Preferably, the first surface of the protection portion has a first abutment member adapted to stop the rotation of the support portion with respect to the protection portion at a first rotation direction to achieve a first abutment position in order to provide a first configuration of operation, in particular for right-handed people, and a second abutment member adapted to stop the rotation of the support portion with respect to the protection portion in a second rotation direction, opposite to the first rotation direction, to achieve a second abutment position in order to provide a second configuration of operation, in particular for left-handed people. This way, in case of shield structure of rectangular shape, it is that can be used both for right-handed people that for left-handed people.

Advantageously, the first abutment member has an abutment surface belonging to a plane a having an inclination of -45° in a axial plane with respect to the protection portion, whereas the second abutment member has an abutment surface belonging to a plane β having an inclination of +45° with respect to the axial plane.

In particular, the plane a and the plane β are substantially orthogonal.

Advantageously, each abutment member has, furthermore, a second abutment surface at an angle at 90° with respect to the first abutment surface.

This way, in case of rectangular shields, these can be used both by right-handed people and by left-handed people, without changing the support for the handgrip, avoiding the use of bulky double handles, and without that an aggressor can destabilize the grip of the user. In particular, since the connection device is arranged between the first surface of the protection portion and the first surface of the support portion provides easily abutment surfaces for configuration right-handed, or left-handed.

Advantageously, the first surface of the protection portion has a portion that is bent downwards having at least in circular part shape in which said support portion is arranged with possibility of rotation with respect to it. In this case, the abutment surfaces are protruding in said recessed portion.

In case of a shield having substantially rectangular shape, the first and the second abutment positions are arranged at a plane transversal to the shield and passing through the centre of the circular part of the recessed portion.

Advantageously, the support portion comprises a base having shape of elongated plate, in particular substantially rectangular.

In particular, the base may have two opposite rectilinear edges and the other two opposite curvilinear edges having shape of "arch of circumference". More in detail, the curvilinear edges lay in a circumference concentric to the circumference of the circular part of the recessed portion, but have radius less than it. This way, during the rotation the curvilinear edges of the base touch the inner wall of the circular part of the recessed portion.

In particular, in the configuration of operation for left-handed people a first rectilinear edge of the base rests against the first abutment surface of the first abutment member, whereas the second rectilinear edge rests against the second abutment surface of the second abutment member. Instead, at the second configuration of operation, the first rectilinear edge of the base rests against the second abutment surface of the first abutment member and the second rectilinear edge rests against the first abutment surface of the second abutment member.

Advantageously, the support portion and the protection portion comprise means for mutual connection, said means for mutual connection adapted to block the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion in a predetermined position.

In particular, the means for mutual connection are movable between a first configuration in which prevent the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion and a second configuration in which allow the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion. This way, the shield according to the invention can work as rotatable shield, when the means for mutual connection is located in the second configuration, or as fixed shield, when the means for mutual connection is located in the first configuration. This makes extremely easy the use of shield and both by right-handed and left-handed people.

In a possible exemplary embodiment of the invention, the means for mutual connection comprises:

• a opening at the protection portion;
• a screw integral to the support portion, said screw movable along a direction substantially orthogonal to the support portion between a first position, in which it engages said opening and a second position, in which it is disengaged from the opening.

In particular, in the first configuration of the means for mutual connection the screw occupies the first position, whereas in the second configuration of the lock means the screw occupies the second position.

Advantageously, the screw is movable from the first to the second position biased by resilient means.

In particular, the means for mutual connection comprises a stop means adapted to stop the screw in said second position.

Advantageously, the stop means comprises:

• a first and a second support element, said first and said second support element arranged at opposite sides with respect to said screw at a determined distance d and have a measured height h;
• an enlarged portion integral to the screw and have a base substantially rectangular comprising an higher edge than a length L, with L>d, and a lower edge of length 1, with 1<d, in said first position said enlarged portion arranged with the higher edge substantially parallel to said first and said second support element and said screw engaging with said opening for a portion of length 1', with 1'<h, in said second position said enlarged portion arranged with the higher edge that is inclined, or substantially orthogonal, to said first and said second support element and in order to rest on them for keeping the screw in a position external to the opening.

Advantageously, if the protection portion presents a substantially rectangular shape the means for mutual connection comprises at least one first opening in a first point belonging to a line r substantially parallel to the sides of the support portion and forming an angle of about +45° with the longitudinal axis of the protection portion, and a second opening at a second point belonging to a second line forming with the longitudinal axis of the protection portion an angle of about -45°. More precisely, when the screw engages the first opening a left-handed handgrip is obtained, whereas when the screw engages the second opening a right-handed handgrip is obtained.

Furthermore, an side containing element can be provided protruding from said first surface of the protection portion, and adapted to contain, without touching them, the external edges of the support portion. This way, it is possible to prevent the support portion from movement during the rotation with respect to the protection portion. In particular, since the side containing element, in operation, remains at a determined distance from the support portion, it does not block the correct operation during the rotation with respect to the protection portion, and cannot then jam in the presence of dirt or debris.

According to another aspect of the invention, a structure of personal protection shield comprises:

• a protection portion having a first surface that, in use, faces a user who wears the shield and a second surface with function of shield opposite to the first surface;
• a support portion at which the user grasps the shield, said support portion comprised of a first surface oriented towards said first surface of said protection portion and of a second surface oriented towards said user,

• means for mutual connection of the support portion and of the protection portion, said means for mutual connection movable between a first configuration in which it prevents the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion and a second configuration in which it allows the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion, such that the shield can work both as rotatable shield, when the means for mutual connection is located in the second configuration, and as fixed shield, when the means for mutual connection is located in the first configuration.

Advantageously, the means for mutual connection comprises:

• an opening at the protection portion;
• a screw integral to the support portion, said screw movable along a direction substantially orthogonal to the support portion between a first position, in which it engages said opening, and a second position, in which it is disengaged from the opening.

In particular, the means for mutual connection comprises stop means adapted to stop the screw in said second position.

The invention will be made clearer with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• figure 1 diagrammatically shows a first exemplary embodiment of a structure of personal protection shield, according to the invention, in operation conditions;
• figure 2 shows in a perspective cross sectional view the shield structure of Fig. 1;
• figure 3 shows the shield structure of Fig. 1 in a perspective view from below with partial cross section in an exploded configuration for highlighting some technical features;

• figure 4 shows the shield structure of Fig. 3 in an assembled configuration;
• figure 5 shows the shield structure of Fig. 1 in a cross sectional view;
• figure 6 shows in detail a cross sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a connection device that can be used by the shield structure according to the invention to provide the rotation of the protection portion with respect to the support portion;
• figure 7 shows in detail a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the connection device of Fig. 6;
• figures 8 and 9 show the structure of personal protection shield of Fig. 1, in a transversal cross sectional view and in a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively;
• figures 10 and 11 show two exemplary embodiments of the structure of personal protection shield, according to the invention;
• figures 12 and 13 show a top plan view of a structure of personal protection shield, according to the invention, in a configuration for right-handed and left-handed people, respectively;
• figures from 14 to 17 show diagrammatically an elevational side elevational front view of a possible succession of steps through which it is possible to bring the means for mutual connection, provided in an exemplary embodiment of the shield of Fig. 1, from a configuration of locking the support portion to the protection portion to a configuration in which it is allowed a relative rotation of the two parts;
• figures 18 and 19 show diagrammatically a top plan view of a structure of shield, according to the invention, for showing two possible positions in which the means for mutual connection shown in Figs. from 14 to 17 can be arranged;
• figure 20 shows a perspective elevational front view of the means for mutual connection shown in Figs. from 14 to 17 in the locked configuration.

As shown in Fig. 1, a shield structure for personal protection, according to the invention, in particular of the type used by the police as riot shield, comprises a protection portion 10 having a first surface 11 that, in use, faces a user 50 who wears the shield 1 and a second surface 12 opposite to the first surface 11.

The shield structure 1 comprises, furthermore, a support portion 20 at which the user 50 grasps the shield. More precisely, support portion 20 has a handgrip 26 at which the user 50 grasps the shield 1 and a belt 27, for example, with hook-loop surfaces, or made in two removable parts, that can overlap resiliently, to ensure a support portion 20 for the arm of the user 50. Furthermore, support portion 20 has a support 25 for the forearm of the user 50 having anatomical shape and made of a soft material, for example foam polyurethane, to assist the comfort of the user 50.

In particular, support portion 20 and protection portion 10 are pivotally connected. This way, if an aggressor 60 grasps the shield 1, cannot in any case apply a force on it suitable to generate a torque, and then it is avoided that the shield is pulled away from the arm of the user. Protection portion 10 and support portion 20 are pivotally connected by means of a connection device 30 arranged between the first surface 11 of protection portion 10 and first surface 21 of support portion 20.

According to the invention, support portion 20 has a central hole 34 having an circular edge 44 and connection device 30 protrudes from a central zone of the first surface 11 of protection portion 10. In particular, connection device 30 comprises guide means 35, 36 that contain the circular edge 44 encircling it slidingly in a way adapted to cause support portion 20 to rotate with respect to protection portion 10.

In the example shown in Figs. from 2 to 6, the guide means comprises a plate 36 and a central body 35 protruding centrally at protection portion 10. Plate 36 and central body 35 are arranged at opposite sides with respect to the circular edge 44 of central hole 34 and are fastened, for example, by a screw 55. Plate 36 and central body 35 definea circular groove 45 in which edge 44 of central hole 34 of support portion 20 slidingly engages.

Central body 35, for example having alignment apertures 33, has a central protrusion 35b that passes through central hole 34 of support portion 20. Central protrusion 35b protrudes slightly from central hole 34 from the side of the plate 36, such that it is fastened on central protrusion 35b without avoiding the rotation of edge 44 in groove 45. In an exemplary embodiment, not shown in the figures, between central body 35 and the plate a spacer can be provided.

As shown for example in Fig. 6, support 25 for the forearm of the user 50 is made of of soft material present on face 22 of support portion 20, i.e. oriented towards the user 50, thus covering, in use, connection device 30. This way, is avoided the moving debris towards plate 36 and central body 35 through the central hole 34.

Furthermore, between support portion 20 and protection portion 10 a circular wall 32 can be provided that surrounds connection device 30. Wall 32 extends, in particular by first surface 21 of support portion 20 and slides on first surface 11 of protection portion 10. Therefore, wall 32 prevents debris from moving towards the guide means 35, 36 through the space existing between support portion 20 and protection portion 10. Wall 32 prevents, furthermore, an undesired lateral displacement of connection device 30 in operation conditions, i.e. during the rotation of support portion 20 with respect to protection portion 10. Central body 35 is connected to protection portion 10 by means of screws, or bolts 56.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention and shown in Fig. 7 the guide means comprises a determined number of guide elements, for example four guide elements 65a-65d arranged at 90° at hole 34 of support portion 20. Guide elements 65a-65d can, for example, be connected to protection portion 10 by means of screws, or bolts 56. Each guide element 65a-65d has a peripheral circular groove 45' in which it is arranged, in use, circular edge 44 of hole 34 with freedom of rotation with respect to it.

In further exemplary embodiments not shown in the figures, plate 36 and central body 35 can be made of a single block that peripherally has circular groove 45 at which edge 44 of hole 34 engages with freedom of rotation with respect to it.

As shown in particular in Fig. 2, the first surface 11 of protection portion 10 can be provided with a part that is bent downwards 13, having at least in part circular shape in which support portion 20 is arranged. This can comprise a base 23 having, for example, rectangular shape and provided with two opposite rectilinear edges 24a and 24c and two other opposite sides 24b and 24d having curvilinear shape, in particular an arch of circumference.

More in detail, sides 24b and 24d lay in a circumference concentric to the bent downwards circular portion 13 so that sides 24b and 24d touch the inner perimeter of the bent downwards portion 13 having circular shape during the rotation of the base 23 about a rotation axis 100 (Fig. 9).

The base 23 at face 21 may have, along rectilinear edges 24a and 24c, coating edges 38a and 38b with function of protection for connection device 30 with the possibility of penetration of dirt, powder and material that is thgrown against the user 50 by an aggressor 150 during a riot. Coating edges 38a and 38b can be present alternatively to wall 32, or in addition to it, as auxiliary device of protection of connection device 30. Shield structure 1 may have substantially circular shape (Fig. 10), or substantially rectangular shape (Fig. 11).

In particular, if protection portion 10 has substantially rectangular shape it can be provided with two abutment members 15 and 16, adapted to stop the rotation of base 23 to achieve determined angular positions. More precisely, the abutment members 15 and 16 are arranged at a transversal plane _Y passing through the centre C of bent downwards circular portion 13.

In particular, first abutment member 15 has an abutment surface 15a belonging to a plane a having an inclination of -45° in an axial plane δ of the shield. The second abutment member 16, instead, has an abutment surface 16a belonging to a plane β having an inclination of +45° with respect to the axial plane δ.

Each abutment member 15, or 16, has, furthermore, a second abutment surface 15b, or 16b, respectively, at an angle 90° with respect to the first abutment surface 15a, or 16a. More precisely, abutment member 15 has a second abutment surface 15b arranged according to a plane ε orthogonal to the plane a on which abutment surface 15a lays. Similarly, abutment member 16 has a second abutment surface 16b arranged according to a plane θ orthogonal to plane β.

As shown in Fig. 8, it is possible to rotate the base 23 towards left in order to arrange it with rectilinear edge 24d next to abutment surface 15a and with rectilinear edge 24b next to abutment surface 16b. This provides a configuration for right-handed people.

Therefore, the connection device, according to the invention, can be mounted on a circular shield to provide a rotatable shield to avoid applying torque on the arm of a user. In this case, then, the shield circular without abutment members. The same connection device can be, instead, mounted on a rectangular shield using the above described abutment members to obtain a universal shield, i.e. that can be used both for right-handed people and for left-handed people.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 9, it is possible to rotate the base 23 towards the right in order to arrange it in with rectilinear edge 24d next to abutment surface 15b and with rectilinear edge 24b next to abutment surface 15a. This provides a configuration for left-handed people.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figs. from 14 to 17, support portion 20 and protection portion 10 comprise means for mutual connection. In particular, the means for mutual connection are adapted to block the rotation of protection portion 10 with respect to support portion 20 in a predetermined position. More in detail, the means for mutual connection are adapted to move from a first configuration (Fig. 14), in which it prevents the rotation of protection portion 10 with respect to support portion 20, to a second configuration (Fig. 17), in which the rotation is allowed of protection portion 10 with respect to support portion 20.

The means for mutual connection comprises, for example, an opening 81 at protection portion 10 and a screw 71 integral to support portion 20 and mobile, for example, biased by resilient means 72, along a direction substantially orthogonal to it between a first position, in which it engages opening 81, and a second position, in which it is disengaged and is external to opening 81.

Screw 71 is blocked at second position through a stop means comprising, for example, a first and a second support element 73 and 74 located at opposite sides with respect to screw 71 and arranged at a determined distance d. Screw 71 has an enlarged portion 75 that can be used by a user for causing it to move from the first to the second position and vice-versa. More precisely, enlarged portion 75 has a base 76 substantially rectangular comprising an higher edge 76a of length L, with L>d, and a lower edge 76b of length 1, with 1<d. In the first position, enlarged portion 75 is arranged with the higher edge 76a substantially parallel to the first and to the second support element 73 and 74. In this configuration the base 76 is arranged between the support elements 73 and 74 in an approached position to support portion 20. In the second position, instead, enlarged portion 75 is arranged with the higher edge 76a inclined, or substantially orthogonal, with respect to first and to second support elements 73 and 74. In this configuration base 76 rests on support elements 73 and 74 and screw 71 crosses the opening 81 for a portion 71a of length 1'.

The support elements 73 and 74 have a height h higher than the length the of the portion 71a of screw 71 that at the first position crosses opening 81. Therefore, when the base 76 of enlarged portion 75 is arranged on the support elements 73 and 74, screw 71 is external to opening 81. As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, when passing from the first to the second position, or vice-versa, enlarged portion 75 is arranged according to an intermediate position at a height H', with H'>h, by support portion 20. In the intermediate position, enlarged portion 75 can rotate freely to move from the first to the second position, or vice-versa.

As diagrammatically shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in case of rectangular shields, in which protection portion 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, at least a first opening 81a and a second opening 81b are provided. More precisely, first opening 81a is arranged according to a first point belonging to a line r parallel to sides 24b and 24d and forming an angle of +45° with axis 101 of protection portion 10. In particular, opening 81a is arranged at the orthogonal projection of support portion 20 on protection portion 10. This way, engaging screw 71 in the first opening 81a, support portion 20 is blocked in a position that provides a left-handed handgrip (Fig. 18).

The second opening 81b is arranged according to a second point belonging to a line t, which is also parallel to the sides 24b and 24d, and at the orthogonal projection consisting of support portion 20 on protection portion 10 when edge 24d shapes an angle of -45° with the longitudinal axis 101 of support portion 20 (Fig. 19). In this case, by engaging screw 71 in the second opening 81b a handgrip right-handed is obtained.

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 18 a lateral containing element can be provided for example made of two parts 90a and 90b, for preventing from excessivi shifting movement for support portion 20 during the rotation with respect to protection portion 10. More in detail, lateral containing element 90a, 90b in operation conditions, remains at a determined distance from support portion 20 in order not to block its correct operation during the rotation with respect to protection portion 10.