Protective Sports Helmet Chinstrap Assembly

This Application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/521,244, filed on Nov. 8, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 11,166,511, issued on Nov. 9, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 9,756,889, issued on Sep. 12, 2017, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/698,987, filed on Sep. 10, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

The invention relates to a chinstrap assembly for securing a helmet to the head of a player engaged in a contact sport, such as football, lacrosse or hockey. The chinstrap assembly includes a flexible inner pad member and a substantially rigid outer protective member that is removably attached to the inner pad member.

Chinstraps are known for securing helmets to the heads of players in contact sports such as football, lacrosse or hockey. Chinstraps generally include a cup portion that overlies the wearer's chin, and straps that extend from the cup and attach to the helmet. There are generally two types of cups-a soft cup comprising an assembly of flexible fabrics such as vinyl, nylon, and the like, and a hard cup that includes a rigid outer portion and a padded inner portion rigidly attached, typically by gluing, to the rigid outer portion. An example of a hard cup chinstrap is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,932, entitled, “CHIN STRAP ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH AN ATHLETIC HELMET.”

Soft cups are often integrally formed with the straps, for example, the straps are arranged to criss-cross over the wearer's jaw bone on each side of the wearer's chin, and a web of fabric is stitched into the resulting oblong space between the straps to overlie the wearer's chin. Hard cups often include slots formed in the rigid outer portion, which is typically formed of an impact resistant plastic, and the straps extend through or otherwise coupled to the slots. As mentioned above, an inner pad member is typically glued and permanently attached to the rigid outer portion.

While soft cups can flex to accommodate the player's anatomical features to provide a more customized fit, they provide less protection for the wearer's chin compared to hard cups. A hard cup, while providing increased protection of the wearer's chin, may not fit as well as a soft cup because of the rigidity of the hard cup.

In addition to being less comfortable, a poorly fitting chinstrap assembly may also be less effective at maintaining the helmet in an appropriate location on the wearer's head, which can reduce the overall level of protection for the user. Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

illustrate a protective sports helmetand a chinstrap assemblyaccording to the invention. The sports helmetincludes a protective outer shelland a face guard or face mask, which is configured to protect the facial area of the wearer of the helmet

. The face maskis coupled to the shellby a plurality of connectors. When the helmetis properly positioned on the wearer's head, the chinstrap assemblyengages a substantial portion of the wearer's chin and is positioned generally at or below a lower portion of the face mask. The sports helmetis shown to be a football helmet, however, the chin strap assemblycan be utilized with a hockey or lacrosse helmet.

The chinstrap assemblyincludes a flexible first or inner pad member, a substantially rigid second or outer protective member, and a strap assembly. The strap assemblyextends through the inner pad member, and the outer protective memberis coupled to the strap assembly, as explained below. The configuration of the inner pad member, the outer protective member, and strap assemblypermits relative movement between the inner pad memberand the outer protective member, which can result in an improved fit for the wearer. In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the outer protective memberis releasably coupled to the strap assemblyand can therefore be removed from the strap assembly, generally without the use of tools. Such releasable coupling can allow a user to quickly and easily change the outer protective member, for example if the outer protective memberbecomes damaged, or to change the appearance of the overall chinstrap assemblyby exchanging an outer protective memberof one color for an outer protective memberof a different color. In other embodiments the outer protective membermay be permanently coupled to the strap assembly.

As best shown in, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer protective memberhas a substantially obround periphery (e.g.,) and includes four attachment openingslocated near the periphery of the outer protective member. A raised annular ribsurrounds each opening. Ribinclude a first portion and a second portion that extend in an upper “V-shaped” configuration and a third portion and a fourth portion that extend in a lower “V-shaped” configuration, whereby the ribcombine to form a raised central regionwith an X-shaped pattern. The attachment openingsare formed in the upper and lower ribof the raised central region, while ventilation openingsare provided between the raised riband the terminal ends,. Referring to, the raised riband the raised central regionare integrally formed as a part of the outer protective memberand extend between top and bottom portionsandof the outer protective member. Also shown in, the riband the raised central regionare raised or elevated with respect to adjacent both an inner extent of the outer surfacesand an outer extent of the outer surfaceof the outer protective member. As such, the ribinclude a raised outer surfaceand the raised central regionincludes a raised outer surface. An inner angled or sloped side wallextends between the inner extent of the outer surfaceand the raised rib(and the raised central region). An outer angled or sloped side wallextends between the outer extent of the outer surfaceand the raised rib(and the raised central region).

As shown in, a spline or intermediate structuresare positioned: (i) between and separating the pairs of ventilation openings,, and (ii) in the area of the outer extent of the outer surfacethat is adjacent to the outer angled side wallleading to raised outer surfaceformed by the rib. A first pair of ventilation openingsare formed in the protective memberbetween the raised riband the first terminal end, while a second pair of ventilation openingsare formed in the protective memberbetween the raised riband the first terminal end. The first pair of ventilation openingsinclude a first vent openingand a third vent opening, wherein the first and third vent opening,have a first substantially linear edge, a second substantially linear edge, a third substantially linear edge, and a fourth substantially linear edge. The second pair of ventilation openingsinclude a second vent openingand a fourth vent opening, wherein the second and fourth vent opening,have a first substantially linear edge, a second substantially linear edge, a third substantially linear edge, and a fourth substantially linear edge. The first substantially linear edgeof the first vent openingis substantially parallel with the first substantially linear edgeof the second vent opening, while an acute angle is formed between the second substantially linear edgesof the vent openings,,,and third substantially linear edgesof the vent openings,,,

Referring toshowing the underside of the protective member, the ribare recessed or depressed with respect to adjacent inner surfacesandof the outer protective member. Also shown in, the splineand the ventilation openingsare positioned in the areathat is adjacent to the recessed inner surfaceformed by the rib. The outer protective memberhas a curvilinear configuration and is adapted to receive an extent of the inner pad member(e.g.,). In the illustrated embodiment the outer protective memberis formed from an impact resistant plastic, although other generally rigid, impact resistant materials, such as composites like carbon fiber, aramid, and/or fiberglass, may also be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strap assemblyalso includes means for removably coupling the outer protective memberto the strap assemblyin the form of a pair of attachment memberscoupled to the strap members,. Each attachment memberincludes a generally V-shaped web portionthat is joined (e.g., stitched or glued) to the strap members,as at, a location substantially adjacent to where the strap members,cross one another. Each attachment memberalso includes a pair of coupling members in the form of postspositioned near or adjacent the ends of the V-shaped web portions. The postshave an elongated configuration and are arranged for insertion into the attachment openingsin the outer protective memberto define a connected positionPc (see). In another embodiment, the web portionis severely reduced, or even omitted from the attachment membersuch that the postsare operably connected to the strap,

Referring also to, each postis generally mushroom-shaped and includes a rounded and enlarged top portionadapted for insertion through a respective attachment opening. In the connected position Pc, the top portionis substantially flush with the annular ridgein the outer member. A circumferential grooveis located below the top portionand receives an inner circumferential edgeof the respective attachment openingin the connected position Pc. An elongated, preferably cylindrical, support portionextends between the grooveand the web portionof the attachment member. The support portionhas a height that appropriately spaces the outer protective membera distance away from the strap assemblysuch that portions of the inner pad memberreside between the strap assemblyand the outer protective member. In this regard, although portions of the inner pad memberand the outer protective membermay be in direct physical contact with one another, in the illustrated embodiment the outer protective memberis indirectly coupled to the inner pad memberby way of the postsand the strap members,. This arrangement allows for relative movement between the outer protective memberand the inner pad member, as further described below.

Referring to, the enlarged top portionand grooveof each postare cooperatively dimensioned with the attachment openingsin the outer protective memberto provide a secure snap fit between the postsand the attachment openingsin in the connected position Pc. This reduces the likelihood of the outer protective member being inadvertently dislodged or removed from the strap assemblyduring the course of play.

Moreover, when the strap members,are secured, e.g., when the chinstrap assemblyis properly attached to a helmet by securing the snap assembliesto the helmet, the postson each side of the chinstrap assemblymay be pulled or rotated generally outwardly (towards the helmet) such that the groovesare biased or urged into further or deeper engagement with the outer portions of the circumferential edgesof the attachment openings. In some applications, the wearer's chin may function as a fulcrum such as the strap members,are pulled taut when the chinstrap assemblyis attached to the helmet, the postson each side of the chinstrap assemblyangularly deflect in a generally outward and upward direction (with respect to the wearer's head) such that the groovesmove into further or deeper engagement with the circumferential edgesof their respective attachment openings. These effects can reduce the likelihood of the outer protective memberbeing dislodged or removed from the strap assemblyduring the course of play. However, when the chinstrap assemblyis removed the postsreturn to un-deformed, un-deflected positions, wherein the postsare essentially centered with respect to the attachment openingsto allow the outer protective memberto be removed from the strap assemblyby the wearer of the helmet (or the training or coaching staff), if desired.

By attaching the relatively rigid outer protective memberto the strap assemblyin discrete, spaced apart locations (e.g., at the posts) at the connected position Pc, relative movement is permitted between the outer protective memberand portions of the strap assembly. Even though movement of the straps,immediately adjacent the postsis somewhat limited due to coupling of the postswith the outer protective member, flexing and bending of the straps,are permitted in those portions of the strap assemblythat extend between and away from the posts. Such flexing and bending of the strap assemblyand the inner pad memberfunctions to accommodate, for example, anatomical variations in the chin and jaw line of the helmet wearer to provide a more customized and comfortable fit.

Another structural feature that permits flexing and bending of the inner pad memberand the strap assemblyis the reduced width Wof the outer protective memberwith respect to the width Wof the inner pad member(), which allows outermost portions of the inner pad memberto flex and bend.

Several alternative configurations of the inner pad member, outer protective member, and strap assemblyare possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, more or fewer postscan be used, including two posts, a single post, three posts, and the like, in a variety of arrangements, without limitation. In some embodiments, the post or postscan also or alternatively be attached to the inner pad member. Moreover, in some embodiments the orientation of the attachment membersand the openingsare reversed, wherein posts (or similar projections) are provided on the outer protective memberand suitable openings or recesses could be provided on the inner pad memberand/or the strap assembly. As noted above, some embodiments can include a different arrangement or configuration of straps,, and/or different configurations and structures for the inner pad memberand the outer protective member. These and other variations, whether taken alone or in combination, all fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art; for example, the entire cantilever strap could be provided with a shock absorbing pad disposed upon its lower surface. Accordingly, the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.