U.S. patent application number 10/151245 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for sports helmet and face guard.
Invention is credited to Lombard, Shoghi A..
Application Number | 20020174480 10/151245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26848454 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020174480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lombard, Shoghi A. |
November 28, 2002 |
Sports helmet and face guard
Abstract
A sports helmet includes relatively wide and deep lateral
reliefs in the helmet for improved peripheral vision for a person
wearing the helmet, while a face guard is formed with a series of
closely spaced lateral bars thereacross for precluding insertion of
the fingers or hand therein. The present helmet and face guard are
particularly well suited for use in the game of football, but may
be adapted for use in other contact sports as well. The present
helmet greatly improves safety by providing a wider field of view
for a player using the helmet, and the present face guard greatly
reduces the opportunity for opposing players to use the face guard
for restraining or tackling players, thereby greatly reducing
injuries and increasing safety during play.
Inventors: |
Lombard, Shoghi A.;
(Springfield, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Litman
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. Box 15035
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
26848454 |
Appl. No.: |
10/151245 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60293227 |
May 25, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/424 ;
2/425 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2243/0066 20130101;
A42B 3/20 20130101; A63B 71/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/424 ;
2/425 |
International
Class: |
A42B 003/20; A63B
071/10 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A sports helmet and face guard, comprising in combination: a
helmet shell configured for fitting closely about the top, back,
and sides of the head, said helmet shell including: a frontal face
opening with a brow area disposed thereabove and a left and a right
lateral face opening extension wrapping back from said frontal face
opening; a left and a right temple coverage area; a left and a
right lower lateral face coverage portion, extending substantially
forwardly from each respective said temple coverage area and
defining a lower face opening therebetween; said left and said
right lower lateral face coverage portion and said left and said
right lateral face opening extension each respectively defining a
left and a right peripheral vision relief area comprising said left
and said right lateral face opening extension extending laterally
and substantially rearwardly from said frontal face opening toward
each respective said temple coverage area; each said lower lateral
face coverage portion having a smoothly contoured edge devoid of
sharp protrusions; a face guard element for attaching across said
frontal face opening of said helmet shell, said face guard element
including: a peripheral frame defining a face guard opening
therein; said face guard opening having a generally open upper
portion and a lower portion having a series of lateral bars
extending thereacross; and said lateral bars of said lower portion
having narrow spacing therebetween precluding insertion of fingers
or a hand between said lateral bars, thereby precluding grabbing
the face guard by grasping said lateral bars.
2. The sports helmet and face guard combination according to claim
1, wherein: each said lower lateral face coverage portion of said
helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length being at
least twice said width; and each said peripheral vision relief area
of said helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length
being at least twice said width.
3. The sports helmet and face guard combination according to claim
1, wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element has an
upper portion substantially congruent with each said peripheral
vision relief area and said frontal face opening of said helmet
shell.
4. The sports helmet and face guard combination according to claim
1, wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element is
hingedly attached to said helmet structure at said brow area
thereof, above said frontal face opening thereof.
5. The sports helmet and face guard combination according to claim
1, wherein said helmet shell has a left and a right ear hole formed
through said helmet shell.
6. The sports helmet and face guard combination according to claim
1, wherein: said helmet shell comprises a composite outer structure
with a resilient inner liner; and said face guard element is formed
of a plurality of welded metal bars.
7. A sports helmet providing enhanced peripheral vision for a
wearer thereof, comprising: a helmet shell configured for fitting
closely about the top, back, and sides of the head, said helmet
shell including: a frontal face opening with a brow area disposed
thereabove and a left and a right lateral face opening extension
wrapping back from said frontal face opening; a left and a right
temple coverage area; a left and a right lower lateral face
coverage portion, extending substantially forwardly from each
respective said temple coverage area and defining a lower face
opening therebetween; said left and said right lower lateral face
coverage portion and said left and said right lateral face opening
extension each respectively defining a left and a right peripheral
vision relief area comprising said left and said right lateral face
opening extension extending laterally and substantially rearwardly
from said frontal face opening toward each respective said temple
coverage area; and each said lower lateral face coverage portion
having a smoothly contoured edge devoid of sharp protrusions.
8. The sports helmet according to claim 7, wherein: each said lower
lateral face coverage portion has a length and a width, with said
length being at least twice said width; and each said peripheral
vision relief area has a length and a width, with said length being
at least twice said width.
9. The sports helmet according to claim 7, wherein said helmet
shall has a left and a right ear hole formed through said helmet
shell.
10. The sports helmet according to claim 7, further including: a
face guard element for attaching across said frontal face opening
of said helmet shell; said face guard element including a
peripheral frame defining a face guard opening therein; said face
guard opening having a generally open upper portion and a lower
portion having a series of lateral bars extending thereacross; and
said lateral bars of said lower portion having narrow spacing
therebetween precluding insertion of fingers or a hand between said
lateral bars, thereby precluding grabbing the face guard by
grasping said lateral bars.
11. The sports helmet according to claim 10, wherein said
peripheral frame of said face guard element has an upper portion
substantially congruent with each said peripheral vision relief
area and said frontal face opening of said helmet shell.
12. The sports helmet according to claim 10, wherein said
peripheral frame of said face guard element is hingedly attached to
said helmet structure at said brow area thereof, above said frontal
face opening thereof.
13. The sports helmet according to claim 10, wherein: said helmet
shell comprises a composite outer structure with a resilient inner
liner; and said face guard element is formed of a plurality of
welded metal bars.
14. A face guard element for protecting the face during play of
contact sports, comprising: a peripheral frame defining a face
guard opening therein; said face guard opening having a generally
open upper portion and a lower portion having a series of lateral
bars extending thereacross; and said lateral bars of said lower
portion having narrow spacing therebetween precluding insertion of
fingers or a hand between said lateral bars, thereby precluding
grabbing by grasping said lateral bars.
15. The face guard element according to claim 14, further
including: a helmet shell configured for fitting closely about the
top, back, and sides of the head, said helmet shell including: a
frontal face opening with a brow area disposed thereabove and a
left and a right lateral face opening extension wrapping back from
said frontal face opening; a left and a right temple coverage area;
a left and a right lower lateral face coverage portion, extending
substantially forwardly from each respective said temple coverage
area and defining a lower face opening therebetween; said left and
said right lower lateral face coverage portion and said left and
said right lateral face opening extension each respectively
defining a left and a right peripheral vision relief area
comprising said left and said right lateral face opening extension
extending laterally and substantially rearwardly from said frontal
face opening toward each respective said temple coverage area; and
each said lower lateral face coverage portion having a smoothly
contoured edge devoid of sharp protrusions.
16. The face guard element according to claim 15, wherein: each
said lower lateral face coverage portion of said helmet shell has a
length and a width, with said length being at least twice said
width; and each said peripheral vision relief area of said helmet
shell has a length and a width, with said length being at least
twice said width.
17. The face guard element according to claim 15, wherein said
peripheral frame thereof has an upper portion substantially
congruent with each said peripheral vision relief area and said
frontal face opening of said helmet shell.
18. The face guard element according to claim 15, wherein said
peripheral frame thereof is hingedly attached to said helmet
structure at said brow area thereof, above said frontal face
opening thereof.
19. The face guard element according to claim 15, wherein said
helmet shell has a left and a right ear hole formed through said
helmet shell.
20. The face guard element according to claim 15, wherein: said
helmet shell comprises a composite outer structure with a resilient
inner liner; and said face guard element is formed of a plurality
of welded metal bars.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/293,227, filed May 25, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to protective
headgear, and more specifically to a sports helmet providing a
relatively wide peripheral field of view for the wearer and having
a face guard or mask precluding gripping by another person. The
present helmet is particularly useful in the game of football,
providing players with additional peripheral vision and increasing
safety by greatly reducing the opportunity for opponents to grab
the face guard, thus reducing the chance of head and neck
injuries.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Many physical sports, and particularly contact sports such
as football, require various forms of protective apparel due to the
forces occurring when two players contact one another at high
speeds. This is particularly true for headgear, as head and neck
injuries are potentially the most dangerous of all injuries.
[0006] Accordingly, helmet technology has advanced over the years,
from early and relatively crude leather helmets used in the early
years of football, to more sophisticated helmets formed of multiple
layers of composite material and cushioning. However, in the effort
to provide as much protection for the head as possible, the helmet
has been extended around the head and sides of the face to the
extent that some peripheral vision may be lost with some current
helmet designs. This results not only in more errors on the field
of play, but may also lead to additional injuries resulting from
players who fail to see a hazardous situation (e.g., potential
clip, etc.) from their partially blocked peripheral vision, and
accordingly are unable to take evasive action in time.
[0007] Another result of the advances in helmet design was the
development of the face guard or face mask, to provide some
additional protection to the faces of the players. Originally, such
face guards developed as simple lateral bars across the front of
the helmet, and some positions (e.g., place kickers, who have
limited physical contact) continue to wear helmets with such
limited face protection means. However, most players have found
that the simple single or even double lateral bar across the front
of the helmet, provides insufficient protection for the face.
Face-to-face contact can result in such relatively narrow bars
meshing together within the open front area of the facing helmets,
and producing facial injuries which they are intended to
prevent.
[0008] Accordingly, most helmets are equipped with face guards or
masks having multiple bars extending thereacross, which prevents
such incursion of an opposing bar through at least the lower
portion of the face covered by the multiple bar guard. However, the
development of the face guard has led to another problem, in that
the conventional face guard, with its relatively widely spaced
bars, provides a tempting place for an opponent to grip the
equipment of a player to restrain or tackle the player. While such
a maneuver is clearly against the rules of play and results in a
severe penalty if detected by the officials, it nevertheless occurs
relatively frequently and can result in very serious head and neck
injuries to players experiencing such a grip or tackle.
[0009] Accordingly, a need arises for a helmet providing relatively
wide lateral openings for greater peripheral vision, while still
protecting as much of the face as possible. The present helmet
preferably includes a face guard, with the face guard structure
having a series of closely spaced bars thereacross, with the
spacing or gap therebetween being sufficiently close as to preclude
insertion of the fingers therein to prevent a person from grabbing
the face guard. The present face guard still provides sufficient
air passage therethrough to allow free breathing for a player who
is exerting himself heavily during play, whether in football or
other sport where such protective headgear may be worn or used.
[0010] A discussion of the related art of which the present
inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the
present invention, is provided below.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 2,985,883 issued on May 30, 1961 to Michael T.
Marietta, titled "Sports Helmet," describes a relatively early
helmet configuration having a double bar face guard therewith. The
face guard -is secured to the helmet by a pair of screws at each
side or end thereof, with one of the screws having a male snap
fitting incorporated with its head for removable attachment of the
helmet chin strap thereto. The Marietta helmet is relatively open
in comparison with more recently developed helmets, and the
Marietta face guard is particularly open. The spacing between the
bars of the Marietta face guard is clearly sufficiently wide as to
permit the insertion of the fingers or hand therein by an opponent,
with consequent potential risk to the player using the Marietta
helmet.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,624 issued on Jul. 7, 1964 to Delby C.
Humphrey, titled "Face Guard For Football Helmet," describes a
helmet and face guard with the guard having a peripheral frame
generally fitting the upper front of the helmet opening. A central
vertical bar and an additional lateral bar are provided over the
Marietta face guard discussed above, but the spacing between bars
is still so wide that an opposing player can easily reach through
the bars of the Humphrey face mask to grip the mask and bring the
player down, with great risk of head and/or neck injury as noted
further above. Moreover, the Humphrey helmet has a configuration
much like that of the Marietta helmet discussed above, with the
helmet sides and face guard lateral structure appearing to limit
peripheral vision, unlike the present helmet and face guard.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,744 issued on May 1, 1973 to Frederick
A. Rappleyea, titled "Protective Helmet For Football Or The Like,"
describes a specific helmet construction wherein the helmet has a
resilient liner removably installed within the hard outer shell of
the helmet. The general configuration of the helmet is essentially
the same as that of the helmets of the U.S. Patents to Marietta and
Humphrey discussed above, with no particular relief provided to the
sides of the helmet for additional peripheral vision. Moreover, no
face guard of any type is disclosed by Rappleyea for his helmet
invention, whereas the present invention includes such protective
face guard means, and particularly such a guard precluding
insertion of an opponent's hand therein.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,122 issued on Aug. 3, 1982 to Carl J.
Abraham et al., titled "Protective Headgear," describes a helmet
having a face guard formed of a resilient material, to allow some
deflection in the case of impact. While Abraham et al. recognize
the danger involved in sudden impacts to the protective headgear,
and further recognize that while internal cushioning within the
helmet itself alleviates this danger to a great extent, they
nevertheless do not provide a response to the problem posed by
relatively open bars in their face guard. The Abraham et al. face
guard has a configuration much like that of the Marietta face guard
discussed further above, differing mainly only in that the Abraham
et al. guard includes a central vertical bar as well as the two
horizontal bars.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,140 issued on Dec. 14, 1982 to James V.
Correale, titled "Football Helmet Face Guard," describes a
conventional face guard having relatively widely spaced lateral
bars and a single central bar and surrounding frame. However,
Correale provides quick release attachments for securing his face
guard to the front of the helmet, whereby a pull on the face guard
will cause it to release. This release of the face guard from the
helmet precludes potential head and neck injury from grabbing the
face guard, but the removal of the face guard leaves the face of
the player exposed for the remainder of the play. Also, the helmet
illustrated in the Correale U.S. patent is conventional, and does
not provide any significant improvement in peripheral vision over
other known helmets.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,430 issued on Jul. 8, 1986 to Pier L.
Nava, titled "Integral Helmet, In Particular For Sports Use,"
describes a closed face helmet including a laterally hinged hard
collar portion which attaches rigidly to the bottom of the helmet.
The assembly provides a helmet which essentially encases the entire
head, face, and upper neck of the wearer. A transparent eye shield
is provided, which is hinged at the temple area of the helmet. The
Nava helmet assembly is adapted for use in motorsports (automobile
racing, motorcycle racing, etc.), and is not suitable for use in
contact sports such as football. The Nava helmet does not provide
suitable ventilation for strenuous physical exercise, and moreover,
the transparent face shield would become scratched, soiled, and
unusable in short order in a typical football game.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,947 issued on Sep. 15, 1987 to Randy C.
Black et al., titled "Protective Helmet, Chin Cup, And Face Guard,"
describes a particular arrangement for the chin strap and chin cup
of the helmet, as well as a combination attachment for one end of
the chin cup retaining strap and the side of the face guard. The
helmet and face guard themselves appear to be conventional, with
the helmet not providing any particular advantage insofar as
peripheral vision for the wearer is concerned. The face guard has
relatively widely spaced lateral and vertical bars, which clearly
provide sufficient space for an opposing player to insert his
fingers or hands between the bars to restrain the first player.
This is not possible with the present face guard with its closely
spaced bars.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,517 issued on Apr. 7, 1992 to Willie
Douglas, titled "Sports Helmet With Transparent Windows In The Side
Walls," describes a helmet having several features, including the
windows noted in the patent title. Douglas recognizes the
importance of providing increased peripheral vision in such
helmets, but the means used, i.e., transparent lateral panels, is
generally not suitable for use in contact sports. The transparent
panels would quickly become scratched and dirty, thereby losing any
initial benefit they might have provided for peripheral vision.
Also, while it is noted that Douglas provides a face guard for his
helmet, it is conventional, and does nothing to preclude an
opponent from inserting his fingers between the face guard bars and
grasping the device.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,108 issued on Jul. 14, 1992 to Steve
Copeland et al., titled "Protective Headgear And Detachable Face
Protector," describes a helmet for use by a hockey goalie. The
Copeland et al. helmet comprises an upper helmet portion with a
forward portion attached thereto and substantially surrounding the
face. An additional face guard screen is installed over the forward
portion of the helmet, with a throat protector depending from the
lower sides of the forward portion. The forward portion of the
helmet is relatively confining and appears to limit peripheral
vision somewhat, and the face guard screen comprises a series of
relatively widely spaced heavy wire members. The Copeland et al.
helmet is better suited for a hockey goalie than for a football
player, as goalies must be protected from the extremely high speeds
attained by the stick blades and puck, but are not restrained by an
opponent grabbing their face guard.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,936 issued on Jul. 30, 1996 to Michael
E. Thomas, titled "Sports Helmet Transparent Guard Assembly,"
describes a helmet with opposed, C-shaped cutouts near the temple
areas. Mating transparent window covers are removably installable
within the cutouts. However, the Thomas helmet configuration
results in a relatively sharp corner at the lower edge of each
window cutout, which could prove hazardous if the helmet is knocked
out of position on the wearer's head. The problems and limitations
of transparent window material, have been noted further above.
Also, while Thomas provides a face guard, it is conventional and
does nothing to preclude grasping the face guard bars.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,082 issued on Feb. 3, 1998 to Aldean B.
Bassette et al., titled "Sports Helmet," describes a helmet and
face mask or guard coated with a relatively soft and resilient
material. While the helmet illustration appears to show some
lateral reliefs, they do not extend sufficiently rearwardly to
provide any substantial improvement in peripheral vision; the
Bassette et al. helmet is generally conventional in
configuration.
[0022] The Bassette et al. face guard is also of generally
conventional configuration, comprising one, or a series of, lateral
bars. While 10. two of the lateral bars of the multiple bar
embodiment are positioned quite close together approximately in
front of the mouth of a person wearing the helmet, the third lower
bar is widely spaced therefrom, positioned at about the level of
the chin. Thus there is apparently over an inch of space between
the two upper bars and the third lower bar of the Bassette et al.
face guard, which configuration facilitates grasping the face
guard.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,088 issued on Sep. 15, 1998 to Robert M.
Zide et al., titled "Face Guard," describes a face guard formed of
a series of relatively heavy and widely spaced tubular members. The
spacing between the face guard tube members is clearly sufficient
to allow an opponent to insert his fingers therein, to restrain the
wearer of the face mask and risk head and/or neck injury, as noted
further above. While Zide et al. note the importance of a
relatively unrestricted field of view, they do not disclose any
form of helmet with their face guard; it is assumed the Zide face
guard is used with a conventional helmet.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,761 issued on Sep. 21, 1999 to Stanley
Jurga et al., titled "Protective Headgear," describes a helmet and
mask assembly for use by baseball catchers and umpires. The Jurga
et al. headgear essentially comprises a rigid front portion and a
rigid rear portion, with the two portions being flexibly secured
together by a series of straps. This is completely unsuitable for
use in contact sports such as football, as a single, rigid helmet
shell surrounding the entire head (excepting the face) is essential
for proper protection. The face guard or "framework" of the Jurga
et al. assembly comprises a series of relatively widely spaced
heavy wire members, and does nothing to preclude the insertion of
the fingers therein. This is not critical in baseball, as the
catcher would not be restrained by an opposing player during the
game. While Jurga et al. note the importance of a clear field of
view, their helmet assembly does not provide the peripheral vision
of the present invention.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. D-253,436 issued on Nov. 20, 1979 to George
Lynn, titled "Protective Sports Helmet," illustrates a design
having a bill with a face guard extending generally downwardly from
the periphery of the bill. The face guard is formed of a series of
widely spaced members, which do nothing to limit the insertion of
the fingers therein. The helmet includes relatively wide and deep
sides extending forwardly to the corners of the bill, thus limiting
peripheral vision somewhat. The Lynn design would be unsuitable for
use in contact sports, such as football, due to the outward
disposition of face guard and bill.
[0026] U.S. Pat. No. D-318,747 issued on Jul. 30, 1991 to Gina M.
Barker, titled "Inflatable Helmet," illustrates a design which
would appear to be more of a toy, than a functional helmet. While
its outward appearance is similar to that of a true football
helmet, the soft, inflatable construction would not be effective
for protecting a player in a contact sport. Moreover, the bars of
the face guard portion are relatively widely spaced, and the sides
of the helmet appear to extend relatively far forward, precluding
significant peripheral vision.
[0027] British Patent Publication No. 512,106 accepted on Aug. 29,
1939 to Carl F. L. Loldrup et al., titled "Improved Protective
Mask," describes a relatively light weight mask (not a guard)
having upper and lower transparent panels thereacross. The panels
are separated by a lateral component which fits closely across the
face above the mouth and across the bridge of the nose below the
eyes. The Loldrup et al. mask fits tightly to the face, with the
object of the construction being to avoid misting of the upper eye
protecting window area by expelled breath, which is confined to the
lower area. The Loldrup et al. mask is completely unsuitable for
use in contact sports, as no helmet is provided and the mask must
attach directly to the face of the wearer. Moreover, the
restriction to breathing due to the solid lower face mask portion,
is unsuitable for use in contact sports where heavy exertion takes
place.
[0028] Finally, International Patent Publication No. 82/00,243
published on Feb. 4, 1982 to Curt Klein, titled "Helmet Visor
Providing Direct Visibility," describes a closed face or wraparound
style helmet having a double visor comprising a separate lower and
upper portion. The upper visor is tinted, with the upper visor
extending beyond the upper edge of the lower visor to provide an
air gap therebetween. The problems with the use of transparent
materials in the visual field of a player engaged in contact sports
has been noted further above, i.e., scratching, soiling, etc.,
which would rapidly render the visors of the Klein helmet
unsuitable for use. Moreover, the restriction to free breathing,
particularly through the mouth as would be the case with a player
undergoing heavy exertion, has been noted above in other closed
face helmets, e.g., the helmet of the '430 U.S. patent to Nava.
[0029] None of the above inventions and patents, either singly or
in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as
claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention is a sports helmet providing a twofold
improvement over other sports helmets of the past. The present
sports helmet includes relatively wide or deep lateral relief
areas, thereby greatly improving peripheral vision for the player
wearing the helmet. The face guard or mask of the present helmet is
constructed with a series of closely spaced bars, thereby
preventing an opponent from inserting the fingers through the bars
to grab the face mask during tackling.
[0031] The present sports helmet is particularly well adapted for
use in the game of football, where sturdy helmets and face mask
protection are nearly universally used. While head and face
protection through the use of helmets and face guards have been
known for years in both amateur and professional football, the
present helmet and face guard provides a significant improvement
over earlier equipment. Studies have shown that on the order of one
in every five to one in every six football players are injured each
season, with the rate of injury among high school tackle football
players reaching as high as two of every three players. More than
150,000 players under the age of fifteen receive injuries
sufficiently severe as to require treatment in hospital emergency
rooms each year. In March of 1994, the National Pediatric Trauma
Registry analyzed a selection of recorded sports injuries. Of
nearly 800 injuries considered, 339 injuries occurred while playing
football. of these, twenty two percent, or about 75 injuries, were
head and neck injuries, which the present helmet and face guard
invention will go far to prevent.
[0032] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide an improved sports helmet and face guard assembly for use
in various contact sports, and particularly well adapted for use in
the game of football.
[0033] It is another object of the invention to provide a sports
helmet having relatively wide- and deep lateral reliefs, for
improving the peripheral vision of a person wearing the present
helmet.
[0034] It is a further object of the invention to provide a face
guard for use with a sports helmet, with the guard comprising a
series of closely spaced lateral bars across the lower portion
thereof, with the bar spacing precluding the insertion of a hand or
fingers therebetween to preclude grabbing the face guard to tackle
or restrain a player using the present face guard.
[0035] Still another object of the invention is to provide a sports
helmet providing a wide field of view and a face guard precluding
insertion of the fingers or hand therein, in combination.
[0036] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0037] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a sports helmet and face
guard according to the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the present sports helmet
and face guard combination.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the helmet and guard
with the guard lifted, showing the helmet peripheral relief
areas.
[0041] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] The present invention is a sports helmet and face guard for
use in contact sports. The present helmet and face guard are
adapted particularly well for use in the game of football, but may
be readily adapted for use in the play of other contact sports as
well. While the present invention is described herein as a
combination of the sports helmet and face guard, it will be seen
that they may be separated from one another, with the helmet usable
with other face guards (or no face guard at all), and the present
face guard usable with other types of helmets, as desired.
[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively provide front and right side
elevation views of the present helmet and face guard assembly,
designated by the reference numeral 10. The assembly 10 comprises a
helmet 12 and a face guard or mask 14, with the two components 12
and 14 being separable from one another if so desired. The helmet
12 is formed as a rigid, hard shell, preferably of composite
materials (glass or carbon fiber in a cured resin matrix, etc.),
and is configured for fitting closely about the top, back, and
sides of the head of a person using the present helmet 12. The
helmet shell 12 may be formed to fit a variety of head sizes and
shapes, according to the molds or forms used during construction,
as is conventional in built-up composite helmet construction. A
resilient inner liner 16 (synthetic foam and/or other padding,
etc.) is provided for comfort and shock absorbency, as is
conventional in sports helmet construction. The liner 16 may be
permanently or removably installed, as desired.
[0044] The helmet 12 includes a frontal face opening area 18, with
a brow area 20 thereabove defining the upper edge of the open front
face area 18. The front face opening area 18 has left and right
lateral face opening extensions, respectively 22 and 24, wrapping
back to each side thereof and providing the desired increase in
peripheral vision for a person wearing the present helmet 12. The
helmet 12 further includes left and right temple coverage areas,
respectively 26 and 28. Left and right lower lateral face coverage
portions, respectively 30 and 32, extend substantially forwardly
from the respective left and right temple coverage areas 26 and 28,
to an area at the front of the helmet shell 12. These lateral
portions 30 and 32 are open at their forward and inboard ends, and
define a lower face opening 34 therebetween, as shown in FIG.
3.
[0045] The two lower lateral face coverage areas 30 and 32 of the
helmet 12 respectively define left and right peripheral vision
relief areas indicated by the left and right side face openings 22
and 24, most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These peripheral
vision relief areas or lateral face openings 22 and 24, extend
rearwardly toward the respective helmet temple coverage areas 26
and 28, well back from the eyes of a person wearing the present
helmet 12, providing the person with superior peripheral vision not
generally previously attainable in other sports helmets of the
related art. The edges of the lateral face coverage portions 30 and
32 are also smoothly rounded and contoured and devoid of sharp
protrusions, to avoid any chance of injury to a person wearing the
present helmet 12 should the helmet become dislodged.
[0046] The perspective view of FIG. 3 of the drawings clearly shows
the relatively great lateral depths of the two side face openings
or peripheral vision relief areas 22 and 24. These openings or
relief areas 22 and 24 extend well back in the sides of the helmet
shell 12, to points very near the ear openings 36. Their vertical
widths or heights 38 are relatively great also, but the lengths or
spans 40 of these two peripheral vision relief areas 22 and 24 is
even greater, being on the order of twice those of the widths 38.
The widths or heights 42 and lengths or spans 40 of the two lower
lateral face coverage extensions 30 and 32 have similar ratios,
with their lengths or spans 40 (which dimension is the same as the
span or depth of the peripheral vision relief areas 22 and 24)
preferably being on the order of twice their vertical widths or
heights 42. It will be understood that due to the apparent
foreshortening of these areas as they curve around the front of the
helmet 12, that these length to width aspect ratios are not
apparent in FIG. 2 of the drawings. However, other length to width
ratios of the peripheral vision relief areas 22 and 24 and lateral
face coverage areas 30 and 32 may be provided as desired.
[0047] The face guard element 14 may be provided in combination
with the present helmet shell 12, or as an attachment for other
helmets as desired. The face guard 14 has a peripheral frame 42,
which may be considered to have an upper portion 44 and a lower
portion 46. The upper portion 44 of the face guard frame 42 is
essentially congruent with the edges of the two peripheral vision
relief areas 22 and 24 and the front face opening 18 of the helmet
shell 12.
[0048] The upper portion 44 of the face guard frame 42 includes a
generally open upper area 48 to provide a clear visual field for
the user, but the lower frame portion 46 includes an area 50 having
a series of closely spaced, generally lateral bars 52 extending
thereacross. It will be seen that the present face guard 14
includes a considerably greater number of lower lateral bars 52
than is provided in conventional face guards and masks used in
contact sports. The large number and close spacing of the bars 52
of the present face guard 14, precludes insertion of an opponent's
fingers or hand between the bars and thus prevents an opponent from
tackling or otherwise restraining a player using the present face
guard 14, by grabbing the face guard. The spacing between bars 52
may be on the order of one quarter inch or so, or perhaps up to a
centimeter. The precise spacing is not critical, so long as the
bars 52 are spaced sufficiently closely as to preclude the
insertion of a person's fingers therebetween.
[0049] While the bars 52 are closely spaced, it will be noted that
they do provide some space therebetween for the passage of air
therethrough. The present face guard is not a completely closed
structure, as in the case of full face helmets used in automobile
racing and other sports where continuous extreme physical exertion
does not require the heavy breathing generally required in contact
sports. The present face guard 14, with its large number of
passages between the closely spaced bars 52, still allows a person
wearing the present face guard 14 to breathe freely and without
restriction.
[0050] The present face guard 14 may be formed or constructed of
any of a number of different materials (composites, etc.), as
desired. However, for the sake of strength and durability, the
present face guard 14 is preferably constructed of a series of
metal bars (either solid or hollow) which are welded together to
form the finished structure. The face guard structure 14 may attach
to the helmet 12 at the brow area 20 thereof, by means of a brow
attachment clip 54 secured to the brow portion 20 of the helmet 12,
which allows the central part of the upper portion 44 of the face
guard peripheral frame 42 to pivot therein, in the manner of a
hinge pin through a hinge. This is clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the
drawings, where the face guard 14 has been pivoted upwardly about
180 degrees from its closed position.
[0051] In conclusion, the present sports helmet and face guard,
either singly or in combination, provide much improved safety for
players of contact sports. The helmet, with its greatly increased
peripheral field of view, provides players with much improved
peripheral vision for avoiding incidents which might otherwise
result in a tackle, or for spotting other receivers in passing,
openings while running with the ball, etc. The present helmet thus
has the potential to "open up" the game, and provide a faster and
more exciting game than present day equipment allows.
[0052] The present face guard provides further benefits, by
essentially eliminating one of the greatest problems (and perhaps a
ball carrier's greatest fear), that of grabbing the face guard to
restrain or tackle a player. By greatly reducing or eliminating
this possibility, the game is made safer for all players using the
present face guard invention. This also has the benefit of reducing
penalties during play, thus speeding up the play of the game to
provide a more exciting game for participants and fans alike.
[0053] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any
and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *