Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to protective helmets,
primarily of the type designed to be worn during sporting
activities such as ice hockey games. However, it is to be
understood that the invention is not to confined to sports
helmets.
Conventional hockey helmets typically comprise a
relatively rigid outer plastic shell designed to provide
impact resistance, and some form of inner lining or padding
for cushioning the wearer's head. An example of a prior art
helmet of this general type which has found wide market
acceptance is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 730,337 (Shaw)
and was granted to the assignee of the present invention. In
that case, the shell is designed to resist impact by provi-
ding a pair of parallel ribs and an intervening flexible web
which extends from the neck area to the top of the helmet
generally centrally thereof. The shell is lined with a
padding of foam plastic or rubber to cushion the head.
Helmets of the general form disclosed in the
Shaw patent have been found to have excellent impact re-
sistance characteristics. However, for proper protectionof a wearer, it is essential that the helmet must fit
properly. This is something over which the manufacturer
can have no control and in practice, proper sizing is
often neglected. For example, a child may be provided
with a helmet which is too large on the theory that he or
she will '`grow into" the helmet, or a person may borrow a
helmet from another person, Thus~ even though sporting
goods stores selling helmets may be careful to provide
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customers with properly fitting helmets, there is no con-
trol over the actual end use of the helmet~
Most hockey helmets presently on sale incorporate
some means for adjusting the size of the outer shell and
often some adjustment of the internal padding is also
possible. For example, in the case of the helmet shown in
the Shaw patent, the shell includes a main body which covers
most of the wearer's head, and a front portion which ex-
tends across the wearer's forehead and then rearwardly
where it is attached to the main body at the sides. In
present-day versions of the helmet, this front portion is
separate and is secured to the main body by nut and bolt-
like fastenings which can be inserted through any one of
a series of differently positioned holes so as to provide
for adjustability. Other examples of helmets which are
designed to be adjustable are disclosed in Canadian Patents
Nos. 651,~20 (Jofa), 706,563 ~Spalding) and 992,254 (Brown~.
While the desirability of providing for adjust-
ment of the size of a helmet has clearly been recognized
in the prior art, typically, adjustment takes place only
in terms of the length of the helmet (back to front dimen-
sion). In the result, a properly fitted prior art helmet,
while securely fitting in the back to front direction, may
be capable of lateral movement with respect to the wearer's
head, in other words, the helmet may not fit properly in
both length and width~ Again, this may represent a risk
of serious injury to the wearer.
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An object of the present invention is to provide
a protective helmet having improved facility for adjustment
as compared with the prior art helmets discussed above.
According to the invention, the helmet includes
an outer shell having a front section shaped to extend
across tne frontal head area of a wearer, two side sections
extending rearwardly from the front section and shaped to
protect the sides of the wearer's head, and a centre sec-
tion which extends rearwardly from the front section and
the downwardly and which is shaped to protect the top,
and rear head area of a wearer. The centre section
and side sections are free of permanent attachment to one
another rearwardly of the front section and include re-
spective surface portions which overlap at least in the
rear side areas of the helmet. The overlapping surface
portions curve laterally inwardly from areas behind
respective ear regions of the helmet. The centre
section and side sections are displaceable relative
to one another to vary the extent to which the said
surface portions overlap, and the curvatures of the said
portions permit both the longitudinal dimension and the
lateral dimension of the helmet in the rear head area to
be simultaneously adjusted by varying said overlap. The
helmet also includes means adapted to fasten said over-
lapping surface portions of the centre and side sectionsin an adjusted position~
It is believed that a helmet of this form will
~1475~)1
provide a better fit for the wearer as compared ~ith con-
ventional helmets, because of the facility for simultan-
eously adjustment of the longitudinal and lateral dimension
of the helmet. Also, in a preferred embodiment, adjustment
may be facilitated ~y providing a slida~le form of fastening
means for the overlapping surface portions of the side and
centre sections of the helmet.
In order that the invention may be more clearly
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
invention by way of example, and in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the
shell of the helmet, with internal padding omitted;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the assembled helmet
as seen when the helmet is adjusted to its smaller size;
Fig. 3 is a rear view corresponding to Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the
helmet adjusted to its largest size; and,
Fig. 5 is a rear view corresponding to Fig. 4.
Referring first to Fig~ 1, the outer shell of
a hockey helmet is generally indicated by reference num-
eral 20 and is made up of two parts 22 and 24 which are
shown in exploded positions but which will normally be
permanently secured together in the assembled helmet.
Internal padding will be provided inside shell 20 to
cushion the wearer~s ~ead; however, the padding has not
heen shown in the drawings because it forms no part of the
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present invention. Parts 22 and 24 are plastic mouldings;
in this embodiment, the parts are moulded in Du~ont Nylon ST 891
although there is of course no limitation in this respect.
Part 22 includes a front shell section 26 and
two side shell sections 28 and 30. Front section 26 is
shaped to extend across the frontal head area of a wearer
and the two side sections 28 and 30 extend rearwardly
from the front section and are shaped to protect the sides
of the wearer's head. Part 24 forms a centre section of
shell 20 and includes a front marginal portion 32 which
is secured to the inner surface of front section 26 when
the shell is assembled ~see Figs. 2 to 5). When part 24
is in place, the centre section (denoted 34~ extends
rearwardly from the front section 26 and then downwardly
and is shaped to protect the top, and rear head area
of the wearer.
In Figs. 2 to 5, the shell 20 is shown assembled
with the centre section 34 extending rearwardly from the
front section 26 of the helmet and between (and inside)
the side sections 28 and 30. It will be seen from these
views that the side sections and centre section include
respective surface portions which overlap. In the illus-
trated embodiment, these overlapping surface portions ex-
tend over substantially the entire length of the sides of
the centre section and corresponding parts of the respec-
tive side sections. In the minimum case, these overlapping
surface portions will be provided at least in the rear side
., ' '
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areas of the helmet, as denoted generally by reference numer-
als 36 and 38 and will curve laterally from behind respective
ear regions, denoted 40 and 42, around the sides of the
neck area of the helmet, denoted 44 and 46 respectively.
Centre section 34 and the side sections 28 and 30 are
displaceable relative to one another to vary the extent
to which the surface portions overlap and the curvature of
those portions permits both the longitudinal dimension and
the lateral dimension of the helmet, in the rear area thereof,
to be simultaneously adjusted by varying the overlap. Figs.
2 and 3 show the shell in a configuration in which the
overlap is at a maximum (and the shell is at its smallest
size) while Figs. 4 and 5 show the overlap at a minimum
~and the helmet at its largest size). In those views, the
dotted lines indicated by reference numerals 34a and 34b
~Figs. 3 and 5) represent the outer edges of the centre
section 34; accordingly, the position of this dotted line
in relation to the top edges of the respective side sections
(denoted 28a and 30a respectively) indicate the extent of
the overlap. Mechanical fastening means generally denoted
48 and 50 (to be described) are provided in the overlapping
areas at the rear of the helmet and can be used to secure
the centre section and side sections in an adjusted position.
As was indicated above, in a minimum case, the
overlapping areas might be provided at the rear of the
side sections only and the curvatures of those overlapping
surface portions would then provide for simultaneous lon-
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gitudinal and lateral adjustment of the size of the helmet.
Elongate openings or slots would then be provided in the
shell between the overlapping surface portions and the
front section of the shell for ventilation purposes. ~ow-
ever, in the illustrated embodiment, for more completeprotection and further adjusta~ility in the vertical
direction (height) of the helmet overlapping surface por-
tions are provided between the centre section and the side
sections over substantially the entire length of the centre
section. These overlapping surface portions are indicated
by reference numeral 52 at the right-hand side of the
helmet and by reference numeral 54 at the left-hand side.
It will be seen from the rear views of Figs. 3 and 5 that
these surface portions are curved not only laterally around
the neck area of the helmet but also in the direction of
the height of the helmet, as can best been seen by the
lines denoted 52a and 54a in Fig. 3. These lines actually
represent the outer surface of the side portions of the
centre section but also correspond with the inside surface
of the overlapping portions of the side sections. In any
event, it will be noted that these overlapping surface
portions define a compound curve which hollows both the
curvature of the shell around the sides of the head of
the wearer and the curvature from the sides and up across
the top of the head. The effect of this is that, as the
side sections 28 and 30 are adjusted with respect to the
centre section 34, not only is there adjustment in the
:114~75(~
longitudinal and lateral dimension of the shell, but also
in the vertical ~height-wise) dimension. The curvatures
are derived from models of "average" head shapes and
sizes and allow a comparatively wide range of adjustment
for variations from that "average". Of course, there are
necessarily limitations to the range of adjustment which
can be provided but it would of course be possible for a ,
manufacturer to make available two or more "nominal" sizes
which are fairly significantly different and for each
helmet to be individually adjustable over a range from
that nominal size.
The fastening means indicated at 48 and 50 take
the form of modified nut and bolt fasteners with the stem
of the bolt passing through a simple opening in the rele- ,
15 vant side section and through an elongate slot in the ,
centre section. The,s,lots are denoted respectively by
reference numerals 56 and 58 and it will be seen from a
comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 on the one hand and Figs. 4
and 5 on the other that the bolt moves the length of the
associated slot as the side section is adjusted over the
full range of adjustment with respect to the centre sec-
tion. It will also been seen that each slot 56, 58 is
angled upwardly from a position rearwardly of the ear
area of the relevant side section towards the neck area.
Obviously, the slot follows the path of a fixed point on
the side section moving over the underlying part of the
centre section as the two sections are moved over their
' -
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full range of adiustment. The bolt can be tightened to
secure the two sections in any adjusted position.
Referring back to Fig. 1, the bolt of fastening
means 48 is indicated by reference numeral 60 and passes
through an opening 62 in side section 28. The bolt then
passes through slot 56 in centre section 34 and is re
ceived in a modified nut 64. Nut 64 has a domed and
flattened end face 66 and a squared shank 68 dimensioned
to slidably fit into slot 56. Thus, the nut is restrained
against turning in slot 56 so that bolt 60 can be tightened
and loosened with respect to the nut from the outside
only. This greatly facilitates adjustment of the helmet
because the bolt 60 can be loosened and retightened after
adjustment from externally of the helmet only; there is no
need to disturb the helemt lining (not shown).
The fastening means at the opposite side o~ the
helmet is the same as fastening means 48 but has not been
shown in detail. Similar bolts 70 and domed head nuts 72
are used to secure the centre section 34 into the moulding
defining the front section and side section although the
nuts 72 have serrated cylindrical shanks which are press-
fitted into openings in the centre section and friction-
ally retained by the serrations. These bolts and nuts
are not intended to be loosened while the helmet is in
service,
Shell part 22 is a one-piece plastic moulding
and includes various features such as moulded depressions
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74 in the front section, which are partly decorative and
partly for strength. In addition, a flat peripheral
border 76 extends along the bottom edge of the front sec-
tion and down the leading edges of the side sections so
as to "frame" the exposed part of the face of the wearer.
It will also be noted that the moulding is designed to
provide a complete cover for the ears of the wearer in
the regions denoted 40 and 42. This is a departure from
conventional hockey helmet designs in which the ear areas
are normally recessed to expose the ears. In this case,
ventilation openings 78 are provided in the ear regions.
Shell part 24 is also a one-piece moulding in
the same material as part 22. ~he moulding includes a
central longitudinal groove or recess 80 defining respec-
tive parallel ribs 82 and 84 generally of the form referredto in the Shaw patent.(730,337). This configuration both
provides improved strength and maintains an identity of
style with the earlier design. However, it is not of
course essential to the invention. It will also be noted
that ventilation openings 86 are provided in the ribs and
are recessed for additional strength although again this
is not essential to the invention.
To s D arize, the hockey helmet as shown in the
drawings is believed to be improved as compared with prior
art helmets in that it allows for simultaneous adjustment
of the longitudinal, lateral and vertical dimensions of
the helmet by simply loosening two screws, effecting the
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required adjustment, and the retightening the screws. In
this way, the helmet can be closely fitted to the head of
a wearer for optimum safety. The helmet itself is also
designed to provide for complete all-round protection of
the wearer against impact damage.
It will of course be appreciated that the pre-
ceding description relates to a preferred embodiment of
the invention only and that many modifications are possible
within the scope of the claims. Obviously, the physical
construction may vary For example, instead of making
the front and side sections integral and attaching the
center section behind the front section, it might be pos-
sible to make the front and centre sections in one piece
(so that the centre section would in effect continue on
to the front edge of the helmet with the front section
formed by part of the centre section) and then attach the
side sections to the sides of the front section. It
might even be possible to mould the shell in one piece
although this would probably be technically difficult.
In either case, a secondary forming operation may be re-
quired. The side sections could obviously be designed as
for a conventional helmet; that is, with recesses around
the ears. Also, other forms of fastening means could
be used for securing the sections in an adjusted position.
For example, the fastenlng means could comprise a bolt
passing through one of several alternative holes, each
corresponding to a different adjusted position, al-
though this would have the disadvantage of necessitating
"'~
.
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incremental adjustment. Some other possi~le modifications
have been discussed above in connection with the preceding
description, As noted above, the helmet could be designed
for use as other than a hockey helmet (e.g. as a football
helmet). Protective helmets for industrial use could also
be made in accordance with the invention. The nut and bolt
fastenings 70, 72 obviously could be replaced by fasteners,
e.g. rivets.
