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Patent 2141716 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 2141716
(54) English Title: A PROTECTIVE SPORTS HEADGEAR
(54) French Title: CASQUE PROTECTEUR POUR LE SPORT
Status: Deemed expired
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A42B 3/22 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • PERNICKA, MARTIN P. (Canada)
  • ISABELLE, PAUL (Canada)
(73) Owners :
  • I-TECH SPORTS PRODUCTS INC. (Canada)
(71) Applicants :
  • PERNICKA, MARTIN P. (Canada)
  • ISABELLE, PAUL (Canada)
(74) Agent:
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 2005-08-23
(22) Filed Date: 1995-02-02
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 1996-08-03
Examination requested: 2002-01-22
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data: None

Abstracts

English Abstract




The disclosure herein describes a protective
sports headgear that comprises a helmet, an intermediate
adapter fixed to the helmet and a visor shield hingedly
connected to the adapter at opposite sides thereof. A
pivot member, at each opposite side of the headgear, is
secured to the visor shield and is pivotably mounted to
the adapter, thus allowing the visor shield to move from
a face covering lower position to an upper lifted
position where the visor shield extends over the
forehead area of the helmet. The pivot member allows
the visor shield to be retained in the lifted position;
it also allows the visor shield to be manually removed
from the helmet in the lifted position. The headgear
also comprises a releasable lock that secures the visor
shield in the face covering lower position.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.





The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as
follows:

1. A protective sports headgear comprising:
- a helmet including a forehead area and
top and sides to cover a wearer's head;
- an intermediate adapter fixed to said
forehead area of said helmet, said
adapter defining a front portion and
opposite side portions;
- a visor shield pivotally mounted
relative to said adapter and said helmet;
- a pivot member secured to said visor
shield and pivotably mounted to each said
opposite side portion of said adapter
allowing said visor shield to pivotally
move from a face covering lower position
to an upper lifted position where said
visor shield extends over said forehead
area of said helmet; and
- releasable inter-engaging means
respectively mounted on said visor shield
and on said adapter to lock said visor
shield in said face covering lower
position.




2. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 1, wherein each said pivot member includes first
means cooperating with said adapter allowing
disengagement of said visor shield from said adapter in
said lifted position.

3. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 2, wherein said pivot member includes second means
cooperating with said adapter for retaining said visor
shield in said lifted position to prevent said visor
shield to return under gravity into said face covering
position.

4. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 3, wherein said first and second cooperating means
consist of a pivot head at one end of said pivot member
and of a pivot engaging projection on said adapter; said
pivot head displaying a pair of diametrically opposite
head extensions; said pivot engaging projection
displaying a rearwardly disposed recessed area having an
aperture therein; said aperture having a shape
corresponding to that of said extensions so that said
pivot head may pass through said aperture to allow
disengagement of said visor shield from said adapter.

5. A protective sports headgear as defined
in claim 4, wherein said second cooperating means consist


of lobes in said recessed area; contact of said
extensions on said lobes serving to retain the visor
shield in the lifted position over the forehead area of
the helmet.

6. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 5, wherein said pivot member defines an elongated
body having an end portion, remote from said pivot head,
secured to said visor shield.

7. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 6, wherein said visor shield includes, at each
opposite side portion thereof, means for adjusting the
position of said visor shield relative to said helmet.

8. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 7, wherein said adjusting means consist of a
longitudinal slot in said side portions of said visor
shield and of releasable fastening means extending
through said slot and said pivot member.

9. A protective sports headgear as defined in
any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said inter-engaging
means consist of first engaging means on said visor
shield and of second engaging means on said adapter; said
first engaging means being lockably received in said
second engaging means and being manually releasable




therefrom so that said visor shield may be pivoted from
said face covering position to said lifted position.

10. A protective sports headgear as defined in
any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a chin frame
hingedly mounted to opposite sides of said visor shield
at a lower part thereof; said frame being disposed
inwardly of said visor shield at said lower part thereof.

11. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 10, wherein said lower part of said visor shield
defines a lower edge and wherein said frame defines an
upper edge; said upper edge being so dimensioned as to be
limited in its downward hinge movement by contact with
said lower edge of said visor shield.

12. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 11, wherein said frame includes a chin contacting
element pivotally mounted at a central area of said
frame.

13. A protective sports headgear as defined in
any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said visor shield is
made of transparent plastics material.

14. A protective sports headgear as defined in
claim 13, wherein said lower part and said opposite side







portions of said visor shield include ventilation
openings.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.





TITLE OF THE INVENmrnnr
A protective sports headgear.
IiE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective
sports headgear having a visor shield which may be
manually lifted over a helmet and, when in the lifted
position, may be retained in this position. Also, when
in the lifted position the visor shield may be easily
removed by the user.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR I~RT
Protective headgears are used in many sports
such as hockey, football, etc. Such headgears consist
of a helmet and of a face guard which may be of the
transparent plastic visor type or of the rigid metallic
grill type.
One known problem with such headgears occurs
when the wearer is not during playing action and wishes
to remove the helmet for various reasons, such as
ventilation, removal of the pressure exerted by the
constricting structure of the helmet, or simply to wipe
a perspiring face. one protective headgear may be found
described in U.S. patent 5,093,936 issued March 10, 1992
to Itech Sport Products Inc. However, such equipment is




-2-
cumbersome in its use since each opposite side of the
face guard is provided with a resilient lock element
which the user must manually operate to enable him to
raise the guard upwardly.
An improved sports headgear may be found
described in Applicant's co-pending Canadian application
number 2,114,826 filed February 1, 1994. This
protective headgear is easily operatable by the user and
this is achieved by providing a single interlocking
arrangement at the front upper region of the face guard
so that the user may single-handedly disengage the
locking arrangement and lift the visor upwardly to
extend over the helmet forehead area.
TEMENT OF THE INVENT
The present invention pertains to a further
improvement of such protective sports headgear in that
it allows the visor shield, once in the lifted position,
to be retained in this position in a manner that it will
not fall back into a face covering position due to
gravity or to weak head movements. The improvement also
consists in allowing, still in the lifted position, to
easily remove the visor shield from the helmet so that
it can be replaced should it be damaged or scratched or




~~~~'~~~
- 3 -
that it needs cleaning. These features are achieved by
the provision of a pivot member on each opposite side of
the headgear.
The present invention therefore relates to a
protective sports headgear which comprises:
- a helmet including a forehead area and top
and sides to cover a wearer's head;
- an intermediate adapter fixed to the
forehead area, the adapter defining a front
l0 portion and opposite side portions;
- a visor shield pivotally mounted relative
to the adapter;
- a pivot member secured to the visor shield
and pivotably mounted to each opposite side
portion of the adapter allowing the visor
shield to pivotally move from a face covering
lower position to an upper lifted position
where the visor shield extends over the
forehead area of the helmet; and
- releasable inter-engaging means




zz~z~~~
- 4 -
respectively mounted on the visor shield and
on the adapter to lock the visor shield in
the face covering lower position.
In one form of the invention, the pivot member
consists of cooperating means between the adapter and
the visor which will enable an easy disengagement of the
visor shield from the adapter.
In another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the cooperating means permit the visor shield
to be retained in its upper lifted position, thus
preventing the visor shield to return to a face covering
position due to gravity or to head movements.
other objects and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that
this detailed description, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, is given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art.




- 5 -
$RIEF DESCRIPTIpN OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protective
sports headgear incorporating the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing
the visor shield in the upper lifted position;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the
pivot member;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the
pivot member;
Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the
pivot member;
Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the
pivot member shown attached to part of the visor shield;
Figure 7 is an enlarged side view showing the
relative positions of the pivot member and the adapter
side portion with the visor engaged in the lower face-
covering position;
Figure 8 is an enlarged side view showing the
relative positions of the pivot member and the adapter
side portion with the visor in the upper lifted
position; and
Figure 9 is an enlarged side view showing the
relative positions of the pivot member and the adapter
when the visor shield may be disengaged from the
adapter.




~~~~'~~~
-6-
pFgORrpmrpN DF PREFERRED EMRODIMEN'~'R
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a
protective sports headgear, generally denoted 10,
consisting of a helmet 12 and of visor shield or face
guard 14. The helmet has a forehead area 16, a top area
18 and opposite sides 20. Such helmets are well-known
and may have various shapes and configurations; the one
illustrated in the figures is one which is used most
often in the game of ice hockey.
The visor shield 14, made of transparent
plastics material, is arch-shaped and extends over the
open front portion of the helmet, terminating to the
side portions thereof. In this lower position, the
visor shield is said to be in a face-covering position.
An adapter, generally denoted 24, is used as
an intermediate element between the helmet 12 and the
visor shield 14. The adapter 24 includes a flat curved
band portion 26 (see figure 2) which follows the contour
of the forehead area of the helmet; it includes an
enlarged central area 28 and two opposite side areas 30.
These areas are provided with a given arrangement of
holes 31 so that the adapter may be fixedly mounted to
various types helmets. Fastening elements (not shown)




' ~~~~.~I~~
_,_
secure the adapter to the helmet by engaging these holes
and corresponding holes in the helmet.
In the central frontal region of the headgear,
there is provided a lock device, generally denoted 40,
which is described in greater detail in applicant's
above described Canadian patent application. It
essentially consists of a first male part 42 mounted to
the upper edge of the visor shield and of a female part
44 mounted to the central area 28 of the adapter. With
reference to figure 2, the male part has a traverse pin
46 that engages in a lower recess 48 of the female part.
A finger gripping lever 50 is actuatable frontwardly by
the user to release the locking engagement and to enable
the visor shield to be raised to the lifted position
shown in figure 2, that is over the forehead area 16 and
partially over the top area 18 of the helmet. With
other visors, the lifted position may be somewhat lower
than that shown.
The pivotal movement of the visor shield
relative to the helmet is accomplished by means of pivot
members 52 located on each opposite side of the
headgear, which pivot members also secure the visor




_8_
shield to upwardly extending portions 30~ of side areas
30 of the adapter.
Referring to figures 3, 4 and 5, each pivot
member 52 comprises an elongated body 54 which displays,
at one end thereof, a pivot head 56 having a neck
portion 58 and a flange portion 60 defining
diametrically opposite extensions 62 and 64. A pair of
small catches 66 and 68 are formed on diametrically
opposite sides of the pivot axis. The opposite end of
the pivot member 54 has a serrated surface 70 on its
rear side and a hole 72 to receive a screw 74 (see
figure 1). The front wall of body 54 has a surface area
75 to receive a data identification label or the like.
Due to the various face configurations of
users, it may be desired to vary the position of the
visor shield relative to the helmet for optimum viewing.
To achieve this, there is provided, as
illustrated in figure 6, an adjusting mechanism which
consists of an elongated slot 76 along the side portion
of the visor shield. Screw 74 extends through slot 76
and connects the pivot member to the visor shield. By
untightening screw 74, relative adjustment of the visor




_9_
shield to the pivot member 54 is made possible. The
proper positioning of the visor shield to the pivot
member is ensured by the presence of a stopper edge 78
along one side of pivot member 54. The visor may
include a serrated area 79 to engage the serrated area
70 of the pivot member.
The adjustment feature of the visor shield to
the pivot member is particularly useful when a chin
contacting frame 80 is mounted to the visor shield (see
figures 1 and 2). This frame is hingedly connected at
82 and 84; it is arc-shaped and located inwardly of the
arc-shaped lower part 86 of the visor shield. A chin
contacting pad 88 is pivotally mounted at 90 to the
frame 80. The construction and operation of the frame
80 and its chin contacting element 88 are described in
applicant's Canadian patent application No. 2,114,825
filed February 1, 1994. The pivotal movement of frame
80 is limited when the visor shield is in the position
shown in figure 2, that is when its upper edge contacts
the lower part 86 of the visor 14.
The pivot member on each side of the visor
shield allows the visor shield to be raised from a down
face covering position to an upper lifted position where




- to -
it may be held in a way that it will not fall back under
gravity or by small head movements and also where it may
be esasily removed Prom the helmet for replacement,
repair or cleaning. Referring to figures 7, 8 and 9,
the relative positions of the pivot member to the
adapter for these three positions are shown.
Figure 7 shows the position of the extensions
62 and 64 in the recessed area 100 of the rear face of
the adapter when the visor shield is in the face
covering position (the dotted lines show the position of
the pivot member body 54).
Figure 8 shows the extensions 62 and 64
resting on lobes 102, 104 in the recessed area 100 when
the visor shield is in the lifted position; there, the
lobes prevent easy return under gravity of the visor
shield to the face covering position. To return the
visor shield to such position, the extensions 62 and 64
must be forced downwardly over the lobes 102, 104. This
is made possible by the resiliency of the plastics
material used in the construction of the adapter.
Figure 9 shows the extensions in registry with
their correspondingly shaped openings 106, 108 (shown in




',
2~~~"~1~
figures 7 and 8) so that the visor shield may be
forcingly removed from the adapter. The presence of
catches 66 and 68 renders this removal to be forceful
since these catches must slide over the bore of the
aperture in order to move out of their engagement in the
recessed area.
The visor shield is also provided with a
series of ventilation openings on each opposite side and
in its lower part to provide proper maximum cooling for
the users during their sport activity.
Although the invention has been described
above with respect with one specific form, it will be
evident to a person skilled in the art that it may be
modified and refined in various ways. It is therefore
wished to have it understood that the present invention
should not be limited in scope, except by the terms of
the following claims.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 2005-08-23
(22) Filed 1995-02-02
(41) Open to Public Inspection 1996-08-03
Examination Requested 2002-01-22
(45) Issued 2005-08-23
Deemed Expired 2010-02-02

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $0.00 1995-02-02
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 1997-02-03 $100.00 1997-01-24
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 1997-07-14
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 1998-02-02 $100.00 1998-01-27
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 4 1999-02-02 $100.00 1999-01-29
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 5 2000-02-02 $150.00 2000-01-24
Registration of a document - section 124 $50.00 2000-11-20
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 6 2001-02-02 $150.00 2000-12-01
Request for Examination $400.00 2002-01-22
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 7 2002-02-04 $150.00 2002-01-22
Registration of a document - section 124 $50.00 2002-07-11
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 8 2003-02-03 $150.00 2003-01-29
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 9 2004-02-02 $200.00 2004-01-23
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2004-04-02
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 10 2005-02-02 $250.00 2005-02-01
Final Fee $300.00 2005-06-02
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 11 2006-02-02 $250.00 2006-01-27
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 12 2007-02-02 $250.00 2007-01-05
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 13 2008-02-04 $250.00 2008-01-10
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2008-10-23
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
I-TECH SPORTS PRODUCTS INC.
Past Owners on Record
ISABELLE, PAUL
LEADER INDUSTRIES (2001) INC.
LEADER INDUSTRIES INC.
PERNICKA, MARTIN P.
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Claims 1995-02-02 5 85
Representative Drawing 2004-09-08 1 17
Representative Drawing 1997-12-08 1 13
Description 1995-02-02 11 220
Drawings 1995-02-02 3 75
Cover Page 1995-02-02 1 10
Abstract 1995-02-02 1 16
Cover Page 2005-08-04 1 46
Abstract 2005-08-22 1 16
Claims 2005-08-22 5 85
Drawings 2005-08-22 3 75
Description 2005-08-22 11 220
Correspondence 2001-01-10 1 1
Assignment 1995-02-02 7 257
Prosecution-Amendment 2002-01-22 1 35
Correspondence 2002-08-08 1 11
Assignment 2002-07-15 11 347
Assignment 2002-07-11 9 343
Correspondence 2002-07-11 3 96
Correspondence 2002-08-21 1 19
Correspondence 2002-08-08 1 24
Fees 2003-01-29 1 27
Fees 2007-01-05 1 23
Fees 1999-01-29 1 46
Fees 2002-01-22 1 39
Fees 2004-01-23 1 27
Fees 1998-01-27 1 47
Fees 2000-01-24 1 42
Fees 2000-12-01 1 38
Assignment 2004-04-02 2 56
Fees 2005-02-01 1 26
Correspondence 2005-06-02 1 23
Fees 2008-01-10 1 25
Assignment 2008-10-23 8 301
Fees 2006-01-27 1 27
Fees 1997-01-24 1 48