HELMET FACE PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE FIXATION DE PROTECTEUR FACIAL A UN CASQUE

English Abstract

The present invention relates to attachments for releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector and the wire grid face protector to a helmet. The attachments comprise a clip and a bracket. The clip comprises a retaining body adapted to be secured to the wire grid face protector at a predetermined location and on opposed sides of a sight opening of the wire grid face protector. The retaining body has a guide slot adapted to receive an attachment flange of the transparent shield, and an opening formed in an outer wall thereof configured to receive in abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange. The bracket comprises a body having a groove into which a wire member of the wire grid face protector is releasably and frictionally retained. The transparent shield is disconnectable from the wire grid face protector by inwardly depressing the tongue in the opening and pulling on the transparent shield. The wire grid face protector is detachable from the helmet by upwardly pivoting same with respect to the helmet, and by pulling the wire member out of the groove. The transparent shield and the wire grid are quickly removable and securely in place when in a position of use.

French Abstract

Le présent extrait concerne les fixations pour fixer de façon détachable un masque transparent sur un protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques et le protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques sur un casque. Les fixations comprennent une pince et une ferrure. La pince se compose d'un corps de retenue adapté pour être fixé au protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques à un emplacement prédéterminé et sur les côtés opposés d'une ouverture de vision du protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques. Le corps de retenue a une fente guide adaptée pour recevoir une bride de fixation du masque transparent, et une ouverture formée dans une paroi extérieure de celui-ci configurée pour recevoir en engagement contigu une languette de la bride de fixation, élastique, inclinée vers l'extérieur. La ferrure se compose d'un corps ayant une gorge dans laquelle un élément de fil du protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques est retenu de façon détachable et par frottement. Le masque transparent est détachable du protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques en appuyant vers l'intérieur sur la languette dans l'ouverture et en tirant sur le masque transparent. Le protecteur facial à grille en fils métalliques est détachable du casque en le faisant pivoter vers le haut par rapport au casque, et en tirant l'élément en fils métalliques hors de la gorge. Le masque transparent et la grille en fils métalliques sont démontables rapidement et solidement en place lorsqu'ils sont en position d'utilisation.

Claims

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CLAIMS,
1. A clip for releasably securing a transparent shield
to a wire grid face protector of a helmet, said clip
comprising a retaining body adapted to be secured to a wire
grid face protector at a predetermined location and on
opposed sides of a sight opening formed in said wire grid
face protector, said retaining body having a guide slot
adapted to receive therein an attachment flange of a
transparent shield, and an opening in an outer wall of said
retaining body configured to receive in abutting engagement
a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of said attachment
flange, said transparent shield being disconnectable from
said clip by inwardly depressing said tongue in said opening
and pulling said tongue from said guide slot.
2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said retaining
body is provided with opposed channels to secure same to
said wire grid face protector by engaging opposed wire
members thereof in opposed grooves defined by opposed walls
of said clip.
3. A clip according to claim 2, wherein said grooves
are formed in side edge walls of said clip.
4. A clip according to claim 3, wherein said retaining
body is curved to correspond to a curvature of said
attachment flange.
5. A clip according to claim 4, wherein an inner wall
of said guide slot is provided with a groove for receiving a
finger extending from an inner face of said tongue.
6. A clip according to claim 5, wherein said helmet is
a hockey helmet.

7. A wire grid face protector for a helmet in combination with a clip for
releasably securing a transparent shield over a sight opening formed in said
wire grid face protector, said clip comprising a retaining body secured at a
predetermined location and on opposed sides of said sight opening formed in
said wire grid face protector, said retaining body having a guide slot adapted
to receive therein an attachment flange of a transparent shield, and an
opening
formed in an outer wall of said retaining body configured to receive in
abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of said attachment
flange, said transparent shield being disconnectable by inwardly depressing
said tongue in said opening and pulling said tongue from said guide slot.
8. A wire grid face protector according to claim 7, comprising a wire member
disposed at a predetermined location and adapted to snap-fit into a bracket
securable to a helmet, for releasably securing said wire grid face protector
to
said helmet, said bracket comprising a body forming a groove into which said
wire member is releasably and frictionally retained.
9. A wire grid face protector according to claim 8, wherein said helmet is a
hockey helmet.
10. A helmet comprising a head protective shell, a bracket secured to a
forehead
region of said shell for releasably securing a wire grid face protector
thereto,
said bracket comprising a body having a groove into which a wire member of
said wire grid face protector is adapted to snap-fit, said wire grid face
protector comprising a pair of clips for releasably securing a transparent
shield
to said wire grid face protector, each clip being releasably secured to
opposed
sides of a sight opening in said wire grid face protector, each clip
comprising a
retaining body having a guide slot for receiving therein an attachment flange
of said transparent shield, and an opening in an outer wall of said clip and
configured to receive in abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined
tongue of said attachment flange.
11. A helmet according to claim 10, wherein said helmet is a hockey helmet.
11

Description

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HELMET FACE PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to helmet face
protectors and more particularly to attachments for
releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire gri.d face
protector, and the wire grid face protector to a helmet.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Protective helmets are used in sports such as
hockey to protect the wearers from head injuries caused by
impacts.
Face protectors attachable to hockey helmets are
known. Such face protectors generally consist of a wire grid
which substantially covers the face of the wearer. The grid
defines a plurality of apertures sufficiently small to
prevent passage of hockey sticks and pucks. A large,
elongated sight opening is found in the grid and extends in
front of the wearer's eyes not to obstruct the wearer's
field of vision. A curved, resilient transparent shield of
molded high impact resistant plastic material is generally
attached to the grid to cover the sight opening and protect
the wearer's eyes without hindering the wearer's field of
vision.
Different fastening means have been used to secure
wire grids to helmets and to fasten shields to wire grids.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,031,564 issued to Wood on
June 28, 1977 describes a protective face mask including a
resilient transparent shield and a wire grid. The shield is
provided with tabs at opposed ends thereof bearing outwardly
extending projections, to secure to the wire grid at each
end of the elongated sight opening of the grid. The shield
is flexed to allow insertion of the tabs into grid
receptacles to engage the projections thereon. A mounting
plate having bolt holes is also secured to the wire grid by
fasteners.

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A disadvantage of such an attachment is that the
shield can be accidentally dislodged upon impact on a side
of the helmet. Another disadvantage is that the wire grid
can not be quickly and easily removed from the helmet.
U.S. Patent No. 4,587,677 issued to Clement on May
13, 1986 describes an attachment system for attaching a face
mask having a wire grid to a helmet using a hinge and a
snap-fit connection. The hinge has two resilient halves
integrally hinged together and having a cavity for receiving
a wire of the grid. The hinge is retained in a slot in the
forehead region of the helmet by the resilient action of the
clip halves. The snap-fit connection consists of two
vertical slots integrally formed in either side of the
helmet and open at the bottom for receiving tabs vertically
extending from either side of the face mask. Each tab has
two side portions between which is integrally formed a
resilient, angulated, outwardly extending tongue connected
to the side portions at the upper corners thereof. The tab
is retained in the slot by the outward position of the
tongue, and is released therefrom by inwardly pressing on
the tongue and by pushing the tab downwardly. However, the
face mask does not provide a transparent shield which is
detachable from the wire grid.
U.S. Patent No. 4,856,100 issued to Desy et al. on
August 15, 1989 describes a face shield detachably connected
to a visor. The visor defines a recess in the lower edge
thereof to receive the upper edge of the face shield, and
has inwardly extending star-shaped detents integrally molded
at either side thereof and a wedge-shaped detent integrally
molded at the front thereof to correspond with through-holes
in the face shield, to receive and engage the detents.

CA 02320634 2009-02-16
It would therefore be highly desirable to provide an attachment for connecting
a transparent shield to a wire grid that would be resistant to dislodgment,
that would
be removably attachable to the transparent shield and to the wire grid face
protector
and that would also render the transparent shield quickly releasable and
attachable to
and from the wire grid face protector.
It would also be highly desirable to provide an attachment for connecting a
wire grid to a helmet that would allow the wire grid to be quickly swung away
from
the face of the wearer, and which could also be easily and quickly secured and
removed from the helmet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment for
connecting
a transparent shield to a wire grid which is resistant to dislodgment and
which is
removably attachable to the wire grid face protector by quick release
connectors.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment for
securing a wire grid to a helmet which allows the wire grid to be quickly
swung away
from the face of the wearer and which is easily and quickly secured and
removed
from the helmet.
In accordance with the above-mentioned features, from a broad aspect, the
present invention therefore provides a clip for releasably securing a
transparent shield
to a wire grid face protector of a helmet, the clip comprising a retaining
body adapted
to be secured to a wire grid face protector at a predetermined location and on
opposed
sides of a sight opening formed in the wire grid face protector, the retaining
body
having a guide slot adapted to receive therein an attachment flange of a
transparent
shield, and an opening in an outer wall of the retaining body configured to
receive in
abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment
flange,
the transparent shield being disconnectable from the clip by inwardly
depressing the
tongue in the opening and pulling the tongue from the guide slot.
3

CA 02320634 2009-02-16
The invention also provides a wire grid face protector for a helmet in
combination with a clip for releasably securing a transparent shield over a
sight
opening formed in the wire grid face protector, the clip comprising a
retaining body
secured at a predetermined location and on opposed sides of the sight opening
formed
in the wire grid face protector, the retaining body having a guide slot
adapted to
receive therein an attachment flange of a transparent shield, and an opening
formed in
an outer wall of the retaining body configured to receive in abutting
engagement a
resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange, the transparent
shield
being disconnectable by inwardly depressing the tongue in the opening and
pulling
the tongue from the guide slot.
The invention further provides a helmet comprising a head protective shell, a
bracket secured to a forehead region of the shell for releasably securing a
wire grid
face protector thereto, the bracket comprising a body having a groove into
which a
wire member of the wire grid face protector is adapted to snap-fit, the wire
grid face
protector comprising a pair of clips for releasably securing a transparent
shield to the
wire grid face protector, each clip being releasably secured to opposed sides
of a sight
opening in the wire grid face protector, each clip comprising a retaining body
having
a guide slot for receiving therein an attachment flange of the transparent
shield, and
an opening in an outer wall of the clip and configured to receive in abutting
engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will
now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a
preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip for securing a transparent shield to
a
wire grid face protector and constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of the transparent shield secured to the wire grid
face
protector as shown in Figure 1;
4

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Figure 3 is a side view of the clip mounted to the wire grid face protector
and
securing the transparent shield thereto, as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4A is a side view of a transparent shield constructed in accordance
with
the present invention;
Figure 4B is an enlarged side view of the transparent shield shown in Figure
4A, showing the attachment flange;
Figure 5 is a section view of the clip with the attachment flange engaged
therein;
4a

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Fig. 6A is a partly sectioned view of the wire grid
face protector mounted to the helmet and shown in a lowered
position; and
Fig. 6B is a section view taken of the wire grid
face protector shown in Fig. 6A and illustrated in a raised
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1-2, there is shown a wire grid
having a curved, flexible transparent shield 12 releasably
secured thereto using a clip 14 constructed in accordance
with the present invention. A bracket 16 releasably secures
the wire grid 10 to a helmet 9 having a head protective
shell shown in phantom lines.
ls The wire grid 10 includes a plurality of
intersecting wires 18 welded together at intersecting
points. A peripheral wire 20 has a top portion 22 and a
bottom portion 24 joined by side wire portions 26. A first
and a second substantially horizontal wires 28, 30 extend
from one side portion 26 to another and are disposed above
the bottom portion 24 of the peripheral wire 20 and spaced
apart therefrom and from one another. An inverted U-shaped
wire 32 has upright portions 34 joined by a top portion 35
and welded under the top portion 22 of the peripheral wire
20 and over the first and second horizontal wires 28, 30 and
the bottom portion 24 of the peripheral wire 20. A first
and a second smaller inverted U-shaped wires 36, 38 are
disposed adjacent one another over the first and second
horizontal wires 28, 30 and at the center thereof, with ends
thereof being co-terminous with the bottom portion 24 of the
peripheral wire 20 and forming loops extending above the
second horizontal wire 30. A third and a fourth smaller
inverted U-shaped wires 40, 42 are disposed at either side
of the f.irst and second smaller inverted U-shaped wires 36,
38 spaced apart therefrom and adjacent either upright

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portion 34 of the inverted U-shaped wire 32, also with ends
thereof being co-terminous with the bottom portion 24 of the
peripheral wire 20 and forming loops extending above the
second horizontal wire 30. A third substantially horizontal
wire 44 extends from one side portion 26 of the peripheral
wire 20 to another and is disposed above and spaced apart
from the second horizontal wire 30. The wire 44 is welded
over the smaller inverted U-shaped wires 36, 38, 40, 42 and
over either side wire portion 26 of peripheral wire 20. The
third horizontal wire 44, the top portion 22 of the
peripheral wire 20 and upright portions 34 of the inverted
U-shaped wire 32 form a sight opening 45, which is
positioned to extend adjacently to the wearer's eyes and to
substantially encompass the wearer's field of vision. The
is sight opening 45 is covered by the transparent shield 12,
which is releasably secured to the wire grid 10 as will be
explained hereinafter. Similar U-shaped wires are welded
above the window 45 to join the top portion 22 of the
peripheral wire 20 and the top portion 35 of the inverted U-
shaped wire. The wires 18 are disposed to define a
plurality of apertures dimensioned to prevent passage of
hockey sticks and pucks to protect the face of the wearer.
Referring now to Figs. 6A-6B, a loop-shaped wire 46
has a rear hook portion 47 and a front securement portion
48. The loop-shaped wire 46 is bent over the central top
portion 35 of the inverted U-shaped wire 32 and welded under
the top portion 22 of the peripheral wire 20 in the rear
hook portion 47 defining therein an inwardly angled hook
relative to the front securement portion 48. The front
securement portion 48 of the loop-shaped wire 46 is in the
plan of the wire grid.
Referring now to Figs. 1-3, two clips 14 are
disposed at either side of the wire grid 10, between the
side portion 26 of the peripheral wire 20 and the upright
portions 34 of the inverted U-shaped wire 32. Each clip 14

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has a body 50 having an outer wall 52 and an inner wall 54
joined by an upper wall 56, a lower wall 58 and opposed side
edges 60. Each side wall 60 forms a groove 62 adapted to
snap-fit to the upright portion 34 of the inverted U-shaped
wire 32 and the side portion 26 of the peripheral wire 20,
respectively. The side edge 60 proximal to a vertical plan
perpendicularly crossing the center of the wire grid 10
defines a guide slot 64 adjacent the groove 62 and outwardly
disposed with respect thereof. Each guide slot 64 receives
a flange 66 disposed at either ends of the shield 12, to
releasably secure same thereto, as explained hereinafter.
The outer wall 52 of the body 50 defines an opening 65 for
abutting engagement by a resilient outwardly inclined tongue
72 of the flange 66. The opening 65 is sized to allow the
wearer to manually inwardly press the tongue 72 therethrough
by the use of a finger.
Referring now to Figs. 4A-4B, it can be seen that
the ends of the shield 12 are integrally provided with a
flange 66 having an inner surface 68 and an outer surface
70. The flange 66 is adapted to be received snugly but
slidably into the guide slot 64 of the clip 14. The flange
66 is integrally provided with a tongue 72 having its base
connected to the flange 66 near the free end thereof. The
tongue 72 is molded in an outward angled projection with
respect to the flange 66. A finger 74 is integrally
provided at the top of the tongue 72 and extends inwardly of
the inner surface 68 of the flange 66. The transparent
shield 12 is molded from an impact resistant plastic
material. The finger 74 is configured to engage in a groove
formed in the inner wall defining the guide slot 74.
Fig. 5 shows, in a cross-section, the flange 66
inserted in the clip 14, and the tongue 72 engaged in the
opening 65.
As the flange 66 is inserted into the guide slot
64, the tongue 72 is urged inwardly to a position of

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alignment with the flange 66 by the inner wall of the guide
slot 64. When the end of the flange 66 touches the bottom
of the guide slot 64, the tongue 72 rises by its resilient
action to its normal inclined position which provides an
abutment between the outer surface of the tongue 72 and the
outer wall 52 of the clip 14.
In order to release the flanges 66 from the clips
14, the wearer merely presses inwardly on the tongues 72 of
the respective flanges 66 through the openings 65, and then
pulls the shield 12 in order to pull the tongues 72 through
the guide slots 64. At this point, there is no further
interference by the tongue 72 to retain the flange 66 in
place in the clip 14, and the wearer may simply pull the
shield 12 out of engagement.
As seen in Figs. 1-3, 6A and 6B, a bracket 16
secures the wire grid 10 to the helmet 9. The bracket 16
has a body 80 with two holes at opposed ends thereof for the
insertion of fasteners therethrough, to secure the bracket
16 to the forehead region of the helmet 9. A U-shaped
holder 82 extends outwardly from the face of the body 80 and
is elongated in the plan at right angle to the page. The
holder 82 is of a maximum height to ensure insertion in the
loop formed by the ring-shaped wire 46, as described
hereinbefore. The U-shaped elongated holder 82 forms a
groove 84 into which snap-fits the top portion 35 of the
inverted U-shaped wire 32 of the wire grid 10.
As shown in Figs. 6A-6B, the groove 84 has a flared
entry portion having a shoulder 86 joining a semi-
cylindrical cavity 88 which receives the top portion 35 of
the inverted U-shaped wire 32 and allows same to easily
rotate therein. The flared entry portion and the shoulder
86 allow the wire 35 to be retained in the cavity 88.
The bracket 16 has the top portion 35 of the
inverted U-shaped wire 32 engaged therein. The wire grid 10
pivots with respect to the bracket 16 from a lowered

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position, corresponding to hook portion 47 of the ring-
shaped wire 46 abutting the body 80 of the bracket 16, to a
raised position, corresponding to the U-shaped portion 48 of
the ring-shaped wire 46 abutting the body 50 of the bracket
16 by the rotation of the top portion 35 of the inverted U-
shaped wire 32 into the groove 84. The wire grid 10 is
detached from the bracket 16 by upwardly pivoting the wire
grid 10 to a raised position and by then lifting same to
snap the top portion 35 of the inverted U-shaped wire 32 out
of the holder 82.
While the invention has been described with
particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will
be understood that numerous modifications thereto will
appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above
description and accompanying drawings should be taken as
illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Representative Drawing