Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02565753 2009-07-30
GOALIE HELMET WITH NOVEL STRAP CONFIGURATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to helmets, particularly to goalie helmets
used in contact sports such as hockey.
BACKGROUND ART
Typical goalie helmets are usually formed of a mask and a back plate
which cooperate to substantially surround the head of the wearer. The back
plate
and mask are generally interconnected by a plurality of straps which extend
along
an outer surface of the back plate and are received in slots defined through
the
mask along a rear edge thereof. A substantial portion of the straps is left
exposed
and can be subject to damage or become entangled during use. In addition,
adjustment mechanisms provided on prior art helmets are generally cumbersome,
so that the goalie can necessitate the help of another person to adequately
adjust
his or her helmet.
i 5 Accordingly, improvements are desirable.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved
sports helmet, particularly an improved goalie helmet.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
goalie helmet comprising a mask adapted to cover a front portion of a head and
a
face of a wearer, the mask including a window defined therein for minimizing
an
interference of the mask with a vision of the wearer; a back plate adapted to
cover
a rear portion of the head of the wearer, the back plate and the mask
cooperating to
substantially enclose the head of the wearer; and a plurality of straps
interconnecting the back plate and the mask, each of the straps having a first
portion defined between the back plate and a connection of the strap with the
mask, the connection of at least one of the straps being defined along an
inner
surface of the mask, the first portion of the at least one of the straps being
completely contained inside the helmet.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
sports helmet comprising a front shell adapted to cover a front portion of a
head of
a wearer, a rear shell adapted to cover a rear portion of the head of the
wearer, the
rear shell cooperating with the front shell to surround the head, and a
plurality of
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straps interconnecting the front and rear shells, the straps being connected
to the
front shell along an inner surface thereof.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
method of assembling a goalie helmet, comprising attaching one end of each of
a
plurality of straps to an inner surface of a mask of the helmet, attaching a
respective adjustment member for each of the straps to a back plate of the
helmet,
and engaging an opposed end of each of the straps with the respective
adjustment
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing
by way of illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention and in
which:
Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a goalie helmet in accordance
with a particular embodiment of the present invention, with an inner padding
layer
thereof removed for improved clarity;
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the goalie helmet of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the goalie helmet of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the goalie helmet of Fig. 1 shown with the
inner padding layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, a hockey goalie helmet is generally
shown at 10. Although the invention is shown and described as being applied to
a
hockey goalie helmet, it is understood that the invention can be applied to
other
types of helmets, such as for example lacrosse helmets, baseball helmets and
football helmets.
The helmet 10 comprises a front shell or mask 12, and a rear shell or
back plate 14, which cooperate to surround the head of the wearer. In the
embodiment shown, the mask 12 is adapted to substantially protect the face as
well
as a front portion of the head of the wearer. The mask 12 thus includes a top
mask
portion 16 (Figs. 2-3) covering part of the top of the head, a front mask
portion 18
(Figs. 1-3) extending from the top mask portion 16 over a major part of the
face, a
bottom mask portion 20 protruding from the front mask portion 18 below the
head
to protect the jaw and neck, and side mask portions 22 extending between the
top
and bottom mask portions 16, 20 on each side of the front mask portion 18 to
cover
the ears and rear part of the jaw. As can be seen in Figs. 1-3, the front mask
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portion 18 includes a window 24 defined therethrough, such as to minimize the
interference of the mask 12 with the wearer's vision. A plurality of
protection
members 26 extend across the window 24 in criss-crossing fashion to prevent
entry
of foreign objects such as pucks therethrough.
The back plate 14 is adapted to substantially cover a rear part of the
head of the wearer, and in use extends partly inwardly of the mask 12 such as
to
ensure covering of the head at the junction between the mask 12 and back plate
14.
The mask 12 and back plate 14 can be made of any type of adequate
material, including but not limited to fiber reinforced materials,
thermoplastics,
and a combination thereof.
Referring to Figs. 2-3, the back plate 14 includes an adjustment
mechanism comprising left and right lower adjustment members 28, 30, left and
right upper adjustment members 32, 34 and a top adjustment member 36. The
lower adjustment members 28, 30 are connected, preferably in an integral
fashion,
to a lower plate 38 which is attached on an outer surface 40 of the back plate
14 in
proximity of a center of a lower edge 42 thereof. The upper adjustment members
32, 34 and top adjustment member 36 are connected, also preferably in an
integral
fashion, with an upper plate 44 which is attached to the outer surface 40 of
the
back plate 14 upwardly offset from the lower plate 38. The lower and upper
plates
38, 44 are attached to the back plate 14 by any type of adequate means, such
as for
example a respective screw 46.
The mask 12 and back plate 14 are interconnected by left and right
lower side straps 48, 50 respectively received in the left and right lower
adjustment
members 28, 30, left and right upper side straps 52, 54 respectively received
in the
left and right upper adjustment members 32, 34, and a top strap 56 received in
the
top adjustment member 36.
Referring to Fig. 4, a particular embodiment of the upper left
adjustment member 32 is shown and will be described herein, the remaining
adjustment members 28, 30, 34, 36 being identical to the upper left adjustment
member 32. The upper left adjustment member 32 includes a first fixed member
58 attached to the upper plate 44, two parallel arms 60 extending from opposed
sides of the first fixed member 58, and a pivot 62 and second fixed member 66
extending between the two arms 60. The pivot 62 is located between the fixed
members 58, 66 in spaced apart relationship therewith. A pinching member 64
includes a cam 65 pivotally received on the pivot 62 and a finger 67 extending
from the cam 65. The pinching member 64 is pivotable between a closed position
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where the finger 671ies against the second fixed member 66, and an open
position
where the finger 67 is away from the second fixed member 66.
A free space 68 is defined between the first fixed member 58 and the
cam 65, through which the strap 52 extends. The strap 52 then passes between
the
s cam 65 and the back plate 14, between the cam 65 and the second fixed member
66, and between the finger 67 and the second fixed member 66. The shape of the
cam 65 and its position relative to the second fixed member 66 is such that
the
pinching member 64 is frictionally retained in the closed position, thus
pinching
the strap 52 between the finger 67 and the second fixed member 66.
As such, the pinching member 64 is manually disengaged from the
closed position when the length of the strap 52 extending between the mask 12
and the back plate 14 needs to be adjusted. With the pinching member 64
pivoted
away from the closed position, the strap 52 is free to move between the finger
67
and the second fixed member 66, thus allowing the strap 52 to be pulled in
either
is direction to adjust a length thereof. The pinching member 64 is then
returned to its
closed position against the second fixed member 66 when the desired length for
the strap 52 is reached.
As such, the helmet 10 can be adjusted while on the head of the
wearer, simply by reaching the adjustment members 28, 30, 32, 34, 36,
disengaging the respective pinching member 64 from its closed position,
adjusting
the length of the respective strap 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, and re-engaging the
respective
pinching member 64 in its closed position.
It is understood that a number of alternate adjustment members can be
used, as long as each adjustment member 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 is able to retain
the
respective strap 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 at a desired length and to allow that
desired
length to be changed. In an alternate embodiment, the straps 48, 50, 52, 54,
56 are
made of an elastic material and the adjustment members 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 can
be
omitted.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, the left and right lower side straps 48, 50
respectively extend from the left and right lower adjustment members 28, 30
through left and right lower holes 70, 72 defined through the back plate 14.
The
left and right lower side straps 48, 50 are then connected, preferably in a
detachable fashion, respectively to left and right attachment points 74, 76
defined
in an outer surface 77 of the bottom mask portion 20. The detachable
connection
between the mask 12 and the lower side straps 48, 50 can be made for example
through a respective snap type fastener.
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Referring to Figs. 2-3, the left and right upper side straps 52, 54
respectively extend from the left and right upper adjustment members 32, 34
through left and right upper holes 78, 80 defined through the back plate 14.
The
left and right upper side straps 52, 54 then respectively pass through left
and right
guiding members 82, 84 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which extend from an inner surface
86
of the mask 12 along a respective one of the side mask portions 22. Referring
particularly to Fig. 3, the upper side straps 52, 54 are then attached to a
same
connection member 88, which is in turn connected to the inner surface 86 of
the
mask 12 in a part of the top mask portion 16 which is adapted to extend
substantially over the forehead of the wearer, i.e. which is adjacent the
window 24.
The top strap 56 extends from the top adjustment member 36 through a
top hole 90 (see Fig. 2) defined through the back plate 14 and is connected to
the
connection member 88 (see Fig. 3) together with the upper side straps 52, 54.
i 5 Referring to Fig. 4, the helmet 10 further includes an inner padding
layer 92, which comprises a mask padding layer 94 secured to the inner surface
86
of the mask 12, and a back plate padding layer 96 secured to an inner surface
98 of
the back plate 14. The mask padding layer 94 is secured to the inner surface
86 of
the mask 12 along a portion thereof only, for example along a portion
receiving
the connecting member 88. As such, free portions 95 of the mask padding layer
94
extending over the top mask portion 16 and the side mask portions 22 are free
to
move relative thereto. Similarly, the back plate padding layer 96 is secured
to the
inner surface 98 of the back plate 14 along a portion thereof only, for
example
along a portion receiving the lower and upper plates 38, 44. As such, free
portions
97 of the back plate padding layer 96 are free to move relative to the back
plate 14.
The inner padding layer 92 can be made of any type of appropriate
material, including but not limited to foam, fabric, an adequate polymer, a
Styrofoam-type material, or any other material that may serve to absorb and/or
limit the effects of a force applied on the helmet and/or provide comfort to
the
wearer.
The upper and top straps 52, 54, 56 extend along the inner surface 98
of the back plate 14 between the back plate 14 and the free portions 95 of the
back
plate padding layer 96, and along the inner surface 86 of the mask 12 between
the
mask 12 and the free portions 97 of the mask padding layer 94. As such,
tensioning of the straps 52, 54, 56 presses the free portions 95, 97 of the
inner
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padding layer 92 against the head of the wearer, thus providing a tighter fit
of the
helmet 10 around the head.
The helmet 10 thus presents several advantages. For example, the
straps 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 principally extend within the helmet 10, and as such
have
a minimal risk of becoming entangled with other equipment or damaged during
play. The adjustment members 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 provide for an easy adjustment
between the mask 12 and back plate 14, such that the wearer can put the helmet
10
on and adjust it without outside help. The upper and top straps 52, 54, 56
extending between the inner padding layer 92 and the helmet 10 provide for an
lo improved fit of the helmet 10 by adjusting the inner padding layer 92
around the
wearer's head, which increases safety and comfort.
The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled
in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments
described
without department from the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, the
mask 12 and back plate 14 can be interconnected by more or less than five
straps.
The lower side straps 48, 50 can also be connected to the inner surface 86 of
the
mask 12. The adjustment members 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 can be provided on other
locations, for example along the length of the respective strap 48, 50, 52,
54, 56
extending between the mask 12 and back plate 14. Still other modifications
which
fall within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those
skilled in
the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are
intended
to fall within the appended claims.
