Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE
Helmet for Ball Hockey or the Like
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure concerns protective equipment for
ball
hockey or the like. More specifically, the present disclosure is concerned
with a
helmet for ball hockey or the like.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Helmets are well-known pieces of equipment worn by sports
athlete's to protect their head from injury. Each sport has its own
particularities
which dictate the shape and construction of the helmet used.
[0003] Ice Hockey helmets typically include a solid, high density
polycarbonate shell with internal padding for protecting the wearer's head.
Ice
Hockey helmets also generally include a fit system to aid in properly fitting
a helmet
on a wearer.
[0004] Ball hockey is a derivative of the sport of ice hockey,
which is
also called floor hockey, cosom hockey or dek hockey. As such, ball hockey is
closely related to ice hockey, with a main difference that the game is played
on
foot on a non-ice surface. The player's equipment is also different, including
a ball
that is used instead of a hockey puck.
[0005] Ball hockey being derivative from ice hockey, ball hockey
players
traditionally uses an ice hockey helmet to protect their heads. However, there
are
many drawbacks in such a practice, including the helmet being hot and heavy.
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[0006] Bike helmets are designed to be lighter and cooler than ice
hockey helmet. They are however ignored by ball hockey players, with reasons,
because of their look, which differs too much from the traditional hockey
helmet,
but also because they lack protection on the back of the head and on the ears,
such protection not being required when biking.
[0007] A helmet that is adapted for the practice of ball hockey is
therefore desirable.
SUMMARY
[0008] The problem of the heaviness of ice hockey helmet and of
their
lack of aeration for the practice of ball hockey is solved i) by providing a
lighter
helmet formed by injection molding a foam layer in a hard shell such that the
portions of the helmet around the ears are only formed by the foam layer, and
ii)
by integrating aeration pieces to the helmet such that they cover the portion
of the
helmet around the ear, while further acting as reinforced anchoring element
for ear
loops and other removable accessories.
[0009] According to an illustrative embodiment, there is provided a
helmet for ball hockey comprising:
[0010] a hard shell layer;
[0011] a foam layer that is integrated to the hard shell layer such
that a
pair of opposite side portions of the helmet around the ears are defined by
the
foam layer and are free of the hard shell layer; and
[0012] two reinforcement pieces that are attached to the foam
layer,
each on a respective side portion; each of the two reinforcement pieces
including
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at least one aeration portion and at least one anchoring portion to receive
removable accessories of the helmet.
[0013] According to another illustrative embodiment, there is
provided
process for manufacturing a helmet for ball hockey comprising:
[0014] providing a hard shell;
[0015] providing two reinforcement earpieces, each including at
least
one aeration portion and at least one anchoring portion to receive removable
accessories of the helmet;
[0016] positioning the hard shell layer and the two reinforcement
earpieces in an injection mold so that the two reinforcement earpieces contact
the
hard shell layer on respective lateral sides thereof; and
[0017] overmolding a foam layer onto both the hard shell layer
therein
and onto the two reinforcement earpieces.
[0018] According to still another illustrative embodiment, there is
provided a head protective equipment comprising:
[0019] an impact resistant layer forming a shell to be worn on a
person's
head;
[0020] a resilient layer that is attached to the impact resistant
layer
therein having lateral portions, each extending downwardly beyond the impact
resistant layer to cover part of a temporal region of the person's head; and
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[0021] two side pieces including ventilation openings that are
integrally
attached via the resilient layer to the impact resistant layer so as to extend
therefrom and so as to cover the lateral portions of the resilient layer and
beyond;
each of the two side pieces including attachment portion to receive
accessories for
the helmet.
[0022] According to another illustrative embodiment, there is
provided
a helmet for ball hockey comprising:
[0023] a hard shell layer; and
[0024] a foam layer integrated to the hard shell layer;
[0025] the helmet having a crown region, a front region extending
from
the crown region on a first side thereof, a rear region extending from the
crown
region on a second side thereof opposite the first side, two side regions
extending
from the crown region on respective third and fourth sides thereof, each
between
the front and rear regions, a neck region extending from both the rear and
sides
regions and two ear regions extending from both the side regions and the neck
region on respective sides thereof;
[0026] the helmet further having openings in the first and second
side
regions that have a cumulative area that is between eight (8) to fifteen (15)
percent
of an overall area of the first and second side regions.
[0027] Other objects, advantages and features of embodiments of a
helmet for ball hockey and of a process for manufacturing a helmet for ball
hockey
will become more apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive
description
of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference
to
the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the appended drawings:
[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a helmet for ball hockey
according to a first illustrative embodiment;
[0030] Figure 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the helmet
from
Figure 1, showing that the reinforcement earpieces are provided independently
from the hard shell layer;
[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the helmet from Figure 1,
the
helmet being shown with detachable ear loops attached thereto; and
[0032] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the helmet from Figure 3,
the
helmet being further shown with a protective grid attached thereto; and
[0033] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a helmet for ball hockey
according to a second illustrative embodiment, illustrated with detachable ear
loops attached thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have
been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the
figures,
some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already
identified
in a precedent figure.
[0035] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction
with
the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one",
but it
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-04
is also consistent with the meaning of one or more", at least one", and one or
more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or
more.
[0036] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words
"comprising"
(and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises"), "having"
(and
any form of having, such as "have" and "has"), "including" (and any form of
including, such as "include" and "includes") or "containing" (and any form of
containing, such as "contain" and "contains"), are inclusive or open-ended and
do
not exclude additional, un-recited elements.
[0037] A first illustrative embodiment of a helmet 10 for ball
hockey of
the like is shown in Figures 1 to 2.
[0038] The helmet 10 comprises a hard shell layer 12, a foam layer
14,
and two reinforcement earpieces 16. The inside of the helmet 10 is obviously
shaped to fit on the head of a person.
[0039] The hard shell layer 12 is thermoformed from a thin
polycarbonate sheet (not shown). Since thermoforming is believed to be well-
known, it will not be described herein in more detail for concision purposes.
[0040] The hard shell layer 12 has a front region 18, two side
regions 20
(only one shown), a rear region 22, a neck region 23 and a crown region 24.
[0041] The crown region 24 includes top 26, front 28, back (not
shown)
and side 30 openings. The neck portion 23 includes openings 32 (only one
shown).
The rear region 22 includes openings 34 (only one shown). The side regions 20
includes openings 36.
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[0042] It is to be noted that same reference numerals are used for
opening in a same region, even though such openings in same region may have
different sizes and geometries.
[0043] The openings 26-36 are generally tapered from the outside of
the layer 12 to the inside thereof so as to present a greater area outside
than inside
due to mechanical limitations during molding.
[0044] The increased overall area of the openings 26-36, compared
to
conventional ice hockey helmet allows to reduce the overall weight of the
helmet 10 and to provide increased aeration to the wearer's head (not shown).
[0045] More specifically, the surface ratio of the side openings 36
to the
two side regions 20 is about 12 percent, which is more than double the typical
ratio
for conventional ice hockey helmet, wherein aeration is less of an issue
considering that the sport is practiced on ice. It has been found that a
number of
openings and or the sizes thereof that result in a surface ratio of the side
openings 36 to the two side regions 20 that is between about eight (8) to
fifteen
(15) percent provide a good compromised between protection and aeration. This
is considering that a greater such surface ratio would weaken the hard shell
12.
This is also considering that impacts on a ball hockey player's head are less
frequent and less violent, the game being slower than ice hockey.
[0046] It is to be noted that the configuration, size and number of
openings may be different than illustrated.
[0047] The hard shell 12 is not limited to being made of
polycarbonate
and can alternatively be made of other impact-resistant plastic.. Also, the
hard shell
12 can be shaped using other methods than thermoforming, such as without
limitations injection molding.
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[0048] According to the illustrative embodiment, the thickness of
the
hard shell layer 12 is about 1 mm.
[0049] The foam layer 14 is made of expanded polystyrene (EPS),
expanded polypropylene (EPP) or a combination thereof.
[0050] The foam layer 14 is overmolded onto the hard shell 12 and
onto
two reinforcement earpieces 16. Its thickness is about15 mm. According to
another
embodiment, the foam layer has a thickness between about 10 mm and 20 mm.
[0051] According to another embodiment, the foam layer 14 is
attached
to the hard shell layer 12 using an adhesive or attachments.
[0052] The foam layer 14 is shaped with openings (not shown) that
are
registered with the openings 26-36 in the hard shell layer 12.
[0053] As can be better seen in Figure 2, the foam layer 14 is
configured
and sized to conform to the hard shell layer 12, with the addition of two side
ear-
surrounding portions 38 that extend from both the side and neck regions 20 and
23 and of the hard shell layer 12 therebetween.
[0054] Each side ear-surrounding portion 38 includes i) a first leg
40
extending from the neck portion 23 towards the front of the helmet 10 and
including
an enlarged portion 42 on the side thereof opposite the side region 20, and
ii) a
second leg 44 extending downwardly from the side region 20. Together, the
first
and second legs 40 and 44 are shaped to define an arcuate ear-lodging recess
46.
[0055] In a nutshell, the reinforcement earpieces 16 are shaped
similarly to the ear-surrounding portions 38 so as to conform thereto, with
the
following exceptions:
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-04
[0056] ¨
the back portion 48 of the earpiece 16 that corresponds to the
first leg 40 extends wider towards the front;
[0057] ¨
the front portion 50 of the earpiece 16 that corresponds to the
second leg 44 extends longer downwardly;
[0058] ¨ a
slated L-shaped bridge 52 connects both portions 48 and 50
so as to define a hole 54 therebetween; and
[0059] -
insert elements 56, 56' and 56" that extend upwardly and/or
laterally from the front and back portions 48 and 50 and also slightly towards
the
back thereof.
[0060] The
insert elements 56, 56' and 56" are inserted under the hard
shell 12 during the overmolding process so as to be integrated in the foam
layer 14
and allowing a stronger assembly.
[0061] The
insert elements 56, 56' and 56" are not limited to the
illustrated embodiment and can take other forms.
[0062] The
reinforcement pieces 16 are configured, sized and
positioned relative to the hard shell layer 12 so as to complement it after
the
molding of the foam layer 14. More specifically, each reinforcement piece 16
abuts
both the lower edge 55 of a respective side region 20 of the hard shell layer
12
and a front edge 57 of the neck region 23.
[0063]
Each reinforcement piece 16 includes a first generally
rectangular anchoring portion 58 that extends along its height under the tab
56,
and a second anchoring portion 60 near the bottom of the back portion 48. Both
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anchoring portions 58 and 60 are configured to attach accessories for the
helmet 10, as will be described hereinbelow in more detail.
[0064] More specifically, the first anchoring portion 58 includes
two
fastener-receiving holes 62 to receive fasteners 65 to attach a clip 64 for a
grid 66
(see on Figure 4) or visor (not shown) and a slit 67 to receive ear loops 68
(see on
Figure 3).
[0065] The front region 18 of the hard shell layer 12 also includes
holes 73 to receive fasteners 75 for further securing the grid 66 to the
helmet 10.
[0066] The second anchoring portion 60 includes a similar slit 69
and a
snap button-receiving hole 70. As can be seen in Figure 3 and 4, a snap button
71
can be secured therein, which is part of an anchoring system of the grid 66.
[0067] Both slits 67 and 69 being located in the portion of the
earpieces
16 that extend beyond the hard shell layer 12, they are not prevented by the
hard
shell layer 12 from being accessible from both sides.
[0068] Except for the first and second anchoring portions 68 and 70
and
bridge 52, most of the remaining surface of the reinforcement earpieces 16 are
provided with aeration holes 72.
[0069] The aeration portions defined by the holes 72 yield improved
side aeration for the wearer of the helmet 10 and contributes to lighten the
reinforcement pieces 16 and therefore the helmet 10.
[0070] Also, the earpieces 16 provide solid anchoring portions 67
and 69 that can resist repetitive installations and pullings of the ear loops
68 and
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-04
of other removable equipments. This is compared to if the anchoring portions
were
in the foam layer 14 (not shown), which would be lightweight but not
resistant.
[0071] According to the first illustrative embodiment, the
reinforcement
earpieces 16 are made of nylon and manufactured using an injection molding
process, which allows the forming of a piece with small details such as the
holes
72. According to another embodiment, the reinforcement earpieces 16 are made
of polycarbonate or of another impact-resistant material.
[0072] The hole 54 in the earpiece 16 aims both at increasing the
aeration for the wearer and to maximize her/his hearing on the playing field.
[0073] According to another embodiment (not shown), the single
larger
hole 54 is omitted or replaced by a plurality of aeration holes 72.
[0074] It is to be noted that the helmet 10 may further include a
well-
known helmet fit system or adjustment mechanism (not shown). Such a
mechanism, along with any inserts (not shown) for securing the grid 66 and ear
loops 68, are integrated to the helmet 10 during the foam layer overmolding
process.
[0075] Figure 5 illustrates a ball hockey helmet 74 according to a
second illustrative embodiment. Since the helmet 74 is very similar to the
helmet
10, only the differences therebetween will now be described for concision
purposes.
[0076] The only difference between both helmets 10 and 74 lies in
the
anchoring portion of the reinforcement earpieces. In the helmet 74, the slit
67
and 69 are substituted by holes (not shown), which allow receiving fastening
buttons 76 for the ear loops 78.
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[0077] It is to be noted that many modifications could be made to
the
helmet 10 and 74 described hereinabove and illustrated in the appended
drawings.
For example:
[0078] ¨ the overall shape and size of the helmet may be different;
[0079] ¨ the thickness of the hard shell and foam layers 12 and 14
may
differ than illustrated;
[0080] ¨ the surface of the foam layer 14 may be provided with
grooves,
patterns or the likes;
[0081] ¨ the positions and/or relative proportions of the anchoring
and
aeration portions of the reinforcement earpieces 16 may be different than
illustrated.
[0082] A person skilled in the art will now appreciate that a
helmet for
ball hockey according to illustrated embodiments would not be possible using
conventional manufacturing processes used for ice hockey helmet. Moreover, the
characteristics and features of the present helmet differ non-obviously from
those
of bike helmet or other sports' helmet since they are dictated by the
specificities of
ball hockey.
[0083] It has been found that, on average, the helmets described
hereinabove are about fifty percent (50%) lighter than conventional ice hockey
helmets.
[0084] Although a helmet for ball hockey has been described
hereinabove by way of illustrated embodiments thereof, it can be modified. It
is
therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
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illustrative embodiments and that the scope of the claims should not be
limited by
the preferred embodiment but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the description as a whole.
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