GB2529841A

GB2529841A - Detachable faceguard for a helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2529841A
Application number: GB1415577.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Catherine Dolores Curtis
Original assignee: RATTLESKUTTLE Ltd
Current assignee: RATTLESKUTTLE Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2016-03-09
Also published as: GB201415577D0

Abstract

A detachable faceguard (100) suitable for mounting on, and securing to, a variety of head wear. The protective faceguard comprises a guard (110) which is secured to an adjustable band (120). The guard (110) can be in the form of a rigid grill or a single screen visor and, in use, can be fully supported by a helmet so that it does not contact a users face. The adjustable strap (120) can extend around the circumference of a helmet (200) and be tightened by a cam buckle, a conventional buckle or a worm gear mechanism (150). The band can include a hook device (130), such as a flip release clip, a hinged clip or a toggle latch that hooks under the rim of a helmet. The faceguard can be used with sports helmets, such as riding hats.

Description

DETACHABLE FACEGUARD FOR A HELMET

The present invention relates to a detachable faceguard for a helmet, preferably for a sports helmet, such as a riding helmet.

In a number of high risk environments safety helmets are worn to reduce the risk of accidental head injury. Notably, in sports such as horse riding, helmets are worn as standard in order to protect the rider in the event of a fall or collision. Whilst standard safety helmets protect the back, sides and crown of the head, the wearer's face is often left unprotected. To address this problem it is known in certain sports (for example cricket, ice hockey -especially the goalkeepers, and American football) to attach a grilled facemask to the helmet in order to protect the wearer's face whilst still providing visibility over or through the front grill. The faceguard serves to protect the face and reduce the risk of injury for the wearer. The faceguard may also rest upon the wearer's chin/jaw, and dissipate impact energy through the rest of the head/helmet. Faceguards are nearly always worn in sports and situations where the risk of impact to the face remains high. However, the faceguards known in the art are not designed to be easily or quickly removed from their helmets and are considered a permanent fixture. Whilst they may be unscrewed, it is an arduous process to detach and reattach such a faceguard to a helmet.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least this problem by providing a detachable faceguard for ease of either attaching to or detaching from a helmet. It is expected that such a detachable faceguard may be useable on a variety of different helmets so that a variety of different wearers may use such a detachable faceguard on respective custom helmets. Most wearers of helmets would prefer to wear their own helmets which have been adjusted to fit them for safety and comfort. A second benefit of the present invention is that it allows each wearer to continue using their own helmet whilst using a detachable faceguard. In this way a sports centre may, for example, keep a stockpile of several detachable faceguards without the need for corresponding helmets which may instead be supplied by the individual wearers themselves.

S

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a faceguard attachable to and detachable from a helmet via an adjustable band secured around the circumference of the helmet. A guard section for protecting a wearer's face is secured to the helmet via the adjustable band.

Preferably the detachable faceguard is attached only to the helmet, and does not contact the wearer's face, so that any impact force is transferred to the helmet and not the wearer's face.

Preferably still, the faceguard consists of a rigid arced grill or solid visor which extends from two attachment points on opposite sides of the adjustable band, and round the front of the helmet and away from the adjustable band so that, when worn, the arced grill or solid visor is positioned underneath the eye line of the user so as not to obstruct vision.

Preferably still, the detachable faceguard further comprises at least one rigid support strut between the arced grill or solid visor and adjustable band so as to secure the faceguard in place and prevent it moving towards or away from the band when mounted on a helmet, or, particularly, when mounted on a helmet being worn, subject to an impact force. This arrangement assists with transfer of impact energy to the helmet.

Preferably, the detachable faceguard further comprises at least one hook device mounted on the adjustable band to secure the adjustable band to the underside of a helmet rim preventing the band from slipping upwards and holding the detachable faceguard in place. The hook device may be a flip release clip, hinged clip, toggle hook S latch or standard hook.

Preferably, the adjustable band may be tightened or loosened by means of a worm gear, cam buckle or conventional buckle mechanism.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side on view of the present invention attached to a helmet without a wearer.

As shown in figure 1, the present invention comprises a detachable faceguard 100 for use with a variety of helmets. Figure 1 depicts the present invention engaged with a riding helmet 200. The detachable faceguard 100 comprises a front guard section 110, in the form of a metal grill, a robust adjustable band 120, retention hooks 130 and support struts 140.

The adjustable band 120 is adapted to be placed over the crown of the helmet 200 and secured in place around the circumference of the helmet 200, just above the rim, by tightening the band 120. This tightening is achieved by a worm screw clamp 150, or hose clamp (not shown), which is operative to or which may be used to slowly wind the band tighter around the helmet 200, securing it in place. Due to the friction levels involved, the worm screw 150 is not reversible and therefore eliminates any possibility of the adjustable band 120 loosening itself. Alternative tightening mechanisms may include cam buckles, clip buckles or conventional buckles, or any other suitable means.

The guard section 110 is a rigid metal grill. The grill 110 is formed as a curve, attached S at either end to two points 115 on the adjustable band 120. The grill ends are attached to the adjustable band at points which, when the band is in position on a helmet 200, are towards the rear of the helmet 200. When in position on a helmet the grill 110 extends around the front of the helmet 200, lower than the helmet rim and the eye line of any wearer so as not to obscure their vision. The riEl 110 extends downwardly, and around the side of the wearer's face so as to protect them from impact injuries. It is also acceptable to use a solid visor-Like arrangement as a faceguard.

Additionally, on each side of the grill 110, away from its end attachment points 115, there is provided a rigid support strut 140 which further links the grill 110 to the adjustable band 120. The support strut 140 prevents relative motion of the guard section 110 and the adjustable band 120 section, i.e. ensures the grill 110 does not rotate about its end attachment points 115 on the helmet 200. The two support struts are attached at attachment points 145 to the adjustable band 120 forward of the grill attachment points 115.

The adjustable band 120 also comprises hook elements 130 which are provided for hooking underneath the rim of the helmet 200 when the faceguard is mounted on the helmet, to ensure that the adjustable band 120 does not move away from the helmet rim and come loose from the helmet 200 during use. The adjustable band 120 is held in place by both the compressionlfriction element of the band 120, and the retaining hooks caught on the underside of the lower rim of the helmet 200. The hook elements 130 may be flip release clips, hinged clips, toggle hook latches or standard hooks.

It is envisioned that the present invention 100 Will be used for riding helmets, however it is of course recognised by the skilled person that the faceguard 100 may be utilised with a number of other safety helmet types and maintain operating functionality.

S

Advantageously, the ease With which the present invention may be attached to, and detached from, a range of helmets will allow a greater range of people to use them, for example those With their own helmets but with no faceguard. It is therefore envisioned that more people will be inclined to attach the faceguards 100 and use them, therefore reducing injuries.

It is envisioned that the grill 110 and supporting struts 140 of the present invention Will be made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or titanium, wherein the adjustable band 120 Will be a robust flexible fabric. The adjustable band 120 may also be made to accommodate standard sizes in certain helmet circumferences.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example it is contemplated that other materials may be provided for the grill, such as plastics materials or other suitable materials.

In use, the present invention 100 is mounted upon a helmet 200 by locating the adjustable band 120 around the rim of the helmet 200, in the correct orientation, and securing it in position by tightening the worm-screw 150 and ensuring the hooking elements 130 are engaged with the bottom of the helmet 200 rim. Once the detachable faceguard 100 is securely mounted on the helmet, it is ready to be worn. To remove the faceguard 100, the worm-screw 150 is loosened, and the adjustable strap 120 is lifted from the helmet 200.

S

Claims

Claims 1. A faceguard for detachable attachment to a helmet, the faceguard comprising; an adjustable band for securing the faceguard to the helmet, and a guard section for protecting a wearer's face, wherein the guard section is S secured to the adjustable band.
2. The faceguard according to claim 1, wherein during use the faceguard section is wholly supported by the helmet and does not contact a wearer's face.
3. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the guard section is attached to the adjustable band at at least two separate locations on the adjustable band.
4. The faceguard according to claim 3 wherein the guard section is a rigid grill extending between the two attachment points on the adjustable band in an arc below the circumference of the adjustable band.
5. The faceguard according to claim 3 wherein the guard section is a visor comprising a single screen of material.
6. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the adjustable band is adapted to be secured around the circumference of the helmet.
7. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the guard section is substantially rigid.
8. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the faceguard further comprises at least one substantially rigid support strut between the guard section andthe adjustable band.
9. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the adjustable band further comprises at least one hook device to secure the adjustable band to the underside of the helmet rim.
10. The faceguard according to claim 9, wherein the hook device is selected from a flip release clip, a hinged clip, a toggle hook latch and a standard hook.
11. The faceguard according to any preceding claim wherein the fit of the adjustable band to the helmet is adjusted by means of a worm gear mechanism.
12. The faceguard according to any of cLaims 1-10 wherein the fit of the adjustable band to the helmet is adjusted by means of a cam buckle mechanism.
13. The faceguard according to any of cLaims 1-10 wherein the fit of the adjustable band to the helmet is adjusted via a conventional buckle mechanism.
14. A faceguard for a helmet as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.