IES72942B2 - Protective headgear - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to protective headgear for use in playing sports such as hurling where protection for the head is desirable.

The invention, therefore, provides a protective headgear which comprises a substantially rigid helmet, and a face-guard covering the region below the front of the helmet where the wearer's face is exposed, the face guard being pivotably attached to the helmet; and wherein the face guard, in a first condition of use is free to move relative to the helmet; and in a second condition of use, strap means are provided for releasably holding the face-guard in place to provide protection for a wearer, the strap means having a predetermined breakaway resistance threshold which when reached automatically places the face guard in said first condition of use.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a protective headgear according to the invention in a first condition of use; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the protective headgear of Figure 1 of the drawings in a second condition of use; and 572 942 ' FIGURES 3-5 are perspective views of the headgear of Figure 2 in place on a wearer and showing the transition from the second condition of use (Figure 3) to the first condition of use (Figure 5).

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a protective headgear 10 according to the invention which comprises a helmet 20 and a face guard 40.

The helmet 20 may be formed of a substantially rigid high impact resistant plastic or other suitable material with similar properties. The interior of the helmet 20 may be padded or provided with webbing in a conventional manner to cushion the wearer. Preferably, the helmet 20 has a shock-absorbing foam liner which comprises a close cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam having a density of about 24kg.I-3. The front of the helmet 20 has a first attachment means 21 and, on either side thereof respective studs 22, 23.

Preferably, the helmet 20 is of rounded construction and streamlined.

The face guard 40 is formed in the manner of a relatively open grill. The top edge 41 of the face guard 40 is pivotably attached to the attachment means 21. The attachment means 21 may comprise any suitable material, with safety factors considered, so that the face guard 40 is free to pivotally move relative to the helmet 20.

That part 42 of the face guard 40 which would, in use, be located in the vicinity of the chin of a wearer has a chin pad 43 preferably comprised of a close cell cross-linked polyethylene foam having a density of about 24 kg.I3.

A strap or straps may be provided for ensuring proper positioning of the face mask 40 relative to the wearer's face. In the present example, a single strap 44 is provided which approximately mid-way along its length is attached to the face guard 40 in the vicinity of the chin pad 43. Near each end 45, 46 of the strap 44 there is provided adjusting plastics slips 47, 48. The clips 47, 48 serve two functions. Firstly, each clip 47, 48 is slidable relative to the strap 44. Secondly, each clip 47, 48 has a profile which provides a snap-to-engage facility with the respective studs 22, 23 .

In use, the protective headgear 10 is placed on the wearer's head 100 with the clips 47, 48 out of engagement with the respective studs 22, 23. Thus, the face guard 40 is free to pivot relative to the helmet 20 and is thus in a first condition of use. The face guard 40 is now pivotably moved so as to allow the chin of the wearer to rest on the chin pad 43. If required, each clip 47, 48 is slid relative to the strap 44 so as to enable the clip 47 to engage with the stud 22 and the clip 48 to engage with the stud 23. The protective headgear 40 is now in a second condition of use to provide protection for the wearer.

When it is desired to place the face guard 40 in the first condition of use, the clips 47, 48 are quickly and easily detached from the respective studs 22, 23. When the face guard 40 is in the second condition of use and with particular reference to Figures 3-5 of the drawings, it will be observed that if a person 55 pulls on the face guard 40 in the direction of the arrow 60, and given the design and manufacturing characteristics of the clips 47, 48 and the strap 44, each clip 47, 48 remains engaged with its respective stud 22, 23 but the strap 44 moves relative to the clips 47, 48 in the direction of the arrow 56 should the pulling force be approximately equal to 10ON or greater.

This so-called breakaway resistance threshold of 100N or greater is important as it allows for the face guard 40 to assume the first condition of use in the circumstances described above. There is thus a significant reduction in the possible injury to the wearer in the absence of such a threshold which might result in a serious injury to the neck or lower head of the wearer.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS :

1. A protective headgear which comprises a substantially rigid helmet, and a face-guard covering 5 the region below the front of the helmet where the wearer's face is exposed, the face guard being pivotably attached to the helmet; and wherein the face guard, in a first condition of use is free to move relative to the helmet; and in a second condition of 10 use, strap means are provided for releasably holding the face-guard in place to provide protection for a wearer, the strap means having a predetermined breakaway resistance threshold which when reached automatically places the face guard in said first 15 condition of use.

2. A protective headgear as claimed in claim 1 in which the helmet has a shock-absorbing foam lines preferably comprised of a close cell, cross-linked 20 polyethylene foam having a density of preferably about 24kg.I -3 .

3. A protective headgear as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which that part of the face guard which 25 would, in use, be located in the vicinity of the chin of a wearer has a clip pad preferably comprised of a close cell cross-linked polyethylene foam having a density of preferably about 24kg.I 3 . ,s 30

4. A protective headgear as claimed in any of claims 1-3 wherein the breakaway resistance threshold . is 100N or greater.

5. A protective headgear substantially as 35 hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.