초록

A new football helmet includes: a jaw flap attached to the ear flap of the helmet, and the jaw flap overlies the sides of the lower jaw of football player; and a face guard connector which includes a shock absorbing member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A football helmet, comprising:a plastic outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides, the shell being adapted to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the wearer having a lower jaw having

1. A football helmet, comprising:a plastic outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides, the shell being adapted to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the wearer having a lower jaw having two side portions; each side of the shell includes an ear flap adapted to generally averlie an ear and a portion of a cheek of the wearer; each ear flap generally extending downwardly from its respective side; each ear flap including a jaw flap attached to the ear flap, each jaw flap extending from the ear flap forwardly toward the front of the shell and adapted to generally extend to overlie the front portion of the lower jaw of the wearer of the helmet; each side having a chin protector connector, adapted to connect a portion of a chin protector to the shell; each side having a face guard connector, adapted to connect a portion of a face guard to the shell; and a liner connector, adapted to connect a shock absorbing liner to a portion of the inner wall surface of the shell. 2. The football helmet of claim 1, including a chin protector having two sides and at least two flexible members associated with each side of the chin protector, the at least two flexible members adapted to engage with one of the chin protector connectors on the sides of the shell.3. The football helmet of claim 2, wherein the chin protector connector include at least two notches formed in the lower edge surface of the shell, with at least one notch being disposed on each side of the shell, and at least one of the flexible members on each side of the chin protector passes through at least one of the notches on each side of the shell.4. The football helmet of claim 3, wherein the at least two notches are disposed in the lower edge surface of the shell adjacent each ear flap of the shell.5. The football helmet of claim 4, wherein each ear flap includes an ear opening, adapted to be disposed adjacent an ear of the wearer to permit the transmission of sound to the wearer, and the at least one notch is disposed in the lower edge surface of the shell which is substantially, directly below the ear opening.6. The football helmet of claim 3, wherein each of the flexible members is a flexible strap.7. The football helmet of claim 3, wherein the at least two flexible members, associated with each side of the chin protector each includes an upper flexible member and a lower flexible member, and the lower flexible member passes through at least one of the notches on each side of the shell.8. The football helmet of claim 7, wherein a first portion of each lower flexible member is disposed adjacent the inner wall surface of the shell, a second portion of the lower flexible member passes through at least one of the notches, and a third portion of the flexible member is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the shell.9. The football helmet of claim 8, wherein the third portion of each lower flexible member is releaseably secured to a portion of the chin protector connector disposed on the outer wall surface of the shell.10. The football helmet of claim 7, wherein the upper flexible members are releaseably secured to the outer wall surface of the sides of the shell by portions of the chin protector connector, which are disposed above and adjacent ear openings formed in the ear flaps of the shell.11. The football helmet of claim 2, wherein the chin protector connector includes at least one slot formed in each side of the shell, and at least one of the flexible members on each side of the chin protector passes through the at least one slot.12. The football helmet of claim 11, wherein the at least one slot, formed in each side of the shell, is disposed in each ear flap of the shell.13. The football helmet of claim 12, wherein each ear flap of the shell includes an ear opening adapted to be disposed adjacent an ear of the wearer to permit the transmission of sound to the wearer, and the at least one slot is disposed forwardly of each ear opening and between the front of the shell and each ear opening.14. The football helmet of claim 11, wherein each slot is tapered with respect to the inner and outer wall surfaces of the shell.15. The football helmet of claim 1, including a shock absorbing liner associated by the liner connector with the inner wall surface of the shell.16. The football helmet of claim 15, wherein the shock absorbing liner is releaseably connected to the inner wall surface of the shell by the liner connector.17. The football helmet of claim 16, wherein the liner connector includes a hook and loop fastener assembly associated with the shock absorbing liner and the inner wall surface of the shell.18. The football helmet of claim 15, wherein the shock absorbing liner includes a plurality of resilient members adapted to absorb shock forces exerted upon the shell, and the plurality of resilient members are disposed along the inner wall surface of the back and sides of the shell, including at least one resilient pad member disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of each of the jaw flaps of the shell.19. The football helmet of claim 18, wherein each of the at least one resilient pad members disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of the jaw flaps of die shell are formed integral with the plurality of resilient members.20. The football helmet of claim 18, wherein at least one resilient pad member disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of a jaw flap of the shell is releaseably secured to the plurality of resilient members.21. The football helmet of claim 20, wherein the shock absorbing liner has a first and a second end, and has a connector member disposed at each of the ends of the liner, each connector member adapted to connect to the shock absorbing liner, at least one of the, at least one, resilient pad members disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of the jaw flap of the shell.22. The football helmet of claim 21, wherein tho connector member is a sling that suspends the at least one of the, at least one, resilient pad members.23. The football helmet of claim 22, wherein each sling forms an opening that receives the at least one of the, at least one, resilient pad members.24. The football helmet of claim 23, wherein the opening closely conforms to, and snugly retains, an outer configuration of the at least one of the, at least one, resilient pad members.25. The football helmet of claim 18, wherein on each side of the inner wall surface of the shell, an ear channel is formed between at least one of the resilient members of the shock absorbing liner and the at least one resilient pad member disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of the jaw flap, each ear channel being disposed adjacent an ear opening formed in each ear flap.26. The football helmet of claim 25, wherein each ear channel extends along an axis disposed substantially parallel with a substantially vertical axis of the shell extending front the crown of the shell to the lower edge surface of the shell adjacent the ear flap of the shell.27. The football helmet of claim 26, wherein the ear channel is substantially unobstructed from the ear opening to the lower edge surface of the shell below the ear opening, whereby the wearer of the helmet may easily put on, or take off, the helmet, without substantial contact between the ear of the wearer and the resilient members and resilient pad members of the shock absorbing liner.28. The football helmet of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of resilient members is disposed in a chamber, and the chamber includes a fluid.29. The football helmet of claim 28, wherein the fluid is a pressurized fluid.30. The football helmet of claim 29, wherein the fluid is air.31. The football helmet of claim 18, wherein at least one of the resilient pad members is disposed in a chamber, and the chamber includes a fluid.32. The football helmet of claim 31, wherein the fluid is a pressurized fluid.33. The football helmet of claim 32, wherein the fluid is air.34. The football helmet of claim 31, wherein the at least one resilient member includes an inflation valve in fluid transmitting relationship with the chamber.35. The football helmet of claim 34, wherein the inflation valve is accessible from within the shell to permit a fluid to be transmitted into the chamber.36. The football helmet of claim 34, wherein the inflation valve is associated with an inflation port disposed in the shell, the inflation port being disposed in the outer wall surface of the shell and passing through the shell to the inner wall surface of the shell.37. The football helmet of claim 1, including a crown shock absorbing pad disposed adjacent the inner wall surface of the crown of the shell.38. The football helmet of claim 37, wherein the crown shock absorbing pad is inflatable.39. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a vertical, longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the crown, and each ear flap generally lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer shell.40. The football helmet of claim 39, wherein the outer shell has a vertical, longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the crown, and each jaw flap generally lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer shell.41. The football helmet of claim 1, wherein the crown of the shell includes at least one ventilation opening which forms an air passageway extending from the outer wall surface through the shell to the inner wall surface of the shell.42. A helmet, comprising:an outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides wherein each side has a chin protector connector, the shell being adapted to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet; a chin protector having two sides and at least two flexible members associated with each side of the chin protector, the at least two flexible members adapted to engage with one of the chin protector connectors on the sides of the shell, and the chin protector connector includes at least two notches formed in the lower edge surface of the shell, with at least one notch being disposed on each side of the shell, and at least one of the flexible members on each side of the chin protector passes through at least one of the notches on each side of the shell. 43. The helmet of claim 42, wherein the at least two notches are disposed in the lower edge surface of the shell adjacent each side of the shell.44. The helmet of claim 43, wherein each side includes an ear opening, adapted to be disposed adjacent an ear of the wearer to permit the transmission of sound to the wearer, and the at least one notch is disposed in the lower edge surface of the shell which is substantially, directly below the ear opening.45. The helmet of claim 42, wherein the at least two flexible members, associated with each side of the chin protector each includes an upper flexible member and a lower flexible member, and the lower flexible member passes through at least one of the notches on each side of the shell.46. The helmet of claim 45, wherein a first portion of each lower flexible member is disposed adjacent the inner wall surface of the shell, a second portion of the lower flexible member passes through at least one of the notches, and a third portion of the flexible member is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the shell.47. The helmet of claim 46, wherein the third portion of each lower flexible member is releaseably secured to a portion of the chin protector connector disposed on the outer wall surface of the shell.48. A helmet, comprising:an outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides, the shell being adapted to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet; a shook absorbing and sizing liner associated with the inner wall surface of the shell; the shook absorbing and sizing liner includes a plurality of resilient members adapted to both absorb shock forces exerted upon the shell and to help size the helmet to the head of the wearer of the helmet, and the plurality of resilient members are disposed along the inner wall surface of the back and sides of the shell; the shock absorbing and sizing liner including at least one resilient member which contacts the lower, frontal portion of a mandible of the wearer of the helmet. 49. The helmet of claim 48, wherein at least one of the plurality of resilient members is disposed in a chamber, and the chamber includes a fluid.50. The helmet of claim 49, wherein the fluid is a pressurized fluid.51. The helmet of claim 50, wherein the fluid is air.52. A football helmet, comprising:an outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides, the shell being adapted to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the head having a basic plane and a coronal plane, the wearer having a lower jaw having two side portions; each side of the shell includes an ear flap adapted to generally overlie an ear and a portion of a cheek of the wearer each ear flap generally extending downwardly from its respective side; each side having a chin protector connector, adapted to connect a portion of a chin protector to the shell; each side having a face guard connector positioned along a bottom edge of the shell, the face guard connector adapted to connect a portion of a face guard to the shell; a substantial amount of energy foam disposed within the outer shell and in front of the coronal plane of the head of the wearer and below the basic plane of the head of the wearer; and, wherein each ear flap includes a jaw flap attached to the ear flap, each jaw flap extending from the ear flap forwardly toward the front of the shell and adapted to generally extend to overlie the side and front portions of the lower jaw of the wearer of the helmet. 53. A football helmet comprising:a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions; an ear flap depending from each side region of the shell wherein the ear flap overlies a ear of the wearer; and, a jaw flap extending from each ear flap, respectively, whereby each jaw flap overlies a front portion of a mandible of the wearer. 54. The football helmet of claim 53 wherein the mandible has a ramus portion, a body portion, and a protuberance portion, and wherein the jaw flap overlies the body portion of the mandible of the wearer.55. The football helmet of claim 54 wherein the jaw flaps extending from the ear flaps define a central opening that exposes the protuberance portion of the mandible of the wearer.56. The football helmet of claim 53 wherein the shell has a crown region with a longitudinal axis extending vertically through the crown region, and wherein the ear flap resides in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.57. The football helmet of claim 56 wherein the jaw flap resides in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.58. The football helmet of claim 53 further comprising a shock absorbing liner releasably connected to an inner surface of the shell, the shock absorbing liner having a plurality of resilient members.59. The football helmet of claim 58 wherein at least one resilient member is disposed against an inner surface of the ear flap.60. A helmet for use in playing a sport, the helmet comprising:a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, two side regions; an ear flap depending from each side region of the shell wherein the ear flap overlies an ear and a portion of a cheek of the wearer; and, a jaw flap extending from each ear flap, wherein the jaw flap has a terminal end that is directed towards the front region of the shell and that overlies a chin of the wearer, and wherein the jaw flaps collectively define a central opening. 61. The helmet of claim 60 further comprising a shock absorbing liner releasably connected to an inner surface of the shell, the shock absorbing liner having a plurality of resilient members.62. The helmet of claim 60 wherein at least one resilient member is disposed against in inner surface of the ear flap.63. A helmet for use in playing a sport, the helmet comprising:a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions; an ear flap depending from each side region of the shell wherein the ear flap overlies an ear and a portion of a cheek of the wearer; a jaw flap extending from each ear flap towards the front region of the shell, wherein each jaw flap overlies a chin of the wearer; and, at least one face guard connector positioned along a bottom edge of the shell, wherein the connector is configured to connect a portion of a face paid to the shell. 64. The helmet of claim 63 wherein the jaw flap extends over an extent of a lower jaw area of the wearer of the helmet.65. The helmet of claim 63 wherein the face guard connector has a shock absorber member that omni-directionally distributes an impact force throughout the shell.66. The helmet of claim 65 wherein the face guard connector is removably connected to the ear flap proximate the jaw flap.67. The helmet of claim 63 further comprising a shock absorbing liner releasably connected to an inner surface of the shell, the shock absorbing liner having a plurality of resilient members.68. The helmet of claim 67 wherein at least one resilient member is disposed against an inner surface of the ear flap.69. A sports helmet comprising:a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions; an ear flap depending from each side region of the shell wherein the ear flap overlies an ear of the wearer; a jaw flap extending from each ear flap towards the front region of the shell, wherein the jaw flap has a terminal edge that is coincident with a chin of the wearer; and, at least one face guard connector positioned along a bottom edge of the shell, wherein the connector is configured to connect a portion of a face guard to the shell. 70. A spoilt helmet comprising:a plastic outer shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front portion, a rear portion, and two opposed side portions, and wherein the shell has a lower edge with a circumference; an ear flap depending from each side portion of the shell; and, a jaw flap extending from each ear flap, respectively, each jaw flap having a terminal end wherein the terminal ends reside in a single quadrant of the circumference of the shell. 71. A sports helmet comprising:a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions; an ear flap depending from each side region of the shell wherein the ear flap overlies an ear of the wearer; a jaw flap extending from each ear flap towards the front region of the shell, wherein the jaw flap overlies an extent of a mandible of the wearer; and, a jaw pad removably connected to each jaw flap, the jaw pad having a density of at least approximately 5 pounds per cubic foot and at least approximately a 25% compression deflection of 8 pounds per square inch. 72. The sports helmet of claim 71, wherein the jaw pad is formed from PVC nitrile foam.73. The sports helmet of claim 71, wherein the jaw pad is formed from polyurethane foam.