초록 ▼

A helmet, such as for equestrian sports, includes an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending around the dome. The shell has lateral side portions with outer surfaces that are relatively smo

A helmet, such as for equestrian sports, includes an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending around the dome. The shell has lateral side portions with outer surfaces that are relatively smooth, and further has integrally formed attachment structure (receptors) with downward openings such that they are not visible from the sides of the helmet. A faceguard has arms with integrally formed latches that engage the receptors with an audible click. The latches can be pinched to release the faceguard with a smooth easy motion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An equestrian helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed and adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome and then rearwardly above the wearer's ears to a pair of lateral

1. An equestrian helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed and adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome and then rearwardly above the wearer's ears to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome and then rearwardly and downwardly to a rearward portion of the dome where the rim is at its lowest point; the shell defining an outer surface and an inner surface with the outer surface at the lateral side portions being relatively smooth and characteristically not having outward protrusions thereon for safety and so that the helmet shell is adapted to receive fabric coverings without interference, but the lateral side portions having attachment structure inboard of the outer surface and defining receptors that generally are not visible from the side of the helmet; anda faceguard with arms shaped to releasably engage the receptors of the attachment structure.2. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, including a protective inner helmet liner positioned within the outer helmet shell, the liner including a recess inboard of the attachment structure for receiving the attachment structure.3. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 2, including a visor positioned on the forward portion of the dome and extending forwardly.4. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 3, including a fabric covering on the helmet shell and that covers the outer surface, the fabric covering including a lower edge retainer for retaining the fabric covering on the helmet shell.5. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 4, wherein the lower edge retainer includes one of an elastic cord and a draw string.6. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the faceguard includes a releasable latch member on each of the arms that is movable to engage and disengage the attachment structure on the helmet shell.7. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 6, wherein the latch member is integrally formed as part of the arms.8. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment structure includes a pocket integrally formed in the helmet.9. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 8, wherein the pocket has a non-uniform cross section along its length and includes at least one detent tooth along at least one side, and wherein the faceguard includes a releasable latch member on each of the arms shaped to mateably releasably engage the pocket, the latch member including a feature to positively engage the detent tooth.10. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the arms each include a latch member, and wherein the attachment structure and the latch member include mating teeth shaped to snap into engagement with an audible click when the faceguard is fully attached to the helmet shell.11. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the arms each include a latch member biased into engagement with the attachment structure but movable out of engagement by pinching the latch members against a remaining portion of the arms.12. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the arms each include a latch member movably attached to the arms for frictionally engaging the attachment structure, and further include a locking member movable on the arms to a locking position for preventing accidental release of the latch member.13. The equestrian helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the receptors are integrally formed on the helmet shell on an internal portion of the lateral side portions.14. The protective helmet defined in claim 13, including a protective inner helmet liner positioned within the outer helmet shell, the liner including a recess located inboard of and receiving the attachment structure.15. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a continuous lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the shell defining an outer surface and an inner surface, with the outer surface at the lateral side portions characteristically not having outward protrusions thereon, but having attachment structures located only on right and left sides of the helmet shell and facing generally downwardly and inboard of the outer surface of the shell; anda faceguard with arms having rear sections that extend upwardly into releasable engagement with the attachment structure, the rear sections stably engaging the attachment structures and providing the only support for the faceguard on the helmet shell.16. The protective helmet defined in claim 15, wherein the attachment structure is integrally formed as part of the shell.17. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the outer helmet shell including attachment structures located in the lateral side portions of the dome; anda one-piece faceguard with arms each having an end and an integrally-formed latch member supported by a living hinge, the latch member being integrally-formed with the faceguard and being shaped to releasably engage the attachment structure as the arms are fully inserted into the attachment structure.18. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a continuous lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the shell defining an outer surface and an inner surface, with the outer surface at the lateral side portions characteristically not having outward protrusions thereon, but having attachment structures facing generally downwardly and inboard of the outer surface of the shell; anda faceguard with arms having rear sections that extend upwardly into releasable engagement with the attachment structure, wherein the arms each include a latch member movably attached to the arms for frictionally engaging the attachment structure, and further include a locking member movable on the arms for preventing accidental release of the latch member.19. The protective helmet defined in claim 18, including a fabric covering on the helmet shell and covering the outer surface, the fabric covering including a lower edge retainer for retaining the fabric covering on the helmet shell.20. The protective helmet defined in claim 18, wherein the faceguard includes a releasable latch member on each of the arms that is movable to engage and disengage the attachment structure on the helmet shell.21. The protective helmet defined in claim 20, wherein the latch member is integrally formed as part of the arms.22. The protective helmet defined in claim 18, wherein the attachment structure includes a pocket integrally formed in the helmet.23. The protective helmet defined in claim 18, wherein the arms each include a latch member, and wherein the attachment structure and the latch member include mating teeth shaped to snap into engagement with an audible click when the faceguard is fully attached to the helmet shell.24. The protective helmet defined in claim 18, wherein the faceguard comprises a U-shaped member.25. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the outer helmet shell including attachment structures located only in the lateral side portions of the dome; anda faceguard with arms each having a resiliently-supported latch member thereon, the latch member being shaped to releasably engage the attachment structure and in particular being constructed to engage with an audible click as the arms are fully inserted into the attachment structure, the arms stably engaging the attachment structures and providing the only support for the faceguard on the helmet shell.26. The protective helmet defined in claim 25, wherein the faceguard comprises a U-shaped member.27. The protective helmet defined in claim 25, wherein the faceguard comprises a U-shaped member.28. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the outer helmet shell including attachment structure located inside and integrally formed in the lateral side portions of the dome and that defines a pocket opening downwardly; anda U-shaped faceguard having a cross bar and L-shaped arms that extend upwardly from each side of the cross bar, the arms each having a horizontal section that extends generally horizontally from the cross bar and having a vertical section that extends upwardly into engagement with the attachment structure, with a rear part of the horizontal section being located near the attachment structure so that stress from a frontal impact is transmitted from the cross bar through the horizontal section to the attachment structure and the helmet shell without excessive damaging torque being transmitted to the vertical section.29. The protective helmet defined in claim 28, wherein the cross bar comprises a single cross bar.30. The protective helmet defined in claim 28, wherein the cross bar comprises a polymeric material.31. A faceguard for a protective helmet, comprising:a one-piece faceguard having a crossbar adapted to protect a chin region of a person wearing the helmet, and having legs extending rearwardly from opposing ends of the crossbar, the legs each having a rearwardly-extending section and having an upwardly-extending section that is adapted to extend into contact with the helmet, the upwardly-extending section having an integrally-formed latch element supported by an integrally-formed living hinge thereon and that is adapted to interlockingly engage a mating pocket in the helmet.32. The protective helmet defined in claim 31, wherein the faceguard comprises a U-shaped member.33. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the outer helmet shell including attachment structures located in the lateral side portions of the dome;a faceguard with arms each having an end shaped to fit into the attachment structures; andlatch members each supported by a hinge for releasably retaining the arms to the attachment structures, the latch members each including a finger-releasable handle extending downwardly and that is accessible from below the lower rim to release the latch members to remove the faceguard from the helmet shell.34. The protective helmet defined in claim 33, wherein the faceguard comprises a U-shaped member.35. A protective helmet comprising:an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a portion of a wearer's head, the shell having an upper dome and also having a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, and then rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and then rearwardly to a rearward portion of the dome; the outer helmet shell including attachment structures located in the lateral side portions of the dome, the outer helmet shell including downwardly facing attachment structures; anda faceguard with arms each having an end and a latch member supported by a hinge, the latch member being shaped to releasably engage the attachment structure as the arms are fully inserted into the attachment structure, with the arms stably engaging the attachment structures and providing the only support for the faceguard on the helmet shell.