Abstract
A head and facial protection system comprising a helmet and an attachable eye protection, said helmet comprising an inner and outer surface, a core between the inner and outer surfaces, a first and a second forehead mount, and a left and right post; wherein the eye protection secures to the first and second forehead mounts and the left and right posts to enable adjustment of the attachable eye protection.
Claims
1. A head and facial protection system comprising a helmet and an attachable eye protection, said helmet comprising an inner and outer surface, a core between the inner and outer surfaces, a front, left, right, and rear portion; said helmet comprising a first and a second forehead mount, each of the first and second forehead mounts disposed of on the inner surface of the helmet adjacent to the front portion, and a left post disposed on the left portion of the helmet and a right post disposed on the right portions of the helmet; said attachable eye protection comprising a frame having two rims, a bridge, a top bar, a first and a second top bar mount positioned on the top bar, a left arm and a right arm hingeably attached to opposing sides of the frame, and at least one opening disposed of on each arm; a connection means comprising a first connection length secured between the first forehead mount and the first top bar mount, and a connection means comprising a second connection length between said second forehead mount and said second top bar mount; wherein said left post engages with the at least one opening disposed of on the left arm and wherein said right post engages with the at least one opening disposed of on said right arm.
2. The protection system of claim 1, wherein said first connection length and said second connection length are a hook and loop material.
3. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the the left post and the right post are disposed of on the inner surface of the helmet.
4. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the the left post and the right post are disposed of within the core of the helmet.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) FIG. 1 depicts a front image of a helmet with attached eye protection.
(2) FIG. 2 depicts a side image of the helmet with attached eye protection.
(3) FIG. 3 depicts the opposing side of the helmet with attached eye protection.
(4) FIG. 4 depicts a rear view of the helmet.
(5) FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the helmet.
(6) FIG. 6 depicts a bottom view of the helmet with embedded eye protection.
(7) FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the eye protection.
(8) FIG. 8 depicts a front view of the eye protection.
(9) FIG. 9 depicts a rear view of the eye protection.
(10) FIGS. 10A-C depict a side view of the eye protection and mounting features with a helmet, with FIG. 10A providing a right side view, FIG. 10B depicting a view showing attachment using a post and nut, and FIG. 10C depicting attachment with a post and a pocket within the core of the headgear.
(11) FIGS. 11A and 11B depict a side view of the eye protection with an embodiment of mounting system, with FIG. 11A depicting a right side view of the eye protection and FIG. 11B depicting an attachment of the eye protection to a latch.
(12) FIGS. 12A and 12B depict a further embodiment of the attachment means, with FIG. 12A depicting a top perspective view of eyeglasses and FIG. 12B depicting a side view of a portion of an attachment means.
(13) FIG. 13 depicts a top plan view of eye protection.
(14) FIGS. 14A and 14B depict a further embodiment of the attachment means, with FIG. 14A depicting a bottom view of an eye protection arm and FIG. 14B depicting a top view of an eye protection arm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(15) The system detailed herein provides for an adjustable mounting system for eye protection. In particular, this system allows for individualized and customizable fit for each user for the particular helmet and eye protection to be utilized. Indeed, this allows for customization of eye protection based upon the particular size and shape of the individual, as well as personal preferences regarding look and feel.
(16) For example, individualized protection may allow for one user to have a metal only cage that provides eye protection. A second user may choose a cage that further includes embedded polycarbonate lenses for additional protection or tinted polycarbonate for sunny situations. Others may choose a wholly plastic or clear polycarbonate fit. Finally, others may eliminate the eye protection or choose to use eye protection that does not engage to the helmet itself. The ability for varied fit and structural options provides a unique modular headgear solution.
(17) FIG. 1 provides a first embodiment of an eye protection system or device that comprises a helmet or headgear portion (helmet or headgear being used interchangeably throughout) 1, the helmet 1 having a front portion 100, a rear portion 101, a left portion 102, and a right portion 103, and an eye protection component 2 and attachment means 3 between the helmet 1 and the eye protection component 2. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, the attachment means 3 are secured to the helmet 1 at helmet forehead mounts 20, which are positioned in or on the helmet 1. The attachment means then secure to the glasses top bar mounts 13.
(18) A preferable material for the attachment means 3 is a hook-and-loop material strap, one that utilizes a flexible but resilient material that does not stretch more than 25% of its length, and preferably does not stretch more than 10% of its length, and more preferably does not stretch more than 5% or 1% of its length. Use of a hook-and-loop material for the attachment means 3, provides that a hook-and-loop strap can extend around the glasses top bar mount 13, which provides a rigid bar within said glasses top bar mount 13 to secure such a strap around said rigid bar and then wrap around a further bar in the helmet forehead mount 20. Through shortening or lengthening of the hook-and-loop material, the eye protection can be oriented on the helmet in a desired vertical position. Furthermore, as the hook-and-loop material is flexible, it will hang and have some movement within all axes (but limited in the vertical direction) without significantly distorting the position of the eye protection 2 if an impact hits the eye protection.
(19) In many situations in the prior art, when eye protection is worn without an attachment to a helmet 1, the eye protection goggles are positioned directly on the face of a user. When the goggles are disturbed on the face of the individual, she must stop and adjust the eye protection goggles to ensure proper fit and function. Often eye goggles are in contact with several places on the face, and this disturbance moves them out of place and requires movement with hands to get back to a normal resting place that is comfortable. The embodiments herein eliminate this problem. With the flexible but secure attachment as described herein, movement may occur, but the eye protection 2 will simply move back to its normal resting state upon a disturbance force being applied to the goggles of the present embodiments, i.e. the goggles being hit by a ball, stick, or player.
(20) The helmet forehead mounts 20 can also directly attach the straps to the helmet 1. For example, instead of a bar allowing a single strap to wrap around the bar, two ends of a strap may just be secured directly to the helmet 1. For example, the strap may be embedded into the helmet or have a snap or other component to securely attach the strap to the helmet itself.
(21) FIG. 2 provides a side profile of the system, with the goggles shown away from the forehead of the individual in resting state. The arms (also called temples) 5A are attached to the eye protection 2 at the hinge 4. Use of a hinge 4 allows the arms 5A to move to allow for various fits to meet the contours of the facial structure of each individual user. These arms 5A are then attached to several points on the helmet 1. Two contact points for the arms 5A are adjacent to or above the ear of the helmet. In this manner, the eye protection 2 is held on each side of the helmet with a structure and is adjustable to the fit of each individual user.
(22) For appropriate connection of the arms 5A to the helmet 1, several different securing mechanisms may be utilized. For example, in FIG. 2, a latch 6 is provided to allow for a strap or other securing device to connect to the eye protection and secure tightly to the latch 6. This latch may be on the interior or exterior of the helmet 1, or even embedded within the foam material or core of the helmet.
(23) However, even once connected to the helmet, by allowing the arms 5A to move at the hinge 4, the individual user can adjust the horizontal and lateral fit of the eye protection 2 for the user. Indeed, pulling the arms 5A tighter to the face of the user would pull the eye protection 2 in the lateral direction and to some extent slightly in the horizontal direction. Use of the connection means provides for variation in fit, which will allow the head protection system, including the helmet 1 and eye protection 2, to provide for variable fit for different users.
(24) For example, FIG. 3 details different arm positions 5A, 5B, and 5C that could be used to secure the arm to the helmet. These different positions will allow for slightly different fit and feel for the user. Accordingly, the position of the latch 6 must be sufficiently aft of the temple to ensure that such adjustments can be made. However, to secure each of these different positions, the latch 6 must have different securing points within the helmet to enable the different positions of 5A, 5B, and 5C. These different latch positions are identified as 6A, 6B, and 6C. The various embodiments herein describe different latch and securing mechanisms that can be utilized to allow for these various orientations, for example, by providing different positions and different angles of the arm 5A, i.e. the angle of the arm 5A is different than when the arm is in position 5B or 5C, these points simply being alternative positions of the arm. Thus, the angle or the tilt of the eye protection themselves can be modified through use of different arm positions. Thus, different face sizes, structures, and curves can independently optimize fit and feel of the eye protection and ultimately provide a highly customizable head and face protection system through these variations in the design.
(25) Indeed, one possible embodiment for securing the arm to the helmet is envisioned, for example, in FIG. 7, wherein the rear arm opening 7 would accept a strap and said strap would be tightened appropriately to the hinge 6 to secure the eye protection in place.
(26) FIGS. 4 and 5 give additional views of the helmet. For example, FIG. 4 simply details the helmet from the rear position and FIG. 5 details the helmet from a top plan view. The various vents in the helmet enable air flow, but also reduce the weight of the helmet.
(27) FIG. 6 gives a bottom view of the protection system, particularly depicting the location of the forehead mounts 20 within the helmet, mounted to the inner surface 104 of the front portion 100. These forehead mounts 20 are anchoring components that allow for securing of a strap 3 between the forehead mounts 20 and the top bar mounts 13. The forehead mounts 20 allow for the frontal securement of the eye protection component. Rear mounts are then included, e.g. the latch 6, to allow for securing of the arms of the eye protection via any one of the several means as described herein, including with straps, buckles, post and opening, etc. Combined, the forehead mounts 20 and the latch 6 feature, enable a secure connection of the eye protection to the headgear and provide for a highly customizable fit.
(28) Indeed, as described above, FIG. 5 further identifies a second attachment embodiment for the arms 5A. However, FIG. 6 depicts the use of a temple post 10. The temple post 10 is provided within the helmet to allow for anchoring of the eye protection 2 to the helmet 1 by securing into the post 10 one opening 8 on the arm. For example, FIG. 10A details five different openings 8. In this manner, the post 10 and openings 8 work like a belt, with the pin of the buckle being equivalent to the post 10 and the holes in the belt equivalent to the openings 8. Fitting the post 10 into the opening 8 secures the arm of the eye protection at a specific length. By having different openings 8, and individual can specifically tailor the fit, just as one would with a belt or a watch, each having the pin and buckle.
(29) FIG. 7 details eye protection 2, with a forehead top bar 15, the top bar mount 13, and a bridge 14. The eye protection 2 further comprises a right rim 21, a left rim 22, and a rim support 23 on each of the left and right side. The eye protection 2 left and right sides are mirror images of one another. These features provide for a physical barrier between an object and the eye area, with the goal to prevent direct contact, i.e. of a ball or stick to the eye area of the user. The rear arm opening 7 is provided on each arm 5A, which accepts a strap, or a post 10 within said opening to secure the eye protection in place. However, the hinge 4 allows for the arms 5A to be oriented to find the most comfortable fit for each individual.
(30) FIG. 8 provides a further view of similar eye protection features, e.g. the hinge 4 is depicted as well as the bridge 14. Additional features previously disclosed can be seen from this front view and depict the minor image nature of the left and right sides of the eye protection 2 component.
(31) FIG. 9 provides a rear view of the eye protection 2 component and details several features that allow for the secure attachment to the helmet system. FIG. 9 details two straps 3 secured through the glasses top bar mounts 13 to show greater detail as to how these components would fit together. Of course, these straps 3 provide for one of the key components to secure the eye protection 2 to the helmet 1. By having both support and attachment at the top bar mounts 13 as well as at the rear of the arms 5A, at least four points connect the eye protection 2 to the headgear. This allows the eye protection 2 to be suitably secured to the helmet to provide for protection to the eye area. Because of the adjustability of the straps 3, as well as attachment means for the arms 5A, custom fit is provided. Yet, at the same time, the multiple points prevent the eye protection 2 from moving too far, being dislodged, or being too rigid and thus cause discomfort.
(32) The eye protection is intended to sit away from the face of the user. Accordingly, no nose pad or pad arms are necessary within the bridge 14 of the eye protection 2. Accordingly, by adjustment of each of the attachment points, the eye protection 2 will sit away from the face, but through the combination of the rigidity of the arms 5A and the tension at the top bar mount 13 to the forehead mount 20, the eye protection 2 will resist movement to a sufficient degree, thereby preventing contact of the ball or stick to the eye area of the user.
(33) FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C detail use of the openings 8 with several attachment mechanisms. A helmet or headgear 1 is depicted with an inner surface 32, a core 33, and an outer surface 34. For example FIG. 10B details wherein a post 10 is mounted inside on the inner surface 32 of the helmet 1, and a post nut 12 secures into the post 10 to secure the arm 5A into place. Using this post 10 and opening 8 strategy, the arms are made of a more resilient material than the attachment means for the forehead mounting, e.g. a PVC plastic, nylon, or other material that allows for flex and rotation, but not stretching of the material. Other materials include zyl, Monel, Flexon, and also may include certain metal or metal alloys, or combinations of plastic, polymer, and/or metal materials to generate an appropriate structure and flex. In preferred embodiments, the arms are a plastic material. However, the hinge 4 still allows for some movement, as well as the arms 5A not being rigid, providing necessary give and movement to the system while retaining positioning of the eye protection, even when a force is applied to the eye protection itself.
(34) FIG. 10C details wherein the helmet 1 actually has an opening 31 in the body of the helmet 1, and the post 10 is embedded within this opening 31, which compresses against the post. The opening 31 is a hole or pocket within the core 33 of the helmet 1. The opening 31 allows for the core 33 itself to compress against the post 10 and thus may optionally eliminate the use of a nut 12, though an optional nut can be included. The user would simply place the proper opening 8 onto the post 10 and the eye protection would be secured at the proper fit, as the core 33 would compress against the post 10. A different fit could be achieved by simply moving the post 10 to a different opening 8 on the arm. Accordingly, such feature allows for different internal features to the headgear itself. FIG. 10B provides wherein a post 10 is open to the interior face of the headgear, while FIG. 10C provides wherein the post 10 is defined within an opening 31 or cavity, which provides access to the internally positioned post 10.
(35) FIGS. 11A and 11B show a side profile with the hinge 4 in FIG. 11A, with five different openings 8 positioned along the arm, and a single rear opening 7 at the end of the arm 5A.
(36) FIG. 11B depicts an embodiment using a length of strap material 11, which would connect to a latch 6 on, in, or inside the helmet 1 to secure to the rear arm opening 7 to properly tighten the eye protection to the helmet. Inherently, the use of a strap material 11 will provide more flex and give to the attachment of the arms as compared to use of a post 10 connection strategy through the openings 8. Accordingly, depending on the particular strategy, the length of the arms 5A will need to be optimized to fit as determined by an ordinary artisan, and to then provide sufficient variability (i.e. five different openings 8), or a sufficient arm length to allow for the use of a strap material 11 to connect to both the rear opening 7 and also to the latch 6 on the headgear itself.
(37) FIG. 12A details use of a post 10 and nut 12 positioned within an opening 8 of the arms. A larger detail of the same is provided in FIG. 12B.
(38) FIG. 13 details a top plan view of the eye protection.
(39) FIGS. 14A and 14B provide a front and back view of a variation of an attachment arm 5A. The arm 5A is similar to the ones depicted in, for example, FIG. 11A, having a set of openings 8. The arm 5A is attached to the hinge through the hinge opening 24. A pin or other attachment means would connect the hinge opening 24 to the body of the eye protection component.
(40) The system provides for an unlimited amount of adjustment to properly fit eye protection to a helmet. Furthermore, as an impact occurs to the helmet or to the eye protection, the flexible but rigid fit will deflect the forces, but importantly it prevents the direct contact with the eye. Indeed, preventing the physical contact and damage to the eye is the primary goal of the eye protection.
(41) Ultimately, no other system provides for customizable fit that allows for orientation in the horizontal, lateral, and vertical directions while ensuring a secure and adjustable fit to allow for customization for any user.
