TWO LAYER CHIN CUP

Abstract

A chin cup that has a hard outer cup and a soft inner cup that may be removable from the outer cup. The inner cup has a peripheral edge extending beyond the edges of the outer cup. Three strap guides, allow a strap to slide through. A one size fits all design includes a central indentation that extends upward toward a top central portion of the cups as well as a central narrowing longitudinally of the cups. Aligned vent holes in the inner and outer cups let the user's chin breathe. The cups have an arcuate longitudinal arch shape. Various embodiments include a boss and hole design that has buttons or mushroom caps that prevent the separation of the cups when not in use and an overmold one piece chin cup embodiment with the soft inner cup imbedded in the hard outer cup.

Claims

1. A sports chin cup comprising: a hard outer cup having an arcuate shape with a left and a right end, a central portion, a longitudinal axis and vent holes; a boss, said boss projecting upward from a top surface of the hard outer cup at a chosen distance from the left end and the right end, and a boss projecting upwards at the central portion, each boss having a hole defined therein defining a strap guide thereby; said hard outer cup having a central indentation along its inside peripheral edges; said central indentation having a height relative to a height of the hard outer cup ranging from 42% to 55%; the height of the center of the hard outer cup ranging from 1⅛ to 1½ inch; said strap guides being aligned along the longitudinal axis; a soft inner cup having a durometer range of 40 to 70 Shore A is shaped to fit smoothly within the hard outer cup; and said soft inner cup having vent holes defined therein, the vent holes being aligned with the vent holes in the hard outer cup, the soft inner cup having a peripheral ridge the peripheral ridge of the soft inner cup extending beyond a peripheral edge of the hard outer cup.

2. The chin cup of claim 1, wherein the hard outer cup further comprises a height at the central strap guide to a lowermost imaginary line drawn between the left and right ends wherein the height at the central strap guide ranges from 1⅛ inch to 1½ inch.

3. The chin cup of claim 2, wherein the hard outer cup has a length along its longitudinal axis ranging from 3⅞ inch to 4⅛ inch.

4. The chin cup of claim 1, wherein the soft inner cup further comprises a plurality of bosses projecting upward from an outside surface, each of said bosses further having a button or mushroom cap defined thereon, the plurality of bosses and button or mushroom caps being integrally formed and of the same material as the soft inner cup, said button or mushroom cap being wider than a matching hole in the hard outer cup, said bosses and mushroom caps being received by the matching holes in the hard outer cup, the buttons elastically expanding outwards from the hole in the outer cup firmly securing the soft inner cut to the hard outer cup, wherein said bosses positionally secure the soft inner cup against the inside the hard outer cup.

5. The chin cup of claim 4, wherein the soft inner cup is formed integral into the hard outer cup to provide a one one-piece chin cup.

6. The chin cup of claim 5, wherein an overmold process is used to form the soft inner cup integral into the hard outer cup.

7. A sports chin cup comprising: a hard outer cup having an arcuate shape with a left and a right end, a central portion, a longitudinal axis and vent holes; a boss, said boss projecting upward from a top surface of the hard outer cup at a chosen distance from the left end and the right end, and a boss projecting upwards at the central portion, each boss having a hole defined therein defining a strap guide thereby; said hard outer cup having a central indentation, said central indentation having a height relative to a height of the hard outer cup ranging from 42% to 55%; the height of the center of the hard outer cup ranging from 1⅛ to 1½ inch; said strap guides being aligned along the longitudinal axis; a soft inner cup is molded within the hard outer cup to provide a one-piece chin cup; and said soft inner cup having vent holes, the vent holes of the soft inner cup being aligned with the hard outer cup vent holes; said soft inner cup having a peripheral ridge extending beyond a peripheral edge of the hard outer cup; said soft inner cup further comprises soft inner cup further comprises a plurality of bosses projecting upward from a outside surface, each of said bosses further having a button or mushroom cap defined thereon, the plurality of bosses and button or mushroom caps being integrally formed and of the same material as the soft inner cup and extend upwards from an outer surface of, said button or mushroom cap being wider than a matching hole in the hard outer cup, said bosses and mushroom caps being received by the matching holes in the hard outer cup, the buttons elastically expanding outwards from the hole in the outer cup when pressed through the matching vent holes, firmly securing the soft inner cut to the hard outer cup, wherein said bosses positionally secure the soft inner cup against the inside the hard outer cup.

8. The chin cup of claim 7, wherein the hard outer cup has a durometer ranging from 70 to 80 Shore D.

9. The chin cup of claim 7, wherein the soft inner cup has a durometer ranging from 40 to 70 Shore A.

10. The chin cup of claim 7, wherein the hard outer cup further comprises a height at the central strap guide to a lowermost imaginary line drawn between the left and right ends ranges from 1⅛ inch to 1½ inch.

11. The chin cup of claim 8, wherein the hard outer cup has a length along its longitudinal axis ranging from 3⅞ inch to 4⅛ inch.

12. A sports chin cup comprising: a hard outer cup having an arcuate shape to fit over a chin of a user; said hard outer cup having a longitudinal axis, a left end and a right end and a peripheral edge; said peripheral edge having a central indentation ranging from 42% to about 55% of a height of a center of the hard outer cup; the height of the center of the hard outer cup ranging from 1⅛ to 1½ inch; a plurality bosses projecting upward from a top surface of the hard outer cup along the longitudinal axis, each boss having a hole defined therein, the holes defining chin strap guides; said soft inner cup having vent holes, the vent holes of the soft inner cup being aligned with the hard outer cup vent holes; said soft inner cup having a peripheral ridge extending beyond a peripheral edge of the hard outer cup. the soft inner cup further comprises a plurality of bosses projecting upward from an outside surface, each of said bosses further having a button or mushroom cap defined thereon, the plurality of bosses and button or mushroom caps being integrally formed and of the same material as the soft inner cup, said button or mushroom cap being wider than a matching hole in the hard outer cup, said bosses and mushroom caps being received by the matching holes in the hard outer cup, the buttons elastically expanding outwards from the holes in the outer cup after being pressed through the matching holes, firmly securing the soft inner cup to the hard outer cup, wherein said bosses positionally secure the soft inner cup against the inside the hard outer cup; the soft inner cup is secured inside the hard outer cup and having a durometer ranging from 40 to 70 Shore A; and a plurality of vent holes defined within the hard outer cup and penetrating through the hard outer cup and aligning with a plurality of vent holes formed in the soft inner cup.

13. The chin cup of claim 14, wherein outer cup has a length ranging from 3⅞ to 4⅛ inch.

14. The chin cup of claim 14, wherein the hard outer cup has a durometer ranging from 70 to 80 Shore D.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view for my chin cup;

[0052] FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view thereof, a right-side elevation view being identical;

[0054] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

[0055] FIG. 5 is a front elevation exploded view thereof;

[0056] FIG. 6 is a top plan exploded view thereof;

[0057] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view thereof;

[0058] FIG. 8 (prior art) is a front perspective view of a wrestling headgear with a chin cup;

[0059] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a wrestling head gear having a chin strap and then fitted with the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a prior art wrestling head gear about to be upgraded with the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a boss and hole embodiment;

[0062] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a one-piece chin strap embodiment made with an overmold;

[0063] FIG. 13 is an exploded view showing the outer surface of the chin cup and inner cup and the relationship between B1234 and 1234;

[0064] FIG. 14 is a view showing the outer surface of the chin cup and inner cup and the relationship between B1234 and 1234.

[0065] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0066] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chin cup 1 consists of a hard outer cup 2 (or hard cup) and a soft inner cup 3 (or soft cup). Vent holes 7 are preferably slots (about six on each side) that pass through both cups 2, 3 to vent the athlete's heat and perspiration. Nominal dimensions are d1=3⅞ to 4⅛ inch, d2=1/d ¼ inch, d 3=1⅛ to 1½ inch, d4⅝ inch, d5 1⅝ inch, d6 1 inch, d 7=⅜ inch, d8—⅛ inch, d9—⅝ inch, d 10 1/16 inch, d 11=1¼ inch.

[0067] All three guides 4, 5, and 6, rise up between ⅛-¼ inch (d2) above the outside surface of the hard cup 2. Each guide 4, 5, and 6 is 1 inch in length (d6) and ⅜ inch in width (d7). Each guide 4, 5, and 6, has a space 8 on each side of each guide is ⅛ inch in width (d8). Each side guide 4, 6 starts with its space 8 about ⅝ inch in from the end of the hard cup 2 (d9). The soft cup 3 extends out from the hard cup 2 about 1/16 inch (d10).

[0068] The design is a “one size fits all’. The chin indentation 9 is 1¼ inch in length (d1 l) and about ⅝ inch high (d4). The length of the hard cup 2 is between 3⅞ and 4⅛ inches (d1), and the height is between 1⅛ and 1½ inches (d3).

[0069] The hard cup 2 can be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, and/or polycarbonate, and/or polystyrene, and/or polyethylene, and/or polyurethane foam, and/or polypropylene. The soft inner cup 3 could be selected from the group consisting of silastic gel, foam plastic, foam rubber, rubber (Thermoplastic Elastomer, or a TPE Compound based upon Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene Block Polymer), silicone or polyurethane (Thermoplastic Polyurethane or TPU) and for the purposes of the current invention, should all be considered rubber-like in properties. The soft inner cup 3 may be glued or otherwise adhered to the hard outer cup 2. A low-level sticking glue such as that used in Post It® notepads will allow periodic removal of the soft inner cup 3 while remaining adhered to the hard cup 2 with the chin strap unfastened. One option is to make both the inner cup 3 and the outer cup 2 from polyurethanes of differing hardness. Thus, one mold in two operations called an overmold could produce a one-piece embodiment. See FIG. 12. This will allow a single adhesive to bond both the outer cup 2 and the inner cup 3. Optional properties of the inner cup 3 include: [0070] Removable: removable, washable. [0071] Anti-microbial: to eliminate odor causing bacteria. [0072] Eliminates 99.9% of odor causing bacteria in less than one hour of exposure. [0073] All natural: safe and non-toxic, containing no chemicals.

[0074] Referring next to FIG. 4 the inner cup 3 does not have to have the spaces 8 of the hard cup 2 since, preferably, any strap would only pass through the guides 4, 5, 6 of the hard outer cup 2. The hard outer cup 3 has holes h10, h20, and h30, (shown as broken lines) that correspond to the spaces 8 for each guide 4, 5, and 6 that penetrate the outer surface of the hard outer cup 2, but not through the strap guides 4, 5, and 6.

[0075] In FIG. 5 the soft inner cup's peripheral ridge 50 does protrude outside the edges of the outer cup 2. The vent holes 7, of which there are six on each side, are aligned between the inner and outer cups 3, 2.

[0076] In FIG. 6 it can be seen that the indentation 9 on the outer perimeter of the cups includes a central portion that has a centrally located narrowing portion that is positioned lengthwise with approximate dimensions of d 12= 1/16- 3/16 inch and d 13=1-1¼ inch. The chin cup 1 when placed on a flat surface, as in in FIG. 5, only rests on the surface at the tips 600, 601 of the soft inner cup 3. Thus, the overall inside perimeters of the hard outer cup 2 and soft inner cup 3 are designated A1 and A2 respectively in FIG. 5, and are arcuate in shape. The hard outer cup 2 has a peripheral edge 52 on the outer portion of the inside surface A1 of the outer cup 2. Preferably the outside surfaces of the hard outer cup 2 and soft inner cup 3, are designated A3 and A4, and are also arcuate in shape.

[0077] Referring next to FIG. 7 the chin strap STR can be of any design including a dual strap, a cloth strap, a plastic strap, and/or a hook and loop. The strap STR passes through guides 4, 5, 6 on the outer surface A3 of the outer cup 2. The strap STR passes parallel to, or centrally along the longitudinal axis LA of the hard outer cup 2. The end 600 is designated the Left end, and the end 601 is designated the right end. The guides 4, 5, and 6 run laterally to the longitudinal axis LA. The guides have slots defined therein that are designated CH, that allow the strap STR to be guided through from one end of the cup 1 (end 600) to the opposing end of the cup 1 (end 601).

[0078] Referring next to FIG. 8 a prior art wrestling head gear 80 is worn by the user U. A plastic chin strap 82 consists of side-by-side parallel strips, 83 and 84. These strips 83, 84 secure a hard plastic cup 81 to the user's chin. This cup 81 gets sweaty and tends to slip off the chin. The cup 81 has no Inner liner and no vent holes.

[0079] Referring next to FIG. 9 the user U has modified his head gear 90 from the traditional usage shown in FIG. 10.

[0080] The traditional usage has the chin strap 91 going under the chin 92 against the user's throat. This chin strap 91 can cause choking in a wrestling match.

[0081] The user U has taken the present invention chin cup 1, shown in FIG. 10, and threaded the (hook and loop) chin strap 91 through guides 4, 5, 6. The user U now uses the chin strap 91 to secure the chin cup 1 against his chin 92 as shown in FIG. 9.

[0082] An alternate embodiment uses an adhesive drop at one end of the insert to enable washing yet prevent losing the insert. An equivalent design includes a living hinge or a weld or any fastening means at one end of the insert.

[0083] Referring next to FIG. 11 the chin cup 1200 is the same two-part design as chin cup 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. An additional novel feature has been added. When a wrestler opens the strap and lets the chin strap dangle loosely from the headgear, the soft inner cup 3 can separate from the hard outer cup 2. To prevent this from happening, the chin cup 1200 has at least 4 bosses projecting upward from the top surface of the soft inner cup 333. Two bosses are labeled B1324 and B1234. These bosses are friction fitted into the respective holes 1324, 1234 in the hard outer cup 212.

[0084] FIGS. 13 and 14 further describe the novel feature of the bosses. The bosses B1234 and B1324 have extensions, buttons, or “mushroom caps”, B1235 and B1325 which are wider than bosses B1234 and B1324 and have a width of W1235 and W1325. The widths W1235 and W1325 are 1/16 to ⅛ inch wider than bosses B1324 and B1234 and extend equally around the bosses B1234 and B1324. The bosses B1234 and B1324 and the buttons B1235 and B1325 are made from the same material as the soft inner cup 333 and are therefore elastic as they are rubber-like. When the bosses B1234 and B1324 are fitted through holes 1234 and 1324, the buttons B1235 and B1325 extend out to their engineered width and become wider than holes 1234 and 1324 thereby locking the soft inner cup 3 to the hard outer cup 212 and preventing the soft inner cup 333 from being accidently dislodged from the hard outer cup 212. Although only holes 1234, 1324, bosses B1234, B1324 and buttons B1235 and B1325 are shown, the same components are presented on the opposing side of FIG. 11. Other design equivalents include using existing vent holes 7 in the hard outer cup 212 to receive bosses located where the matching vent holes 7 in the soft inner cup 3 existed.

[0085] Referring next to FIG. 12 chin cup 111 is a one-piece overmold design that produces the hard outer cup H2 first. Then in a second casting the soft inner cup, or liner S3, is made to melt into the hard outer cup H2 to form a one-piece chin strap 111. The cutouts H10, H20, and H30 facilitate the strap to be threaded under the guides 4, 5, 6. The strap in use does not touch the user. The soft inner cup S 3 is the only material in contact with the user.

[0086] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.