Hockey helmet comprising an occipital adjustement mechanism

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a hockey helmet having an occipital adjustment mechanism for improving the fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer.

Background of the invention

German Utility Model GM <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE7729063"><text>77 29 063 issued on December 29, 1977</text></patcit> relates to a protective helmet. The helmet comprises a shell, an insulating layer, a soft lining and inflatable air cushions located between the insulating layer and lining, these air cushions being connected with each other by air tubes. The helmet also comprises a bellows, a check valve and an actuation element.

<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5815847A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,815,847</text></patcit> entitled <i>One size fits all baseball batter's helmet</i> issued on October 6, 1998. This patent relates to a batter's protective helmet having a relatively rigid helmet and a padding within the helmet. The padding includes crown, front, opposite side and rear protective pad portions. A strap is provided for adjusting the overall size of the padding. The strap has end portions which project through openings in the rear portion of the helmet with each end portion having fasteners for fastening to a fastener provided on the helmet between the openings.

<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5898950A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,898,950</text></patcit> entitled <i>Protective Helmet</i> issued to Spyrou et al. on May 4, 1999. This patent relates to a helmet comprising a protective shell and releasable attachment means having a first front strap, a second front strap, attachment members, a rear strap, a first side strap, a second side strap, a rear plate, a first support strap and a second support strap. The rear strap comprises an outer region, a first lower extension and a second lower extension, the lower extensions providing a means for cradling the head of the wearer.

<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="CA2414872"><text>Canadian Patent Application 2,414,872</text></patcit> relates to a hockey helmet having an inflatable bladder for improving the fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer. The inflatable bladder is located adjacent the occipital region of the head and may be inflated by a pump.

Against this background, there is a need in the industry for a helmet that provides a better fitting on the head of the wearer.

Summary of the invention

As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a hockey helmet as defined in claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a perspective view of a head of a wearer;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is a right side elevational view of the head of the wearer of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a perspective view of a hockey helmet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref> is a right side elevational view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref> is a front exploded perspective view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 6</figref> a rear exploded perspective view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref> is a perspective view of an occipital adjustment mechanism for the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref> is a right side elevational view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> wherein a portion of the outer shell is cut-away;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 9</figref> is a rear elevational view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> wherein a portion of the outer shell is cut-away;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 10</figref> is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 10-10;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 11</figref> is a bottom view of the hockey helmet of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> with the occipital inner pad shown in a first position; and</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 12</figref> is a bottom view of the hockey helmet with the occipital inner pad shown in a second position;</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 13</figref> is a cross-sectional view with the occipital inner pad shown in the second position; and</li><li><figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref> is an enlarged partial bottom view of the hockey helmet with the occipital inner pad shown in the second position.</li></ul>

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention

To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.

<figref idref="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> illustrate a head of a wearer. The head comprises a crown region CR, left and right side regions LS, RS, a back region BR and an occipital region OC. The crown region CR has a front part that substantially corresponds to the forehead and a top part that substantially corresponds to the front top part of the head. In fact, the crown region CR generally corresponds to the frontal bone region of the head. The left and right side regions LS, RS are approximately located above the ears of the wearer. Occipital region OC substantially corresponds to the region around and under the external occipital protuberance of the head.

Referring to <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004">Figures 3 to 6</figref>, the hockey helmet 10 comprises a front portion 12 and a rear portion 14 interconnected together. Front and rear portions 12, 14 comprise respective front shell 16 and rear shell 18, the rear shell comprising inner and outer surfaces 96, 98. The front shell 16 and rear shell 18 may be made of a relatively rigid material, such as NYLON, polycarbonate materials, thermoplastics, or thermosetting resins or any other suitable material. The front and rear shells 16, 18 includes a plurality of ventilation apertures 20 that provide the added comfort of allowing air to circulate around the head of the wearer.

The front shell 16 overlays front inner pad 22 and top inner pad 30 while the rear shell overlays rear central inner pad 24 and left and right side inner pads 26, 28. The front inner pad 22 faces the front part of the crown region CR while the top inner pad 30 faces the top part of the crown region CR. The central rear inner pad 24 faces the back region BR while the left and right side inner pads 26, 28 face the left and right side regions LS, RS. The inner pads 22, 24, 26, 28 may be made of shock absorbing materials such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polyethylene (EPE). Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The front inner pad 22 and top inner pad 30 have three-dimensional configurations that match the three-dimensional configurations of the front shell 16 and are attached to the inner surfaces of the front shell 16 by any suitable means such glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets. Similarly, rear central inner pad 24 and left and right side inner pads 26, 28 have three-dimensional configurations that match the three-dimensional configurations of the rear shells 18 and are attached to the inner surface 96 of the rear shells 18 by any suitable means, such as glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets.

The helmet 10 may also comprise a front comfort liner 32 affixed on the inner surface of the front inner pad 22, a top comfort liner 38 affixed on the inner surface of the top inner pad 30 and left and right side comfort liners 34, 36 affixed on the inner surface of the respective left and right side inner pads 26, 28. The comfort liners 32, 34, 36 and 38 may be made of soft materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The comfort liners 32, 34, 36 and 38 may be affixed on the inner surface of the respective inner pads 22, 26, 28 and 30 by any suitable means, such as glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets.

The hockey helmet 10 may comprise left and right ear loops and a chin strap adapted to be attached to ear loops so that when it is secured beneath the chin of the wearer, the helmet 10 is maintained onto the head of the wearer. If desired, the helmet 10 may be provided with left and right ear covers for protecting the ears of the wearer.

The front and rear portions 12, 14 (front and rear shells 16, 18 more particularly) can move one with relation to the other so as to adjust the size of the head receiving cavity of the helmet 10. Left and right locking mechanisms 50, 52 retain the front and rear portions 12, 14 in the position selected by the wearer. Any suitable type of locking mechanisms such as the one described in <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US5956776A"><text>U.S. Patent 5,956,776</text></patcit> of Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. issued on September 28, 1999 can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In operation, a wearer who puts on the helmet 10 and realizes that it is too large or too small, does not need to remove the helmet 10 to adjust it. The wearer must simply release the locking mechanism 50, 52 expand or contract the size of the helmet 10 by displacing the front and the rear portion 12, 14 in relation to each other in the appropriate direction.

Alternatively, helmet 10 may comprise a non-adjustable one-piece shell covering a one-piece inner pad and a one-piece comfort liner. In another possible variant, the helmet 10 may comprise separate front and rear portions 12, 14 that are connected to one another in any suitable way but not adjustable one relative to the other.

<figref idref="f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008 f0009">Figures 7 to 14</figref> show an occipital adjustment mechanism comprising an occipital inner pad 54 facing the occipital region OC of the head, the occipital inner pad 54 being movable between a first position FP⁵⁴ (see <figref idref="f0007">Figures 10-11</figref>) to a second position SP⁵⁴ (see <figref idref="f0008">Figures 12-13</figref>). In the second position SP⁵⁴, the occipital inner pad 54 applies pressure upon the occipital region OC for urging the front portion 12 (front shell 16, front and top inner pads 22, 30 and front and top comfort liners 32, 38) towards the crown region CR (as previously indicated, the crown region CR has a front part that substantially corresponds to the forehead and a top part that substantially corresponds to the front top part of the head). Depending on how tightly the head of the wearer fits in the head receiving cavity of the helmet 10, the pressure applied by the occipital inner pad 54 induces a corresponding movement of the helmet 10 towards the back of the head, necessary to seat the front portion 12 of the helmet 10 against the crown region CR of the head. Also, depending on how tightly the head of the wearer fits in the head receiving cavity of the helmet, in the first position FP⁵⁴, the occipital inner pad 54 may apply a first pressure upon the occipital region OC of the head, and in the second position SP⁵⁴, the occipital inner pad 54 applies a second pressure upon the occipital region OC of the head, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure.

The occipital inner pad 54 may be made of expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polyethylene (EPE). Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The occipital inner pad 54 has an inner surface 56 and may comprise left and right occipital comfort liners 58, 60 positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the helmet 10 on the inner surface 56 (see <figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref>). The occipital left and right comfort liners 58, 60 may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) but other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The left and right occipital comfort liners 58, 60 may be affixed on the inner surface 56 of the occipital inner pad 54 by any suitable means, such as glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets. Alternatively, the occipital inner pad 54 may comprise a one-piece occipital comfort liner on the inner surface 56.

The occipital adjustment mechanism also comprises an actuator capable of moving the occipital inner pad 54 between the first and second positions FP⁵⁴, SP⁵⁴. More particularly, this actuator comprises a central member 62 and left and right straps 72, 74. The left and right straps 72, 74 comprise respective first ends 76, 78 and second ends 80, 82. The second ends 80, 82 comprise respective VELCRO^® hooks sections 84, 86.

The central member 62 extends along the longitudinal axis of the helmet from an upper part 64, that is hingely connected to an inner surface of the rear portion 14 (e.g. to inner surface 96 of rear shell 18), to a lower part 66 that is attached to the occipital inner pad 54. The lower part 66 and the upper part 64 may be riveted to the occipital inner pad 54 and the rear shell 18 respectively. Other affixing means (e.g. glue, stitches, tacks, staples) can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The central member 62 may be a sheet-like member as illustrated in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref>. The central member 62 is located between the rear shell 18 and the rear central and occipital inner pads 24, 54.

The lower part 66 is movable from a first position FP⁶⁶ (see <figref idref="f0007">Figures 10-11</figref>) to a second position SP⁶⁶ (see <figref idref="f0008">Figures 12-13</figref>) wherein, in the second position SP⁶⁶, the occipital inner pad 54 applies pressure upon the occipital region OR for urging the front portion 12 (front shell 16, front and top inner pads 22, 30 and front and top comfort liners 32, 38) towards the crown region CR. The lower part 66 comprises left and right passages 68, 70 positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the helmet 10 (see <figref idref="f0004">Figure 6</figref>).

The helmet 10 also comprises left and right sheet-like elements 88, 90 affixed to the inner surface 96 of the rear shell 18. The left and right sheet-like elements 88, 90 comprise respective passages 92, 94 for receiving the first ends 76, 78 of respective left and right straps 72, 74. Each of the first ends 76, 78 may be passed through the respective passages 92, 94, be folded onto a portion of the strap and then be stitched to this portion (see first end 78 in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref>). In that way, the first ends 76, 78 are retained in the helmet 10. Alternatively, the first ends 76, 78 may be directly stitched to the sheet-like elements 88, 90, which then would not comprise passages 92, 94.

The rear shell 18 comprises left and right openings 100, 102 positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the helmet 10 for receiving the respective left and right straps 72, 74. As seen in <figref idref="f0003">Figures 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">6</figref>, the outer surface 98 of the rear shell 18 comprises a strip 104 affixed thereon between the left and right openings 100, 102, the strip 104 comprising a VELCRO^® loops section 106. It is understood that the strip 104 may comprise a VELCRO^® hooks section while the second ends 80, 82 may comprise respective VELCRO^® loops sections. The strip 104 may be affixed to the outer surface 98 by any suitable means, such as glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets.

The second ends 80, 82 of the straps 72, 74 pass through the respective left and right passages 98, 70 of the lower part 66 and the respective left and right openings 100, 102 of the rear shell 18. The second ends 80, 82 of the straps 72, 24 are therefore accessible to the wearer and the lower part 66 of the central member 62 can be moved from the first position FP⁶⁶ to the second position SP⁶⁶ when the wearer pulls the second ends 80, 82. Respective portions of the left and right straps 72, 74 overlap the strip 104 such that these portions are affixable to the strip 104 between first and second positions, wherein, in the second position, the occipital inner pad 54 applies pressure upon the occipital region OR for urging the front shell 16 towards the crown region CR.

The length of overlap between the left and right straps 72, 74 and the strip 104 controls the degree of pressure applied by the occipital inner pad 54; the more the wearer pulls on the left and right straps 72, 74, the more pressure is applied by the occipital inner pad 54. For example, the wearer can put the helmet 10 when the occipital inner pad 54 and lower part 66 are in the respective first positions FP⁵⁴, FP⁶⁶ (see <figref idref="f0007">Figures 10-11</figref>). If the wearer realizes that the fitting is not adequate, he/she then detaches overlapping portions of left and right straps 72, 74 from the strip 104 and, as illustrated in <figref idref="f0008">Figures 12-13</figref>, pulls second ends 80, 82 in order to move the occipital inner pad 54 and lower part 66 to the respective second positions SP⁵⁴, SP⁶⁶ (note that the wearer does not necessarily remove the helmet during this adjustment). As indicated previously, pressure applied by the occipital inner pad 54 upon the occipital region OR urges the front portion of the helmet towards the crown region CR. Moreover, the pressure applied upon the occipital region OC of the head is greater in the second position SP⁵⁴ than the one applied in the first position FP⁵⁴.

When the wearer obtains the adequate fitting, he/she then folds the second ends 80, 82 on the strip 104 in order to affix left and right straps 72, 74 to the strip 104 (see <figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref>). In that way, the occipital inner pad 54 remains in the selected position wherein the occipital inner pad 54 applies the appropriate pressure. If the amount of pressure is too high, the wearer can simply detach the left and right straps 72, 74 from the strip 104, reduce the length of overlap between the left and right straps 72, 74 and the strip 104, and then fold again the second ends 80, 82 on the strip 104 in order to affix left and right straps 72, 74 to the strip 104.

The above description of the embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.