Face mask for a sports helmet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11937658-B2
Application number	US-202117394568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2021
Priority date	Aug 11, 2020
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A sports helmet has: a shell; a face protector; and a face mask disposed on an inner side of the face protector, the face mask having a body overlapping a nose and a mouth and defining a volume between the face and the body, the body defining a top edge for engaging the face and a bottom edge opposed to the top edge and disposed proximate a chin, the bottom edge secured to a lower portion of the face protector at a location spaced apart from the face to define a gap therebetween, and lateral straps secured to one or both of the face protector and the shell for biasing the top edge against the face of the wearer, the body made of a material offering a flow resistance such that an exhalation flow from the wearer is deviated towards the gap and away from the face protector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sports helmet comprising: a shell configured for enclosing at least a portion of a head of a wearer; a face protector secured to the shell for covering at least a portion of a face of the wearer; and a face mask disposed on an inner side of the face protector, the face mask having a body sized for overlapping a nose and a mouth of the wearer, the body shaped to define a volume between the face of the wearer and the body, the body defining a top edge for engaging the face of the wearer and disposed above the nose of the wearer and a bottom edge opposed to the top edge and disposed proximate a chin of the wearer, the bottom edge secured to a lower portion of the face protector at a location spaced apart from the face of the wearer to define a gap between the bottom edge and the face of the wearer, and lateral straps extending from respective lateral side ends of the body and configured for biasing the top edge against the face of the wearer, wherein the body is made of a material offering a flow resistance such that an exhalation flow from the wearer is deviated towards the gap and away from the face protector.

2. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the face protector defines openings, the face mask covering some of the openings that are facing the mouth of the wearer.

3. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the gap is defined between the chin and/or cheeks of the wearer.

4. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the face protector includes a chin cup, a portion of the face mask received between the face protector and the chin cup to define the gap and the volume.

5. The sports helmet of claim 4 , comprising a bottom strap having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the first end secured to an outer side of the body of the face mask, the second end removably securable to an inner side of the body of the face mask.

6. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the body of the facemask defines a contact area shaped to follow the face of the wearer, the top edge sealingly engaging the face of the wearer at the contact area.

7. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the face protector defines longitudinal members and transverse members, the lateral straps wrapping around the longitudinal members, each of the lateral straps defining a first fastener and a second fastener at respective opposed ends of the lateral straps, the first fastener removably securable to the second fastener.

8. The sports helmet of claim 7 , comprising a bottom strap secured to the bottom edge and wrapping around one of the transverse members, a distal end of the bottom strap defining a third fastener removably securable to a fourth fastener located on an inner side of the body of the face mask.

9. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the face protector defines longitudinal members and transverse members, the lateral straps wrapping around a bottom one of the transverse members.

10. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the body of the face mask defines a cup-shape for receiving a portion of the face of the wearer and for defining the volume.

11. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is removably securable to the face protector.

12. A sports helmet comprising: a shell enclosing at least a portion of a head of a wearer; a face protector secured to the shell and configured for covering at least a portion of a face of the wearer; and a face mask removably securable to the face protector and having a body sized for covering a nose and a mouth of the wearer, the body shaped to define a volume between the face of the wearer and the body, the body defining a top edge for engaging the face of the wearer above the nose of the wearer and a bottom edge opposed to the top edge and disposed proximate a chin of the wearer, the body made of a material having a stiffness selected such that a shape of the body is maintained when the wearer is breathing, lateral straps extending from respective lateral side ends of the body and secured to one or both of the face protector and the shell for biasing the top edge against the face of the wearer, and a gap between the bottom edge and the face of the wearer, the gap communicating with the volume and oriented away from the face protector such that an exhalation flow from the wearer exits the volume in a direction facing away from the face protector.

13. The sports helmet of claim 12 , comprising a bottom strap defining a loop and a chin strap secured to the shell, the chin strap receivable within the loop of the bottom strap.

14. The sports helmet of claim 12 , wherein the gap is defined between the chin and/or cheeks of the wearer.

15. The sports helmet of claim 12 , wherein the top edge of the body of the facemask defines a contact area shaped to follow a shape of the face of the wearer, the top edge sealingly engaging the face of the wearer at the contact area.

16. The sports helmet of claim 12 , wherein the body of the face mask defines two internal edges secured to one another, the body of the face mask defining a cup-shaped for receiving a portion of the face of the wearer and for defining the volume.

17. A face protection assembly for a sports helmet, comprising: a face protector securable to a shell of the sports helmet, the face protector sized for covering at least a portion of a face of a wearer; and a face mask removably secured to the face protector on an inner side of the face protector, the face mask having a body shaped to define a volume between the face of the wearer and the body, the body defining a top edge shaped to engage the face of the wearer and disposed above a nose of the wearer and a bottom edge opposed to the top edge and disposed proximate a chin of the wearer, the bottom edge secured to a lower portion of the face protector at a location spaced apart from the face of the wearer to define a gap between the bottom edge and the face of the wearer and lateral straps extending from respective lateral side ends of the body and secured to the face protector and/or the shell for biasing the top edge against the face of the wearer, wherein the body is made of a material offering a flow resistance such that an exhalation flow from the wearer is deviated towards the gap and away from the face protector.

Assignees

• Sport Maska Inc

Inventors

• Handfield Marie-Jeanne
• Germain Simon-Pierre
• Dagneau François-Olivier
• Béland Jean-François
• Beauchamp Pierre-Luc
• Brownridge Ryan
• Paiement Pierre
• Element Marc-André

Classifications

• A42B3/20 Primary

  Face guards, e.g. for ice hockey (A42B3/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A42B3/04

  Parts, details or accessories of helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/18

  Face protection devices · CPC title

• A42B3/205

  Chin protectors · CPC title