Quick release connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9788591-B2
Application number	US-201414467618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 16, 2007
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position, wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sports helmet comprising:
a shell;
a faceguard;
a faceguard connector assembly having a bracket and a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through both the bracket and an opening in the shell to secure the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the shell opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the shell opening in the use position, and wherein an extent of the elongated body is received by the opening of the washer in the use position; and,
a head operably connected to the elongated body and positioned within the bracket in the use position; and,

wherein an actuation force is applied to the head to rapidly move the releasable coupler mechanism from the use position to a disconnected position that allows for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell.

2. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the application of the actuation force does not result in rotation of the head.

3. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body lacks threads.

4. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the washer lacks threads.

5. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

6. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, and the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to a first segment of the elongated body.

7. The sports helmet of claim 6 , wherein the spring is retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body.

8. The sports helmet of claim 5 , wherein the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.

9. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a first segment and a second segment, the second segment having an engaging structure, wherein the washer has an internal engaging structure, and wherein the internal engaging structure of the washer engages the engaging structure of the second segment to prevent the couple mechanism from moving from the use position to the disconnected position without application of the actuation force.

10. The sports helmet of claim 9 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the coupler mechanism in the use position to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.

11. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the head in the use position and wherein the spring is compressed an extent when the actuation force is applied to the head to move the coupler mechanism from the use position.

12. A quick release connector for securing a faceguard to a protective sports helmet, the connector comprising:
a bracket with an aperture and at least one channel configured to receive an extent of the faceguard;
a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through an opening in the helmet to secure the faceguard to the helmet in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the helmet opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the helmet opening in the use position, and wherein an extent of the elongated body is received by the opening of the washer in the use position; and,
a head operably connected to the elongated body and positioned within the bracket in the use position; and,

wherein an actuation force is applied to the head to rapidly move the releasable coupler mechanism from the use position to a disconnected position that allows for the rapid removal of the coupler mechanism to permit the faceguard to be displaced with respect to the helmet.

13. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the application of the actuation force does not result in rotation of the head.

14. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the elongated body lacks threads.

15. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the washer lacks threads.

16. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

17. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, and the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to a first segment of the elongated body.

18. The quick release connector of claim 17 , wherein the spring is retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body.

19. The quick release connector of claim 16 , wherein the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.

20. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the elongated body has a first segment and a second segment, the second segment having an engaging structure, wherein the washer has an internal engaging structure, and wherein the internal engaging structure of the washer engages the engaging structure of the second segment to prevent the couple mechanism from moving from the use position to the disconnected position without application of the actuation force.

21. The quick release connector of claim 20 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the coupler mechanism in the use position to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.

22. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the head in the use position and wherein the spring is compressed an extent when the actuation force is applied to the head to move the coupler mechanism from the use position.

23. A sports helmet comprising:
a shell;
a faceguard;
a faceguard connector assembly having a bracket and a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through both the bracket and an opening in the shell to secure the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the shell opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the shell opening in the use position,

Assignees

• Riddell

Inventors

• Ide Thad M
• Kraemer Nelson
• Infusino Ralph J
• Bologna Vittorio

Classifications

• Y10T403/602

  by separate spring · CPC title

• F16B21/12

  with locking-pins or split-pins thrust into holes · CPC title

• A63B2102/22

  {Field} hockey · CPC title

• A63B2209/10

  with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener · CPC title

• A63B2102/24

  Ice hockey · CPC title