Patent ID: 9289024
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A42B,A63B

Claim Text:
1. A protective sports helmet comprising: a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap; a faceguard comprising a plurality of bar members; and a dynamic faceguard connector that secures a peripheral bar member of the faceguard to the ear flap of the shell, the dynamic connector including a bracket with a movable segment and a stable segment; wherein when an impact force is applied to the faceguard, the movable segment of the bracket moves away from an outer surface of the ear flap to facilitate movement of the faceguard; wherein the movable bracket segment includes a flange that receives an extent of the peripheral bar member, a frontal tab opposite the flange, and a pair of side rails extending between the flange and the frontal tab, wherein the flange, frontal tab and side rails collectively define a periphery of the bracket; wherein the stable bracket segment is an internal portion operably connected to the frontal tab of the movable bracket segment by a flexible hinge, wherein the stable bracket segment includes an opening that receives a coupler to secure the dynamic faceguard connector and the faceguard to the shell.