Abstract:
A protective headgear specifically for rodeo rough stock riding competition that protect the riders from serious injuries to the head and neck area. The protective headgear includes a helmet, a detachable face guard having horizontal bars spaced no more than approximately 1″, and preferably, ⅞″ apart, and a hard shell chin guard that preferably is loosely and adjustably attached to the face guard. Features of the protective headgear that make it suitable for rodeo competition include a detachable face guard that does not protrude below the chin to permit the rider to assume the required rough stock riding position in which the rider tucks his chin firmly down into his chest and horizontal bars with spacing that does not exceed approximately 1″, and preferably, ⅞″ apart.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to protective headgear useful in rough stock riding. More particularly, this invention relates to lightweight protective headgear useful to riders of rough stock in rodeo competitions including bull riding, bareback horse riding, and bucking bronco riding.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     Rodeo competitors generally do not use protective headgear in rough stock riding competitions, including professional, collegiate, high school and youth rodeos. As such, rodeo competitors often suffer serious injuries to the head and face at distressingly high frequencies. These injuries are often caused by ground impact as a result of falling off the animals and collisions with the animals, which are endemic to the sport. Starting July 1995, the National High School Rodeo Association, the organization which governs high school rodeo competition, has strongly suggested that suitable headgear should be worn by rodeo rough stock competitors. The professional and collegiate rodeos may soon follow this suggestion upon its success.  
         [0003]     The causes of head and face injuries that may be incurred in rough stock riding are well-known in the industry. These injuries include injuries to the head and face by high velocity ground impact when thrown from or falling off an animal, by being stomped on or horn hooked by an animal after a rider has fell or been thrown to the ground, by smashing a rider&#39;s face into the back of a bucking animal&#39;s head, by blows of an animal&#39;s horn to a rider&#39;s head, or by being hit in the head from a fence or chute gate. Each one of these, and particularly the combination of all of these types of injuries are particularly unique to the sport and require unique equipment to suitably protect a rider.  
         [0004]     Protective headgears that are currently being produced for some sports, including bicycling, hockey, boxing, motorcycling, football, baseball, and lacrosse, are not suitable as a protective headgear for rodeo competition. Rodeo rough stock riding competition imposes unique requirements on protective headgear that is not satisfied by the currently available protective headgears. For example, baseball helmets typically only protect the side of a wearer&#39;s head. Hockey masks typically are provided with a clear faceplate that can render the helmet uncomfortably hot, particularly when worn in off-ice environments. The face guard of a hockey mask would hinder a rough stock rider&#39;s ability to perform because the rider would not be able to attain a chin tuck position, as needed by rough stock riders. Biking helmets typically protect only the top of a wearer&#39;s head. Finally, football and boxing helmets have gaps that leave a wearer&#39;s face partially exposed to objects that could poke through the gaps. The unique requirements of rough stock riding are likewise derived from the additional requirements that the rodeo competitor must compete effectively, there are weight limitations on the headgear so as to promote effective competition, and the protective headgear provides safety to the rider during competition. Currently available protective headgears are not suitable for rodeo competition because they interfere with the ability of the rider to compete effectively, they are too heavy, they have too many obstructions within the rider&#39;s field of vision, and they do not provide adequate protection from the animal&#39;s horns and hooves. Thus, there is a present need for protective headgear that is specifically designed for the rodeo rough stock riding competitor that not only protects the rider, but also permits the rider to feel unfettered and unrestricted so that the protective headgear does not diminish his performance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is directed toward protective head gear which provides head protection for rodeo rough stock riding competitors without diminishing the rider&#39;s performance. The headgear of this invention is comprised of a lightweight and tough protective helmet, a lightweight, yet sturdy, detachable face guard which is firmly attached to the helmet but detaches when the face guard is caught by an animal&#39;s hoof or horn so as to avoid injuries caused by the twisting and pulling of the rider&#39;s neck and has horizontal bars spaced no more than approximately 1″, and preferably ⅞″, apart, and a hard shell chin guard that is optionally, but preferably, loosely attached to the face guard and has a shock absorbing foam insert.  
         [0006]     The protective headgear of the present invention is distinguished from currently available protective headgears by several critical features which permit the rodeo competitor to compete without restricting or interfering with the rider&#39;s performance while continuing to protect the rider from head injuries caused by falls and collisions with the rough stock animal.  
         [0007]     First, the face guard of the present invention does not protrude below the rider&#39;s chin. The required stance of the rodeo rough stock rider while mounted on the animal during the competition is to tightly tuck his chin down to his chest. Thus, the present invention allows the rider to tuck his chin tightly against his chest, in accordance with the required riding position.  
         [0008]     Second, the face guard of the present invention has only one vertical bar in the rider&#39;s field of vision, the center vertical bar which bisects the face guard. The objects within the rider&#39;s field of vision must be minimized so that the rider&#39;s performance is not diminished. This center vertical bar of the present invention is necessary for additional support of the horizontal bars, such that the horizontal bars are not substantially flexed during the impact of an animal&#39;s horns. The only other vertical bars, the side vertical bars, are at the sides of the protective headgear, which corresponds to the location of the rider&#39;s temples. These side vertical bars have no impact in the rider&#39;s field of vision.  
         [0009]     Third, the face guard of the present invention has more protective cage than the face guards of other currently available protective headgears, thereby protecting the rider&#39;s head area from impact on all sides. The cage of the present invention includes an angled out portion at its bottom area to allow the rider to attain the chin tuck position.  
         [0010]     Significantly, the protective horizontal bars are spaced no more than approximately 1″, and preferably ⅞″, apart in order to stop a hoof or horn from entering the face guard. It has been found that in the sport of bull riding at all levels, whether professional, collegiate, high school, or youth, the end or tip of a bulls horn must be larger than the diameter of a half dollar, or approximately 1¼″ diameter.  
         [0011]     The protective headgear of the present invention also includes a hard shell chin guard which is optionally, but preferably, loosely attached to the face guard and has a shock absorbing foam insert. Finally, the headgear&#39;s materials and components are selected so that the total weight of the headgear of the present invention is less than 40 ounces, preferably less than 30 ounces. According to the inventor&#39;s personal experience, rough stock riding performance deteriorates when the rider uses a protective headgear that weighs more than 40 ounces.  
         [0012]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are presented in the following description, claims and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the headgear with the face guard and chin guard assemblies attached.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the attachment of the face guard assembly to the helmet.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a frontal perspective view of the headgear with the face guard and chin guard assemblies attached.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the straps used for the face guard and chin guard assemblies. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the protective headgear of the present invention is comprised of a helmet  1 , a face guard  2 , and a chin guard  3 .  
         [0018]     The helmet  1  of the present headgear invention can be the protective helmet used by ice hockey linesman produced by I-Tech Company or an equivalent helmet. The helmet  1  protects and encases the top, sides, and back of the rider&#39;s head including the top half of the rider&#39;s temple area and ears. Typically, the helmet  1  is molded from a light, but mechanically tough, and strong engineered polymer. The inside of the helmet  1  is typically lined with foam padding at appropriate locations to cushion the rider&#39;s head against impact shocks and blows. The helmet  1  typically weighs about 16 ounces.  
         [0019]     Also as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the face guard  2  is a structurally rigid grid comprised of horizontal and vertical wire or bar stock, typically 3/16″ diameter titanium, or other suitable strong material, such as light metal or plastic bar stock. The horizontal bars are attached to the right and left sides of the frame  8  of the face guard. In one preferred embodiment, the horizontal and vertical bars are curved so that face guard  2  is shaped to fit over the rider&#39;s face such that it cups the rider&#39;s face and nose. The face guard  2  of the present invention has more protective cage than the face guards of other currently available protective headgears, thereby making the face guard  2  stronger and protecting the rider&#39;s head area from impact on all sides. The cage of the present invention includes an angled out portion at its bottom area to allow the rider to attain the chin tuck position. The face guard  2  has structural strength to protect the rider&#39;s face from high velocity ground impact when thrown from or falling off an animal, being stomped on or horn hooked by an animal after a rider has fell or been thrown to the ground, smashing of a rider&#39;s face into the back of a bucking animal&#39;s head, blows of an animal&#39;s horn into a rider&#39;s head, or being hit in the head by a fence or chute gate. If a face guard material that is prone to corrosion is selected, then it is preferred that the bar stock be treated or coated with a rust protective material, such as zinc, plastic, paint, or powder coat.  
         [0020]     The face guard  2  has a horizontal bar spacing, the space between horizontal bars  10  and  11 , that does not exceed more than approximately 1″, and preferably ⅞″, apart. Typically, any horns of any bull used in competition at any level must be blunted to the size of a half dollar, or approximately 1¼″ diameter. The bar spacing of the instant invention would minimize the tip of a bull&#39;s horn from protruding into the face guard  2  to an extent that could harm a competitor. It has been found that any greater spacing than 1″ could permit a bull&#39;s horn, even blunted to 1¼″ diameter, to protrude sufficiently to contact the rider. The protective headgear of the present invention has only one center vertical bar  5  in the rider&#39;s line of sight, which vertically bisects the rider&#39;s face at his nose. Preferably, center vertical bar  5  is also curved to fit around a wearer&#39;s face. The center vertical bar  5  is attached to the frame  8  of the face guard and to each horizontal bar. Center vertical bar  5  inhibits objects, such as a bull&#39;s horn, that may protrude between all horizontal bars from substantially flexing said horizontal bars upon impact. The face guard  2  has vertical side bars  6 ,  7 , other vertical bars, that are not located in the rider&#39;s line of sight. These vertical side bars  6 ,  7  are formed as L shaped bars that are welded to the side and the top portion of the frame  8  of the face guard  2 . The vertical side bars  6 ,  7  help brace the face guard  2  from a frontal or side impact blow in the event of a foreign obstacle striking the face guard with significant force.  
         [0021]     Since the spacing between all horizontal bars shall not exceed more than approximately 1″, and preferably ⅞″, and the tip of a bull&#39;s horn must be equal to or greater than the size of a half dollar, approximately 1¼″ diameter, the face guard  2  with its vertical side bars  6 ,  7  and its center vertical bar  5  would minimize harmful penetration of the tip of a bull&#39;s horn within the interior space of the protective headgear.  
         [0022]     The total weight of the protective headgear is less than approximately 40 ounces, and preferably less than approximately 30 ounces. The helmet  1  weighs about 16 ounces, thus leaving about 14 to 24 ounces for the face guard  2 . The preferred material for the face guard  2  is 3/16″ titanium bar stock which provides adequate strength and adds only about 14 to 16 ounces to the protective headgear, making the total weight of the protective headgear about 30 to 32 ounces, which is ideal. Alternatively, but less preferable, steel bar stock may be used to construct the face guard  2 . The steel face guard  2  weighs about 20 to 24 ounces, which would make the total weight of the protective headgear about 36 to 40 ounces, which is still acceptable.  
         [0023]     The face guard  2  is detachably attached to the helmet  1 . First, the face guard  2  is detachably attached to the helmet by straps  22 ,  23 , which wrap around the bottom of vertical side bars  6 ,  7 , using snap buttons  24 ,  25 . These snap buttons  24 ,  25  are located on the front side of straps  22 ,  23  and attach to straps  22 ,  23 . The back ends of straps  22 ,  23  are detachably attached to the helmet  1  using belt buckle type fasteners which double as a female snap  26 ,  27 . Second, additional straps  29 ,  30  with snap buttons  14 ,  15 ,  16   a ,  16   b  are also used to detachably attach the face guard  2  to the helmet  1 . Snap buttons  14 ,  15  are detachably attached to the end portion of straps  29 ,  30 , once straps  29 ,  30  have looped around the top side of the frame  8  of the face guard  2 . Snap buttons  16   a ,  16   b  are detachably attached to the top potion of helmet  1 . Finally, the frame  8  of the face guard  2  is also removably secured to stabilizer brackets  20 ,  21 . The stabilizer brackets  20 ,  21  are preferably made of a strong stainless steel material designed with a gripping pinching force to stabilize the face guard  2  near the temporal regions at the top on both sides of the frame  8  of the face guard  2 . If the rider becomes dislodged and the face guard  2  is hooked by the animal&#39;s horns or entangled in the animal&#39;s hooves causing the jerking motion of the rider&#39;s head, the face guard  2  would detach from the helmet  1  by automatically unsnapping snap buttons  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , as a result of the jerking motion, so that straps  22 ,  23 ,  29 ,  30  can slide away from the helmet  1  and the face guard  2  automatically is removed from stabilizer brackets  20 ,  21 . This detachable feature precludes injuries to the rider&#39;s neck caused by the jerking motions.  
         [0024]     Finally, the chin guard  3  is made of hard shell plastic and a suitable shock resistant compressible foam insert that is mounted inside the chin guard  3 . The chin guard  3  is loosely and adjustably secured to the face guard  2  by two or more adjustable straps  41 ,  42  that fit around vertical side bars  6 ,  7  at the lower right and left sides of the face guard  2 .  
         [0025]     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it is appreciated that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.