Abstract:
The present invention relates to attachments for releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector and the wire grid face protector to a helmet. The attachments comprise a clip and a bracket. The clip comprises a retaining body adapted to be secured to the wire grid face protector at a predetermined location and on opposed sides of a sight opening of the wire grid face protector. The retaining body has a guide slot adapted to receive an attachment flange of the transparent shield, and an opening formed in an outer wall thereof configured to receive in abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange. The bracket comprises a body having a groove into which a wire member of the wire grid face protector is releasably and frictionally retained.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to helmet face protectors and more particularly to attachments for releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector, and the wire grid face protector to a helmet. 
     (b) Description of Prior Art 
     Protective helmets are used in sports such as hockey to protect the wearers from head injuries caused by impacts. 
     Face protectors attachable to hockey helmets are known. Such face protectors generally consist of a wire grid which substantially covers the face of the wearer. The grid defines a plurality of apertures sufficiently small to prevent passage of hockey sticks and pucks. A large, elongated sight opening is found in the grid and extends in front of the wearer&#39;s eyes not to obstruct the wearer&#39;s field of vision. A curved, resilient transparent shield of molded high impact resistant plastic material is generally attached to the grid to cover the sight opening and protect the wearer&#39;s eyes without hindering the wearer&#39;s field of vision. 
     Different fastening means have been used to secure wire grids to helmets and to fasten shields to wire grids. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,564 issued to Wood on Jun. 28, 1977 describes a protective face mask including a resilient transparent shield and a wire grid. The shield is provided with tabs at opposed ends thereof bearing outwardly extending projections, to secure to the wire grid at each end of the elongated sight opening of the grid. The shield is flexed to allow insertion of the tabs into grid receptacles to engage the projections thereon. A mounting plate having bolt holes is also secured to the wire grid by fasteners. 
     A disadvantage of such an attachment is that the shield can be accidentally dislodged upon impact on a side of the helmet. Another disadvantage is that the wire grid can not be quickly and easily removed from the helmet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,677 issued to Clement on May 13, 1986 describes an attachment system for attaching a face mask having a wire grid to a helmet using a hinge and a snap-fit connection. The hinge has two resilient halves integrally hinged together and having a cavity for receiving a wire of the grid. The hinge is retained in a slot in the forehead region of the helmet by the resilient action of the clip halves. The snap-fit connection consists of two vertical slots integrally formed in either side of the helmet and open at the bottom for receiving tabs vertically extending from either side of the face mask. Each tab has two side portions between which is integrally formed a resilient, angulated, outwardly extending tongue connected to the side portions at the upper corners thereof. The tab is retained in the slot by the outward position of the tongue, and is released therefrom by inwardly pressing on the tongue and by pushing the tab downwardly. However, the face mask does not provide a transparent shield which is detachable from the wire grid. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,100 issued to Desy et al. on Aug. 15, 1989 describes a face shield detachably connected to a visor. The visor defines a recess in the lower edge thereof to receive the upper edge of the face shield, and has inwardly extending star-shaped detents integrally molded at either side thereof and a wedge-shaped detent integrally molded at the front thereof to correspond with through-holes in the face shield, to receive and engage the detents. 
     It would therefore be highly desirable to provide an attachment for connecting a transparent shield to a wire grid that would be resistant to dislodgment, that would be removably attachable to the transparent shield and to the wire grid face protector and that would also render the transparent shield quickly releasable and attachable to and from the wire grid face protector. 
     It would also be highly desirable to provide an attachment for connecting a wire grid to a helmet that would allow the wire grid to be quickly swung away from the face of the wearer, and which could also be easily and quickly secured and removed from the helmet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment for connecting a transparent shield to a wire grid which is resistant to dislodgment and which is removably attachable to the wire grid face protector by quick release connectors. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment for securing a wire grid to a helmet which allows the wire grid to be quickly swung away from the face of the wearer and which is easily and quickly secured and removed from the helmet. 
     In accordance with the above-mentioned features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a clip for releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector. The clip comprises a retaining body adapted to be secured to a wire grid face protector at a predetermined location and on opposed sides of a sight opening formed in the wire grid face protector. The retaining body has a guide slot adapted to receive therein an attachment flange of a transparent shield. An opening is formed in an outer wall of the body and configured to receive in abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange. The transparent shield is disconnectable from the retaining body and hence the wire grid face protector by inwardly depressing the tongue in the opening and by pulling the tongue out of the slot. 
     The retaining body may be releasably secured to the wire grid face protector by engaging wire members of the grid in opposed channels defined in opposed edges of the clip. 
     In accordance with another broad aspect, the present invention also provides a wire grid face protector in combination with the above-described clip for releasably securing a transparent shield over a sight opening formed in the wire grid face protector. 
     In accordance with a further broad aspect, the present invention provides a bracket for releasably securing a wire grid face protector to the forehead region of a helmet. The bracket comprises a body adapted for securement to the helmet and forming a groove into which a wire member of the wire grid face protector is releasably and frictionally retained. A wire member of the wire grid face protector is disposed at a predetermined location and adapted to snap-fit into the bracket. 
     In accordance with a still further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transparent shield which is releasably securable to a wire grid face protector. The transparent shield comprises securement means for releasably securing the transparent shield to the wire grid face protector. The securement means is constituted by attachment flanges disposed at opposed ends of the transparent shield and adapted for insertion into a clip which is secured to the wire grid face protector. The flanges have a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue configured to abuttingly engage in an opening of the clip. 
     The attachment flange and tongue may be integrally formed with the transparent shield. 
     The tongue extends at an angle outwardly of the plan of the outer surface of the flange to define an abutment edge. 
     In accordance with a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a helmet comprising such a bracket secured centrally adjacent a top edge of the frontal portion thereof for releasably securing a wire grid face protector thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip for securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector and constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the transparent shield secured to the wire grid face protector as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the clip mounted to the wire grid face protector and securing the transparent shield thereto, as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a side view of a transparent shield constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4B is an enlarged side view of the transparent shield shown in FIG. 4A, showing the attachment flange; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view of the clip with the attachment flange engaged therein; 
     FIG. 6A is a partly sectioned view of the wire grid face protector mounted to the helmet and shown in a lowered position; and 
     FIG. 6B is a section view taken of the wire grid face protector shown in FIG.  6 A and illustrated in a raised position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown a wire grid  10  having a curved, flexible transparent shield  12  releasably secured thereto using a clip  14  constructed in accordance with the present invention. A bracket  16  releasably secures the wire grid  10  to a helmet  9  having a head protective shell shown in phantom lines. 
     The wire grid  10  includes a plurality of intersecting wires  18  welded together at intersecting points. A peripheral wire  20  has a top portion  22  and a bottom portion  24  joined by side wire portions  26 . A first and a second substantially horizontal wires  28 ,  30  extend from one side portion  26  to another and are disposed above the bottom portion  24  of the peripheral wire  20  and spaced apart therefrom and from one another. An inverted U-shaped wire  32  has upright portions  34  joined by a top portion  35  and welded under the top portion  22  of the peripheral wire  20  and over the first and second horizontal wires  28 ,  30  and the bottom portion  24  of the peripheral wire  20 . A first and a second smaller inverted U-shaped wires  36 ,  38  are disposed adjacent one another over the first and second horizontal wires  28 ,  30  and at the center thereof, with ends thereof being co-terminous with the bottom portion  24  of the peripheral wire  20  and forming loops extending above the second horizontal wire  30 . A third and a fourth smaller inverted U-shaped wires  40 ,  42  are disposed at either side of the first and second smaller inverted U-shaped wires  36 ,  38  spaced apart therefrom and adjacent either upright portion  34  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32 , also with ends thereof being co-terminous with the bottom portion  24  of the peripheral wire  20  and forming loops extending above the second horizontal wire  30 . A third substantially horizontal wire  44  extends from one side portion  26  of the peripheral wire  20  to another and is disposed above and spaced apart from the second horizontal wire  30 . The wire  44  is welded over the smaller inverted U-shaped wires  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  and over either side wire portion  26  of peripheral wire  20 . The third horizontal wire  44 , the top portion  22  of the peripheral wire  20  and upright portions  34  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  form a sight opening  45 , which is positioned to extend adjacently to the wearer&#39;s eyes and to substantially encompass the wearer&#39;s field of vision. The sight opening  45  is covered by the transparent shield  12 , which is releasably secured to the wire grid  10  as will be explained hereinafter. Similar U-shaped wires are welded above the window  45  to join the top portion  22  of the peripheral wire  20  and the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire. The wires  18  are disposed to define a plurality of apertures dimensioned to prevent passage of hockey sticks and pucks to protect the face of the wearer. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6B, a loop-shaped wire  46  has a rear hook portion  47  and a front securement portion  48 . The loop-shaped wire  46  is bent over the central top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  and welded under the top portion  22  of the peripheral wire  20  in the rear hook portion  47  defining therein an inwardly angled hook relative to the front securement portion  48 . The front securement portion  48  of the loop-shaped wire  46  is in the plan of the wire grid. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, two clips  14  are disposed at either side of the wire grid  10 , between the side portion  26  of the peripheral wire  20  and the upright portions  34  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32 . Each clip  14  has a body  50  having an outer wall  52  and an inner wall  54  joined by an upper wall  56 , a lower wall  58  and opposed side edges  60 . Each side wall  60  forms a groove  62  adapted to snap-fit to the upright portion  34  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  and the side portion  26  of the peripheral wire  20 , respectively. The side edge  60  proximal to a vertical plan perpendicularly crossing the center of the wire grid  10  defines a guide slot  64  adjacent the groove  62  and outwardly disposed with respect thereof. Each guide slot  64  receives a flange  66  disposed at either ends of the shield  12 , to releasably secure same thereto, as explained hereinafter. The outer wall  52  of the body  50  defines an opening  65  for abutting engagement by a resilient outwardly inclined tongue  72  of the flange  66 . The opening  65  is sized to allow the wearer to manually inwardly press the tongue  72  therethrough by the use of a finger. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4B, it can be seen that the ends of the shield  12  are integrally provided with a flange  66  having an inner surface  68  and an outer surface  70 . The flange  66  is adapted to be received snugly but slidably into the guide slot  64  of the clip  14 . The flange  66  is integrally provided with a tongue  72  having its base connected to the flange  66  near the free end thereof. The tongue  72  is molded in an outward angled projection with respect to the flange  66 . A finger  74  is integrally provided at the top of the tongue  72  and extends inwardly of the inner surface  68  of the flange  66 . The transparent shield  12  is molded from an impact resistant plastic material. The finger  74  is configured to engage in a groove formed in the inner wall defining the guide slot  74 . 
     FIG. 5 shows, in a cross-section, the flange  66  inserted in the clip  14 , and the tongue  72  engaged in the opening  65 . 
     As the flange  66  is inserted into the guide slot  64 , the tongue  72  is urged inwardly to a position of alignment with the flange  66  by the inner wall of the guide slot  64 . When the end of the flange  66  touches the bottom of the guide slot  64 , the tongue  72  rises by its resilient action to its normal inclined position which provides an abutment between the outer surface of the tongue  72  and the outer wall  52  of the clip  14 . 
     In order to release the flanges  66  from the clips  14 , wearer merely presses inwardly on the tongues  72  of the respective flanges  66  through the openings  65 , and then pulls the shield  12  in order to pull the tongues  72  through the guide slots  64 . At this point, there is no further interference by the tongue  72  to retain the flange  66  in place in the clip  14 , and the wearer may simply pull the shield  12  out of engagement. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1-3,  6 A and  6 B, a bracket  16  secures the wire grid  10  to the helmet  9 . The bracket  16  has a body  80  with two holes at opposed ends thereof for the insertion of fasteners therethrough, to secure the bracket  16  to the forehead region of the helmet  9 . A U-shaped holder  82  extends outwardly from the face of the body  80  and is elongated in the plan at right angle to the page. The holder  82  is of a maximum height to ensure insertion in the loop formed by the ring-shaped wire  46 , as described hereinbefore. The U-shaped elongated holder  82  forms a groove  84  into which snap-fits the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  of the wire grid  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, the groove  84  has a flared entry portion having a shoulder  86  joining a semi-cylindrical cavity  88  which receives the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  and allows same to easily rotate therein. The flared entry portion and the shoulder  86  allow the wire  35  to be retained in the cavity  88 . 
     The bracket  16  has the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  engaged therein. The wire grid  10  pivots with respect to the bracket  16  from a lowered position, corresponding to hook portion  47  of the ring-shaped wire  46  abutting the body  80  of the bracket  16 , to a raised position, corresponding to the U-shaped portion  48  of the ring-shaped wire  46  abutting the body  80  of the bracket  16  by the rotation of the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  into the groove  84 . The wire grid  10  is detached from the bracket  16  by upwardly pivoting the wire grid  10  to a raised position and by then lifting same to snap the top portion  35  of the inverted U-shaped wire  32  out of the holder  82 . 
     While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.