Abstract:
The present invention provides a face guard for a sports helmet having at least two ear holes. The face guard includes a main body having an arrangement of elongated members. The face guard also includes a pair of quadrilateral projections for securing the face guard to the helmet, wherein the projections are integral with and extend from the main body. The projections are positioned below the ear holes in the helmet when the face guard is secured to the helmet. Also, the projections are positioned adjacent a lower edge of the helmet when the face guard is secured to the helmet. The projections are positioned below a rear lower edge of the helmet when the face guard is secured to the helmet. Each projection has first and second vertical members that are configured to engage a connector that secures the face guard to the helmet. Furthermore, each projection includes a first and second substantially horizontal members that, when combined with the first and second vertical members, define a rectangle or a trapezoid.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Application is a divisional application of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/427,236, filed May 1, 2003, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/376,898, filed May 1, 2002. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention generally relates to a face guard for a sports helmet, such as a football helmet.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various activities, such as contact sports, and in particular the sport of football, require the use of helmets to attempt to protect participants from injury to their heads due to impact forces that may be sustained during such activities. Various types of helmets have been in use in the sport of football, ever since individuals began wearing helmets to attempt to protect their heads many years ago. Typically, these helmets have included: an outer shell, generally made of an appropriate plastic material, having the requisite strength and durability characteristics to enable them to be used in the sport of football; some type of shock absorbing liner within the shell; a face guard; and a chin protector, or chin strap, that fits snugly about the chin of the wear of the helmet, in order to secure the helmet to the wearer&#39;s head, as are all known in the art.  
         [0004]     Over the years, various improvements have been made to the various components of a football helmet; however, in general, the overall configuration and shape of a football helmet, has remained the same for many years. In this regard, a typical football helmet has included an ear flap as a part of the shell forming the helmet, and the ear flap generally overlies an ear of the wearer and a portion of a cheek of the wearer; however, the jaw of the wearer typically extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the helmet, whereby a majority portion of the jaw of the wearer has only been protected by the chin protector.  
         [0005]     In general, conventional football helmets presently have ear flaps and the lower portions thereof taper inwardly toward the neck and rearmost portions of the player&#39;s jawbone overlied by the ear flaps. As a consequence of this structure, when a player removes his, or her, helmet, it is necessary to pull the sides, or ear flaps, of the helmet outwardly so that the helmet may clear the player&#39;s ears. Further in this regard, conventional helmets may also include pads adjacent the player&#39;s ear and these pads generally are located along the lower and front edge of the ear flap. These pads must also be pulled away from the ears of the player when removing a conventional helmet. The repeated putting on, and taking off, a football helmet may cause irritation to the player&#39;s ear. It would be desirable if the putting on, and removal of, a football helmet did not cause repeated sliding frictional contact with a player&#39;s ears, to prevent potential irritation to the player&#39;s ear.  
         [0006]     Conventional football helmets utilize face guards which are generally made of either a metallic or thermoplastic material. Since a player wears a helmet for a considerable period of time during practices and games, it would be desirable to minimize the weight of the helmet, while not sacrificing protection. The face guards of conventional helmets are typically attached to the sides of the helmet, as well as upon the front of the helmet. Thus, the face guard must extend rearwardly in order to be attached to the side of the helmet. It would be desirable if the size of the face guard could be reduced, thereby reducing the weight of the face guard used in the helmet.  
         [0007]     While it is the desire and goal that a football helmet, and other types of protective helmets, prevent injuries from occurring, it should be noted that as to the helmet of the present invention, as well as prior art helmets, due to the nature of the sport of football in particular, no protective equipment or helmet can completely, totally prevent injuries to those individuals playing the sport of football. It should be further noted that no protective equipment can completely prevent injuries to a player, if the football player uses his football helmet in an improper manner, such as to butt, ram, or spear an opposing player, which is in violation of the rules of football. Improper use of a helmet to butt, ram, or spear an opposing player can result in severe head and/or neck injuries, paralysis, or death to the football player, as well as possible injury to the football player&#39;s opponent. No football helmet, or protective helmet, such as that of the present invention, can prevent head, chin, or neck injuries a football player might receive while participating in the sport of football. The helmet of the present invention is believed to offer protection to football players, but it is believed that no helmet can, or will ever, totally and completely prevent head injuries to football players.  
         [0008]     The football helmet of the present invention, when compared to previously proposed conventional football helmets, has the advantages of: being designed to attempt to protect a wearer of the helmet from injuries caused upon an impact force striking the helmet; preventing irritation to a player&#39;s ear; affording more protection to the jaw of the wearer; and providing for the use of a lighter weight face guard.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages are believed to have been achieved by the football helmet of the present invention. The football helmet of the present invention may include: an outer shell having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, the shell including a crown, a back, a front, a lower edge surface, and two sides, the shell being adapted to receive the head of wearer of the helmet, the wearer having a lower jaw having two side portions; each side of the shell includes an ear flap adapted to generally overlie an ear and a portion of a cheek of the wearer; each ear flap generally extending downwardly from its respective side; each ear flap including a jaw flap attached to the ear flap, each jaw flap extending from the ear flap forwardly toward the front of the shell and adapted to generally extend to overlie a side portion of the lower jaw of the wearer of the helmet; each side having a chin protector connector, adapted to connect a portion of a chin protector to the shell; each side having a face guard connector, adapted to connect a portion of a face guard to the shell; and a liner connector, adapted to connect a shock absorbing liner to a portion of the inner wall surface of the shell. Another feature of the present invention is that there may be a face guard connected to at least both sides of the helmet by the face guard connectors, each face guard connector including a shock absorber member adapted to substantially omni-directionally distribute an impact force, exerted upon the face guard, throughout the shell. A further feature of this aspect of the present invention is that each shock absorber member may be a grommet disposed in an opening formed in a side of the shell.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the football helmet may include a chin protector having two sides and at least two flexible members associated with each side of the chin protector, the at least two flexible members adapted to engage with one of the chin protector connectors on the sides of the shell. Another feature of this aspect of the invention is that the chin protector connector may include at least two notches formed in the lower edge surface of the shell, with at least one notch being disposed on each side of the shell, and at least one of the flexible members on each side of the chin protector passes through at least one of the notches on each side of the shell. A further aspect of the invention is that the at least two notches may be disposed in the lower edge surface of the shell adjacent each ear flap of the shell. An additional feature of this aspect of the invention is that the chin protector connector may include at least one slot formed in each side of the shell, and at least one of the flexible members on each side of the chin protector passes through the at least one slot.  
         [0011]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the football helmet may include a shock absorbing liner associated with the inner wall surface of the shell by the liner connector. An additional feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the shock absorbing liner may include a plurality of resilient members adapted to absorb shock forces exerted upon the shell, and the plurality of resilient members may be disposed along the inner wall surface of the back and sides of the shell, including at least one resilient pad member disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of each of the jaw flaps of the shell. A further feature of this aspect of the present invention is that each of the at least one resilient pad members may be formed integral with the plurality of resilient members, or at least one resilient pad member may be releaseably secured to the plurality of resilient members. An additional feature of this aspect of the present invention is that on each side of the inner wall surface of the shell, an ear channel may be formed between at least one of the resilient members of the shock absorbing liner and the at least one resilient pad member disposed upon the inner wall surface of a portion of the jaw flap, and each ear channel may be disposed adjacent an ear opening formed in each flap.  
         [0012]     Another aspect of the present invention is that the outer shell may have a vertical, longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the crown of the helmet, and each ear flap may generally lie in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer shell. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the outer shell of the helmet may have a vertical, longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the crown, and each jaw flap may generally lie in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer shell.  
         [0013]     The football helmet of the present invention, when compared with previously proposed conventional football helmets, is believed to have the advantages of: offering protection to football players against injuries caused by impact forces exerted upon the football helmet during the playing of the game of football; providing a football helmet which is easier for the wearer of the helmet to put on and take off, and may minimize irritation to a player&#39;s ear; providing protection for the jaw of the wearer; and providing a smaller, thus lighter in weight, face guard.  
         [0014]     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sports helmet showing a face guard of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  is perspective view of another embodiment of a sports helmet showing a face guard of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the portion of the helmet of  FIG. 1A  shown within dotted lines  1 B;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the helmet and face guard of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , showing an embodiment of the face guard and a face guard connector of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the face guard and the connector of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a face guard mounting clip of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the face guard mounting clip of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the football helmet of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a partial exploded view of the football helmet and the face guard of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the resilient pad member of  FIG. 8 , taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of the resilient pad member of  FIGS. 8 and 9  taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the resilient pad member of  FIGS. 8-10 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the football helmet of  FIGS. 1 and 8 , with the face guard removed;  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the crown of the football helmet of  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, showing a crown pad in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a partial perspective view of a shock absorbing liner in accordance with the present invention, corresponding to the shock absorbing liner shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a partial exploded perspective view of the helmet and the face guard of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view of another shock absorbing liner provided with another embodiment of the resilient pad member, of the present invention, as is shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of the face guard and the helmet of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 18  is a partial cross-sectional view of the resilient pad member of  FIG. 15  taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the helmet of the present invention, illustrating the chin protector connecter of the football helmet of  FIG. 1A , including a wearer of the helmet being partially shown in phantom lines, including a general outline of a conventional ear flap being also shown in phantom lines; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the football helmet of the present invention of both  FIGS. 1 and 1 A. 
     
    
       [0037]     While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments shown herein, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]     In  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  19 , a football helmet  30  in accordance with the present invention is shown to generally include: an outer shell  31 , ear flap  32 , each ear flap  32  including a jaw flap  33 , a chin protector connector  34 , a face guard connector  35 , and a liner connector  36  ( FIG. 14 ). Outer shell  31  is preferably made of any suitable plastic material having the requisite strength and durability characteristics to function as a football helmet, or other type of protective helmet, such as polycarbonate plastic materials, one of which is known as LEXAN®, as is known in the art. Outer shell  31  has an inner wall surface  37  ( FIG. 12 ) and an outer wall surface  38 . Shell  31  further includes a crown  39 , a back  40 , a front  41 , a lower edge surface  42 , and two sides  43  ( FIGS. 1 and 1 A) and  44  ( FIG. 19 ). As is known in the art, and as will be hereinafter described in greater detail, shell  31  is adapted to receive the head  45  of a wearer  46  of the helmet  30 , the wearer  46  having a lower jaw  47  ( FIG. 19 ) having two side portions  48  ( FIG. 19 ), only the right side portion  48  of jaw  47  being illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the lower jaw  47  terminates generally adjacent to the chin  49  of the wearer&#39;s head  45  toward the front of the head  45 , and the lower jaw, or mandible  47 , generally ends its connection with the upper jaw generally adjacent, and forwardly of ears  50  of wearer  46 .  
         [0039]     Still with reference to  FIGS. 1, 1A  and  19 , each side  43 ,  44  of the shell  31  includes an ear flap  32 , the left ear flap  32  being shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A and the right ear flap  32  being illustrated in  FIG. 19 , and ear flaps  32  are adapted to generally overlie an ear  50  ( FIG. 19 ) and portion of a cheek  52  of the wearer  46 . Each ear flap  32  generally extends downwardly from its respective side  43 ,  44 , and in general extends in a direction extending from crown  39  downwardly toward the lower edge surface  42  of shell  31 . Each ear flap  32  includes a jaw flap  33 , the left hand jaw flaps  33  being illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, and the right jaw flap  33  being illustrated in  FIG. 19 . Each jaw flap  33  extends from it corresponding ear flap  32  forwardly toward the front  41  of the shell  31 , and as seen in  FIG. 19  as adapted to generally extend to overlie a side portion  48  of the lower jaw  47  of the wearer  46  of the helmet.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 19 , jaw flap  33  is shown to extend forwardly to overlie a forwardly disposed portion  55  of lower jaw  47  disposed toward the chin  49  of wearer  46 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , jaw flap  33  extends forwardly enough to overlie the side of the chin  49  of wearer  46 . In this regard, it should be noted that helmets  30  of the present invention are generally made with outer shells  31  of varying sizes, dependent upon the size of the head of the particular wearer of the helmet. In  FIG. 19 , helmet  30  is shown superimposed upon what is believed to be an average size head of a wearer of the helmet  30 , whereby jaw flap  33  is shown to generally overlie the entire side portion  48  of lower jaw  47 , including the forwardly disposed portion  55  of lower jaw  47  adjacent the chin  49  of wearer  46 , including overlying the side of the chin  49  of wearer  46 . Since  FIG. 19  is not a representation of all sizes of heads and all types of chin structures, such as chins which may greatly extend outwardly away from the head of the wearer, it should be understood that it is perhaps possible that someone wearing a helmet  30  in accordance with the present invention may have a slight side portion of his or her chin extending outwardly beyond the outer periphery of jaw flap  33 . It is believed that jaw flap  33  will overlie at least the forwardly disposed portion  55  of the lower jaw  47  of virtually all wearers of helmets  30 . In this regard, the outer periphery  60 , shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 19 , of a conventional ear flap, without the jaw flap  33  of the present invention generally does not overlie a forwardly disposed portion  55  of the lower jaw, or mandible,  47  of a wearer of a conventional helmet. Furthermore, the ear flap of a conventional football helmet virtually never overlies the chin  49  of a wearer of a conventional helmet.  
         [0041]     With reference to  FIGS. 12, 19 , and  20 , the outer shell  31  has a vertical, longitudinal axis  61  generally extending downwardly from crown  39 , and each ear flap  32  generally lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  61  of shell  31 . Similarly, each jaw flap  33  also generally lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  61  of the outer shell  31 . The crown  39  of shell  31  may be provided with at least one, and preferably a plurality of ventilation openings, or air vents,  62 , which permits the passage of air through shell  31 . Vents  62  permit air adjacent the head  45  of wearer  46 , which has been heated by being in contact with head  45 , to be vented and passed outwardly through openings  62 , which may contribute to greater comfort being afforded the wearer  46  of helmet  30 .  
         [0042]     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 1A ,  8 , and  15 , the face guard connector  35  of the present invention will be described in greater detail. Face guard  65  is formed of a plurality of wire members  66 , which may be formed of any suitable material having the requisite strength and durability characteristics to function as a football helmet face guard, as is known in the art. The wire members  66  may be preferably formed of a metallic material, such as any suitable steel, and as is known in the art, the wire members  66  may be provided with a suitable plastic coating. Additionally, the wire members  66  may be of a solid or tubular cross-sectional configuration. Alternatively, wire members  66  may be formed of any suitable plastic material, this material also having the requisite strength and durability characteristics to perform the functions of a football helmet face guard. The face guard connectors  35  are adapted to connect a portion of the face guard  65  to shell  31 . A face guard connector  35  is disposed on each side  43 ,  44  of shell  31 . One embodiment of face guard connector  35  is shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A  and  8 , while another embodiment of face guard connector is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 17 . In general, the two embodiments of face guard connector  35  are substantially similar, whereby the same components will be described with identical reference numerals, and primed reference numerals will be used in connection with components having the same, or similar functions, but different structures or configurations.  
         [0043]     The details of the face guard connector  35  used in connection with the helmet  30  of  FIGS. 1, 1A ,  2  and  8 , are illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , whereas the details of construction of the face guard connector  35  of  FIG. 15  is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 17 . With reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  8 , and  15 , face guard connector  35  of the present invention is shown to include a shock absorber member  67  adapted to substantially omni-directionally distribute an impact force, exerted upon the face guard  65 , through shell  31 . Preferably, each shock absorber member  67  is a grommet  68  disposed in an opening  69  formed in a side  43 ,  44  of shell  31 . Grommet  68  may be formed of rubber, or any other suitable elastomeric material which will function so as to permit substantially omni-directionally distribution of an impact force, exerted upon the face guard  65 , throughout shell  31  of helmet  30 . Preferably, grommet  68  is formed of synthetic rubber. In this regard, face guard  65  can incur impact forces in a variety of directions during a game of football. For example, as a player strikes the ground upon being tackled, his or her face guard might strike the ground at the lower most center  70  ( FIG. 1 ) of face guard  65 , which would be an upwardly exerted force upon face guard  65 . Similarly, another player&#39;s helmet, or hand, might push downwardly upon the wire member  71  ( FIG. 1 ) of face guard  65 , thus exerting a downwardly extending impact force upon face guard  65 . Additionally, a player&#39;s face guard could be struck in the direction from one of the sides  43 ,  44  of helmet  30 , which would be a side or lateral impact force being exerted upon face guard  65 . Of course, it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that an impact force could be exerted upon face guard  65  from any direction in which it is possible to strike, or impact against, face guard  65 . As will be hereinafter described in greater detail, as an impact force is exerted upon face guard  65 , the shock absorber member  67 , or grommet  68 , functions to absorb, or attenuate, the impact force exerted upon the face guard, and to substantially omni-directionally distribute the impact force through the shell  31 .  
         [0044]     Grommet  68  may be a circular shaped member  72  with an opening  73  passing there through. As seen in  FIG. 3 , each circular shaped member  72  may include an inner, annular, or circular shaped lip  74  that abuts the inner wall surface  37  of the shell  31 , and outer, annular shaped lip  75  that abuts the outer wall surface  38  of the shell  31 . Each of the face guard connectors  35  has a recess  76  ( FIG. 4 ) which receives a portion of the grommet  68  in a close fitting, abutting relationship as seen in  FIG. 3 . Preferably, the outer, annular shaped lip  75  is received in the recess  76 . As shown in  FIGS. 3, 8 , and  15 , a bushing  77  maybe disposed within the opening  73  which passes through grommet  68 . Preferably, the bushing is made of a suitable plastic material having the requisite strength and durability characteristics to function as part of a football helmet face guard connector. Preferably, bushing  77  is formed of a thermoplastic material, such as SURLYN®. Bushing  77  may include a cap member  78  having an upper wall surface  79  ( FIG. 3 ) and a lower wall surface  80  ( FIGS. 8 and 15 ), with the lower wall surface  80  being disposed adjacent the inner wall surface  37  of the shell  31 . A bolt  82  having first and second ends  83 ,  84  may be passed through each bushing and the face guard connector body members, or clips,  85 ,  85 ′ of each face guard connector  35 . A nut  86  receives the second end  84  of the bolt  82 .  
         [0045]     By bolt  82  being rotatably threaded and rotated with respect to nut  86 , face guard  65  may be secured to each side  43 ,  44  of shell  31 . It should be noted that although bolt  82  is inserted from the outside of shell  31 , its disposition could be reversed, although it is preferred to be inserted from outside the shell, for ease of removal should a player be injured and it becomes necessary to remove face guard  65 . The upper wall surface  79  of each cap member  78  may include a recess  87  which receives a corresponding nut  86 . The recess  87  of the cap member  78  preferably matingly receives the corresponding nut  86  and the recess  87  restricts rotational movement of the nut with respect to the shell  31 . Preferably, the nut  86  is a I-nut  88 , which includes an upper rectangular shaped member  89  and a threaded cylindrical member  90  which is received and disposed within bushing  77 .  
         [0046]     Each of the face guard connectors  35  of the present invention include a face guard connector body member  85 ,  85 ′. With reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  8 , face guard connector body member  85  will be described. Face guard connector  85  has an inner surface, or inner wall surface,  91 , and outer surface, or outer wall surface,  92 . Each face guard connector body member  85  has at least two channels  93 ,  94 , disposed in a substantially parallel, substantially non-collinear relationship, each channel  93 ,  94  receiving a portion of the face guard  65 . Preferably, face guard  65  on both of its sides includes a plurality of wire members having a substantial rectangular shaped opening, such as is formed by wire members  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c  and  66   d  as shown in  FIGS. 8 , with wire members  66   b  and  66   d  being received within channels  93 ,  94 , respectively. Preferably, at least one of the channels  93 ,  94 , is formed in the inner surface  91  of the face guard connector body member  85  and the wire member  66   b ,  66   d  is received within the at least one channel, whereby the wire member  66   b ,  66   d , is disposed between the inner surface  91  of the face guard connector body member  85 , and the outer wall surface  38  of shell  31 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , both channels,  93 ,  94  are formed in the inner surface  91  of the face guard connector body member  85 . Face guard connector body member  85 , as well as face guard connector body member  85 ′, to be hereinafter described, may be made of any suitable material having the requisite strength and durability characteristic to function as part of a face guard connector, such as a thermoplastic material being preferred. An opening  95  may be formed in the face guard connector body member  85  to provide flexibility to body member  85  so that it can more readily conform to the outer contour of the shell  31 .  
         [0047]     With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 17 , it is seen that face guard body member  85 ′ is similar in design to that of body member  85 . Body member  85 ′ differs from that of body member  85 , in that body member  85 ′ includes an access passageway  96  formed in the outer surface  92 ′ of body member  85 ′. Access passageway  96  is aligned with an inflation port  97  disposed in shell  31 , and is adapted to provide access to inflation port  97  and permit the shock absorbing liner, to be hereinafter described, to be inflated. Access passageway may be a semi-circular shaped notch  98  formed at one end of body member  85 ′.  
         [0048]     Helmet  30  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A may be provided with conventional face guard clips  99 , only one of which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, which are used to secure the upper portion of face guard  65  to the front  41  of shell  31 . The details of construction of face guard clips  99  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Upon the removal of bolts  82  from face guard connectors  35  and the removal of face guard connector body members  85 ,  85 ′, face guard  65  may be rotated upwardly about face guard clips  99 , in the event that it is necessary to gain access to the face of a player, or to better assist in removing the helmet  30  of a player. In this regard, no tools, other than a screw driver are necessary to remove bolts  82  and face guard connector body members  85 ,  85 ′. The frictional forces between bushing  77  and nut  86  restrain nut  86  from rotation while bolt  82  is being unthreaded there from.  
         [0049]     Although the face guard connector  35  of the present invention has been described in particular with respect to its use with a football helmet  30 , it should be noted that face guard connector  35  could, and in particular, its shock absorber member  67  could be utilized in connection with other types of protective helmets. For example, other types of helmets, with which a face guard of some type is used, include for example, lacrosse helmets, hockey helmets, and baseball batter&#39;s helmets, among others.  
         [0050]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, each helmet includes a chin protector connector  34  for connecting a portion of a chin protector  100  to shell  31 . Chin protector  100  may be of conventional design and has two sides  101 ,  102  and at least two flexible members  103 ,  104  associated with each side  101 ,  102  of the chin protector. Only flexible members  103 ,  104 , associated with side  102  of chin protector  100  are illustrated. The at least two flexible members, or strap members,  103 ,  104  are adapted to engage with one of the chin protector connectors  34  on the sides  43 ,  44  of shell  31 . Chin protector  100  may include a conventional chin cup  105  as is known in the art. Two embodiments of chin protector connectors  34 , in accordance with the present invention, are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A.  
         [0051]     With respect to  FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  15 , and  19 , chin protector connector  34  includes at least two notches  107 ,  108  ( FIG. 19 ) formed in the lower edge surface  42  of shell  31 , with at least one notch being disposed on each side  43 ,  44  of the shell  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A . and  1 B, at least one of the flexible members  103 ,  104  on each side of the chin protector  100  passes through at least one  107  of the notches  107 ,  108  on each side  43 ,  44  of the shell  31 . Preferably, only one notch is formed in the shell  31  on each side  43 ,  44  of the shell; however, if desired, conditional notches could be formed on the sides of the shell. Preferably, notches  107 ,  108  are generally V-shaped notches; however, other shapes of notches, if desired, could be utilized. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , flexible member, or flexible strap member  104  passes through notch  107 . As is known in the art, chin protector  100  has upper and lower flexible members  103 ,  104 , on each side, and the upper flexible members, or flexible strap members  103  are releaseably secured to the shell  31  as by a conventional snap connector, the male portion of the snap  109  ( FIGS. 15 and 19 ), cooperating with a female snap connector  110  carried by a bracket  111  mounted on upper strap  103  ( FIG. 1A ).  
         [0052]     Helmets  30  are each provided with an ear opening  112  in each ear flap  32 , and the ear openings  112  are adapted to be disposed adjacent an ear  50  of the wearer  46  permit the transmission of sound to the wearer  46 . Ear openings  112  may be provided with a generally rounded configuration, with ear openings  112  generally having a truncated triangular shaped configuration with an additional smaller opening  112 ′ being disposed rearwardly of the main ear opening  112 . Preferably the notches  107 ,  108  are disposed in the lower edge surface  42  of the shell  31 , and as seen in  FIG. 19 , and the notches  107 ,  108  are preferably disposed substantially, directly below the ear openings  112 . As seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a first portion  115  of each lower flexible member  104  is disposed adjacent the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31 , a second portion  116  of strap member  104  passes through notch  107 , and a third portion  117  of the flexible member, or lower strap member  104  is disposed adjacent the outer wall surface  38  of shell  31 . The third portion  117  of each lower strap member  104  is preferably releaseably secured to a portion of the chin protector connector  34  disposed on the outer wall surface  38  of shell  31 . Preferably, strap  104  is releaseably secured by a male and female snap connector  109 ,  110 , and bracket  111 , as previously described. The foregoing described chin protector  100  is generally referred to as a 4 point hookup, or a “high hookup” chin protector, or chin strap, which is believed to provide better stability of the helmet  30  with respect to the wearer&#39;s head, particularly upon the player sustaining an impact force to helmet  30 .  
         [0053]     Because as previously described, the ear flaps  32  of the present invention are generally disposed to lie in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  61  of the outer shell  31 , the notches  107 ,  108  of chin protector connector  34  serve to provide improved stability of the lower chin straps, or flexible members  104 , by preventing the lower strap  104  from being free to slide around the outer wall surface of ear flaps  32 . The notches  107 ,  108  are believed to effectively “catch” the lower strap member  104  to prevent the free sliding of the lower chin strap  104 . In general, if a helmet  30  is subjected to a downward impact force upon face mask  65 , helmet  30  tends to roll forwardly around a virtual pivot point located slightly above the ear openings  112 . This rolling effect is typically resisted by a force acting between the lower strap connectors  109 ,  110  and the chin  49  of the wearer of the helmet. The further away from the virtual pivot point the lower snap connection of lower chin strap  104  is located, the better the resistance of the helmet  30  to rolling. Notch  107  assists in resisting the undesired rolling effect by redirecting the strap&#39;s force line of action to a location farther away from the virtual pivot point.  
         [0054]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and  7 , another embodiment of the chin protector connector  34  of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, chin protector connector  34 , at least one slot  120  is formed in each side  43 ,  44  of shell  31 , and at least one of the flexible members  103 ,  104 , passes through the at least one slot  120 . Preferably, the at least one slot  120  is formed in each side  43 ,  44  of shell  31 , and the at least one slot  120  is disposed in each ear flap  32  of shell  31 . Preferably, only one slot  120  is provided for each side of the shell  31 . Additionally, the at least one slot  120  is preferably disposed forwardly of each ear opening  112  and is positioned between the front  41  of the shell and each ear opening  112 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , slot  120  is tapered with respect to the inner and outer wall surfaces  37 ,  38  of the shell, whereby sharp edges are avoided which could damage flexible member or strap member,  104 . Strap member  104  is also releaseably secured to shell  31  as by use by a female and male snap connector and bracket  109 - 111 , as previously described. Upon releasing the lower snap connections associated with lower strap members  104 , the chin protector  104  may be loosened with respect to the chin of the wearer of the helmet, whereby the wearer of the helmet may remove helmet  30  from his or her head. It is not necessary to disengage, or unsnap, the upper flexible strap members  103 , in order to remove helmet  30 .  
         [0055]     Helmets  30  of the present invention preferably include a shock absorbing liner  125  associated by the liner connector  36  with the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31 . Preferably, the shock absorbing liner  125  is releaseably connected to the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31  by the liner connector  36 . Preferably the liner connector  36  includes a hook and loop fastener assembly  126 ,  127 , which is generally referred to as a VELCRO® attachment, as by placing portions of the hook and loop assembly  126 ,  127  on the shock absorbing liner  125  and the inner wall surface  37  of the shell  31 , as is known in the art.  
         [0056]     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 16 , shock absorbing liner  125  generally includes a plurality of resilient members  130  which are adapted to absorb shock forces exerted upon the shell  31 , and the plurality of resilient members  130  are disposed along the inner wall surface  37  of the back  40  and sides  43 ,  44  of shell  31 . The general construction of shock absorbing liner  125  is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,203, commonly assigned with the present application, and which patent is herein incorporated by reference. Shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ may each include an inflation valve  131  which would mate with an opening, or port, disposed in the rear  40  of the shell  31 , whereby shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ could be inflated as desired. Shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ each include at least one resilient pad member  135  disposed upon the inner wall surface  136  of a portion of each of the jaw flap  33  of shell  31 . Two embodiments of resilient pad members  135  are illustrated. The first embodiment of resilient pad member  135  is shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A ,  2 ,  8 ,  12 , and  14 . Another embodiment of resilient pad member  135  is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Although the at least one resilient pad member, or jaw pad,  135  could be formed integral with the plurality of resilient pad members  130  of shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′, the resilient pad members  135  are preferably releaseably secured to the plurality of resilient members  130  forming shock absorbing liner  125 . As seen in  FIGS. 14 and 16  each of the shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ have first and second ends  140 ,  141 , and the shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ have a connector member  145 ,  145 ′ disposed at each of the ends  140 ,  141 . Each of the connector members  145 ,  145 ′ are adapted to connect to the shock absorbing liner  125 ,  125 ′ at least one of the resilient pad members  135  disposed upon the inner wall surface  136  of a portion of the jaw flap  33 .  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 14 , one embodiment of the at least one resilient pad member  135 , may be jaw pad  150 . Another embodiment of the at least one resilient pad member  135  may be seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16  as jaw pad  150 ′. Each of the resilient pad members  135 , or jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′ include at least one, and preferably three resilient pad members  151 ,  152 ,  153 , in the case of the embodiment of jaw pad  150 , and two resilient pad members  151  ′ and  152 ′ in the embodiment of resilient pad member  135 , or jaw pad  150 ′ of  FIG. 16 . As previously described, each of the resilient pad members  135 , or jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′, are releaseably secured to the resilient members  130  of the shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′ by a connector member  145 ,  145 ′. Preferably the connector member  145 ,  145 ′ is a sling  160 ,  160 ′, that suspends at least at least one of the resilient pad members that comprise jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 8  and  14 , resilient pad member  151  is suspended from sling  160 . Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , resilient pad member  151 ′ of jaw pad  150 ′ is suspended from sling  160 . Sling  160  has an opening  161  that receives the outer configuration, or periphery, of resilient pad member  151  therein, preferably in a closely conforming or mating, snug fitting relationship. Similarly, sling  160 ′ has an opening  161 ′ which receives the outer periphery of resilient pad member  151 ′ of jaw pad  150 ′, again in preferably a mating, snug fitting relationship. It should be noted that since each of the jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′ also include some hook and loop fastener material such as VELCRO®,  162 ,  163  ( FIG. 8 ) and  162 ′,  163 ′ ( FIG. 15 ), to releaseably secure jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′ to the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31 , and preferably to the inner wall surface  136  of a portion of the jaw flap  33  of the shell  31 , the mating relationship between the resilient pad members  151 ,  151 ′ with openings  161 ,  161 ′ is not required to be a snug, frictional relationship. It may rather be a loose fitting relationship for positioning purposes only, to position the jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′ in their desired location. With the hook and loop fastener material  162 ,  163  and  162 ′ and  163 ′ acting to releaseably secure the jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′.  
         [0058]     With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 14 , when shock absorbing liner  125  is associated with the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31 , including the at least one resilient pad member  135 , or jaw pad  150  being associated with shock absorbing liner  125 , an ear channel  170  is formed on each side of the shell  31  between at least one of the resilient members  130  of the shock absorbing liner  125  and at least one resilient pad member  135 , or jaw pad  150 . Each ear channel  170  is disposed adjacent the ear openings  112  formed in ear flaps  32 . For example, with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 14 , ear channel  170  is formed and bounded by on one side, by resilient member  130   a , and on the other side by resilient pad members  151  and  152 . The upper end of ear channel  170 , as illustrated, is bounded by resilient member  130   b . Similarly, as seen in  FIG. 16 , ear channel  170  is bounded by resilient member  130   a  on one side, and by resilient pad members  151  ′ and  152 ′ on the other side. The top of the ear channel  170  may be bounded by resilient member  130   b ′. Each of the ear channels  170  preferably extends along an axis  171  which is disposed substantially parallel with the substantially vertical, longitudinal axis  61  of the shell  31  extending from the crown  39  of the shell  31  to the lower edge surface  42  of the shell  31  adjacent the ear flap  32 . The ear channels  170  are thus substantially unobstructed from the ear opening  112  to the lower edge surface  42  of the shell  31  below the ear openings  112 , whereby the wearer of the helmet may easily put on, or take off, the helmet  30  without substantial contact between the ear of the wearer and the resilient members  130  and resilient pad members  135  of the shock absorbing liners  125 ,  125 ′. It is believed that ear channels  170  will help prevent and/or minimize irritation to the player&#39;s ear.  
         [0059]     With reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , the details of construction of jaw pad  150  are illustrated. In general, the resilient pad member  135 , or pads  151 ,  152 ,  153 , may include a layer of padding material  175 , or two layers of padding material  176 ,  177  disposed in a chamber, or housing,  178 ,  179 ,  180 . The chambers  178 - 180  may be formed of any suitable plastic material having the requisite strength and durability characteristics, as is known in the art, to function as resilient members, or pad members, for a football helmet. If desired, all of the chambers  178 - 180  could be filled with a single layer of padding material, or some of the chambers could be filled with a single layer, and other chambers could be filled with two or more layers of padding material. Alternatively, at least one of the resilient pad members  135 , or pads  151 - 153  could also include a fluid such as a pressurized fluid, such as air. In the embodiment of jaw pad  150  shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , pads  151  and  153  are filled with a single layer of padding material, and pad  152  in addition to at least one layer  176  of padding material includes a fluid, and the fluid may be pressurized. Preferably, the fluid is air. As shown in  FIG. 9 , pad  152  preferably includes within its respective housing, or chamber,  179 , two layers of padding material,  176 ,  177 . A variety of different padding materials can be used for layers  175 - 177 . For example, PVC nitrile foam, rubber foam, or polyurethane foam are examples of foam padding materials which may be utilized, as are known in the art. When multiple layers of padding material are utilized, such as in pad  152 , the first layer of  176  may be one of the foregoing types of foam materials, which is generally referred to as an energy, or force attenuating, foam, and the second layer of foam padding material  177  is a “softer” foam, generally referred to as a fitting, or comfort, foam, as is known in the art. Examples of materials in construction of the foregoing described pads may also be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,547, which is also commonly assigned to the present assignee of this application, which patent is incorporated herein by reference. The pressurized fluid, or air, may be provided to the interior of chamber, or housing,  179 , as by an air channel  18  in fluid communication with the interior of housing  179  at one end, and in fluid communication at its other end with a suitable inflation valve  182 . Inflation valve  182  may include an inlet orifice  183  which permits access to a conventional, compressible needle valve member  184  which has an exit orifice  185  in fluid communication with air channel  181 . A conventional hand held pump having a conventional inflation needle may be inserted through the needle valve member  184 , as is known in the art, to provide the desired amount of pressurized fluid, or air into air channel  181 , to thus inflate chamber, or housing,  179 , as desired. The inflation of chamber  179 , in combination with the foam padding material contained therein may assist in properly sizing the helmet, including jaw pad  150 , to the shape of the head of the wearer of the helmet. Air channel  181  may be formed by any conventional plastic material formed in the shape of air channel  81 , such as by two layers of a suitable thermoplastic material which are heat sealed together into the configuration shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . Inflation valve  182  may include an annular seat  186  which is received within the confines of opening  187  when inflation valve  182  is folded back upon jaw pad  150  after pad  152  has been inflated, as desired, as shown in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0060]     With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , jaw pad  150 ′ may be similar in construction to jaw pad  150 . Pad  151 ′ may also include a chamber  178 ′ which may include a single, solid layer of foam  175 ′, and the pad  152 ′ may, if desired, have multiple of layers of foam disposed within chamber, or housing  179 ′. If it is desired to provide for a fluid within chamber  179 ′, pad  150 ′ may also include an inflation valve  182  as previously described, in fluid communication with an air channel  181 ′, which in turn is in fluid communication with the interior of chamber  179 ′. As shown in  FIG. 15 , inflation valve  182  for pad  150 ′ is associated with an inflation port  97 , disposed in the outer wall surface  38  of shell  31 , inflation port  97  in turn passing through the shell  31  to the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31 . Thus, the inflation valve  182  of jaw pad  150 ′ is accessible from the exterior of shell  31 , whereas inflation valve  182  of pad  150  is accessible from within shell  31 . Chamber, or housing,  179  for pad  152 ′ of jaw pad  150 ′ may have any suitable outer configuration; however, a generally polygonal configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The two outer wall surfaces  190 ,  191  of chamber  179 ′, which define one side of ear channel  170  are of a generally rounded shape, with no sharp protrusions extending into ear channel  170 . Housing, or chamber  179 ′ of jaw pad  150 ′ may have at least three sides, five sides being illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 15 and 16 . It should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that jaw pad  150 ′ may have more than three sides, as well as could have only an outer circumference, were it to be formed in the shape of a circle.  
         [0061]     With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a crown shock absorbing pad  200  is preferably disposed adjacent the inner wall surface  37  of shell  31  beneath crown  39 . Preferably, crown shock absorbing pad  200  is inflatable, and includes an inflation valve  201  which is received within an opening (not shown) formed in the crown  39  of shell  31 , which permits crown shock absorbing pad  200  to be inflated. Crown  200  may also include a positioning member  202 , or snap member  203 , or push-in-plug  204  which is received within an opening  205  in shell  31 , to position and retain crown pad  200  within shell  31 . Crown shock absorbing pad  200  may be of any suitable construction, and may include a single or multiple layers of a suitable shock absorbing foam material disposed therein. As seen in  FIG. 12 , the front  41  of shell  31  may include a conventional brow pad  210 , as is known in the art.  
         [0062]     As seen in FIGS.  8 ,  14 - 17 , and  19 , the helmets  30  of the present invention, including jaw pads  150 ,  150 ′, when compared with previously proposed helmets, provide for a substantial amount of energy, or force attenuating, foam, or padding material, disposed in front of the coronal plane of the body of the wearer of the helmet and below the basic plane of the head of the wearer of the helmet. The energy, or force attenuating, foam, or padding material, is preferably a PVC nitrile foam or a polyurethane foam, having a density of at least approximately 5 PCF (pounds per cubic foot) and at least approximately a 25% compression deflection (ASTM D-1056 standard) of 8 PSI (pounds per square inch). As is known to those of skill in this art, the coronal plane is the frontal plane that passes through the long, or longitudinal, axis of the body, and the basic plane is a transverse plane that generally passes through the ears and the lower orbital rims of the eyes of the body.  
         [0063]     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials or embodiment shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.