Patent Publication Number: US-7895677-B1

Title: Chin guard with bumped contact surface

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/222,283, filed on Sep. 8, 2005 and entitled “Chin Guard Apparatus for use with a Helmet”, presently pending. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/222,283 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/463,774, filed on Jun. 16, 2003, and entitled “Helmet Chinstrap”, presently pending. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to chin guards for use with helmets. More particularly, the present invention relates to chin guards that have protective cups associated therewith for protection of the chin of the wearer. More particularly, the present invention relates to chin guard apparatus that have a single resilient layer extending across an interior surface of the protective cup. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
     The invention relates to improvements in protective headgear such as football helmets, motorcycle and bicycle helmets, and helmets for other activities where protection from head impact and injury is desirable. The invention also relates to protective pads, particularly chin pads. 
     Protective helmets to minimize head injuries have been known and used for many years. For example, football helmet shells have been produced from injection molded ABS, or polycarbonate plastic. Helmets intended for youth usage have usually been produced from ABS plastic, and helmets for adult usage have usually been produced from polycarbonate plastic. ABS plastic is significantly less expensive than polycarbonate, but ABS plastic is not as structurally rigid as polycarbonate. As the level of intensity of contact in youth football is significantly lower than that at the adult level, ABS has been accepted as a satisfactory material for use at the youth level. For adult helmets, however, the structural rigidity of the polycarbonate material is essential to minimize the flex and deformation of the shell under extreme impact conditions. 
     The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has been responsible for setting minimum performance criteria for football helmets. The minimum standard acceptance level measured by the Severity Index (IS) is set at 1200. Through the continuous testing of NOCSAE, it has been established that the rigidity of polycarbonate shells, in comparison to ABS shells, leads to significantly lower IS results. From these tests, it is believed that there is a correlation between the rigidity of the shell material and improved safety performance. 
     Protection can also be improved by the addition of a face mask attached to the helmet. For example, football helmets are usually equipped over the exposed face area with a vinyl coated wire or other metal structure, or an injection molded plastic face mask. The obvious purpose of the face mask is to protect the face of the player from injury, while not obstructing the player&#39;s vision unnecessarily. The addition of a face mask can also increase the rigidity of the shell which improves the IS performance. Helmets are usually tested without face masks so that the IS performance of a helmet with the mask will somewhat exceed the test standard. 
     Face masks have been mounted to the exterior surface of the helmet shell behind the front edge of the helmet face opening. This design can, under certain conditions, contribute to serious injury. Helmet shells are specifically designed with smooth spherical surfaces to allow the shells to glance and slide on impact. 
     Protective helmets usually include a chin strap to retain the helmet, particularly during impact. In the past, chin straps were frequently constructed using a molded plastic cup made of compression or injection-molded plastic material. A pad, usually of a felt or foam material, was bonded or otherwise attached to the plastic cup. This cup construction is preferable to non-padded chin straps which have been standard equipment on football helmets. Non-padded chin straps do not offer any impact protection to the chin area, and only serve to secure the helmet to the player&#39;s head. Padded chin cups provide an added measure of protection to the chin from impacts, in addition to securing the helmet to the player&#39;s head. 
     Improvement in the impact absorption performance of padded chin straps is desirable. Most molded plastic chin cups currently used are molded in a manner which allows the formed cup to flex upon impact. An improved construction is a rigid material which does not flex on impact to an undesirable degree, thus distributing the impact force over a larger area of the chin. 
     The present inventor is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,493, issued on Oct. 1, 2001 to Schiebl et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,493 describes a protective headgear that comprises a rigid shell with face pads that can be released and removed while the headgear is still on a person&#39;s head. A protective chin guard is attached to the headgear by way of the face pads. The chin guard includes a substantially rigid shell with a removable insert made of a flexible bladder filled with a shock-absorbing fluid. The headgear includes a shell made of an inner and outer material layered over an internal foam core to effect both strength and light weight construction. 
     The cup associated with the protective shell of the chin strap often has had an imperfect fit with the wearer&#39;s chin. In certain circumstances, the user may desire to have enhanced protection against impacts. The wearer may also desire a more comfortable fit with the cup of the shell of the protective chin strap and more comfortable contact between the chin and an interior surface of the chin guard. Often, the cup of the chin strap has a peripheral edge which bears against the skin of the user. In the event of an impact, this edge can bruise the chin of the user. In the event of a severe impact, the peripheral edge of the protective shell of the chin strap can cause adverse impacts to the face of the user. As such, a need has developed whereby the edge of the shell of the cup of the chin strap be fully cushioned and protected from the skin of the wearer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a chin guard apparatus which maximizes the protection and comfort of the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a chin strap apparatus which enhances the degree of protection against the peripheral edge of the rigid shell of the cup of the chin guard apparatus. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chin guard apparatus whereby the cushion of the cup can be adapted to properly fit the facial configuration and desires of the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a chin guard apparatus that enhances shock absorption on the exterior surface of the protective shell of the chin guard. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a chin guard apparatus to provide air circulation and comfortable contact with the skin of the user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a chin guard apparatus that is relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture and easy to assemble. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chin guard device that enhances moisture management within the interior of the chin guard. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a chin guard apparatus for use with a helmet. This chin guard has a shell with a cup suitable for fitting upon a human chin. The shell has an outer peripheral edge. A resilient layer is received within the cup of the shell. This resilient layer has a periphery overlying the outer peripheral edge of the shell. The resilient layer has an interior surface with bumps formed substantially over an entirety of the interior surface. 
     In the present invention, the resilient layer is in surface-to-surface contact with a surface of the shell. A netting material is affixed to the interior surface of the resilient layer and around the bumps. The netting material resides in the channels extending between adjacent bumps. As used herein, the term “netting material” can refer to netting and to fabric elements extending through the channels between the adjacent bumps. 
     The shell has a plurality of through holes formed in the cup. Additionally, the resilient layer has a plurality of through holes formed therein so as to align with the through holes of the shell. The cup also has at least one opening formed generally centrally of the cup. In the preferred embodiment, the cup has a pair of generally semicircular openings formed generally centrally of the cup. 
     The outer peripheral edge of the shell is flanged outwardly of the cup. The periphery of the resilient layer extends over and beyond the outer periphery of the shell. The resilient layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material. The shell is formed of a rigid polymeric material. The shell has a first slot formed on one side thereof and a second slot formed on an opposite side thereof. The resilient layer has a channel formed on opposite sides thereof so as to overlie the first and second slots. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the chin guard in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the chin guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the chin guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the chin guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the chin guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an upper perspective exploded view of the chin guard of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the chin guard  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The chin guard  10  includes a shell  12  and a resilient layer  14 . The shell  12  has a cup  16  suitable for fitting upon a human chin. The shell has an outer peripheral edge  18  that extends therearound and extends outwardly of the outer periphery of the cup  16 . The resilient layer  14  is received within the cup  16  of shell  12 . The resilient layer  14  has a periphery  20  which overlies the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the shell  12  is formed of a rigid polymeric material. Holes  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  are formed through the shell  12  so as to allow air circulation to contact the chin of the user. Similarly, as will be described hereinafter, the resilient layer  14  also includes holes  30 ,  32  and  34  which are aligned with the through holes  22 ,  24  and  26 , respectively, of the shell  12 . This arrangement of aligned holes ensures proper air circulation to the chin of the wearer. 
     The shell  12  also includes a first generally semi-circular opening  36  and a second semi-circular opening  38  formed centrally of the cup  16 . A bumper member  44  is received between the semi-circular openings  36  and  38  so as to extend thereacross. Bumper member  44  can provide shock absorbency at the very center of the shell  12 . The bumper member  44  can be formed of a rubber or elastomeric material. 
     The shell  12  includes a slot  46  formed on one side and another slot formed on the opposite side. The slot  46  is suitable for receiving the strap which serves to connect the chin guard  10  to a helmet. A suitable channel  48  can be formed on the resilient member  14  generally adjacent to the slot  46  so as to provide a suitable guide for the chin strap extending thereacross. 
     The shell  12  is formed of a rigid polymeric material while the resilient layer  14  is formed of a foamed polymeric material. Since there are only two main components of the chin guard  10  of the present invention, the chin guard  10  can be assembled in an easy manner. Additionally, the manufacturing costs associated with forming the chin guard  10  of the present invention are minimal. These goals can be accomplished while, at the same time, providing maximum protection to the wearer of the chin guard. Since the resilient layer  14  overlies the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12 , sharp contacts between the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12  and the face of the wearer are effectively cushioned. 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of the chin guard  10  of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , the holes  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  are fully illustrated. Each of these holes  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  has a generally oval or oblong configuration. The respective holes  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  50  of the resilient layer  14  are illustrated as aligned with the respective holes  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 . The oval nature of the holes  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  assures full air circulation to the wearer even in the event that the resilient layer  14  has shifted slightly out of position. The semi-circular openings  36  and  38  are illustrated as located within the center of the cup  16  of shell  12 . The bumper member  44  has a generally reverse Z-shaped configuration. The slot  46  is formed on side of the shell  12  while the slot  52  is formed on the opposite side of the shell. Channel  48  is aligned with the slot  46  on one side of the shell  12 . A channel  54  is aligned with the slot  52  on the opposite side of the shell  12 . Channels  48  and  54  are formed in the edge surface of the resilient layer  14  which overlies the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the interior of the chin guard  10  of the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , the resilient layer  14  is particularly illustrated. The resilient layer  14  has bumps  60  formed substantially over the entirety of the interior surface of the resilient layer  14 . These bumps  60  are in the nature of small projections that extend outwardly from the support surface of the resilient layer  14 . The extensive array of bumps  60  defines small channels therebetween. A netting material  62  is affixed over the support surface of the resilient layer  14  and around each of the bumps  60 . The netting material  62  will extend through the small channels between bumps  60 . The netting material  62  will also surround each of the bumps  60 . The netting material  62  facilitates the ability to form the bumps  60  associated with the resilient layer  14 . The netting material  62  also enhances the moisture management within the interior of said chin guard  10 . In other words, the fabric or netting material will wash away sweat and moisture from the chin of the user. The netting material is of a water-absorbent fabric material. Since the resilient layer  14  is formed of a foamed polymeric material, the bumps  60  will be extremely soft. The bumps  60  are arranged so as to conform with the various configurations of the human chin. Additionally, the small channels that are formed between each of the bumps  60  allows airflow to pass easily through and between the bumps  60  so as to facilitate air circulation around the human chin. A compression of the bumps will create a “pumping” effect so as to draw air into and out of the space between the chin of the user and the resilient layer  14 . The bumps  60  also serve to enhance the shock absorbency of the resilient layer  14 . Whenever a contact occurs with the outer shell  12  of the chin guard  10  of the present invention, the bumps  60  will compress individually in those areas of maximum force against the chin. As such, the arrangement of the various bumps  60  will distribute the forces of the impact over a wider area. It has been found that the arrangement of the bumps  60  of the present invention avoids the problems associated with ingrown hairs. The air circulation causes this improvement since the flow of air will generally keep the face from breaking out. As such, bumps  60  of the resilient layer  14  enhance the comfort of present invention. Openings are formed in the resilient layer  14  corresponding to the through holes  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34  associated with the shell  12 . As such, these openings enhance the ability for air circulation to occur between the bumps  60  and the human chin. Furthermore, the arrangement of the bumps has been found to avoid any slippage of chin guard  10  from a desired position on the human chin. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of the chin guard  10  of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the resilient layer  14  has a peripheral surface  20  which overlies and extends rearwardly over the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12 . This lengthy overlying relationship assures a protective cushioning effect against any sharp edges of the rigid shell  12 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the resilient layer  14  is further illustrated as having its outer periphery  20  extending over and beyond the outer peripheral edge  18  of the shell  12  on opposite sides of the shell  12 . The channel  48  is illustrated as formed in surface of the outer periphery  20  of the resilient layer  14  so as to generally align with the slot  46  formed in the shell  12 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the manner in which the resilient layer  14  is received within the shell  12  of the chin guard  10  of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , the shell  12  has cup  16  which serves to receive the cup area  90  of the resilient layer  14 .  FIG. 6  shows that the through holes of the resilient layer  14  are aligned with the through holes of the shell  12 . The shell  12  is illustrated as having its outer peripheral edge  18  slighted flanged outwardly of the shell  12 . The outer peripheral edge  20  has a suitable size so as to completely cover this outer peripheral edge  18  and to provide effective protection against sharp impacts caused by the outer peripheral edge  18  against the face of the wearer. The resilient layer  14  is illustrated as having a channels  48  and  54  formed on opposite sides thereof so as to align with the strap-receiving slots formed on the shell  12 . These surfaces provide a guide for the strap which emanates through the slots on the shell  12 . 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.