Patent Publication Number: US-2004045072-A1

Title: Visor protector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE DATA  
     [0001] The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/068,976 filed on Feb. 11, 2002 (and allowed on Feb. 10, 2003), which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/833,714 filed on Apr. 13, 2001 (and now abandoned). 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to visor protectors and more specifically to a protector that prevents a visor of a helmet from being scratched, in particular when the latter is not being used.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] It is common for hockey players to be required to wear protectors such as helmets including a transparent visor and it is quite unpleasant to play with a helmet which visor has been scratched. Usually, a player carries his helmet inside his sport bag along with multiple other pieces of equipment that could eventually damage the visor, it would therefore be advisable for the player to be able to protect his visor against possible wears. For that reason a user may be forced to buy a new visor that is quite expensive. Therefore preventing these visors from being scratched is very important. The same situation is applicable to different helmets of the type used, for example, by cyclists or by snowmobile drivers and the like cap visors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention relates to a visor protector for releasable attachment to a visor mounted on a helmet, the visor being of the type defining opposite first and second visor surfaces, said visor protector comprising:  
       [0005] a generally elongated and cross-sectionally V-shaped protective member comprising:  
       [0006] a web,  
       [0007] a first sheet-like protective shell for substantially entirely overlying the visor first surface, said first protective shell defining a main edge integrally attached to said web and a first shell area, and  
       [0008] a second sheet-like protective shell defining a main edge integrally attached to said web and a second shell area, said second shell area being at least a non-negligible fraction of said first shell area, for allowing said second shell to overlie at least a non-negligible portion of the visor second surface;  
       [0009] a trough-like visor channel formed between said first and second protective shell; and  
       [0010] a releasable attachment member, for releasably attaching said protective member to a selected one of the visor and the helmet when the visor is in said visor channel.  
       [0011] In one embodiment, said attachment member comprises at least one resilient clamp carried by said protective member, each said at least one clamp comprising a web portion and parallel first and a second finger portions continuously biased towards each other, said clamp web portion being adjacent to said protective member web, with said clamp first finger portion extending along said first shell and with said clamp second finger portion extending along said second shell, with said first and second protective shells being movable about said protective member web and with said clamp continuously biasing said first and second protective shells towards each other.  
       [0012] In one embodiment, said protective member is made from a flexible fabric material.  
       [0013] In one embodiment, the visor protector further comprises at least one semi-rigid resilient guide carried within said first protective shell, each one of said at least one guide extending from a corresponding one of said at least one clamp along said first protective shell and being destined to continuously bias said first protective shell towards the visor external surface.  
       [0014] In one embodiment, said attachment member comprises at least one hook-and-loop type fastener attached to said protective member for releasably attaching said protective member to the visor.  
       [0015] In one embodiment, said first protective shell is connected to said second protective shell by means of a seam longitudinally oriented along said protective member web, said first and said second protective shells being stitched together by said seam. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a visor protector according to the present invention overlaid on the visor of a helmet;  
     [0017]FIG. 1 a  is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the protector attaching means secured to another possible attaching location on the helmet;  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the protector attaching means including a third elongated strap;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 a  is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the third strap in another possible attaching location on the helmet;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of a visor protector according to the present invention overlaid on the visor having a lower wire shield section integrated therewith;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
     [0022]FIG. 4 a  is a section view taken along line  4   a - 4   a  of FIG. 3 a;    
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the protector attaching means including an extension strap;  
     [0024]FIG. 6 is a back view of another embodiment of a visor protector according to the present invention, illustrating a protective member having protective external and internal shells;  
     [0025]FIG. 6 a  is a section view taken along line  6   a - 6   a  of FIG. 6;  
     [0026]FIG. 6 b,    6   c,    6   d,    6   e,    6   f,    6   g  and  6   h  are section views similar to FIG. 6 a,  showing different embodiments of the shell connection means;  
     [0027]FIG. 7 is a broken view of the extension strap of FIG. 2;  
     [0028]FIG. 7 a  is an exploded side view of a different snap device;  
     [0029]FIG. 8 is a back view similar to FIG. 6, showing the addition of a third elongated strap;  
     [0030]FIG. 9 is an exploded back view similar to FIG. 8, showing the embodiment of FIG. 3 with the protective internal shell detachable from the protective external shell;  
     [0031]FIG. 10 a  is a front perspective view of a visor protector according to another embodiment of the present invention operatively installed on a visor;  
     [0032]FIG. 10 b  is a rear perspective view of the visor protector of FIG. 10 a;    
     [0033]FIG. 10 c  is a sectional view taken along line  10   c - 10   c  of FIG. 10 b,  with an arrow suggesting the movement of a foldable part of a hook-and-loop type fastener;  
     [0034]FIG. 11 a  is a front perspective view of a visor protector according to yet another embodiment of the present invention operatively installed on a visor;  
     [0035]FIG. 11 b  is a side perspective view of the visor protector of FIG. 11 a,  the outer layer of the external protective shell being partially broken for showing the inside content of the external protective shell; and  
     [0036]FIG. 11 c  is sectional view taken along line  11   c - 11   c  of the FIG. 11 b.   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0037] With reference to the annexed drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation.  
     [0038] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment  10  of a visor protector according to the present invention for preventing a visor  20  attached to a helmet  30  from being scratched when unused.  
     [0039] The visor  20  defines a visor external surface  21  and an opposed visor internal surface  22 , generally facing outwardly and inwardly relative to the helmet  30 , respectively. The visor external  21  and internal  22  surfaces define a common visor main edge  23 , generally free, and a generally opposed common visor attaching edge  24 . The latter attaches to the helmet  30 .  
     [0040] The visor protector  10  includes a generally elongated protective member  40  that includes a protective external shell  50 , preferably flexible, configured and sized to substantially entirely overlie the visor external surface  21 . The protective external shell  50  defines an external shell main edge  51 , a generally opposed external shell auxiliary edge  52  and a pair of generally opposed external shell longitudinal side edges  53 ,  54  adjacent the external shell main edge  51 .  
     [0041] The visor protector  10  also includes a protector attaching means  70  to releasably attach the protective member  40  to the helmet  30  when the protective external shell  50  overlies the visor external surface  21 . The protector attaching means  70  is configured and sized to bias the protective external shell  50  in pressurizing configuration against the visor external surface  21 , as illustrated by arrows A.  
     [0042] The protector attaching means  70  can include a pair of elongated stretchable straps  72 , each defining a strap first end  73  and a generally opposed strap second end  74 . The strap first ends  73  attach to the protective external shell  50  preferably adjacent a respective external shell side edge  53 ,  54 . The strap second ends  74  releasably attach to the helmet  30 . The stretchable straps  72  bias the protective external shell  50  in the pressurizing configuration against the visor external surface  21  when in streched configuration.  
     [0043] Protector attaching means  70  includes a fastener  90  slidably mounted on each strap  70  adjacent the strap second ends  74  to attach to the helmet  30 . Each fastener  90  includes a base  91  with a snap  92  located thereon, as better illustrated in FIG. 4. The base  91  of the fastener  90  allows adjustment of the position of the fastener  90  along the strap  72 . The fastener snap  92  is adapted to releasably interconnect with complementary snap devices  96  secured to the helmet  30 . Although the snap devices  96  are part of the protector attachment means  70 , they are usually found already installed in place as parts of the helmets  30  such as helmets for hockey.  
     [0044] Each snap device  96 , as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7a, can include a button  97  for complementary engagement with the fastener snap  92  and a stud  98  for securing the button  97  to the helmet  30 .  
     [0045] Especially for cases where no snap devices  96  are present on the helmet  30 , the protector attaching means  70  further includes an extension stretchable strap  75 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The extension stretchable strap  75  defines two opposed strap free ends  76 , each having a snap device  96  slidably mounted thereon adjacent a respective strap free end  76 . Accordingly, each extension strap free end  76  attaches to a respective second end  74  of the pair of straps  72  so as to releasably embrace the helmet  30  to bias the protective external shell  50  in the pressurizing configuration against the visor external surface  21  when in stretched configuration.  
     [0046] Usually, the different types of helmets  30  comprise a plurality of vent openings  34  located thereon. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fastener  90  could also be a hook  92   a  adapted to anchor to a respective vent opening  34 .  
     [0047] The fastener  90  could also be a first part of a hook-and-loop type fastener (not shown) for attaching to a complementary second part of the hook-and-loop type fastener (not shown) secured to the helmet  30 .  
     [0048] In most helmets  30  known in the art, visor main edge  21  is a free edge.  
     [0049] Protective member  40  of a second embodiment  10   a  of a visor protector according to the present invention shown in FIG. 6 further includes a flexible protective internal shell  60 , for at least partially covering the visor internal surface  22  as partially illustrated in FIG. 4 a . The protective internal shell  60  defines an internal shell main edge  61  longitudinally extending adjacent the external shell main edge  51 , a generally opposed internal shell auxiliary edge  62  and a pair of generally opposed internal shell longitudinal side edges  63 ,  64 , adjacent the internal shell main edge  61 .  
     [0050] The protective member  40  also includes a shell connecting means  80  for connecting the internal shell main edge  51  to the external shell main edge  61  so as to form a transversal V-shaped cross-section  42  of the protective member  40  adapted to receive the visor free edge  23  therein when the protective external shell  50  overlies the visor external surface  21 .  
     [0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6 a,  the protective internal shell  60  integrally extends from the protective external shell  50  and longitudinally folds over along a fold line  44 , as part of the shell connecting means  80 . The fold line  44  essentially forms both internal shell main edge  61  and external shell main edge  51 . The shell connecting means preferably includes a stitch line  82  extending along the fold line  44  to reinforce the latter and to ensure that the protective member  40  keeps its transversal V-shaped cross-section  42 .  
     [0052] As shown in FIG. 8, the internal shell side edges  63 ,  64  at least partially and longitudinally extend adjacent the external shell side edges  53 ,  54  and partially connect hereto. The shell connecting means  80  further includes two side stitch lines  83 ,  84  oriented along the internal  60  shells to each other.  
     [0053]FIGS. 6 a  through  6   h  show alternate shell connecting means  80  used to obtain the transversal V-shaped cross section  42 . With semi-rigid type material used for both the protective external  40  and internal  60  shells, the protective member  40  could be simply pre-shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 6 b  and  6   g.  Only stitches  82 ,  83 ,  84  could be considered to connect the two protective external  40  and internal  60  shells together, as shown in FIGS. 6 d  and  6   h.  As illustrated in FIGS. 6 c  and  6   e,  a reinforcing elongated connecting piece  86  could also be used at the external  51  and internal  61  shell main edges.  
     [0054] For the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6 f  and  9 , due to a lower wire shield section  25  integrated to the visor  20  and extending from its main edge  23  as shown in FIG. 3, the protective external  50  and internal  60  shells are releasably connected to each other to ease the installation of the protector  10  on the visor  20 . Accordingly, the shell connecting means  80  includes complementary parts  88   a,    88   b  of a hook-and-loop type fastener  88  or the like secured to the respective protective external  50  and internal  60  shells.  
     [0055] As shown in FIGS. 2, 2 a ,  3 ,  4   a ,  8  and  9 , the protector attaching means  70  further includes a third elongated stretchable strap  77 . The third stretchable strap  77  defines a third strap first end  78  and a generally opposed third strap second end  79 . The third strap first end  78  attaches to the protective external shell  50  adjacent the external shell auxiliary edge  52 , and the third strap second end  79  releasably attaches to the helmet  30 . The third stretchable strap  77  biases the protective external shell  50  in pressurizing configuration against the visor external surface  21  and the visor free edge  23  inside the transversal V-shaped cross-section  42  of the protective member  40  when it is in stretched configuration.  
     [0056] Similarly to the pair of straps  72 , the third strap  77  includes a fastener  90  slidably mounted thereon adjacent the third strap second end  79  for attachment to the helmet  30 . Referring to FIG. 2 a , the fastener  90  is a hook  92   a  adapted for anchoring to a rear edge  35  of the helmet  30 .  
     [0057] In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 g,  the protective internal  60  and external  50  shells are made out of a resilient rigid type material such as thermo-plastics or the like.  
     [0058] Accordingly, the protective internal shell  60  defines a concave portion  66  longitudinally extending adjacent the internal shell auxiliary edge  62 . The apex region  67  of the concave portion  66  substantially resiliently abuts against the protective external shell  50  adjacent the external shell auxiliary edge  52  so as to form a receiving mouth  68  of the transversal V-shaped cross-section  42  for receiving the visor free edge  23  therein. The fold line  44  essentially forms a hinge type connecting means  80  to enable the protective member  40  to resiliently clamp on the visor  20  with the concave portion  66  of the protective internal shell  60  resiliently abutting against the visor internal surface  22 .  
     [0059] The protective external  50  and internal  60  shells respectively define an external  55  and an internal  65  shell inner surface for facing the visor external  21  and internal  22  surfaces, respectively. The external  55  and internal  65  shell inner surfaces are preferably covered with a felt type material  49  as illustrated in FIG. 6 h  to minimize scratches on the visor external  21  and internal  22  surfaces, when the protective member  40  is in place protecting the visor  20 .  
     [0060] For the embodiment  10  with only the protective external shell  50 , the external shell inner surface  55  preferably provides for a frictional contact with the visor external surface  21  to prevent sliding off the protective member  40  therefrom, such as provided by rubber or leather type materials.  
     [0061] The visor protector  10  of the present invention can be made out of different types of leather or the like cloth type materials, such as transparent or translucent materials.  
     [0062] The straps  72 ,  75  and  77  can be made out of an elastic type material.  
     [0063] In use, the visor protector  10  is placed over the visor  20  so as to cover the same within the protective member  40  that specifically covers the visor external surface  21  with its protective external shell  50  and the visor internal surface  22  with its protective internal shell  60 . The protector attaching means  70  is attached to the helmet  30  with the visor  20  being in its closed (or in-use) position. In that position, it is substantially impossible for the visor protector  10  to fall off from the visor  20 , thus protecting the latter from being scratched by any object that can potentially get in contact with the helmet  30 . Decorations or advertising may be readily applied to the protector  10 , if required.  
     [0064] In FIGS. 10 a - 10   c  and  11   a - 11   c,  there is shown a visor  20  as defined hereinabove, meant to be installed on a helmet (not shown in FIGS. 10 a - 11   c ). As set forth in the above specifications, visor  20  comprises external and internal visor surfaces  21  and  22  respectively, a visor free main edge  23  and a visor attaching edge  24 . Moreover, visor  20  comprises an arcuate rod  26  spacedly extending over attaching edge  24  between the two visor attaching edge  24  end portions to which the rod extremities are integrally fixed. Rod  26  is further attached to visor  20  by means of a number of ribs  27 , spaced-apart along rod  26  and integrally linking rod  26  to visor attaching edge  23 . The relative arrangement of rod  26 , visor attaching edge  24  and ribs  27  forms a number of openings  28 . Attachment means (not shown) allow visor  20  to be attached to a helmet, as shown in FIG. 1 for example.  
     [0065] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 10 a - 10   c,  wherein primed reference numerals refer to similar elements in the previous embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 9 , visor protector  10 ′ comprises a protective member  40 ′ which can be made out of a flexible fabric material for example, with external and internal sheet-like shells  50 ′ and  60 ′ respectively. External shell  50 ′ defines a shell inner surface  55 ′, a main edge  51 ′ and an auxiliary edge  52 ′ located opposite main edge  51 ′; internal shell  60 ′ defines a shell inner surface  65 ′, a main edge  61 ′ and an auxiliary edge  62 ′ located opposite main edge  61 ′. Shells  50 ′,  60 ′ are attached together at the vicinity of their main edges  51 ′ and  61 ′. Protective member  40 ′ thus forms a V-shaped cross section, defining a web  106 ′ formed at the vicinity of the attachment between shells  51 ′,  61 ′, and a trough-like channel  105 ′. Visor protector  20 ′ further comprises an attachment member  70 ′ that comprises two spaced-apart hook-and-loop type fasteners  101 ′. A first part  103 ′ of each hook-and-loop type fastener  101 ′ is attached on the surface of external shell  50 ′ opposite external shell inner surface  55 ′, at the vicinity of auxiliary edge  52 ′ thereof; a second part  102 ′ of each fastener  101 ′ is attached to an elongated strap  104 ′, with strap  104 ′ being attached to the inner surface of internal shell  60 ′ at the vicinity of the auxiliary edge  62 ′ thereof.  
     [0066] Accordingly, visor protector  10 ′ can be releasably installed on a visor  20 . To achieve this installation, visor  20  is inserted in channel  105 ′ and slid between shells  50 ′,  60 ′ until visor main edge  23  abuts against web  106 ′, in order for external shell  50 ′ to be juxtaposed with visor external surface  21 , and in order for internal shell  60 ′ to be juxtaposed with visor internal surface  22 . Thereafter, strap  104 ′ of each hook-and-loop type fastener  101 ′ is extended through a registering opening  28  of visor  20 . If visor  20  is not provided with such openings  28 , strap  102 ′ is extended through the gap formed between visor attaching edge  24  and the frontal edge of the helmet on which it is installed. Then, strap  104 ′ is folded back and applied on part  103 ′ of attaching member  70 ′ as suggested by the double-sided arrow of FIG. 10 c,  in order for first and second parts  102 ′ and  103 ′ of the hook-and-loop type fastener to be releasably bound together. Thereby, protector  10  is releasably secured to visor  10 .  
     [0067] In yet another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 11 a - 11   c,  wherein double-primed reference numerals refer to similar elements in the previous embodiments of FIGS. 10 a - 10   c,  external and internal shells  50 ″ and  60 ″ define an outer layer  50   a ″,  60   a ″ and an inner layer  50   b ″,  60   b ″ respectively. Indeed, protective member  40 ″ is composed of two layers stitched together along their respective peripheral edges, and folded along a fold line corresponding to web  106 ″, and are kept in this folded configuration by means of an additional seam applied along this fold line. One of the folded portions thus forms double-layered external shell  50 ″, and the other folded portion forms double-layered internal shell  60 ″. In-between layers  50   a ″,  50   b ″ of shell  50 ″ and layers  60   a ″,  60   b ″ of shell  60 ″, protective member  40 ″ can optionally be filled with padding (not shown) for further protection of visor  20 .  
     [0068] In this embodiment of FIGS. 11 a - 11   c,  attachment member  70 ″ comprises two clamps  110 ″ made from a resilient material, for example plastic or metal. Each clamp  110 ″ comprises a web  110   c ″, with substantially parallel external and internal fingers  110   a ″ and  110   b ″ extending therefrom that are continuously biased towards each other.  
     [0069] Each clamp  110 ″ is carried within double-layered protective member  40 ″ transversally to web  106 ″ and is arranged therein in order for its web  110   c ″ to be located adjacent protective member web  106 ″, in order for external finger  110   a ″ to be fitted between layers  50   a ″,  50   b ″ of external shell  50 ″ and to extend towards the external shell auxiliary edge  52 ″, and for internal finger  110   b ″ to be fitted between layers  60   a ″,  60   b   41  of internal shell  60 ″ and to extend towards the internal shell auxiliary edge  62 ″.  
     [0070] To ensure that the entire length of the inner surface  55 ″ of external shell  50 ″ remains closely applied on visor external surface  21 ″, two guides  118 ″ are further provided and arranged diagonally within external shell  50 ″, between layers  50   a ″ and  50   b ″. Each guide  118 ″ extends between one of the two intersections between main edge  51 ″ and clamp external portion  110   a ″, and a corresponding intersection between side edge  53 ″ (or  54 ″) and auxiliary edge  52 ″ of shell  50 ″. Guides  118 ″ are made from a semi-rigid resilient material, for example metal or plastic, and can thus continuously bias the side portions of protective member  40 ″ extending outwardly from clamps  110 ″ towards the visor external surface  21 .  
     [0071] Hence, visor protector  10 ″ can be releasably installed on visor  20 . To achieve this installation, protector  10 ″ is inserted in insertion channel  105 ″ and slid along visor  20  until visor main edge  23  abuts against web  106 ″, in order for external shell  50 ″ to be juxtaposed with visor external surface  21 , and in order for internal shell  60 ″ to be juxtaposed with visor internal surface  22 . During the insertion of visor  20  in-between external and internal shells  50 ″,  51 ″, external and internal clamp portions  110   a ″,  110   b ″ of both clamps  110 ″ are spread apart against the bias of resilient webs  110   c ″. Thus, clamps  110 ″ will bias shells  50 ″ and  60 ″ towards one another and against the visor external and internal surfaces  21  and  22 , respectively. Under the pressurizing biasing action of clamps  110 ″, protective member  40 ″ will be releasably frictionally installed on visor  20 . Moreover, under the action of guides  118 ″, the protector external shell  50 ″ will be closely applied on the entire length of visor external surface  21 , hence preventing the entire visor external surface  21  from being scratched.  
     [0072] The relative dimensioning of shells  50 ,  60  will now be discussed (this is also valid for shells  50 ′,  50 ″,  60 ′,  60 ″ of the other embodiments). When a visor-provided helmet is stored in a duffel bag, for example, visor external surface  21  is the portion of the visor that is most exposed to scratch hazards. For example, a hockey skate comprising a sharp blade can permanently damage visor external surface  21 . To prevent such scratches, external shell  50  is shaped and sized to substantially entirely overlie visor external surface  21 ; a small peripheral portion of visor external surface  21  can remain uncovered by shell  50 , as different visor models have different shapes and dimensions, and anodyne shape incompatibilities may occur.  
     [0073] On the other hand, visor internal surface  22  is also exposed to scratch hazards that are however likely to be less frequent and important than those threatening visor external surface  21 . When visor  20  is operatively installed on the helmet, the only way to gain access to the interior of the helmet, and thus to visor internal surface  22 , is through the neck opening of the helmet, which can be formed partly by main edge  23  of visor  20  on some helmets. Hence, the portion of visor internal surface  22  adjacent main edge  23  of visor  20  is more likely to get damaged than the portion adjacent visor attaching edge  24 .  
     [0074] Moreover, in some helmet configurations, a portion of the helmet above its frontal edge may underlie a portion of visor  20  adjacent visor attaching edge  24 , if visor  20  is attached to the helmet above the helmet&#39;s frontal edge portion. Consequently, this upper portion of visor internal surface  22  which overlies the frontal edge portion of the helmet, may not be covered by internal shell  60  since internal shell  60  would be blocked from passage beyond the helmet frontal edge. In any event, this upper portion of visor internal surface  22  is not comprised within the usable visor viewing area of visor  20 , so damage to this area would not impair the viewing capacity through visor  20 .  
     [0075] Thus, in some embodiments, internal shell  60  will not cover the entire internal visor surface  22  due to internal shell designs that are sized to cover only the accessible portion of the visor internal surface  22  or only a portion thereof. The area of internal shell  60  is hence smaller than that of external shell  50  which is intended to cover substantially entirely the visor external surface  21 . However, one important purpose of internal shell  60  is to protect visor internal surface  22 , and thus internal shell  60  must be sized to offer a non-insignificant protection against macroscopic objects such as hockey skates that could impact on visor internal surface  22 . Internal shell  60  is consequently shaped in order to cover and protect at least a non-negligible portion of visor internal surface  22  and more especially at least a portion thereof adjacent visor main edge  21 . Consequently, it can be said that the area of internal shell  60  represents at least a non-negligible fraction of that of external shell  50 .  
     [0076] In one embodiment, internal shell  60  is smaller than external shell  50  but still covers the entire accessible portion of visor internal surface  22 . In another embodiment, external and internal shells  50 ,  60  have a same area.  
     [0077] The fact that the area of internal shell  60  represents at least a non-negligible fraction of that of external shell  50  moreover allows a snug and stable installation of protective member  40  on visor  20 . Indeed, when protector  10  is installed on visor  20 , protective member  40  covers a significant portion of both external and internal surfaces  21 ,  22  of visor  20 . The engagement of visor  20  into the protective member trough-like channel  105 ′ provides a stable abutment of protective member web  106 ′ against the visor free main edge  23 . This, in combination with the fact that the protective member internal and external shells  50 ,  60  extend on either sides of visor  20 , will help prevent accidental disengagement of protective member  40  from visor  20  when the former is attached to the latter with a suitable attachment member such as an attachment member described in one of the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, once protector  10  has been secured to visor  10  with attachment member  70 , unsolicited disengagement of the visor  20  from protector  10  is unlikely.  
     [0078] Although the present visor protector has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.