Patent Publication Number: US-11026465-B2

Title: Helmet comprising an occipital adjustment mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hockey or lacrosse helmet having an occipital adjustment mechanism for improving the fit of the helmet on the head of the player. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,950 entitled Protective Helmet issued to Spyrou et al. on May 4, 1999. This patent relates to a helmet comprising a protective shell and releasable attachment means having a first front strap, a second front strap, attachment members, a rear strap, a first side strap, a second side strap, a rear plate, a first support strap and a second support strap. The rear strap comprises an outer region, a first lower extension and a second lower extension, the lower extensions providing a means for cradling the head of the player. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,575 entitled Hockey Helmet comprising an Occipital Adjustment Mechanism issued to Durocher on Nov. 29, 2005. This patent relates to a hockey helmet for receiving a head of a player, the head having a crown region and an occipital region. The helmet comprises: (a) a front shell facing the crown region of the head; (b) a rear shell facing the left and right side regions, the back region and the occipital region of the head, the rear shell comprising outer and inner surfaces and left and right openings positioned symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the helmet; (c) a rear inner pad facing the back and left and right side regions of the head, the rear inner pad being affixed to the inner surface of the rear shell; (d) an occipital inner pad located between the rear shell and the occipital region of the head; (e) a central member extending along the longitudinal axis of the helmet, the central member comprising an upper part that is hingedly mounted to the inner surface of the rear shell and a lower part that is mounted to the occipital inner pad, the lower part comprising left and right passages positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the helmet; and (f) left and right straps passing through the respective left and right passages of the lower part and the respective left and right openings of the rear shell, each strap comprising a first end and a second end, each first end being retained in the helmet, each second end being accessible to the player such that, when the player pulls each second end of the left and right straps, the lower part of the central member is movable from a first position to a second position wherein, in the second position, the occipital inner pad applies pressure upon the occipital region of the head for urging the front shell towards the crown region of the head. 
     Against this background, there is a need in the industry for a hockey or lacrosse helmet where the player can move a single mechanism for providing a better fitting on the head of the player. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a helmet for receiving a head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the head having a crown region, left and right side regions, a back region and an occipital region, the helmet comprising: (a) a front shell for facing the crown region of the head; (b) a rear shell for facing the left and right side regions, the back region and the occipital region of the head, the rear shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and an elongated slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the helmet; (c) a rear inner pad for facing the back and left and right side regions of the head, the rear inner pad being mounted to the rear shell; (d) an occipital inner pad located below the rear inner pad for facing the occipital region of the head; (e) a central member extending along the longitudinal axis of the helmet, the central member comprising an upper part hingedly mounted with respect to the rear shell and a lower part mounted to the occipital inner pad; and (f) a single wedging member located between the rear shell and the central member, the single wedging member being movable along the longitudinal axis of the helmet from a first position to a second position wherein, in use, in the second position, the occipital inner pad applies pressure upon the occipital region of the head for urging the front shell towards the crown region of the head. 
     The present invention also provides a helmet for receiving a head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the head having a crown region, left and right side regions, a back region and an occipital region, the helmet comprising: (a) a front shell for facing the crown region of the head; (b) a rear shell for facing the left and right side regions, the back region and the occipital region of the head, the rear shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and an elongated slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the helmet; (c) a rear inner pad for facing the back and left and right side regions of the head, the rear inner pad being mounted to the rear shell; (d) an occipital inner pad located below the rear inner pad for facing the occipital region of the head; (e) a central member extending along the longitudinal axis of the helmet, the central member comprising an upper part hingedly mounted with respect to the rear shell and a lower part mounted to the occipital inner pad; and (f) a single wedging member located between the rear shell and the central member, the single wedging member being movable along the longitudinal axis of the helmet from a first position to a second position wherein, in use, in the first position, the occipital inner pad applies a first pressure upon the occipital region of the head, and in the second position, the occipital inner pad applies a second pressure upon the occipital region of the head, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. 
     This and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a head of a player; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the head of the player of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective exploded view of a helmet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective exploded view of the helmet of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective exploded view of the occipital adjustment mechanism for the helmet of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the occipital adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a bottom view of the helmet of  FIG. 3  with the occipital inner pad shown in a first position; 
         FIG. 7B  is a bottom view of the helmet of  FIG. 3  with the occipital inner pad shown in a second position; 
         FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of the helmet of  FIG. 3  taken along line  8 A- 8 A with the occipital inner pad shown in the first position; 
         FIG. 8B  a cross-sectional view of the helmet of  FIG. 3  taken along line  8 B- 8 B with the occipital inner pad shown in the second position. 
         FIG. 9A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the actuator and wedging member shown in a locked position; and 
         FIG. 9B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the actuator and wedging member shown in an unlocked position 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a head of a hockey or lacrosse player. The head comprises a crown region CR, left and right side regions LS, RS, a back region BR and an occipital region OC. The crown region CR has a front part that substantially corresponds to the forehead and a top part that substantially corresponds to the front top part of the head. In fact, the crown region CR generally corresponds to the frontal bone region of the head. The left and right side regions LS, RS are approximately located above the ears of the player. The occipital region OC substantially corresponds to the region around and under the external occipital protuberance of the head. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 7A to 8B , a helmet for receiving the head of the hockey or lacrosse player is designated by the reference numeral  10 . The helmet  10  comprises a front portion  12  and a rear portion  14  interconnected together. The front and rear portions  12 ,  14  comprise respective front shell  16  and rear shell  18 , the rear shell comprising inner and outer surfaces  20 ,  22 . The front shell  16  and rear shell  18  may be made of a relatively rigid material, such as polyethylene, NYLON, polycarbonate materials, thermoplastics, or thermosetting resins or any other suitable material. The front and rear shells  16 ,  18  includes a plurality of ventilation apertures  24  that provide the added comfort of allowing air to circulate around the head of the player. The front shell  16  overlays a front inner pad  26  while the rear shell  18  overlays left and right side inner pads  28 ,  30  and a rear inner pad  32  having a top projection  33 . The front inner pad  26  faces the crown region CR. The rear inner pad  32  faces the back region BR while the left and right side inner pads  28 ,  30  face the left and right side regions LS, RS. The inner pads  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  may be made of shock absorbing materials such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polyethylene (EPE). Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     The front inner pad  26  has a three-dimensional external configuration that matches the three-dimensional internal configurations of the front shell  16  and is mounted to the front shell  16  by any suitable means such glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets. Similarly, the rear inner pad  32  and left and right side inner pads  28 ,  30  have three-dimensional external configurations that match the three-dimensional internal configurations of the rear shell  18  and are mounted to the rear shell  18  by any suitable means, such as glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets. 
     The helmet  10  may also comprise a front comfort liner affixed on the inner surface of the front inner pad  26  and/or left and right side comfort liners affixed on the inner surface of the respective left and right side inner pads  28 ,  30 . The comfort liners may be made of soft materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The comfort liners may be affixed on the inner surface of the corresponding inner pads by any suitable means, such as glue or an adhesive layer. 
     The helmet  10  may comprise left and right ear loops and a chin strap adapted to be attached to ear loops so that when it is secured beneath the chin of the player, the helmet  10  is maintained onto the head of the player. If desired, the helmet  10  may be provided with left and right ear covers for protecting the ears of the player. 
     The front and rear portions  12 ,  14  (front and rear shells  16 ,  18  more particularly) can move one with relation to the other so as to adjust the size of the head receiving cavity of the helmet  10 . The helmet may further comprise left and right locking mechanisms for retaining the front and rear portions  12 ,  14  in the position selected by the player. Any suitable type of locking mechanisms can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     In use, a player who puts on the helmet  10  and realizes that it is too large or too small, does not need to remove the helmet  10  to adjust it. The player must simply release the locking mechanism, expand or contract the size of the helmet  10  by displacing the front and the rear portions  12 ,  14  in relation to each other in the appropriate direction, and close the locking mechanism when the internal size of the helmet is adequate. 
     Alternatively, the helmet  10  may comprise a non-adjustable one-piece shell covering one or more inner pads. In another possible variant, the helmet  10  may comprise separate front and rear portions  12 ,  14  that are connected to one another in any suitable way but not adjustable one relative to the other. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rear shell  18  comprises an elongated slot  34  extending along the longitudinal axis A-A of the helmet  10 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show an occipital adjustment mechanism comprising an occipital inner pad  36  for facing the occipital region OC, a central member  38  extending along the longitudinal axis of the helmet  10 , the central member  38  comprising an upper part  40  hingedly mounted with respect to the rear shell  18  and a lower part  42  mounted to the occipital inner pad  36 , a single wedging member  44  located between the rear shell  18  and the central member  38  and a single actuator  46  connected to the single wedging member  44  and being accessible to the player such that, in use, the player can move the single wedging member  44  from a first position to a second position by moving the single actuator  46  from a first position to a second position. 
     The wedging member  44  has a thickness that increases gradually from its top edge up to its bottom edge as best shown in  FIG. 6 . Because of its increased thickness, the wedging member  44  therefor acts as a wedge wherein vertical upward displacement of the single wedging member  44  between the rear shell  18  and the central member  38  moves the occipital inner pad  36  from its first position, shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8A , towards its second position, shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , wherein the occipital inner pad  36  applies a greater pressure upon the occipital region OC. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8A , in the first position, the occipital inner pad  36  applies a first pressure upon the occipital region OC. As shown  FIGS. 7B and 8B , in the second position, the occipital inner pad  36  applies a second pressure upon the occipital region OC wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure. 
     Hence, the occipital inner pad  36  faces the occipital region OC and is movable between the first position shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8A  to the second position shown in  FIGS. 7B and 8B  by moving the actuator  46  from the first position of the actuator  46  shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8A  to the second position of the actuator  46  shown in  FIGS. 7B and 8B . In the second position, the occipital inner pad  36  applies pressure upon the occipital region OC for urging the front portion  12  (the front shell  16  and front inner pad  26 ) towards the crown region CR (as previously indicated, the crown region CR has a front part that substantially corresponds to the forehead and a top part that substantially corresponds to the front top part of the head). 
     Depending on how tightly the head of the player fits in the head receiving cavity of the helmet  10 , the pressure applied by the occipital inner pad  36  induces a corresponding movement of the helmet  10  towards the back of the head, necessary to seat the front portion  12  of the helmet  10  against the crown region CR. 
     Also, depending on how tightly the head of the player fits in the head receiving cavity of the helmet  10 , in the first position, the occipital inner pad  36  applies a first pressure upon the occipital region OC, and in the second position, the occipital inner pad  36  applies a second pressure upon the occipital region OC, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. 
     The occipital inner pad  36  may be made of expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polyethylene (EPE) or polyethylene foam or polyethylene foam having two different densities. Other materials can also be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     The occipital inner pad  36  may comprise a rear portion and a front portion that is less rigid than the rear portion. For example, the front portion may be made of a soft absorbent material while the rear portion may be made of a rigid plastic-like material or equivalent. One or more comfort liners may be affixed to the inner surface of the occipital inner pad  36 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the central member  38  is an elongated piece extending along the longitudinal axis A-A of the helmet  10  from the upper part  40  to the lower part  42 . 
     The upper part  40  is hingedly mounted with respect to the rear shell  18  (e.g. to the rear inner pad  32  as best shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ); or to the inner surface  20  of the rear shell  18  (not shown)). As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the rear inner pad  32  may include a groove  48  and a recessed portion  50  to partially accommodate the central member  38  and the rear inner pad  32 . The rear inner pad  32  may also include apertures  52  to receive corresponding pegs  54  provided on the upper part  40  such that the upper part  40  is hingedly mounted to the rear inner pad  32 . Hinging may be provided in the central member  38  by any suitable means, and in the example shown, it is provided by the bendability of all the portion of the central member  38  that extends below the upper part  40 , and more particularly, the portion of the central member  38  located between the upper and lower parts  40 ,  42 . 
     The lower part  42  is mounted to the occipital inner pad  36 . In one example as shown in  FIG. 5 , the lower part  42  is screwed to the occipital inner pad  36 . Other affixing means (e.g. glue, stitches, rivets, tacks, staples) can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. In another example, the central member may be attached to the occipital inner pad by virtue of being integral, and therefore continuous, with the occipital inner pad. In a further example, the central member may be integrally formed with the rear inner pad at its upper part and integrally formed with the occipital inner pad at its lower part. 
     The single wedging member  44  may comprise a locking mechanism which can be any suitable mechanism for preventing unintentional movement of the single wedging member  44 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the locking mechanism comprises protrusions  56  provided on the wedging member  44  adapted to register between notches  58  extending from the inner surface  20  of the rear shell  18  and on each side of the elongated slot  34 . 
       FIG. 9A  shows the wedging member  44  in a lock position. Here the locking mechanism is engaged and the protrusions  56  register between the notches  58 . When the wedging member  44  is in the unlock position, as shown in  FIG. 9B , the wedging member  44  is pushed away from the inner surface  20  of the rear shell  18  and the protrusions  56  no longer register between the notches  58  such that movement of the wedging member  44  is possible. Any other frictional engagement is contemplated for the locking mechanism. For example, a rubber friction surface could also be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the single actuator  46  has a post portion  46   b  extending from a button portion  46   a  through the elongated slot  34 , passing through an aperture provided in the wedging member  44  and having a distal end  46   c  with a diameter larger than the one of the wedging member  44  for securing the actuator  46  to the wedging member  44 . 
     The single actuator  46  can be made of a resilient material having a resiliency such that the post portion  46   b  and distal end  46   c  pull the wedging member  44  towards the inner surface  20  of rear shell  18  and holds the wedging member  44  in the lock position. The single actuator  46  can be made of a resilient material such as NYLON™ or polyacetal (DELRIN™) that has the characteristic to return to its original shape when pressure is no longer applied on it. In another example, the actuator may comprise a spring for urging the wedging member  44  in the lock position. Any other suitable biasing means could be used for urging the wedging member  44  in the lock position. 
     The single actuator  46  may have a length when relaxed that is shorter than the distance required to connect the actuator  46  to the wedging member  44  when the wedging member is in the lock position. As such, the elastomeric material of actuator  46  may be stretched when the wedging member  44  is in the lock position such that a pretension is caused whereby the resilience of the elastomeric material of the actuator  46  pulls the wedging member  44  towards the inner surface  20  of rear shell  18  and holds the wedging member  44  in the lock position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9B , when the button portion  46   a  is pushed by the player towards the rear shell  18 , it is compressed and the post portion  46   b  and distal end  46   c  are pushed away from the inner surface  20  of the rear shell  18 , thus disengaging the protrusions  56  from the notches  58  and allowing the wedging member  44  to be moved upwardly or downwardly along the elongated slot  34 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the rear shell  18  follows a curvature (in a horizontal plane) while the rear surface of the occipital inner pad  36  extends generally perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the helmet  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the rear shell may follow a curvature (in a vertical plane) while the central member may extend along a different curvature when no pressure is applied on it such that the space between the rear shell and central member reduces gradually in an upward direction. Because the space between the inner surface of the rear shell and the central member reduces gradually from the bottom towards the top of the helmet, vertical upward displacement of the single wedging member, which is located in such space, then moves the occipital inner pad towards the second position, wherein the occipital inner pad applies a second pressure upon the occipital region OC that is greater than the first pressure applied upon the occipital region OC when the occipital inner pad is in the first position. 
     The present invention provides the player of the hockey or lacrosse helmet  10  with an easy and convenient way to adjust the occipital inner pad  36 . The single wedging member  44  is moveable via the single actuator  46  to adjust the position of occipital the occipital inner pad  36  while the helmet  10  is being worn. A locking mechanism which may be a series of protrusions provided on the single wedging member  44  that register with corresponding notches or indentations projecting from the inner surface  20  of the rear shell  18  for preventing the unintentional displacement of the single wedging member  44  when the locking mechanism is in the lock position. 
     The above description of the embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.