Patent ID: 8209784

Claim:
A helmet, comprising: a shell configured to fit about a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell comprising: a top portion defining a front edge; a bottom portion adjoining the top portion, the bottom portion having a first side and a second side and defining: a first side edge of the first side that is integral with a first end of the front edge; a second side edge of the second side that is integral with a second end of the front edge, wherein the front edge, first side edge, and second side edge define a segment of a circumference of the shell; a faceguard comprising a faceguard assembly formed in a substantially closed loop, wherein a top portion of the faceguard assembly overlies the top portion of the shell and substantially overlies and coincides with an entire shape of the front edge, the faceguard assembly including only one free end segment at each side of the faceguard assembly; a clamping mechanism that removably engages the top portion of the faceguard assembly so that the top portion of the faceguard assembly makes direct contact with the top portion of the shell; a single attachment assembly affixed to each respective one of the first and second sides of the shell, each attachment assembly defining a single forward opening near one of the side edges to receive a respective free end segment of the faceguard assembly, each single attachment assembly having a single downwardly curved closed channel extending rearwardly of the single forward opening and the respective side edge, each free end segment of the faceguard assembly being downwardly curved and extending in a respective downwardly curved closed channel whereby the single attachment assembly and the free end segment of the faceguard assembly on each side of the shell interact so that removal of the free end from the attachment assembly is prevented when a force is applied to the faceguard assembly; and a single impact absorbing stop element disposed within the closed channel of each single attachment assembly and also including a closed channel for engaged the free end segment of the faceguard assemble in the attachment assembly, each single impact absorbing stop element being made of a deformable material so that it compresses when a force is applied to the faceguard assembly.