Patent ID: 8146178

Claim:
A quick release faceguard retainer ( 10 ) for use in with a protective headgear ( 80 ) and a faceguard ( 90 ), the protective headgear ( 80 ) having a face opening ( 82 ) and an outer surface with a selected curvature above the face opening ( 82 ), the faceguard comprising at least one top substantially horizontal bar ( 92 ) and at least one lower portion ( 94 ), the quick release faceguard retainer ( 10 ) comprising: a base portion ( 12 ) having a front surface ( 30 ) and a back surface ( 32 ), the back surface ( 32 ) of the base ( 12 ) being adapted to be fixedly attached to the outer surface of the headgear ( 80 ) at a center above the face opening ( 82 ), the back surface ( 32 ) of the base ( 12 ) having a selected curvature matching the selected curvature of the outer surface of the headgear ( 80 ) above the face opening ( 82 ); two complementary retention arms ( 16 a , 16 b ) for securing the at least one top bar ( 92 ) of the faceguard ( 90 ), the retention arms ( 16 a , 16 b ) protruding out from the front surface ( 30 ) of the base ( 12 ) to form two complementary retention channels ( 18 a , 18 b ) each having an inner surface which together surround at least part of an outer perimeter of the top horizontal bar ( 92 ) of the faceguard ( 90 ), the two retention arms ( 16 a , 16 b ) each comprising a base end ( 22 a , 22 b ) attached to the base portion ( 12 ) and an opposite free end ( 20 a , 20 b ), one of the channels ( 18 a , 18 b ) being upwardly open and the other channel ( 18 a , 18 b ) being downwardly open for receiving a portion of the at least one top bar ( 92 ) into each channel ( 18 a , 18 b ); and a faceguard engagement space ( 14 ) between the two retention arms ( 16 a , 16 b ) having a size for receiving the top bar ( 92 ).