Patent Application
20060117466
This invention pertains to protective headgear for sporting activities such as in boxing, martial arts and self-defense training. More specifically, this invention pertains to mechanisms, such as chinstraps, for securing the headgear on the head.
Participants in contact sports, or self-defense training often require protective wear to prevent or minimize injury. Helmets or protective headgear are used in various sports such as football, baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, martial arts, boxing or self-defense training. Protective headgear used in boxing and martial arts may be fabricated from a resilient foam material such as polyvinylnitrile foam, which is cut and/or molded to cover sensitive portions of the head for protection. Sections of the headgear may be perforated, or contain openings for ventilation, viewing or hearing. The foam absorbs energy from blows to the head, and is lightweight to minimize stress to the neck and shoulders during use.
Examples of padded headgear used in boxing, martial arts training or self-defense training are illustrated in
The headgear 10 illustrated in
Another headgear 10 is shown in
However, headgear fabricated from foam materials as described above that are encased within a vinyl coating may have a tendency to slip when a user sweats. Such headgear may not pass certain testing standards adopted by the American Standards for Testing and Materials for martial arts headgear.
The present invention is for a chinstrap and chin cup for a protective headgear which headgear has a first side panel that covers at least a portion of one side of the head of a user and a second side panel that covers at least a portion of an opposite side of the head and each side panel has an aperture. A chin cup having an indentation for receiving and engaging a chin of a user is attached to a chinstrap.
The chinstrap has a first free end operatively connected to the chin cup and extending laterally from the chin cup, and a second free end operatively connected to the chin cup and extending laterally from the chin cup opposite the first free end. Each of the first free end and second free end is capable of being inserted through an aperture on a respective side panel of the headgear. A fastening system is operatively connected to the chinstrap, for detachably securing the first free end and the second free end to a bottom of the chin cup after being inserted through the apertures on the headgear.
In a preferred embodiment, the fastening system includes one or more hook and/loop fastening components. A hook component is affixed to a bottom surface of the chin cup; a first loop component is affixed to the first free end of the chinstrap; and, a second loop component is affixed to the second free end of the chinstrap. The free ends of the chinstrap are inserted through apertures on respective side panels of the headgear and detachably secured to the bottom surface of the chin cup.
The features and advantage of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read with the accompanying drawings.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The headgear 20 preferably includes a circumferential member 23, or outer shell, that generally conforms to the shape of one's head and covers portions of one's head for protection. The circumferential member 23 includes a front section 24 that covers the forehead, a back section 25 that covers the back of the head, two side sections 26 that cover the ears, temples, sides of the jaw and side of the head and a top section 27 that covers at least a portion of the top of the head. The sections 24, 25, 26 and 27 are arranged to form a first opening 28 through which a user is capable of viewing, and a second opening 29 through which a user's neck extends. Pads 30 may be attached to the circumferential member 23 to supplemental the protection of the member 23. All foam materials are encased within a reasonably tough pliable paint coating, preferably comprising a polyvinyl chloride. Known dipping or painting processes are used to apply the coating.
With respect to
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
A fastening system for securing the chin cup 21 to the headgear 20, is attached to the free ends 34 and 35 of the chinstrap 22 and the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21 whereby the free ends 34 and 35 are connected to the headgear and detachably secured to the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21. Each side section 26 of circumferential member 23 has an aperture 40 through which a respective free end 34 or 35 is inserted. As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein the fastening system includes one or more Velcro® sections, or other known hook/loop fasteners. The arrangement of the fastener sections as described herein is by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is contemplated that the invention covers any combination of fastener sections by which the free ends 34 and 35 connect to the )headgear and are detachably affixed to a fastener section on the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21, and/or to one another. Other fastening systems, such as snaps or buckles may be used.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
The hook and loop fastening system includes a hook component 36 affixed to the middle section 22A of the strap 22 and/or bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21. A first loop component 37 is affixed to the first side 34A of free end 34, and a second loop component is 38 is affixed to a first side 35A of free end 35.
As shown in
In this manner a headgear with a chinstrap and chin cup is provided in which the chinstrap is adjustable, provides protection to the chin of a user and passes applicable testing standards for protective headgear.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only and not of limitation. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skilled in the art without departing from the teaching of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.
