Sports helmet
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A football helmet comprising:
- a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having;
a front region,a crown region,a rear region,two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening,a lower edge surface extending generally from one of the ear flaps and along the rear region to the other of the ear flaps,an inner shell wall surface,an outer shell wall surface,an offset band extending around the rear region and above the lower edge surface, the offset band includingan offset band wall having an inner band surface offset from the inner shell wall surface, and an outer band surface offset from the outer shell wall surface, anda pair of angled transition walls, extending between the offset band wall and the rear region;
a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region, the raised central band having a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls,a first plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a first side of the raised central band, anda second plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a second side of the raised central band;
a face guard secured to the shell by a face guard connector; and
a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer.
12 Assignments
Litigations
3 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A football helmet includes a plastic shell having an offset band extending around a rear region of the shell and above the lower edge surface of the shell. The offset band includes an offset band wall having an inner band surface offset from an inner shell wall surface, and an outer band surface offset from and outer shell wall surface. A pair of angled transition walls extends between the offset band wall and a rear region of the shell. The shell also includes a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region.
240 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A football helmet comprising:
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a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having; a front region, a crown region, a rear region, two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, a lower edge surface extending generally from one of the ear flaps and along the rear region to the other of the ear flaps, an inner shell wall surface, an outer shell wall surface, an offset band extending around the rear region and above the lower edge surface, the offset band including an offset band wall having an inner band surface offset from the inner shell wall surface, and an outer band surface offset from the outer shell wall surface, and a pair of angled transition walls, extending between the offset band wall and the rear region; a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region, the raised central band having a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls, a first plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a first side of the raised central band, and a second plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a second side of the raised central band; a face guard secured to the shell by a face guard connector; and a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A football helmet comprising:
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a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having; a front region, a crown region, a rear region, two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, a lower edge extending generally from one of the ear flaps and along the rear region to the other of the ear flaps, an inner shell wall surface, an outer shell wall surface, an offset band extending around the rear region and above the lower edge, the offset band including; an offset band wall having an outer band surface offset from the outer shell wall surface, a pair of angled transition walls extending between the outer shell wall surface and the outer band surface, one of the angled transition walls positioned above the offset band wall, and the other of the angled transition walls positioned below the offset band wall, and a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region, the raised central band having a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls and having an inflation opening disposed between the sidewalls in the crown region; an inflatable crown shock absorbing pad disposed in the crown region adjacent the inner shell wall surface, the crown shock absorbing pad including an inflation valve aligned with the inflation opening; a face guard secured to the shell by a face guard connector; and
,a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A football helmet comprising:
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a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having; a front region, a crown region, a rear region, a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across a crown region to the rear region, the raised central band having a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls, a first plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a first side of the raised central band, a second plurality of vent openings residing outside of the raised central band and aligned along a second side of the raised central band, two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, a lower edge surface extending generally from one of the ear flaps and along the rear region to the other of the ear flaps, an inner shell wall surface, an outer shell wall surface, an offset band integrally formed as part of the shell, the offset band extending around the rear region and above the lower edge surface, the offset band including; an offset band wall having an outer band surface offset from the outer shell wall surface, a pair of angled transition walls extending between the offset band wall and the rear region, and end segments that curve downwardly toward the lower edge surface, and a face guard secured to the shell by a face guard connector; and
,a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A football helmet comprising:
a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having; a front region, a crown region, a rear region, two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region, a first plurality of elongated vent openings in the shell, wherein said first plurality of vent openings reside outside of the raised central band and are aligned along a first side of the raised central band; a second plurality of elongated vent openings in the shell, wherein said second plurality of vent openings reside outside of the raised central band and are aligned along a second side of the raised central band; a face guard secured to the shell by a plurality of connectors; and a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A football helmet comprising:
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a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having; a front region, a crown region, a rear region, two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region, a first plurality of elongated vent openings in the shell, wherein said first plurality of vent openings are positioned beyond the raised central band and are aligned along a first side of the raised central band; a second plurality of elongated vent openings in the shell, wherein said second plurality of vent openings are positioned beyond the raised central band and are aligned along a second side of the raised central band; a face guard secured to the shell by a plurality of connectors; and a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
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Specification