Goalie helmet with novel strap configuration

Abstract

A sports helmet having a front shell adapted to cover a front portion of a head of a wearer, a rear shell adapted to cover a rear portion of the head of the wearer, the rear shell cooperating with the front shell to surround the head, and a plurality of straps interconnecting the front and rear shells, the straps being connected to the front shell along an inner surface thereof.

1 . A goalie helmet comprising:
 a mask adapted to cover a front portion of a head and a face of a wearer, the mask including a window defined therein for minimizing an interference of the mask with a vision of the wearer;   a back plate adapted to cover a rear portion of the head of the wearer, the back plate and the mask cooperating to substantially enclose the head of the wearer; and   a plurality of straps interconnecting the back plate and the mask, at least one of the straps being connected to the mask along an inner surface thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the straps are connected to the back plate through an adjustment mechanism allowing a length of the straps extending between the mask and the back plate to be changed. 
     
     
         3 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment member for each of the straps, each adjustment member including a pinching member pivotable between a closed position where the pinching member retains the strap to prevent the length from being changed, and an opened position where the pinching member releases the strap to allow the length to be changed. 
     
     
         4 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the helmet includes an inner padding layer resting against at least one of the inner surface of the mask and an inner surface of the back plate, the inner padding layer including free portions movable with respect to a respective one of the inner surfaces, and the straps extend between the free portions and the respective inner surface such that a tension in the strap results in the free portions being moved toward the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the straps is connected along the inner surface proximate the window. 
     
     
         6 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the straps is connected in a portion of the mask adapted to extend substantially over a forehead of the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the straps includes a top strap extending from the back plate along the inner surface of the mask over a top of the head of the wearer, and left and right side straps extending from the back plate along the inner surface of the mask over respectively a left and right side of the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the top strap, left side strap and right side straps are attached to a same connection member retained to the inner surface of the mask. 
     
     
         9 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the connection member is retained on the inner surface upwardly offset from the window in proximity thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the straps is connected to the back plate along an outer surface thereof, and passes through a respective hole defined through the back plate before being connected to the mask along the inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A sports helmet comprising:
 a front shell adapted to cover a front portion of a head of a wearer;   a rear shell adapted to cover a rear portion of the head of the wearer, the rear shell cooperating with the front shell to surround the head; and   a plurality of straps interconnecting the front and rear shells, the straps being connected to the front shell along an inner surface thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the straps are connected to the rear shell through an adjustment mechanism allowing a length of the straps extending between the front and rear shells to be changed. 
     
     
         13 . The goalie helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment member for each of the straps, each adjustment member including a pinching member pivotable between a closed position where the pinching member retains the strap to prevent the length from being changed, and an opened position where the pinching releases the strap to allow the length to be changed. 
     
     
         14 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the helmet includes an inner padding layer resting against the inner surface of the front shell, the inner padding layer including free portions movable with respect to the inner surface, and the straps extend between the free portions and the front shell such that a tension in the strap results in the free portions being moved toward the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the straps are connected along the inner surface in a portion of the front shell which in use is located over a forehead of the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the straps include a top strap extending from the rear shell along the inner surface of the front shell over a top of the head of the wearer, and left and right side straps extending from the rear shell along the inner surface of the front shell over respectively a left and right side of the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         17 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the top strap, left side strap and right side straps are connected to a same connection member attached to the inner surface of the front shell. 
     
     
         18 . The sports helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each of the straps is connected to the rear shell along an outer surface thereof, and passes through a respective hole defined through the rear shell before being connected to the front shell along the inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a goalie helmet, comprising:
 attaching one end of each of a plurality of straps to an inner surface of a mask of the helmet;   attaching a respective adjustment member for each of the straps to a back plate of the helmet; and   engaging an opposed end of each of the straps with the respective adjustment member.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein each adjustment member is attached to an outer surface of the back plate, and before engaging the opposed end of each of the straps with the respective adjustment member, a respective hole for each of the straps is formed in the back plate, and the opposed end of each of the straps is passed through the respective hole.