Shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly

Abstract

A facemask coupled to a sports helmut such that it will absorb a very high percentage of the impact energy from a ball or other oncoming force. The shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly includes a housing attached to a helmet. An insert may be coupled to the facemask and the housing such that the insert is pushed further into the housing in response to an applied force. Alternatively, one or more springs may be coupled to the facemask and the housing such that the springs are compressed further toward the housing in response to an applied force. As another alternative, a spring assembly may include at least one spring coupled to the helmet and the housing and at least one spring coupled to the facemask and the housing.

1 . A shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly for a sports helmet, comprising:
 a facemask;   a housing attached to the helmet;   an insert having a first end coupled to the facemask and a second end coupled to the housing, wherein the insert is adapted to interact with the housing in response to a force applied to the first end to absorb and/or dissipate energy created by application of the force.   
   
   
       2 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the insert is positioned within the housing, wherein at least a portion of the insert comprises a rigid material, and wherein at least a portion of the insert comprises an elastomer. 
   
   
       3 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the insert is positioned within the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises an elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient cellular material, compressible fluid or gel positioned within the housing to engage the second end of the rigid insert. 
   
   
       5 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least two of the housings, with at least one of the housings attached to each side of the helmet along opposite edges of a face opening portion of the helmet. 
   
   
       6 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least four of the housings, with at least two of the housings attached to each side of the helmet along opposite sides of a face opening in the helmet. 
   
   
       7 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is attached to the helmet in a central region above a face opening in the helmet. 
   
   
       8 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent, translucent, semi-transparent or semi-translucent. 
   
   
       9 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet is selected from the group consisting of a catcher's mask, an umpire's mask, a lacrosse helmet, a football helmet, and a hockey helmet. 
   
   
       10 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell; and   a shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly including:
 a facemask; 
 a housing attached to the shell; and 
 a spring assembly having a first end coupled to the facemask and a second end coupled to the housing, wherein the spring assembly is adapted to be compressed further toward the housing in response to a force applied to the first end. 
   
   
   
       11 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the spring assembly is coupled to the facemask with a first fastener and the second end of the spring is coupled to the housing with a second fastener. 
   
   
       12 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the facemask attachment assembly further comprises a compressible intermediate member associated with the spring between the first and second fasteners. 
   
   
       13 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners comprises a dampening element. 
   
   
       14 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the facemask attachment assembly comprises at least two of the housings, with at least one of the housings attached to each side of the helmet along opposite edges of a face opening portion of the helmet, and wherein at least two springs are coupled to each housing and the facemask. 
   
   
       15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two springs are substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       16 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the facemask attachment assembly comprises at least two of the housings, wherein at least one of the housings is attached to each side of the helmet along opposite edges of a face opening portion of the helmet, and wherein at least three springs coupled to each housing and the facemask. 
   
   
       17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the at least three springs are substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       18 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the facemask attachment assembly comprises a cover over the portion of the facemask coupled to the first end of the spring. 
   
   
       19 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the facemask includes at least first and second bars, wherein the first bar of the facemask is coupled to the first end of the spring, and the second bar of the facemask is coupled to the cover. 
   
   
       20 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the facemask includes at least one bar, wherein the bar of the facemask is coupled to the first end of the spring, and wherein the bar is substantially perpendicular to the spring. 
   
   
       21 . A shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly for attachment to a sports helmet, comprising:
 a facemask; and   at least one spring assembly including a housing, a first spring having a first end coupled to the helmet and a second end coupled to the housing, and a second spring having a first end coupled to a facemask and a second end coupled to the housing.   
   
   
       22 . The attachment assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one spring assembly is at least two spring assemblies with one of the spring assemblies attached to each side of the helmet along opposite edges of a face opening portion of the helmet. 
   
   
       23 . The attachment assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a third spring having a first end coupled to the facemask and a second end coupled to the housing. 
   
   
       24 . The attachment assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the first spring is coupled to the helmet with a first fastener, the second end of the first spring is coupled to the housing with a second fastener, the first end of the second spring is coupled to the facemask with a third fastener, and the second end of the second spring is coupled to the housing with a fourth fastener. 
   
   
       25 . The attachment assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second springs are each substantially perpendicular to the helmet. 
   
   
       26 . The attachment assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent, translucent, semi-transparent or semi-translucent. 
   
   
       27 . A shock-absorbing facemask attachment assembly for a sports helmet, comprising:
 a housing attached to a facemask;   an insert having a first end coupled to the helmet and a second end disposed in the housing, wherein the insert is adapted to interact with the housing in response to a force applied to the first end to absorb and/or dissipate energy created by application of the force.   
   
   
       28 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell;   a facemask assembly attached to the shell, the facemask assembly including;
 a first protective portion mounted to the shell; 
 at least one housing mounted to the first protective portion; 
 a second protective portion; and 
 at least one insert having a first end coupled to second protective portion and a second end coupled to the housing, wherein the insert is adapted to interact with the housing in response to a force applied to the second protective portion of the facemask to absorb and/or dissipate energy created by application of the force. 
   
   
   
       30 . The helmet of claim  29 , wherein the first and second protective portions each include at least one bar. 
   
   
       31 . The helmet of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the housings is mounted to the bar of the first protective portion.