Sports helmet with removable facemask

Abstract

A sports helmet, such as a batting helmet, includes a shell and a facemask that is removably attached to the shell with at least one fastening component that is integral with the facemask and at least one mating fastening component that is integral with the shell. The facemask may have at least one integral fastening component at each distal end of the facemask. Correspondingly, the shell may have at least one mating fastening component on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell. The fastening components can be removably connected to the mating fastening components on the interior surface of the shell. The helmet may include an ear guard attached to the facemask and removably attached to the shell with at least one fastening component that is integral with the ear guard and at least one mating fastening component that is integral with the shell.

1 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell; and   a facemask removably attached to the shell with at least one fastening component that is integral with the facemask and at least one mating fastening component that is integral with the shell, the sports helmet configured for competitive play in organized competition.   
   
   
       2 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one fastening component is flexible. 
   
   
       3 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening component comprises a tab and the at least one mating fastening component comprises a pair of stop regions, and the tab can be slid between the stop regions and locked in place. 
   
   
       4 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening component comprises a projection and the at least one mating fastening component comprises a recessed area, and the projection can be inserted into the recessed area and locked in place. 
   
   
       5 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening component comprises two projections and the at least one mating fastening component comprises two recessed areas, and the projections can be inserted into the recessed areas and locked in place. 
   
   
       6 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the facemask comprises at least one integral ear guard. 
   
   
       7 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved bill molded into the shell. 
   
   
       8 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising padding attached to an interior of the shell. 
   
   
       9 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a chinstrap removably attached to the helmet. 
   
   
       10 . The sports helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet is selected from the group consisting of a batting helmet, a catcher's mask, an umpire's mask, a lacrosse helmet, a football helmet, a ski helmet and a hockey helmet. 
   
   
       11 . A batting helmet, comprising:
 a shell having at least one integral mating fastening component on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell; and   a facemask having at least one integral fastening component at each distal end of the facemask, wherein the fastening components can be removably connected to the mating fastening components on the interior surface of the shell, the batting helmet configured for competitive play in organized competition.   
   
   
       12 . The batting helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one fastening component at each distal end of the facemask comprises a flexible tab and the at least one mating fastening component on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell comprises two projections, and the flexible tab can be slid between the projections and locked in place. 
   
   
       13 . The batting helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one fastening component at each distal end of the facemask comprises a projection and the at least one mating fastening component on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell comprises a recessed area, and the projection can be inserted into the recessed area and locked in place. 
   
   
       14 . The batting helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the facemask comprises an integral ear guard at each distal end of the facemask, with an integral fastening component extending from each ear guard. 
   
   
       15 . The batting helmet of  claim 11 , further comprising a curved bill molded into the shell, with at least one bar of the facemask in pressurized communication with the bill when the facemask is attached to the shell. 
   
   
       16 . The batting helmet of  claim 11 , comprising at least two integral mating fastening components on each of the two opposing interior surfaces of the shell, and at least one integral fastening component set inward from each distal end of the facemask, in addition to the at least one integral fastening component at each distal end of the facemask. 
   
   
       17 . The batting helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one fastening component at each distal end of the facemask comprises a different type of fastening component than the at least one integral fastening component set inward from each distal end of the facemask, and the at least two mating fastening components on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell comprise two different types of mating fastening components. 
   
   
       18 . The batting helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one fastening component at each distal end of the facemask comprises the same type of fastening component as the at least one integral fastening component set inward from each distal end of the facemask, and the at least two mating fastening components on each of two opposing interior surfaces of the shell comprises the same type of mating fastening components. 
   
   
       19 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell;   an ear guard removably attached to the shell; and   a facemask positioned between the shell and the ear guard and removably attached to the shell with at least one fastening component that is integral with the ear guard and at least one mating fastening component that is integral with the shell.   
   
   
       20 . The sports helmet of  claim 19 , wherein the ear guard is not integral with the facemask.