Quick Release Faceguard Attachment

Abstract

An attachment system for operative connection of a faceguard to a helmet shell with the faceguard being held within a selectively releasable clamp operatively secured to the helmet shell. The attachment system includes a compressible spring clip held in overlying relation to the helmet shell. The spring clip is adapted to selectively clamp a bridge member of the faceguard. A selectively engageable latch structure holds the spring clip in the closed condition. Upon release of the latch structure, the spring clip is urged to the open condition, such that the faceguard may be rotated away from a user's face.

1 . An attachment system adapted to operatively connect a faceguard to a helmet shell, the attachment system comprising:
 a compressible spring clip operatively engaging an adjustable connector extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the helmet shell such that the spring clip is held in overlying relation to the helmet shell, the spring clip being adapted to selectively clamp a bridge member of the faceguard, the spring clip including a platform base, a pivoting lockdown leg disposed above the platform base and a biasing spring segment operatively connecting the platform base and the lockdown leg, the platform base and the lockdown leg cooperatively defining a compressible pocket adapted to cradle the bridge member between the platform base and the lockdown leg, the lockdown leg moving in pivoting relation between an open condition in which the bridge member is rotatable within the pocket and a closed condition in which the bridge member is clamped against rotation within the pocket; and   a selectively engageable latch structure adapted to hold the lockdown leg in the closed condition, such that upon release of the latch structure, the spring segment urges the lockdown leg away from the platform base to the open condition, such that the bridge member is rotatable within the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector comprises a screw disposed within a T-nut projecting outwardly from the helmet shell, the screw including a tool-engaging distal head. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the platform base includes a pass-through opening adapted to matedly receive the distal head of the screw. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the pass-through opening is a keyway opening including a base portion adapted for passage of the distal head and a retention slot of reduced width relative to the base portion, the retention slot adapted to block withdrawal of the distal head. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the retention slot is disposed at least partially within a raised surface at a height greater than the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spring clip has a substantially hairpin configuration and wherein the spring segment is disposed in curved relation between the platform base and the lockdown leg at least partially about the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the lockdown leg includes a downwardly extending protuberance defining a forward boundary of the pocket. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lockdown leg has a dogleg configuration including a proximal surface adjacent to the spring segment, a distal surface forward from the proximal surface and a ramp segment extending between the proximal surface and the distal surface. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the ramp segment includes a tool access opening. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spring clip is a one-piece molded structure of polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . An attachment system adapted to operatively connect a faceguard to a helmet shell, the attachment system comprising:
 a compressible spring clip operatively engaging an adjustable connector extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the helmet shell such that the spring clip is held in overlying relation to the helmet shell, the spring clip being adapted to selectively clamp a bridge member of the faceguard, the spring clip including a platform base, a pivoting lockdown leg disposed above the platform base and an arcuate spring segment operatively connecting the platform base and the lockdown leg, the arcuate spring segment at least partially surrounding a compressible pocket adapted to cradle the bridge member between the platform base and the lockdown leg, the lockdown leg moving in pivoting relation between an open condition in which the bridge member is rotatable within the pocket and a closed condition in which the bridge member is clamped against rotation within the pocket, the lockdown leg including a slot opening disposed adjacent to a distal edge of the lockdown leg; and   a selectively engageable latch structure adapted to hold the lockdown leg in the closed condition, such that upon release of the latch structure, the spring segment urges the lockdown leg away from the platform base to the open condition, wherein the latch structure includes a resilient locking arm extending upwardly from the platform base, the locking arm including a post portion and a distal angled head adapted for snap-in insertion through the slot opening in the lockdown leg, the angled head including a chamfered camming surface and an undercut disposed between the post portion and the chamfered camming surface, wherein the chamfered camming surface includes a tool-engaging cavity oriented to face outwardly towards the distal edge of the lockdown leg following insertion through the slot opening in the lockdown leg.   
     
     
         12 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector comprises a screw disposed within a T-nut projecting outwardly from the helmet shell, the screw including a tool-engaging distal head. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the platform base includes a pass-through opening adapted to matedly receive the distal head of the screw. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the pass-through opening is a keyway opening including a base portion adapted for passage of the distal head and a retention slot of reduced width relative to the base portion, the retention slot adapted to block withdrawal of the distal head. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the retention slot is disposed at least partially within a raised surface at a height greater than the base portion. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the lockdown leg has a dogleg configuration including a proximal surface adjacent to the spring segment, a distal surface forward from the proximal surface, the distal surface surrounding the slot opening, and a ramp segment extending between the proximal surface and the distal surface. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the ramp segment includes a tool access opening. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the lockdown leg includes a downwardly extending protuberance defining a forward boundary of the pocket. 
     
     
         19 . An attachment system adapted to operatively connect a faceguard to a helmet shell, the attachment system comprising:
 a compressible spring clip operatively engaging an adjustable connector extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the helmet shell such that the spring clip is held in overlying relation to the helmet shell, the spring clip being adapted to selectively clamp a bridge member of the faceguard, the spring clip including a platform base, a pivoting lockdown leg disposed above the platform base and an arcuate spring segment operatively connecting the platform base and the lockdown leg, the arcuate spring segment at least partially surrounding a compressible pocket adapted to cradle the bridge member between the platform base and the lockdown leg, the lockdown leg moving in pivoting relation between an open condition in which the bridge member is rotatable within the pocket and a closed condition in which the bridge member is clamped against rotation within the pocket; and   a selectively engageable latch structure adapted to hold the lockdown leg in the closed condition, such that upon release of the latch structure, the spring segment urges the lockdown leg away from the platform base to the open condition, such that the bridge member is rotatable within the pocket, wherein the latch structure comprises a camming screw having a tool-engaging head portion disposed across an upper surface of the lockdown leg, and wherein the connector comprises a camming lug including partial turn camming tracks adapted to engage the camming screw such that the camming screw is latched in place by compression and rotation within the camming lug.   
     
     
         20 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the camming lug comprises a T-nut having a plurality of substantially J-shaped camming tracks.