Attachment system for frontal helmet extension to a helmet

Abstract

An attachment system for securing a frontal helmet extension to protective headgear, the attachment system including one or more magnetic elements disposed on the helmet and/or frontal helmet extension and one or more complementary elements disposed on the helmet and/or frontal helmet extension and adapted to engage the magnetic elements. The magnetic elements and complementary elements are configured to detachably couple the frontal helmet extension to the helmet in a position wherein the frontal helmet extension extends forward from the helmet. The magnetic properties of the magnetic elements are adapted to magnetically attract the complementary elements so that the frontal helmet extension is effectively secured to the helmet during ordinary use of the helmet while allowing release of the frontal helmet extension from the helmet upon impact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headgear, comprising:
 an outer shell including one or more first coupling elements positioned along the outer shell;   a frontal extension having an inner surface shaped to complement a portion of the outer shell, the frontal extension including one or more second coupling elements positioned along the inner surface to correspond with the one or more first coupling elements to couple the frontal extension to the outer shell;   wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements are configured to at least one of (i) couple the frontal extension to the outer shell with a break away connection and (ii) facilitate toolless pivotable adjustment of an angle at which the frontal extension extends from the outer shell.   
     
     
         2 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements are configured to couple the frontal extension to the outer shell with the break away connection such that the frontal extension is effectively secured to the outer shell during ordinary use of the headgear, while allowing release of the frontal extension from the outer shell in response to an impact to the frontal extension. 
     
     
         3 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements are configured to facilitate the toolless pivotable adjustment of the angle at which the frontal extension extends from the outer shell in response to a user pulling forward or pushing backward on the frontal extension. 
     
     
         4 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements include an indexing element, wherein the indexing element is configured to facilitate incremental pivotable repositioning of the frontal extension and assist in holding the frontal extension at a selected angle. 
     
     
         5 . The headgear of  claim 4 , wherein the indexing element has one or more ridges that are contoured to complement a coupling element of the other one of the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements. 
     
     
         6 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements include at least one of magnetic elements and complementary elements, wherein the magnetic elements comprise a permanent magnet material and the complementary elements comprise a ferrous material. 
     
     
         7 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the second coupling elements of the frontal extension cover the first coupling elements of the outer shell and the second coupling elements are positioned along the inner surface of the frontal extension such that the frontal extension and the outer shell appear to be a unitary structure when coupled. 
     
     
         8 . A frontal extension of a helmet, comprising:
 an inner surface shaped to complement a portion of an outer shell of the helmet; and   one or more coupling elements positioned along the inner surface to align with a corresponding number of coupling elements positioned along the outer shell of the helmet;   wherein the one or more coupling elements of the frontal extension are configured to at least one of (i) couple the frontal extension to the outer shell with a break away connection and (ii) facilitate toolless pivotable adjustment of an angle at which the frontal extension extends from the outer shell.   
     
     
         9 . The frontal extension of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more coupling elements of the frontal extension include a first coupling element positioned on a first lateral side of the inner surface and a second coupling element positioned on an opposing second lateral side of the inner surface, wherein the frontal extension is configured to pivot about the first coupling element and the second coupling element. 
     
     
         10 . The frontal extension of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more coupling elements of the frontal extension include a third coupling element positioned along a midline of the inner surface. 
     
     
         11 . The frontal extension of  claim 10 , wherein the third coupling element is configured to facilitate incremental pivotable repositioning of the frontal extension when coupled to the outer shell and assist in holding the frontal extension at a selected angle. 
     
     
         12 . The frontal extension of  claim 10 , wherein the third coupling element has one or more ridges that are contoured to complement one of the corresponding number of coupling elements positioned along the outer shell of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . An attachment system for securing a frontal extension to a helmet, the attachment system comprising:
 one or more first coupling elements disposed on the helmet; and   one or more second coupling elements disposed on the frontal extension, the one or more second coupling elements positioned to correspond with the one or more first coupling elements;   wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements are configured to couple the frontal extension to the helmet with a break away connection.   
     
     
         14 . The attachment system of  claim 13 , wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements are coupled with the break away connection such that the frontal extension is effectively secured to the helmet during ordinary use of the helmet, while allowing release of the frontal extension from the helmet in response to an impact to the frontal extension. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment system of  claim 13 , wherein the first coupling elements and the second coupling elements include at least one of magnetic elements and complementary elements, wherein the magnetic elements comprise a permanent magnetic material, and wherein the complementary elements comprise a ferrous material. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment system of  claim 13 , wherein at least two first coupling elements are positioned at generally opposite sides of the helmet, and wherein at least two second coupling elements are positioned at corresponding locations on the frontal extension. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two first coupling elements and the at least two second coupling elements are configured to facilitate toolless pivotable adjustment of an angle at which the frontal extension extends forward from the helmet, wherein the frontal extension is configured to pivot about the at least two first coupling elements positioned along the sides of the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one first coupling element is positioned at an upper area along a midline of the helmet, and wherein at least one second coupling element is positioned at a corresponding location along a midline of the frontal extension. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one first coupling element and the at least one second coupling element are configured to hold the frontal extension at a selected angle. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment system of  claim 19 , wherein one of the at least one first coupling element and the at least one second coupling element has one or more ridges that at least one of (i) are contoured to complement the other one of the at least one first coupling element and the at least one second coupling element, (ii) facilitate incremental repositioning of the frontal extension on the helmet, and (iii) assist in holding the frontal extension at the selected angle.