Helmet having a chin bar collar

Abstract

A helmet comprising an outer shell and a chin bar collar is disclosed. The outer shell comprises an interior surface and an open front portion. The chin bar collar comprises a chin guard and a collar segment forming a continuous loop. The collar segment is coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell. A majority of the collar segment is positioned within an interior space of the outer shell, and a majority of the chin guard is positioned outside the interior space of the outer shell. The outer shell may include at least two coupling points, at least one on each side of the open front portion, coupling the chin bar collar to the outer shell. The helmet may include at least one bracket coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell. The chin bar collar may be releasably coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet, comprising:
 an outer shell, the outer shell comprising an interior surface adjacent a lower edge of the outer shell and defining an interior space within a volume defined by the outer shell, the outer shell comprising an open front portion; and   a chin bar collar comprising a chin guard and a collar segment integral with the chin guard, the combination of the chin guard and the collar segment forming a continuous loop, the collar segment coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell and having a majority of the collar segment within the interior space of the outer shell and a majority of the chin guard outside the interior space of the outer shell.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , the outer shell further comprising at least two coupling points on the interior surface of the outer shell, at least one of the at least two coupling points on each side of the open front portion of the helmet, the chin bar collar coupled to the outer shell at the at least two coupling points. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bracket coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell, the chin bar collar mated with the helmet between the interior surface and the at least one bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the chin bar collar comprises a ledge at each of two interfaces of the chin guard and the collar segment, each ledge mated with a leading edge of the outer shell proximate the open front of the helmet. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the outer shell comprises at least one of an upper lip and a lower lip, the chin bar collar seated against the at least one of the upper lip and the lower lip. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the collar segment is seated in a recess in the interior surface of the outer shell shaped complementary to the collar segment. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one inner shell contained within the interior space of the outer shell, wherein a majority of the collar segment is positioned between the interior surface of the outer shell and the inner shell. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the collar segment is seated in a recess in at least one of the inner shell and the interior surface of the outer shell, the recess shaped complementary to the collar segment 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the collar segment is releasably coupled to the outer shell. 
     
     
         10 . A helmet, comprising:
 an outer shell, the outer shell comprising an interior surface defining an interior space within the outer shell, the outer shell comprising an open front portion; and   a chin bar collar comprising a chin guard and a collar segment forming an annulus, the collar segment secured to the interior surface of the outer shell at at least one coupling point on each side of the open front portion of the helmet and at least one other location on the outer shell proximate a rear portion of the outer shell;   wherein a majority of the collar segment is positioned within the interior space of the outer shell and a majority of the chin guard is positioned outside the interior space of the outer shell.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one bracket coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell, the chin bar collar mated with the helmet between the interior surface and the at least one bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the chin bar collar comprises a ledge at each of two interfaces of the chin guard and the collar segment, each ledge mated with a leading edge of the outer shell proximate the open front of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the interior surface of the outer shell comprises at least one of an upper lip and a lower lip, the chin bar collar seated against the at least one of the upper lip and the lower lip. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the collar segment is seated in a recess in the interior surface of the outer shell shaped complementary to the collar segment. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one inner shell contained within the interior space of the outer shell, wherein a majority of the collar segment is positioned between the interior surface of the outer shell and the inner shell. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the collar segment is seated in a recess in at least one of the inner shell and the interior surface of the outer shell, the recess shaped complementary to the collar segment 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein the collar segment is releasably coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell.