Helmet with visual shock indicator

Abstract

A visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet, a facemask secured to the helmet, and a mounting element secured to the helmet. The mounting element has a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region. The retainer assembly includes a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a helmet;   a facemask secured to the helmet;   a mounting element secured to the helmet, the mounting element having a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet; and   a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting region comprises a wedge-shaped mounting region configured to receive a complementary wedge-shaped retainer assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting element is configured to secure at least a portion of the facemask to the helmet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed at a height less than a forward-facing height of the attachment points. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting region is located above a face opening of the helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
 a transparent carrier; and   the shock indicator secured to the carrier.   
     
     
         8 . A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a helmet;   a facemask secured to the helmet over a face opening of the helmet via a pair of attachment points;   a mounting region disposed between the attachment points; and   a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting region is formed in the helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting region is formed in a mounting element secured to the helmet via the attachment points. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed at a height less than a forward-facing height of the attachment points. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting region comprises a wedge-shaped mounting region configured to receive a complementary wedge-shaped retainer assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
 a transparent carrier; and   the shock indicator secured to the carrier such that the shock indicator is disposed between a forward-facing wall of the carrier and the helmet.   
     
     
         15 . A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a helmet having a face opening;   a mounting element located above the face opening and configured to secure a portion of a facemask over the face opening via a pair of spaced-apart attachment points, the mounting element having a mounting region disposed between the attachment points, the mounting region including a plurality of sidewalls forming a wedge-shaped receiving area; and   a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region within the wedge-shaped receiving area, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event, and wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed below a forward-facing surface of the attachment points.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
 a transparent carrier; and   the shock indicator secured to the carrier such that the shock indicator is disposed between a forward-facing wall of the carrier and the helmet.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer assembly comprises a transparent carrier having a plurality of sidewalls configured at an angle complementary to the sidewalls of the receiving area. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls includes a notch configured to expose at least a portion of a sidewall of the retainer assembly to facilitate removal of the retainer assembly from the receiving area. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer assembly is located above an upper crossbar of the facemask.