Detachable visor for a helmet having supports

Abstract

A helmet includes an outer shell and a visor. The outer shell has a first plurality of coupling elements. The visor has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an inner surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The visor includes a second plurality of coupling elements and a support. The second plurality of coupling element are disposed along the inner surface and positioned to selectively engage with the first plurality of coupling element to releasably couple the visor to the outer shell. The support extends from the inner surface of the visor and is positioned to engage with the outer shell

1 . A helmet, comprising:
 an outer shell having a first plurality of coupling elements; and   a visor having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an inner surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the visor including:
 a second plurality of coupling elements disposed along the inner surface and positioned to selectively engage with the first plurality of coupling element to releasably couple the visor to the outer shell; and 
 a support extending from the inner surface of the visor, the support having a surface that is configured to correspond to a portion of an outer surface of the outer shell and engage with the outer shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of coupling elements include:
 a first coupling element positioned on a first lateral side of the inner surface of the visor; and   a second coupling element positioned on an opposing second lateral side of the inner surface of the visor.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the support includes a first fin positioned between the first coupling element and a midline of the visor and a second fin positioned between the second coupling element and the midline of the visor. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell defines a first platform positioned to align with the first fin and a second platform positioned to align with the second fin. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the first fin includes a first interfacing surface configured to sit on the first platform and the second fin includes a second interfacing surface configured to sit on the second platform when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the second plurality of coupling elements further include a third coupling element positioned on the inner surface, along the midline of the visor. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the support further includes a central support disposed along the midline of the visor, wherein the central support defines a central interface configured to engage the outer shell and includes the third coupling element. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the central support includes a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the central interface rearward of the trailing edge of the visor, the first flange defining a third interfacing surface configured to engage the outer shell, and the second flange defining a fourth interfacing surface configured to engage the outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . A visor for a helmet, comprising:
 an inner surface;   a first coupling element positioned on a first lateral side of the inner surface;   a second coupling element positioned on an opposing second lateral side of the inner surface;   a central support disposed along a midline of the visor and extending from the inner surface, the central support defining a central interface having a third coupling element;   a first lateral support extending from the inner surface and positioned between the first coupling element and the central support; and   a second lateral support extending from the inner surface and positioned between the second coupling element and the central support.   
     
     
         10 . The visor of  claim 9 , wherein the first lateral support includes a first interfacing surface configured to sit on a first platform defined by a shell of the helmet and the second lateral support includes a second interfacing surface configured to sit on a second platform defined by the shell of the helmet when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The visor of  claim 9 , wherein the central interface is configured to engage a shell of the helmet when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The visor of  claim 9 , wherein the central support includes a first flange and a second flange extending from opposing sides of the central interface. 
     
     
         13 . The visor of  claim 12 , wherein the first flange defines a first interfacing surface configured to engage a shell of the helmet when the visor is coupled to the helmet and the second flange defines a second interfacing surface configured to engage the shell when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         14 . The visor of  claim 9 , wherein the first coupling element, the second coupling element, and the third coupling element are configured to couple the visor to the helmet with a breakaway connection. 
     
     
         15 . The visor of  claim 9 , wherein the third coupling element includes an array of coupling elements configured to facilitate toolless pivotal adjustment of an angle at which the visor extends from the helmet, wherein the visor is configured to pivot about an axis that extends between the first coupling element and the second coupling element. 
     
     
         16 . A visor for a helmet, comprising:
 a leading edge;   a trailing edge;   an inner surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge;   a plurality of coupling elements disposed along the inner surface, the plurality of coupling elements positioned to selectively engage with corresponding coupling elements disposed on a shell of the helmet to releasably couple the visor to the helmet; and   a support extending from the inner surface of the visor, the support having a surface that is configured to correspond to a portion of an outer surface of the outer shell, and engage with the shell when the visor is coupled to the helmet.   
     
     
         17 . The visor of  claim 16 , wherein the support includes a first fin positioned between a first lateral end of the visor and a midline of the visor, the first fin defining a first interfacing surface configured to engage a first interface defined by the shell of the helmet when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . The visor of  claim 17 , wherein the support includes a second fin positioned between an opposing second lateral end of the visor and the midline of the visor, the second fin defining a second interfacing surface configured to engage a second interface defined by the shell of the helmet when the visor is coupled to the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . The visor of  claim 16 , wherein the support includes a central support disposed along a midline of the visor, the central support having a central interface, a first flange extending from a first side of the central interface rearward of the trailing edge, and a second flange extending from an opposing side of the central interface rearward of the trailing edge. 
     
     
         20 . The visor of  claim 19 , wherein the first flange defines a first interfacing surface configured to engage the shell when the visor is coupled to the helmet and the second flange defines a second interfacing surface configured to engage the shell when the visor is coupled to the helmet.