Lacrosse helmet

Abstract

A lacrosse helmet with a plastic shell has a full jaw protector attached to the shell at a right side of the shell and at a left side of the shell, extending forwardly from the shell and extending continuously from the right side of the shell to the left side of the shell and adapted to cover and protect a lower jaw of the wearer. A faceguard made of a grid of horizontal wire members, vertical wire members, and a bottom wire member is removably attached to both the shell and the full jaw protector by loop straps. T-intersections are formed by the bottom wire member and certain of the vertical wire members, adjacent to and above the full jaw protector and forward of loop straps connecting the faceguard to the jaw protector. The loop straps act as stops against rearward movement of the vertical wire members thereby resisting the tendency of the faceguard to slide and twist when struck with blows during sports play.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse helmet comprising:
 a lacrosse helmet shell adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer;   padding disposed within the shell; and   a full jaw protector attached to the shell at a right side of the shell and at a left side of the shell and extending forwardly from the shell and extending continuously from the right side of the shell to the left side of the shell and adapted to cover and protect a lower jaw of the wearer;   a faceguard removably attached to the shell and removably attached to the full jaw protector;   the faceguard comprising a grid of a plurality of horizontal wire members, a plurality of vertical wire members, and a bottom wire member;   a left loop strap and a right loop strap attaching the bottom wire member to the full jaw protector, the bottom wire member positioned parallel to and above a forward extent of the full jaw protector and passing through the left loop strap and the right loop strap;   wherein a first one of said plurality of vertical wire members is attached to the bottom wire member to form a first T-intersection between the first one of said plurality of vertical wire members and the bottom wire member at a position adjacent to and above the full jaw protector and forward of the left loop strap, such that the left loop strap resists the tendency of the faceguard to slide and twist when struck with blows during sports play; and   wherein a second one of said plurality of vertical wire members is attached to the bottom wire member to form a second T-intersection between the second one of said plurality of vertical wire members and the bottom wire member at a position adjacent to and above the full jaw protector and forward of the right loop strap such that the right loop strap resists the tendency of the faceguard to slide and twist when struck with blows during sports play; and   wherein the left loop strap acts as a stop against rearward movement of the first one of said plurality of vertical wire members and the right loop strap acts as a stop against rearward movement of the second one of said plurality of vertical wire members.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 1  wherein the shell has a left earhole having four edges in the left region and a right earhole having four edges in the right region. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 1  wherein the padding comprises an inflatable occipital pad removably attached to the inner surface of the shell in the rear region and positioned between the inner surface of the shell and the occipital shock absorber to push the occipital shock absorber forward when the inflatable occipital pad is inflated through a valve. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 1  wherein the padding comprises a crown shock absorber attached to an inner surface of the shell in a crown of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 1  wherein the shell comprises a brow plateau formed in the shell in the front region, the brow plateau being partially defined on a left side by a left brow acclivity and a left side acclivity, and being partially defined on a right side by a right brow acclivity and a right side acclivity. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 5  wherein the shell has a left earhole having four edges in the left region and a right earhole having four edges in the right region. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 1  where in the full jaw protector is removably attached to the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse helmet of  claim 5  where in the full jaw protector is removably attached to the shell.