Sports helmet

Abstract

A full-face helmet for use in sport is provided. The helmet comprises a rigid outer shell for fitting about a top, back and sides of a user's head, and a detachable chin guard for partially covering a user's face. The detachable chin guard is magnetically connected to the sides of the rigid outer shell. A secondary fastening means is provided on the chin guard as a pair of hinged clips.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A full-face helmet for use in sport comprising a rigid outer shell for fitting about a top, back and sides of a user's head, a detachable chin guard for partially covering the user's face, the detachable chin guard being magnetically connected to sides of the rigid outer shell, at least one magnet being mounted on each side of the rigid outer shell and chin guard, in which the at least one magnet on each side of the rigid outer shell is provided on an outer surface of each side of the rigid outer shell, and in which the at least one magnet on each side of the chin guard is provided on an inner surface of the chin guard. 
     
     
         2 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a pair of spaced magnets are mounted on each side of the rigid outer shell and chin guard. 
     
     
         3 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which an aperture is provided for each magnet. 
     
     
         4 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the at least one magnet sits in its corresponding aperture and lies flush with a surface of the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which a mounting element is provided on each side of the rigid outer shell, and the at least one magnet and corresponding aperture is provided in the mounting element. 
     
     
         6 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one magnet of the chin guard is in a complementary position to a magnet on a corresponding side of the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         7 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the magnet of the chin guard sits in its aperture and lies flush with a surface of the chin guard. 
     
     
         8 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 3 , in which a mounting element is provided on each side of the chin guard, and the at least one magnet and corresponding aperture is provided in the mounting element. 
     
     
         9 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pairs of spaced magnets on the rigid outer shell and the pairs of spaced magnets on the chin guard are spaced by at least 1 cm and a maximum of 3 cm. 
     
     
         10 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a secondary fastening means is provided for locking the detachable chin guard to the sides of the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the secondary fastening means is provided as at least one hinged clip. 
     
     
         12 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 11 , in which a pair of hinged clips are provided, one disposed on each side of the chin guard, at its distal ends. 
     
     
         13 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 12 , in which a latch is provided on each hinged clip of the chin guard. 
     
     
         14 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 13 , in which a keeper is provided on the rigid outer shell for retaining the latch. 
     
     
         15 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 11 , in which a pair of hinged clips are provided, one on each side of the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         16 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 15 , in which a latch is provided on each hinged clip of the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         17 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 16 , in which a keeper is provided on the chin guard for retaining the latch. 
     
     
         18 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which an outer surface of each hinged clip is textured for feeling the location of the clip by the user. 
     
     
         19 . A full-face helmet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a portion of edge surfaces of the chin guard and rigid outer shell abut to enable transfer of impact forces between them.