Facemask system

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and/or an apparatus for an improved helmet system that may help reduce the severity of injuries by enhancing overall helmet protection through uniquely designed facemasks and facemask bumpers. The facemask and facemask bumpers that are particularly adapted to redistribute pressure and impact forces, decrease vibration, sudden shock, noise and/or the peak forces transmitted from the facemask to the rest of the helmet system. The facemask bumpers may be disposed into specific regions of the facemask, including the brow region, the glabella region, orbit region, the frontal region, the mandible (front, right and/or left side) region, the maxilla region, the nasal region, zygomatic region, the ethmoid region, the lacrimal region, the sphenoid region and/or any combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A football helmet comprising:
 a shell having a front portion; and   a bumper coupled to the front portion of the shell, wherein the bumper comprises:
 a first portion formed of a first material; 
 a second portion formed of a second material; and 
 a central portion formed of a third material, the central portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and the central portion comprising a perimeter, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend beyond the perimeter of the central portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first portion is an outer portion that is offset from the shell when the bumper is secured to the shell;   the second portion is an inner portion that is located at or near the shell when the bumper is secured to the shell; and   the second portion forms a base of the bumper that is compressed onto the shell when a facemask is secured to the shell.   
     
     
         3 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first material, the second material, and the third material comprise the same material. 
     
     
         4 . The football helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the same material is a foam material having elastic properties. 
     
     
         5 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first material, the second material, and the third material are different materials. 
     
     
         6 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a plurality of impact mitigation structures disposed between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The football helmet of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the plurality of impact mitigation structures create a distance between the first portion and the second portion; and   the distance accommodates a width or a diameter of a portion of a facemask.   
     
     
         8 . The football helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the impact mitigation structures comprise filaments, laterally supported filaments, chevron structures, zigzag structures, inflatable air bladders, auxetic structures, cones, shock absorbers, shock suspension systems, foam layers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein durometer of the third material facilitates compression fitting of the bumper onto at least a portion of a facemask. 
     
     
         10 . The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein durometer of the third material facilitates friction fitting of the bumper onto at least a portion of a facemask. 
     
     
         11 . A bumper for a helmet system, the bumper comprising:
 an outer portion;   an inner portion that forms a base of the bumper; and   a central portion comprising a perimeter and at least one impact mitigation structure disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion, wherein the outer portion and the inner portion extend beyond the perimeter of the central portion.   
     
     
         12 . The bumper of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the outer portion is offset from a helmet shell when the bumper is secured to the helmet shell;   the inner portion is located at or near the helmet shell when the bumper is secured to the helmet shell; and   the base is compressed onto the helmet shell when a facemask is secured to the helmet shell.   
     
     
         13 . The bumper of  claim 11 , wherein the outer portion, the inner portion, and the central portion comprise a single unitary piece. 
     
     
         14 . The bumper of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one impact mitigation structure creates a distance between the outer portion and the inner portion; and   the distance accommodates a width or a diameter of a portion of a facemask.   
     
     
         15 . The bumper of  claim 11 , wherein the central portion is formed from a material having a durometer that facilitates compression fitting or friction fitting of the bumper onto at least a portion of a facemask. 
     
     
         16 . A bumper for a helmet system, the bumper comprising:
 an outer portion;   an inner portion that forms a base of the bumper; and   a central portion comprising a perimeter, the central portion coupled between the outer portion and the inner portion, wherein:   the outer portion and the inner portion extend beyond the perimeter of the central portion; and   a channel is defined surrounding the perimeter and between opposing sections of the inner and outer portions.   
     
     
         17 . The bumper of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the outer portion is offset from a helmet shell when the bumper is secured to the helmet shell;   the inner portion is located at or near the helmet shell when the bumper is secured to the helmet shell; and   the base is compressed onto the helmet shell when a facemask is secured to the helmet shell.   
     
     
         18 . The bumper of  claim 16 , wherein the outer portion, the inner portion, and the central portion comprise a single unitary piece. 
     
     
         19 . The bumper of  claim 16 , wherein the central portion comprises at least one impact mitigation structure disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion. 
     
     
         20 . The bumper of  claim 16 , wherein the central portion is formed from a material having a durometer that facilitates compression fitting or friction fitting of the bumper onto at least a portion of a facemask.