Adjustable hockey helmet

Abstract

An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a first shell;   padding attached to the first shell;   a second shell engaged with the first shell;   a plurality of substantially rigid straps connected to the first shell and extending into the second shell;   a cam assembly on the second shell in engagement with the straps, wherein the straps are movable relative to the cam assembly, and the cam assembly includes a cam handle that is pivotable between:
 an open position in which the straps are free to move through the cam assembly, such that the first shell may be longitudinally adjusted relative to the second shell; and 
 a closed position in which the straps are prevented from moving through the cam assembly, such that the first shell is prevented from being longitudinally adjusted relative to the second shell. 
   
     
     
       2. The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the first shell is a front shell and the second shell is a rear shell, or the first shell is a rear shell and the second shell is a front shell. 
     
     
       3. The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a lateral adjustment mechanism including a plurality of bands attached directly or indirectly to the first shell or the second shell, wherein the bands are configured to engage sides of a wearer's head. 
     
     
       4. The helmet of  claim 3  wherein the lateral adjustment mechanism further includes a device for tightening and loosening the bands. 
     
     
       5. The helmet of  claim 3  further comprising a pad attached to the lateral adjustment mechanism for engaging an occipital portion of a wearer's head. 
     
     
       6. The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a height-adjustable earpiece on the helmet. 
     
     
       7. The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a height-adjustable J-clip attached to the first shell via at least one threaded connector, with the J-clip including a slot positioned around the threaded connector for allowing the J-clip to be vertically adjusted relative to the first shell when the threaded connector is loosened without requiring removal of the threaded connector from the first shell. 
     
     
       8. The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising an ear loop including a raised ledge configured to pass through a slot in the helmet and to engage an inner surface of the helmet to maintain the ear loop in an upward position. 
     
     
       9. The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising padding in an interior of the second shell, and a rear-projecting tab on an interior surface of the second shell that engages a slot in the padding to prevent rotation of the padding. 
     
     
       10. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a first shell;   a second shell engaged with the first shell;   a plurality of substantially rigid straps connected to the first shell and extending into an interior region of the second shell, with each of the straps including an opening;   a cam assembly attached to an exterior region of the second shell, the cam assembly including a cam post extending into the interior region of the second shell and through the openings in the straps, and a cam plate on the cam post;   wherein the cam assembly is movable between:
 a closed position in which the cam plate secures the straps against the second shell, such that the first shell is prevented from being longitudinally adjusted relative to the second shell, and 
 an open position in which the straps are free to move about the cam post such that the first shell may be longitudinally adjusted relative to the second shell. 
   
     
     
       11. The helmet of  claim 10  wherein the first shell is a front shell and the second shell is a rear shell, or the first shell is a rear shell and the second shell is a front shell. 
     
     
       12. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a first shell;   padding attached to the first shell;   a second shell engaged with the first shell;   a plurality of substantially rigid straps connected to the first shell and extending into the second shell;   a cam assembly on an exterior region of the second shell in engagement with the plurality of straps, wherein the cam assembly is not engageable with the first shell.   
     
     
       13. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a front shell;   padding attached to the front shell;   a rear shell engaged with the front shell;   at least one substantially rigid strap attached to the front shell and extending into the rear shell; and   a cam assembly on an exterior region of the rear shell that is engageable with the strap, wherein the cam assembly includes a cam handle that is pivotable between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
       14. The helmet of  claim 13  wherein the strap is attached to an upper region of the front shell such that, in use, the strap overlies the top of a wearer's head. 
     
     
       15. The helmet of  claim 13  wherein engagement of the cam assembly with the strap substantially prevents longitudinal adjustment of the front shell relative to the rear shell. 
     
     
       16. The helmet of  claim 13  wherein the cam assembly is located on a rear-exterior region of the rear shell. 
     
     
       17. The helmet of  claim 13  wherein the strap comprises at least one opening engageable by the cam assembly. 
     
     
       18. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a first shell;   padding attached to the first shell;   a second shell engaged with the first shell;   at least one substantially rigid strap attached to the first shell and extending into the second shell, wherein the strap is contained within the interior of the helmet; and   means for engaging the strap to substantially prevent longitudinal movement of the first shell relative to the second shell, wherein the means for engaging is located on a rear exterior region of the second shell.   
     
     
       19. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a) an external protective shell circumscribing an inside region for receiving a wearer's head, the inside region having a longitudinal dimension;   b) a fit adjustment system configured to vary the longitudinal dimension of the inside region and adjust the fit of the helmet on the wearer's head, the fit adjustment system comprising:
 i) a first elongated member extending along a first side region of the adjustable helmet; 
 ii) a second elongated member, generally opposite the first elongated member extending along a second side region of the adjustable helmet; 
 iii) a manually operable mechanism configured to secure the adjustable helmet in a selected longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
 iv) each of the first and the second elongated members including:
 a front connection area at which the elongated member connects to the adjustable helmet; 
 a rear connection area at which the elongated member connects to the manually operable mechanism, whereby movement of the first and the second elongated members with relation to the manually operable mechanism allows varying the longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
 
 v) a first elongated member guide associated with the first elongated member, the first elongated member guide being connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the first elongated member, the first elongated member guide receiving and supporting the first elongated member and allowing the first elongated member to move relative the first elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied; 
 vi) a second elongated member guide associated with the second elongated member, the second elongated member guide being connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the second elongated member, the second elongated member guide receiving and supporting the second elongated member and allowing the second elongated member to move relative the second elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied. 
   
     
     
       20. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the first and the second elongated members are mounted along an internal surface of the helmet. 
     
     
       21. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 20, wherein the internal surface of the helmet is generally concave, the first and the second elongated members have a curved configuration conforming to the generally concave internal surface. 
     
     
       22. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 20, wherein the first and the second elongated member guides project from the internal surface. 
     
     
       23. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the first and the second elongated members are formed, at least in part, from nylon. 
     
     
       24. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the first and the second elongated members are formed, at least in part, from polyethylene. 
     
     
       25. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein each of the first and the second elongated member guides comprises a member extending in a direction generally transverse to the elongated dimension of its associated elongated member. 
     
     
       26. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the front connection areas of the first and the second elongated members are located at temple regions on the first and the second side regions of the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       27. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the front connection area of each of the first and the second elongated members includes at least one projection for connection of the elongated member to the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       28. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, further comprising interior padding in an interior of the exterior protective shell, the interior padding comprising:
 liner padding attached to the exterior protective shell; and   comfort padding arranged to contact the wearer's head when the helmet is worn.   
     
     
       29. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 28, wherein each of the first and the second elongated member guides is at least partially covered by a portion of the comfort padding that is located between the elongated member guide and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       30. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 28, wherein the comfort padding comprises a plurality of comfort pads arranged to contact different portions of the wearer's head when the adjustable helmet is worn. 
     
     
       31. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 30, wherein the plurality of comfort pads comprises:
 a first comfort pad disposed between the first elongated member guide and the wearer's head and when the helmet is worn; and   a second comfort pad disposed between the second elongated member guide and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn.   
     
     
       32. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 31, wherein the plurality of comfort pads further comprises an occipital pad configured to engage an occipital region of the wearer's head. 
     
     
       33. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 32, wherein the occipital pad is mounted to an attachment portion that extends upwardly therefrom to connect the occipital pad to a portion of the helmet that is located above the occipital pad. 
     
     
       34. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the manually operable mechanism is the sole actuator to perform an adjustment of the longitudinal dimension of the inside region to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       35. A fit adjustment system for adjusting the fit of a helmet having an external protective shell circumscribing an inside region for receiving a wearer's head, the fit adjustment system comprising:
 i) a first elongated member configured such that, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the first elongated member extends along a first side region of the helmet;   ii) a second elongated member configured such that, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the second elongated member extends along a second side region of the helmet generally opposite the first elongated member;   iii) a manually operable mechanism configured to secure the helmet in a selected longitudinal dimension of the inside region;   iv) each of the first and the second elongated members including:
 a front connection area for connecting the elongated member to the adjustable helmet; 
 a rear connection area for connecting the elongated member to the manually operable mechanism, whereby movement of the first and the second elongated members with relation to the manually operable mechanism allows varying the longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
   v) a first elongated member guide associated with the first elongated member and configured such that, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the first elongated member guide is connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the first elongated member, the first elongated member guide receiving and supporting the first elongated member and allowing the first elongated member to move relative the first elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied;   vi) a second elongated member guide associated with the second elongated member and configured such that, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the second elongated member guide is connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the second elongated member, the second elongated member guide receiving and supporting the second elongated member and allowing the second elongated member to move relative the second elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied.   
     
     
       36. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 35, wherein, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the first and the second elongated members are mounted along an internal surface of the helmet. 
     
     
       37. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 36, wherein the first and the second elongated member guides project from the internal surface. 
     
     
       38. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 36, wherein the first and the second elongated members are formed, at least in part, from nylon. 
     
     
       39. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 35, wherein each of the first and the second elongated member guides comprises a member extending in a direction generally transverse to the elongated dimension of its associated elongated member. 
     
     
       40. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 35, wherein the first and the second elongated members are configured such that, when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet, the front connection areas of the first and the second elongated members are located at temple regions on the first and the second side regions of the helmet. 
     
     
       41. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 35, wherein the front connection area of each of the first and the second elongated members includes at least one projection for connection of the elongated member to the helmet. 
     
     
       42. The fit adjustment system as defined in claim 35, further comprising comfort padding arranged to contact a wearer's head when the helmet is worn, wherein each of the first and the second elongated member guides is at least partially covered by a portion of the comfort padding that is located between the elongated member guide and the wearer's head when the fit adjustment system is installed in the helmet and the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       43. An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a) an external protective shell circumscribing an inside region for receiving a wearer's head, the inside region having a longitudinal dimension;   b) a fit adjustment system configured to vary the longitudinal dimension of the inside region and adjust the fit of the helmet on the wearer's head, the fit adjustment system comprising:
 i) an elongated member extending along an internal surface of the helmet; 
 ii) a manually operable mechanism configured to secure the adjustable helmet in a selected longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
 iii) the elongated member including:
 a front connection area at which the elongated member connects to the adjustable helmet; 
 a rear connection area at which the elongated member connects to the manually operable mechanism, whereby movement of the elongated member with relation to the manually operable mechanism allows varying the longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
 
 iv) an elongated member guide associated with the elongated member, the elongated member guide being connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the elongated member, the elongated member guide receiving and supporting the elongated member and allowing the elongated member to move relative the elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied; 
 v) interior padding residing between the protective shell and the head of the wearer when the helmet is being worn, the interior padding including a recess into which a portion of the elongated member guide is received. 
   
     
     
       44. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43 wherein the internal surface of the helmet is generally concave, the elongated member having a curved configuration conforming to the generally concave internal surface. 
     
     
       45. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the elongated member guide projects from the internal surface. 
     
     
       46. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the elongated member is formed, at least in part, from nylon. 
     
     
       47. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the elongated member guide comprises a member extending in a direction generally transverse to the elongated dimension of the elongated member. 
     
     
       48. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the front connection area of the elongated member includes at least one projection for connection of the elongated member to the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       49. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the interior padding comprises:
 liner padding attached to the exterior protective shell; and   comfort padding arranged to contact the wearer's head when the helmet is worn.   
     
     
       50. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 49, wherein the recess into which a portion of the elongated member guide is received is a recess defined in the liner padding. 
     
     
       51. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 49, wherein the elongated member guide is at least partially covered by a portion of the comfort padding that is located between the elongated member guide and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       52. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 51, wherein the comfort padding comprises a plurality of comfort pads arranged to contact different portions of the wearer's head when the adjustable helmet is worn. 
     
     
       53. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 52, wherein the comfort padding comprises an occipital pad configured to engage an occipital region of the wearer's head. 
     
     
       54. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 53, wherein the occipital pad is mounted to an attachment portion that extends upwardly therefrom to connect the occipital pad to a portion of the helmet that is located above the occipital pad. 
     
     
       55. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 49, wherein the elongated member and the associated elongated member guide are a first elongated member and a first elongated member guide, the fit adjustment system further comprising:
 vi) a second elongated member extending along an inner surface of the adjustable helmet;   vii) the second elongated member including:
 a front connection area at which the second elongated member connects to the adjustable helmet; 
 a rear connection area at which the second elongated member connects to the manually operable mechanism, whereby movement of the first and the second elongated members with relation to the manually operable mechanism allows varying the longitudinal dimension of the inside region; 
   viii) a second elongated member guide associated with the second elongated member, the second elongated member guide being connected to the helmet independently of the manually operable mechanism and located within the inside region of the helmet between the front connection area and the rear connection area of the second elongated member, the second elongated member guide receiving and supporting the second elongated member and allowing the second elongated member to move relative the second elongated member guide as the longitudinal dimension is varied.   
     
     
       56. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 55, wherein the comfort padding comprises:
 a first comfort pad disposed between the first elongated member guide and the wearer's head and when the helmet is worn; and   a second comfort pad disposed between the second elongated member guide and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn.   
     
     
       57. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the manually operable mechanism is the sole actuator to perform an adjustment of the longitudinal dimension of the inside region to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet.