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, having a front region, a rear region, and generally opposite side regions, the helmet comprising:
 a) an external protective shell circumscribing an inside region for receiving a wearer's head;   b) interior padding residing between the protective shell and the head of the wearer when the helmet is being worn, the interior padding comprising:
 i) liner padding attached to the protective shell, wherein a recess is defined in a lower front edge of the liner padding in the front region of the helmet; and 
 ii) comfort padding arranged to be disposed between the liner padding and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn, wherein the comfort padding comprises a front comfort pad received by the recess in the lower front edge of the liner padding in the front region of the helmet. 
   
     
     
       20. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the recess comprises a channel formed in the lower front edge of the liner padding. 
     
     
       21. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 20, wherein the liner padding has an outer face oriented towards the external protective shell and an inner face oriented toward the wearer's head, and wherein the channel defined in the lower front edge of the liner padding extends between the inner and outer faces of the liner padding in the front region of the helmet. 
     
     
       22. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, wherein the front comfort pad wraps around the lower front edge of the liner padding. 
     
     
       23. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 22, wherein the front comfort pad is affixed to the liner padding. 
     
     
       24. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 19, further comprising:
 c. a fit adjustment system, including:
 i. a pair of elongated members, each elongated member extending along a respective side region of the helmet toward the front region thereof; 
 ii. a manually operable mechanism located in the rear region of the helmet, the pair of elongated members projecting from opposite sides of the manually operable mechanism; 
 iii. 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; 
 
 iv. the manually operable mechanism being operable by the wearer to selectively tighten or loosen the elongated members to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet. 
   
     
     
       25. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein the front connection area of each of the first and the second elongated members is fastened to the liner padding. 
     
     
       26. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein each of the first and the second elongated members is at least partially covered by a portion of the comfort padding that is located between the elongated member and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       27. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, 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. 
     
     
       28. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 27, wherein the comfort padding comprises an occipital pad configured to engage an occipital region of the wearer's head. 
     
     
       29. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 28, wherein the fit adjustment system further comprises an attachment portion connected to the manually operable mechanism and extending upwardly therefrom to connect the manually operable mechanism to a portion of the helmet that is located above the manually operable mechanism. 
     
     
       30. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 29, wherein the manually operable mechanism includes a dial mounted in a dial housing. 
     
     
       31. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 30, wherein the occipital pad is mounted to the dial housing. 
     
     
       32. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 29, wherein the upwardly extending attachment portion includes a plurality of arms connecting the manually operable mechanism to the portion of the helmet located above the manually operable mechanism. 
     
     
       33. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 32, wherein the attachment portion extends upwardly from the manually operable mechanism to connect the manually operable mechanism to the liner padding. 
     
     
       34. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 33, wherein the plurality of arms include a first arm and a second arm that extend upwardly and meet at a common point of connection that is fastened to the liner padding. 
     
     
       35. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein the first and the second elongated members are formed from nylon. 
     
     
       36. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein the front connection areas of the first and the second elongated members are located at or near temple regions on the first and the second side regions of the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       37. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein the external protective shell includes a rear portion facing a rear region of the wearer's head when the helmet is worn, wherein a portion of the manually operable mechanism resides in an interior region of the adjustable helmet between the rear portion and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       38. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 24, wherein the manually operable mechanism is the sole actuator to perform an adjustment of a dimension of the inside region to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       39. An adjustable helmet, having a front region, a rear region, and generally opposite side regions, the helmet comprising:
 a. an external protective shell circumscribing an inside region for receiving a wearer's head;   b. interior padding residing between the protective shell and the head of the wearer when the helmet is being worn, the interior padding comprising:
 i. liner padding attached to the protective shell, wherein a channel is defined along a surface of the liner padding in the front region of the helmet; and 
 ii. comfort padding arranged to contact the wearer's head when the helmet is worn; 
   c. a fit adjustment system, the fit adjustment system comprising:
 iii. a manually operable mechanism in the inside region and facing a rear portion of the wearer's head when the helmet is worn; 
 iv. a pair of elongated members, the elongated members projecting from opposite sides of the manually operable mechanism toward respective side regions of the helmet and each elongated member extending along a respective side region of the helmet toward the front region thereof, wherein a front portion of the comfort padding is disposed over the channel in the liner padding in the front region of the helmet, and a rear portion of the comfort padding is disposed between the manually operable mechanism and the rear portion of the wearer's head when the helmet is worn; 
 v. the manually operable mechanism being operable by the wearer to selectively tighten or loosen the elongated members to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet. 
   
     
     
       40. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 39, 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. 
     
     
       41. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 40, wherein the front portion of the comfort padding comprises a front comfort pad arranged to contact a front portion of the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       42. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 40, wherein the rear portion of the comfort padding comprises an occipital pad configured to engage an occipital region of the wearer's head. 
     
     
       43. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 42, wherein the fit adjustment system further comprises an attachment portion connected to the manually operable mechanism and extending upwardly therefrom to connect the manually operable mechanism to a portion of the helmet that is located above the manually operable mechanism. 
     
     
       44. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the manually operable mechanism includes a dial mounted in a dial housing. 
     
     
       45. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 44, wherein the occipital pad is mounted to the dial housing. 
     
     
       46. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 43, wherein the upwardly extending attachment portion includes a plurality of arms connecting the manually operable mechanism to the portion of the helmet located above the manually operable mechanism. 
     
     
       47. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 39, wherein each of the first and the second elongated members includes:
 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.   
     
     
       48. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 47, wherein the front connection area of each of the first and the second elongated members is fastened to the liner padding. 
     
     
       49. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 39, wherein the front connection areas of the first and the second elongated members are located at or near temple regions on the first and the second side regions of the adjustable helmet. 
     
     
       50. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 39, wherein the external protective shell includes a rear portion facing a rear region of the wearer's head when the helmet is worn, wherein a portion of the manually operable mechanism resides in an interior region of the adjustable helmet between the rear portion and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. 
     
     
       51. The adjustable helmet as defined in claim 39, wherein the manually operable mechanism is the sole actuator to perform an adjustment of a dimension of the inside region to adjust a fit of the adjustable helmet.