Sports helmet and face guard

Abstract

A sports helmet includes relatively wide and deep lateral reliefs in the helmet for improved peripheral vision for a person wearing the helmet, while a face guard is formed with a series of closely spaced lateral bars thereacross for precluding insertion of the fingers or hand therein. The present helmet and face guard are particularly well suited for use in the game of football, but may be adapted for use in other contact sports as well. The present helmet greatly improves safety by providing a wider field of view for a player using the helmet, and the present face guard greatly reduces the opportunity for opposing players to use the face guard for restraining or tackling players, thereby greatly reducing injuries and increasing safety during play.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A sports helmet and face guard, comprising in combination: 
 a helmet shell configured for fitting closely about the top, back, and sides of the head, said helmet shell including: 
 a frontal face opening with a brow area disposed thereabove and a left and a right lateral face opening extension wrapping back from said frontal face opening;  
   a left and a right temple coverage area; 
 a left and a right lower lateral face coverage portion, extending substantially forwardly from each respective said temple coverage area and defining a lower face opening therebetween;  
 said left and said right lower lateral face coverage portion and said left and said right lateral face opening extension each respectively defining a left and a right peripheral vision relief area comprising said left and said right lateral face opening extension extending laterally and substantially rearwardly from said frontal face opening toward each respective said temple coverage area;  
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion having a smoothly contoured edge devoid of sharp protrusions;  
   a face guard element for attaching across said frontal face opening of said helmet shell, said face guard element including: 
 a peripheral frame defining a face guard opening therein;  
 said face guard opening having a generally open upper portion and a lower portion having a series of lateral bars extending thereacross; and  
 said lateral bars of said lower portion having narrow spacing therebetween precluding insertion of fingers or a hand between said lateral bars, thereby precluding grabbing the face guard by grasping said lateral bars.  
   
     
     
         2 . The sports helmet and face guard combination according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion of said helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width; and    each said peripheral vision relief area of said helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width.    
     
     
         3 . The sports helmet and face guard combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element has an upper portion substantially congruent with each said peripheral vision relief area and said frontal face opening of said helmet shell.  
     
     
         4 . The sports helmet and face guard combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element is hingedly attached to said helmet structure at said brow area thereof, above said frontal face opening thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The sports helmet and face guard combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said helmet shell has a left and a right ear hole formed through said helmet shell.  
     
     
         6 . The sports helmet and face guard combination according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said helmet shell comprises a composite outer structure with a resilient inner liner; and    said face guard element is formed of a plurality of welded metal bars.    
     
     
         7 . A sports helmet providing enhanced peripheral vision for a wearer thereof, comprising: 
 a helmet shell configured for fitting closely about the top, back, and sides of the head, said helmet shell including: 
 a frontal face opening with a brow area disposed thereabove and a left and a right lateral face opening extension wrapping back from said frontal face opening;  
 a left and a right temple coverage area;  
 a left and a right lower lateral face coverage portion, extending substantially forwardly from each respective said temple coverage area and defining a lower face opening therebetween;  
 said left and said right lower lateral face coverage portion and said left and said right lateral face opening extension each respectively defining a left and a right peripheral vision relief area comprising said left and said right lateral face opening extension extending laterally and substantially rearwardly from said frontal face opening toward each respective said temple coverage area; and  
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion having a smoothly contoured edge devoid of sharp protrusions.  
   
     
     
         8 . The sports helmet according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width; and    each said peripheral vision relief area has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width.    
     
     
         9 . The sports helmet according to  claim 7 , wherein said helmet shall has a left and a right ear hole formed through said helmet shell.  
     
     
         10 . The sports helmet according to  claim 7 , further including: 
 a face guard element for attaching across said frontal face opening of said helmet shell;    said face guard element including a peripheral frame defining a face guard opening therein;    said face guard opening having a generally open upper portion and a lower portion having a series of lateral bars extending thereacross; and    said lateral bars of said lower portion having narrow spacing therebetween precluding insertion of fingers or a hand between said lateral bars, thereby precluding grabbing the face guard by grasping said lateral bars.    
     
     
         11 . The sports helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element has an upper portion substantially congruent with each said peripheral vision relief area and said frontal face opening of said helmet shell.  
     
     
         12 . The sports helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein said peripheral frame of said face guard element is hingedly attached to said helmet structure at said brow area thereof, above said frontal face opening thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The sports helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said helmet shell comprises a composite outer structure with a resilient inner liner; and    said face guard element is formed of a plurality of welded metal bars.    
     
     
         14 . A face guard element for protecting the face during play of contact sports, comprising: 
 a peripheral frame defining a face guard opening therein;    said face guard opening having a generally open upper portion and a lower portion having a series of lateral bars extending thereacross; and    said lateral bars of said lower portion having narrow spacing therebetween precluding insertion of fingers or a hand between said lateral bars, thereby precluding grabbing by grasping said lateral bars.    
     
     
         15 . The face guard element according to  claim 14 , further including: 
 a helmet shell configured for fitting closely about the top, back, and sides of the head, said helmet shell including: 
 a frontal face opening with a brow area disposed thereabove and a left and a right lateral face opening extension wrapping back from said frontal face opening;  
 a left and a right temple coverage area;  
 a left and a right lower lateral face coverage portion, extending substantially forwardly from each respective said temple coverage area and defining a lower face opening therebetween;  
 said left and said right lower lateral face coverage portion and said left and said right lateral face opening extension each respectively defining a left and a right peripheral vision relief area comprising said left and said right lateral face opening extension extending laterally and substantially rearwardly from said frontal face opening toward each respective said temple coverage area; and  
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion having a smoothly contoured edge devoid of sharp protrusions.  
   
     
     
         16 . The face guard element according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 each said lower lateral face coverage portion of said helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width; and    each said peripheral vision relief area of said helmet shell has a length and a width, with said length being at least twice said width.    
     
     
         17 . The face guard element according to  claim 15 , wherein said peripheral frame thereof has an upper portion substantially congruent with each said peripheral vision relief area and said frontal face opening of said helmet shell.  
     
     
         18 . The face guard element according to  claim 15 , wherein said peripheral frame thereof is hingedly attached to said helmet structure at said brow area thereof, above said frontal face opening thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The face guard element according to  claim 15 , wherein said helmet shell has a left and a right ear hole formed through said helmet shell.  
     
     
         20 . The face guard element according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said helmet shell comprises a composite outer structure with a resilient inner liner; and    said face guard element is formed of a plurality of welded metal bars.