Adjustable sports helmet

Abstract

A protective sports helmet includes one or more features that promote efficient fit adjustment and efficient donning and removal of the helmet. The helmet optionally includes a front shell portion pivotably connected to a rear shell portion to promote easy donning and removal of the helmet. The upper region of the front shell optionally is longitudinally adjustable relative to the upper region of the rear shell, as well. Cam mechanisms optionally are provided on the helmet shell for securing straps of a chin cup at desired lengths. The cam mechanisms optionally each include a self-energizing grip member that increasingly engages the strap when the strap is pulled taut while the cam mechanism is in the locked position. A face guard optionally is attached within the helmet shell structure, which provides a smooth helmet exterior and promotes distributed energy transfer from the face guard to the helmet shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell including a first portion pivotably connected to a second portion;   a locking element on an exterior of the second portion movable between a closed position and an open position;   a connecting element attached to the locking element and to the first portion of the shell;   wherein when the locking element is in the closed position it holds the connecting element taut such that the first portion is in secure engagement with the second portion, and when the locking element is in the open position the connecting element is loose such that a lower region of the first portion may be moved away from a lower region of the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  wherein the first portion and the second portion are in overlapping engagement with each other such that they are movable only in a longitudinal direction relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  wherein the locking element comprises a lever pivotably attached to the second portion of the shell, and further comprising a biasing element forcing the lever toward the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  wherein the locking element comprises a dial attached to the second portion of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  wherein the connecting element comprises a cable that passes from outside the second portion to inside the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sports helmet of  claim 5  wherein the connecting element further comprises a belt attached to the cable, wherein the belt is attached to an anchor element on an interior of the first portion of the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  further comprising energy-attenuating material, a portion of which is affixed to an inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The sports helmet of  claim 7  wherein the connecting element is positioned between an unaffixed portion of the energy-attenuating material and the inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         9 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a chin cup assembly including a plurality of adjustment straps, wherein each adjustment strap is releasably secured to the first portion of the shell via a cam lever. 
     
     
         10 . The sports helmet of  claim 9  further comprising at least one compartment or tab in or on an exterior of the first portion of the shell positioned near a free end of one of the straps for receiving the free end of the strap. 
     
     
         11 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment mechanism that provides longitudinal adjustment between the first and second portions of the shell, the adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a spring-loaded arm directly or indirectly attached to or integral with an interior surface of one of the first and second shell portions, the spring-loaded arm including an activation element protruding to the exterior of the helmet shell; and 
 a receiving component attached to or integral with the other of the first and second shell portions, the receiving component including a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings for receiving the activation element. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sports helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a lateral and occipital adjustment mechanism attached to an interior surface of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell including a plurality of strap openings;   a chin cup assembly including a plurality of adjustment straps that pass along an interior of the shell and out through the strap openings;   a cam mechanism attached to an exterior of the shell near at least one of the strap openings, the cam mechanism movable between an open position and a locked position in which it engages one of the straps and secures it in place.   
     
     
         14 . The sports helmet of  claim 13  wherein the chin cup assembly includes four straps, each of which passes through one of the strap openings, and wherein a cam mechanism is attached to an exterior of the shell near each of the strap openings for engaging one of the straps. 
     
     
         15 . The sports helmet of  claim 13  further comprising at least one compartment in an exterior of the shell positioned near a free end of one of the straps for receiving the free end of the strap. 
     
     
         16 . The sports helmet of  claim 13  wherein the cam mechanism comprises:
 a grip member; and 
 a lever pivotably attached to the grip member and movable between the open position and the locked position; 
 wherein, when in the locked position, the grip member is pivotable to increasingly engage the strap when the strap is subjected to a tightening load. 
 
     
     
         17 . The sports helmet of  claim 16  wherein the cam mechanism further comprises a base structure in engagement with the grip member, wherein the grip member further pivots about a fulcrum point on the base structure when the strap is subjected to a tightening load. 
     
     
         18 . The sports helmet of  claim 17  wherein the base structure comprises at least one opening for receiving a portion of the strap engaged by the grip member when the strap is subjected to an extreme tightening load. 
     
     
         19 . A sports helmet, comprising:
 a shell including a first side and a second side;   an inset region in each of the first and second sides;   a face guard including attachment portions attached to the inset regions; and   a cover positioned over each of the attachment portions and attached to the shell.   
     
     
         20 . The sports helmet of  claim 19  further comprising a cushioning element covering at least one of the inset regions and the attachment portions.