Sports helmet

Abstract

A sports helmet having a domed shell, and a forward peak each having a topside and an underside, said sports helmet being configured to co-operate with a face-guard for protecting the face of a wearer, wherein said peak comprises a proximal, rigid peak portion which is connected to the helmet main body and a distal, movable peak portion which is articulated on said proximal peak portion along a prescribed line of flexure, wherein said distal peak portion is capable of being deflected upwards when impacted by a moving ball or projectile. The helmet may further comprise a face guard attached or attachable to the domed shell portion, the face guard comprising a rigid structure of protective struts capable of extending about a wearer's face; said helmet, when attached to said guard, having a viewing gap between said guard and said peak; wherein said viewing gap is defined between said peak and a generally transversely extending upper sill of said guard. The helmet shell and guard are configured such that an incoming ball or projectile having a diameter roughly equivalent to the approximate dimension across said viewing gap and moving towards the head of a wearer approximately along a viewing axis through said viewing gap will be caused, upon contacting said upper sill, to deflect upwards, thereby deflecting said articulated distal peak section upwards, such that a said incoming projectile having contacted both said upper sill and said movable peak will tend to become blocked between said sill and said peak and will be prevented from passing through said viewing gap.

1 . Sports helmet having a domed shell and a forward peak each presenting a topside and an underside said sports helmet comprising a mounting, at each lateral side of said domed shell, capable of receiving and supporting a face guard, said sports helmet being configured to co-operate with a said face-guard for protecting the face of a wearer, wherein said peak comprises a proximal, rigid peak portion which is fixedly connected to the helmet main body and a distal, movable peak portion which is articulated on said proximal peak portion along a prescribed line of flexure, wherein said distal peak portion is capable of being deflected about said prescribed line of flexure when impacted by a moving projectile such as a ball, to thereby present a blocking surface against the progress of said projectile. 
     
     
         2 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said articulation between said proximal and said distal peak portions is provided by means of a flexible hinge element which is joined to the proximal and distal peak portions. 
     
     
         3 . Sports helmet according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexible hinge element comprises a line of flexible material in the form of a flexible seam interposed between and along opposing edges of said proximal and said distal peak portions. 
     
     
         4 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said peak comprises a preventer which retains said distal peak portion in an undeflected position said preventer being configured such that it releases said distal peak portion thereby allowing said distal peak portion to be deflected if said distal peak portion is acted on by a force in excess of a release threshold of said preventer. 
     
     
         5 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said movable peak portion comprises a distal main section and a proximal skirt section rigidly connected therewith, said distal main section being arranged distally of said line of flexure while said skirt section is arranged proximally of said line of flexure, such that when said distal section is pivoted upwards out of the plane of said peak, said skirt section is thereby pivoted downwards from the underside of said peak. 
     
     
         6 . Sports helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein said skirt, in an undeflected position of said distal peak portion, is received in a corresponding recess in said proximal peak portion. 
     
     
         7 . Sports helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein a rearward transversely extending edge of said skirt abuts a corresponding shoulder of said recess. 
     
     
         8 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said preventer comprises one or more releasable fastenings positioned between a topside of said skirt and an underside of said proximal peak portion. 
     
     
         9 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the underside of said movable peak portion exhibits a high friction surface. 
     
     
         10 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said peak is detachable from said shell. 
     
     
         11 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said line of flexure extends along a generally kinked or curvilinear path. 
     
     
         12 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , further comprising a face guard attached or attachable to said domed shell portion, said face guard comprising a rigid structure of protective struts capable of extending about a wearer's face; said helmet, when attached to said guard, having a viewing gap between said guard and said peak; wherein said viewing gap is defined between said peak and a generally transversely extending sill of said guard; and wherein said helmet shell and said guard are configured such that an incoming ball or projectile moving towards the head of a wearer approximately along a viewing axis through said viewing gap will be caused, upon contacting said sill, to deflect upwards, thereby deflecting said articulated distal peak section upwards. 
     
     
         13 . Sports helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein said helmet shell, said guard and said movable peak portion are configured such that a said incoming projectile having contacted both said sill and said movable peak will tend to become blocked between said sill and said peak and will be prevented from passing through said viewing gap. 
     
     
         14 . Sports helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein said sill comprises a first, lower, distal, transverse strut and a second, upper, proximal, transverse strut. 
     
     
         15 . Sports helmet according to  claim 14 , wherein said first, lower, distal, transverse surface and second, upper proximal transverse surface both lie along a common viewing axis through said viewing gap and both face towards said viewing gap. 
     
     
         16 . Sports helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said projectile is a ball such as a standard baseball or cricket ball. 
     
     
         17 . Sports helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein said viewing gap has a maximum width dimension equal to between 65% and 95% of the diameter of a standard cricket ball or baseball.