Protective helmet configuration with integrated face mask with smooth transition attachment

Abstract

A protective helmet including an outer shell, a ridgeline recessed inwardly from the interior compartment of the helmet and protruding outwardly from the exterior surface of the helmet, padding disposed in the interior compartment of the, a facemask made from an ultra-high density high molecular weight polymer coupled to the helmet, and the facemask defines a flat region having a generally planar surface. The flat region of the facemask engages the ridgeline of the interior compartment to provide a smooth transition from the exterior surface of the helmet to the facemask to reduce snagging, catching, or grabbing another facemask or other protective body gear while the helmet configuration is worn during a contact activity

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective helmet to be worn on the head of a person, the protective helmet comprising;
 an outer shell defining an exterior surface and an interior compartment,   a ridgeline in said interior compartment recessed towards said exterior surface and protruding outwardly from said exterior surface,   padding disposed in said interior compartment of the helmet to protect the head of the person,   a facemask coupled to the helmet and wherein said facemask defines a flat region having a generally planar surface, and   said flat region of said facemask engages said ridgeline of said interior compartment to provide a smooth transition from said exterior surface of the helmet to said facemask.   
     
     
         2 . The protective helmet of  claim 1  wherein said facemask further includes at least one fillet of concave shape to provide compression force resistance to said facemask during impact. 
     
     
         3 . The protective helmet of  claim 1  further including at least one air hole extending between said exterior surface and said inner compartment of said outer shell to permit air to flow from said interior compartment to said exterior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The protective helmet of  claim 3  wherein said padding further includes at least one pathway having channels to direct air from said interior compartment towards said at least one air hole. 
     
     
         5 . The protective helmet of  claim 1  wherein said facemask is made from a high density polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The protective helmet of  claim 5  wherein said high density polymer is an ultra-high molecular weight high density polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The protective helmet of  claim 6  wherein said ultra-high molecular weight high density polymer has a molecular weight between. million and. million Daltons. 
     
     
         8 . The protective helmet of  claim 1  wherein said facemask is made from steel. 
     
     
         9 . The protective helmet of  claim 1  further including a plurality of first fastener holes disposed through the helmet between said exterior surface and said interior compartment and a plurality of second fastener holes in said flat region of said facemask and wherein said plurality of second fastener holes are disposed adjacent to said first plurality of fastener holes. 
     
     
         10 . The protective helmet of  claim 9  further including a plurality of fasteners wherein said plurality of fasteners are disposed through said plurality of second of fastener holes and said first plurality of fastener holes to couple said facemask to the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The protective helmet of  claim 10  wherein said plurality of fasteners are externally threaded steel fastening screws and internally threaded T-nuts being threadably engaged to couple said facemask to the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The protective helmet of  claim 10  wherein said facemask further includes a plurality of elongated slots recessed in said flat region and over said second plurality of fastener holes to allow lateral movement of said plurality of fasteners within said plurality of elongated slots. 
     
     
         13 . The protective helmet of  claim 12  wherein said facemask further includes a plurality of grommets disposed around said plurality of fasteners in said plurality of elongated slots to absorb shock from impact. 
     
     
         14 . The protective helmet of  claim 13  wherein said plurality of grommets are made from of a rubber material. 
     
     
         15 . A protective helmet to be worn on the head of a person, the protective helmet comprising;
 an outer shell of polymer material having an exterior surface and an interior compartment and said outer shell further defining a front region and a back region and a first region and a second region,   a ridgeline recessed in said interior compartment of said front region of said outer shell from said interior compartment towards said exterior surface and protruding outwardly from said outer shell and extending between said first region and said second region along said front region of said outer shell,   a plurality of air holes extending between said exterior surface and said inner compartment of the said outer shell to permit air to flow from said interior compartment to said exterior surface,   a plurality of first fastener holes disposed through the helmet between said exterior surface and said interior compartment,   padding disposed in said interior compartment of the helmet to protect the head of the person,   a plurality of pathways disposed in said padding having channels to direct air from said interior compartment towards said plurality of air holes,   a facemask having a facemask peripheral surface and a facemask interior surface and said facemask further defining a facemask first side and a facemask second side,   a flat region having a generally planar surface formed on said facemask peripheral surface and extending between said facemask first side and said facemask second side and said flat region engaging said ridgeline of said interior compartment of said outer shell,   a plurality of elongated slots recessed in said flat region of said peripheral surface of said facemask and extending partially through said flat region from said peripheral surface of said facemask,   a plurality of second fastener holes in said flat region of said facemask disposed adjacent to said plurality of first fastener holes and through each of said elongated slots in said flat region of said facemask between said peripheral surface and said interior surface of said facemask,   a plurality of steel fasteners having external threads and said plurality of fasteners disposed through said plurality of second of fastener holes and said first plurality of fastener holes to couple said facemask to the helmet,   a plurality of T-nuts having internal threads matching said external threads of said steel fasteners disposed in said interior compartment of the helmet adjacent said padding and said plurality of T-nuts threadably engage said external threads on each of said plurality of fasteners,   a plurality of grommets of rubber like material disposed around said fasteners in each of said plurality of elongated slots to allow lateral movement of said facemask when said facemask is coupled to the helmet with said plurality of steel fasteners and said plurality of T-nuts,   a plurality of fillets being concave in shape disposed on said facemask to provide compression force resistance to said facemask during impact, and   said flat region of said facemask engages said ridgeline of the helmet to provide a smooth transition from said exterior surface of the helmet to said peripheral surface of said facemask.   
     
     
         16 . The protective helmet of  claim 15  wherein said facemask is made from an ultra-high molecular weight high density polymer having a molecular weight between. million and. million Daltons. 
     
     
         17 . The protective helmet of  claim 15  wherein said facemask is made from steel.