Assembly for connecting a mouth guard to a helmet or fastening apparatus for a helmet

Abstract

A mouth guard assembly with a retractable mouth guard connection, including: a retraction element including a first housing and a retraction device disposed within the first housing; a cord including a first end attached to the retraction device and a second end; a coupling element including a third end connected to the second end and a fourth end arranged to engage a mouth guard to secure the mouth guard to the coupling element; and a connection assembly arranged to attach the retraction element to a protective helmet or a fastening apparatus for a protective helmet. The cord is arranged to be pulled from the retraction assembly in a first direction. The retraction device applies a force urging the cord in a second direction opposite the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouth guard assembly with a retractable mouth guard connection, comprising:
 a retraction element including:
 a first housing; and, 
 a retraction device disposed within the first housing; 
   a cord including:
 a first end attached to the retraction device; and, 
 a second end; 
   a first coupling element including:
 a third end connected to the second end; and, 
 a fourth end arranged to engage a mouth guard to secure the mouth guard to the coupling element; and, 
   a second coupling element arranged to attach the retraction element to a protective helmet or to a fastening apparatus for a protective helmet, wherein:
 the cord is arranged to be pulled from the retraction assembly in a first direction; and, 
 the retraction device applies a force urging the cord in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction device includes a coil spring. 
     
     
         3 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retraction element includes a spool; and,   the retraction device is arranged to wrap the cord about the spool.   
     
     
         4 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth end includes a protrusion arranged to engage the mouth guard. 
     
     
         5 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first coupling element includes:
 a second housing including the third end; and, 
 a rotation element including:
 a first portion disposed within the second housing; and, 
 a second portion separate from the first portion, extending from the first portion to an exterior of the second housing, and including the fourth end; and, 
 
   wherein the fourth end includes a protrusion arranged to engage a recess in the mouth guard.   
     
     
         6 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the second portion has a longitudinal axis; and,   the rotation element is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         7 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second connection element includes a strap connected to the first housing;   the strap includes fourth and fifth ends with first and second fastening elements, respectively; and,   the strap is arranged to wrap about a portion of the protective helmet so that:
 the first and second fastening elements are connected; and, 
 the retraction assembly is connected to the protective helmet. 
   
     
     
         8 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second fastening elements are selecting from the group consisting of magnetic devices, snap devices, or hook and loop devices. 
     
     
         9 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening apparatus includes a strap or a chin strap. 
     
     
         10 . A mouth guard assembly with a retractable mouth guard connection, comprising:
 a retraction element arranged to engage a chin strap for a protective helmet and including:
 a first housing; and, 
 a retraction device disposed within the housing; 
   a cord including:
 a first end attached to the retraction device; and, 
 a second end; and, 
   a coupling element including:
 a third end connected to the second end; and, 
 a fourth end arranged to attach the retraction element to a mouth guard, wherein: 
   the cord is arranged to be pulled from the retraction assembly in a first direction; and,   the retraction device applies a force urging the cord in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the retraction assembly is arranged to engage an interior surface of the chin guard; and,   the cord is arranged to pass through an opening in the chin guard.   
     
     
         12 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retraction assembly is arranged to urge the cord in the second direction such that the coupling element is drawn toward an exterior surface of the chin strap. 
     
     
         13 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the chin strap is arranged to block movement of the retraction assembly in the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retraction device includes a coil spring. 
     
     
         15 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth end includes a protrusion arranged to engage the mouth guard. 
     
     
         16 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the coupling element includes:
 a second housing including the third end; and, 
 a rotation element including:
 a first portion disposed within the second housing; and, 
 a second portion separate from the first portion, extending from the first portion to an exterior of the second housing, and including the fourth end; and, 
 
   wherein the fourth end includes a. protrusion arranged to engage a recess in the mouth guard.   
     
     
         17 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the second portion has a longitudinal axis; and,   the rotation element is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         18 . A mouth guard assembly, comprising:
 a U-shaped mouth guard arranged to receive teeth on an upper or lower jaw of a user; and,   a connection assembly including:
 a flexible tab including:
 a first connected to the mouth guard; and, 
 a second end; and, 
 
 a magnet connected to the second end and arranged to magnetically engage a portion of a protective helmet made of a magnetic material. 
   
     
     
         19 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first end is fixedly secured to the mouth guard. 
     
     
         20 . The mouth guard assembly of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the mouth guard includes a recess;   the first end includes a protrusion; and,   recess is arranged to receive the protrusion such that the protrusion is not fixedly secured to the mouth guard.