Helmet and facemask assembly and method for affixing and removing a facemask

Abstract

A helmet assembly comprises a helmet, a facemask, and a plurality of female connectors directly or indirectly affixed to the facemask. The helmet comprises an outer shell and a plurality of studs affixed thereto. Each of the plurality of female connectors is (i) selectively matable to a corresponding one of the plurality of studs by pushing the female connector onto the corresponding stud and (ii) selectively releasable from a corresponding one of the plurality of studs by pulling a grasping portion of the female connector and moving the grasping portion along a longitudinal axis of the female connector from a first position to a second position. The facemask is selectively affixable to the outer shell by selectively mating each of the plurality of female connectors to a corresponding stud, and selectively removable from the outer shell by selectively releasing each of the plurality of female connectors from a corresponding stud.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A helmet assembly comprising:
 a helmet comprising an outer shell and a plurality of studs affixed to the outer shell;   a facemask; and   a plurality of female connectors directly or indirectly affixed to the facemask, each of the plurality of female connectors (i) selectively matable to a corresponding one of the plurality of studs by pushing the female connector onto the corresponding stud and (ii) selectively releasable from a corresponding one of the plurality of studs by pulling a grasping portion of the female connector and moving the grasping portion along a longitudinal axis of the female connector from a first position to a second position;   wherein the facemask is selectively affixable to the outer shell by selectively mating each of the plurality of female connectors to a corresponding one of the plurality of studs; and   wherein the facemask is selectively removable from the outer shell by selectively releasing each of the plurality of female connectors from a corresponding one of the plurality of studs.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of loop clamps, each loop clamp affixed to the facemask by at least partially encircling a corresponding portion of the facemask;   wherein each of the plurality of female connectors are affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps, such that each of the plurality of female connectors is indirectly affixed to the facemask via the corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of studs comprises an enlarged head; and
 wherein each of the plurality of female connectors comprises:
 a housing comprising a recess and an underside with an opening into the recess; and 
 an actuator movable within the recess and along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a first position in which the actuator engages the corresponding stud to retain the connector to the stud and a second position in which the actuator disengages the corresponding stud to release the connector from the stud; 
   wherein the actuator comprises (i) the grasping portion which extends outside of the housing and is adapted to enable a user to move the actuator from the first to the second position, (ii) a resilient, radially-expanding enlarged lower portion, and (iii) a middle portion connecting the lower portion to the grasping portion,   wherein the recess has an upper portion sized to receive at least a top portion of the enlarged head of the corresponding stud and a lower portion comprising an inverse frusto-conical shape that is wider at a top end and narrower at a bottom end;   wherein the enlarged lower portion of the actuator extends at least partly under the enlarged head of the corresponding stud when the actuator is in the first position, with the narrower end of the lower portion of the recess restricting outward movement of the enlarged lower portion of the actuator, thereby trapping the enlarged head of the corresponding stud within the recess and restricting separation of the connector and the corresponding stud;   wherein, when the actuator is in the second position, the wider end of the lower portion of the recess allows outward movement of the enlarged lower portion of the actuator, thereby allowing the enlarged head to exit the recess and allowing separation of the connector and the corresponding stud.   
     
     
         4 . The helmet assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of female connectors further comprises a spring to bias the actuator toward the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each loop clamp comprises an encircling portion and one or more extended portions projecting from opposite ends of the encircling portion, each extended portion defining a mounting hole;
 wherein each of the plurality of female connectors further comprises a collar that is selectively affixable to a lower portion of the housing; and   wherein each of the plurality of female connectors is affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps by inserting the lower portion of the housing through the mounting hole of each of the one or more extended portions and affixing the collar to the lower portion of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . A method of affixing and removing a facemask to and from a helmet, the method comprising:
 positioning a facemask adjacent a helmet, the helmet comprising an outer shell and a plurality of studs affixed to the outer shell, the facemask having a plurality of female connectors directly or indirectly affixed thereto;   affixing the facemask to the helmet by pushing each of the plurality of female connectors onto a corresponding one of the plurality of studs;   removing the facemask from the helmet by pulling a grasping portion of each of the plurality of female connectors and moving the grasping portion along a longitudinal axis of the female connector from a first position to a second position.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each one of a plurality of loop clamps is affixed to the facemask by at least partially encircling a corresponding portion of the facemask; and
 wherein each of the plurality of female connectors are affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps, such that each of the plurality of female connectors is indirectly affixed to the facemask via the corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of studs comprises an enlarged head; and
 wherein each of the plurality of female connectors comprises:
 a housing comprising a recess and an underside with an opening into the recess; and 
 an actuator movable within the recess and along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a first position in which the actuator engages the corresponding stud to retain the connector to the stud and a second position in which the actuator disengages the corresponding stud to release the connector from the stud; 
   wherein the actuator comprises (i) the grasping portion which extends outside of the housing and is adapted to enable a user to move the actuator from the first to the second position, (ii) a resilient, radially-expanding enlarged lower portion, and (iii) a middle portion connecting the lower portion to the grasping portion,   wherein the recess has an upper portion sized to receive at least a top portion of the enlarged head of the corresponding stud and a lower portion comprising an inverse frusto-conical shape that is wider at a top end and narrower at a bottom end;   wherein the enlarged lower portion of the actuator extends at least partly under the enlarged head of the corresponding stud when the actuator is in the first position, with the narrower end of the lower portion of the recess restricting outward movement of the enlarged lower portion of the actuator, thereby trapping the enlarged head of the corresponding stud within the recess and restricting separation of the connector and the corresponding stud;   wherein, when the actuator is in the second position, the wider end of the lower portion of the recess allows outward movement of the enlarged lower portion of the actuator, thereby allowing the enlarged head to exit the recess and allowing separation of the connector and the corresponding stud.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of female connectors further comprises a spring to bias the actuator toward the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each loop clamp comprises an encircling portion and one or more extended portions projecting from opposite ends of the encircling portion, each extended portion defining a mounting hole;
 wherein each of the plurality of female connectors further comprises a collar that is selectively affixable to a lower portion of the housing; and   wherein each of the plurality of female connectors is affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of loop clamps by inserting the lower portion of the housing through the mounting hole of each of the one or more extended portions and affixing the collar to the lower portion of the housing.