Readily removable catcher's helmet

Abstract

A catcher's helmet includes a front shell portion and a rear shell portion connected to each other at their upper regions. The front and rear shell portions are pivotable relative to each other about their upper connection. Elastic side straps connect lower regions of the front shell portion to lower regions of the rear shell portion. In use, a wearer may pull the lower region of the front shell portion (such as a jaw-protector region) away from the wearer's face, such that the front shell portion pivots away from the rear shell portion about the upper connection, allowing the helmet to be easily and quickly removed from the wearer's head. The helmet may be donned in a similar manner, after which the wearer may release the lower front portion, allowing the elastic straps to pull the lower front shell portion and lower rear shell portion together into a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catcher's helmet, comprising:
 a front shell including a first upper region and a first lower region;   a rear shell including a second upper region and a second lower region, with the first upper region attached to the second upper region at an upper attachment location;   at least one elastic strap connected to the first lower region and the second lower region;   wherein the helmet is pivotable about the upper attachment location between:
 (a) a closed position in which the at least one elastic strap holds the first lower region in engagement with the second lower region without the aid of a locking mechanism, and 
 (b) an open position in which the at least one elastic strap is subjected to a tensile force such that the first lower region is pivoted away from the second lower region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elastic strap comprises a first elastic strap connecting a first side of the first lower region to a first side of the second lower region, and a second elastic strap connecting a second side of the first lower region to a second side of the second lower region. 
     
     
         3 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  wherein each end of the at least one elastic strap passes through a slot in the front shell or the rear shell, wherein each end is back-folded so that it is prevented from passing back through the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elastic strap comprises a single strap. 
     
     
         5 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 4  wherein a first end of the single strap is secured to a first side of the first lower region, and a second end of the single strap is secured to a second side of the first lower region. 
     
     
         6 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 5  wherein a portion of the single strap located between the first and second ends is secured to the second lower region. 
     
     
         7 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  further comprising an inelastic connector attaching the first upper region to the second upper region at the upper attachment location. 
     
     
         8 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 7  wherein the inelastic connector comprises an inelastic strap that allows for longitudinal adjustment between the first upper region and the second upper region. 
     
     
         9 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a chin pad that is rotatably connected to first and second sides of the first lower region. 
     
     
         10 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 1  wherein the first lower region includes an integral jaw protector. 
     
     
         11 . A catcher's helmet, comprising:
 a front shell including a first upper region and a first lower region;   a rear shell including a second upper region and a second lower region, with the first upper region attached to the second upper region by an inelastic connector;   at least one elastic connector securing the first lower region to the second lower region;   wherein the helmet is pivotable between:
 (a) a closed position in which the at least one elastic connector holds the first lower region in engagement with the second lower region, and 
 (b) an open position in which the at least one elastic connector is subjected to a tensile force such that the first lower region is pivoted away from the second lower region. 
   
     
     
         12 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  wherein the at least one elastic connector holds the first lower region in engagement with the second lower region without the aid of a locking mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  wherein the at least one elastic connector comprises a first elastic connector connecting a first side of the first lower region to a first side of the second lower region, and a second elastic connector connecting a second side of the first lower region to a second side of the second lower region. 
     
     
         14 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  wherein each end of the at least one elastic connector passes through a slot in the front shell or the rear shell, wherein each end is back-folded so that it is prevented from passing back through the slot. 
     
     
         15 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  wherein the at least one elastic connector comprises a single connector. 
     
     
         16 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 15  wherein a first end of the single connector is secured to a first side of the first lower region, and a second end of the single connector is secured to a second side of the first lower region. 
     
     
         17 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 16  wherein a portion of the single connector located between the first and second ends is secured to the second lower region. 
     
     
         18 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  wherein the inelastic connector comprises an inelastic strap that allows for longitudinal adjustment between the first upper region and the second upper region. 
     
     
         19 . The catcher's helmet of  claim 11  further comprising a chin pad that is rotatably connected to first and second sides of the first lower region. 
     
     
         20 . A catcher's helmet, comprising:
 a front shell including a first upper region and a first lower region;   a rear shell including a second upper region and a second lower region, with the first upper region attached to the second upper region;   means for securing the first lower region to the second lower region such that the helmet is pivotable between:
 (a) a closed position in which the means for securing holds the first lower region in engagement with the second lower region, and 
 (b) an open position in which the means for securing is subjected to a tensile force such that the first lower region is pivoted away from the second lower region.