Universal chin guard assembly

Abstract

A chin guard assembly has a shell having at least one first slot formed therethrough adjacent one end of the shell and at least one second slot formed therein adjacent a second end of the shell, a first strap extending through the first slot and having an end defining a first loop extending outwardly of the shell, a second strap extending through the second slot and having an end defining a loop extending outwardly of the shell, a first ring received by the first loop, and a second ring received by the second loop. A third strap can have an end affixed to the first ring and a fourth strap has an end affixed to the second ring.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A chin guard assembly comprising:
 a shell having an outer surface and an inner surface and a first end and a second end, said shell having a first slot formed therethrough adjacent said first end, said shell having a second slot formed therethrough adjacent said second end;   a first strap extending through said first slot, said first strap having a first end extending outwardly of said shell, said first strap having a second end defining a first loop extending outwardly of said shell;   a second strap extending through said second slot, said second strap having a first end extending outwardly of said shell, said second end of said second strap defining a second loop extending outwardly of said shell;   a first ring received by said first loop; and   a second ring received by said second loop.   
     
     
         2 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first fastener affixed adjacent said second end of said first strap and to said shell so as to fix said first loop to said shell; and   a second fastener affixed adjacent said second end of said second strap and to said shell so as to fix said second loop to said shell.   
     
     
         3 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resilient layer affixed against said inner surface of said shell.   
     
     
         4 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 3 , said first strap having a portion interposed between said resilient layer and said shell, said second strap having a portion interposed between said resilient layer and said shell. 
     
     
         5 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , said first loop extending through an interior of said first ring, said second loop extending through an interior of said second ring. 
     
     
         6 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third strap having a first end affixed to said first ring and extending outwardly therefrom; and   a fourth strap having a first end affixed to said second ring and extending outwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         7 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 6 , said first end of said third strap defining a looped portion received in said first ring, said first end of said fourth strap defining a looped portion received in said second ring. 
     
     
         8 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 7 , said looped portion having an end that is secured by a removable fastener to said third strap, said looped portion of said fourth strap having an end secured to said fourth strap by another removable fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , said first slot comprising at least a pair of slots, said second slot comprising at least another pair of slots. 
     
     
         10 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 6 , said third strap having a snap or receptacle affixed thereto adjacent a second end of said third strap, said fourth strap having another snap or another receptacle of affixed thereto adjacent a second end of said fourth strap. 
     
     
         11 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 10 , said third strap affixed to a first buckle, said first buckle having said second end of said third strap threaded therethrough, said fourth strap affixed to a second buckle, said second buckle having said second end of said fourth strap threaded therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first adapter having a snap post thereon, said first adapter adapted to be affixed to a helmet, said snap post of said first adapter removably receiving the buckle or receptacle of said third strap thereon; and   a second adapter having a snap post thereon, said second adapter adapted to be affixed to the helmet, said snap post of said second adapter removably receiving the another buckle or another receptacle of said fourth strap thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a helmet having said first and second adapters affixed at opposite sides thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first ratchet strap having one end affixed to said first ring; and   a second ratchet strap having one end affixed to said second ring.   
     
     
         15 . The chin guard assembly of  claim 1 , said first strap being a single strap, said second strap being a single strap. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a helmet having a pair of upper hook-ups on opposite sides thereof, said helmet having at least a pair of lower hook-ups on opposite sides thereof; and   a chin guard assembly comprising:
 a shell having an outer surface and an inner surface and a first end and a second end, said shell having a slot formed therethrough adjacent said first end, said shell having a second slot formed therethrough adjacent said second end; 
 a first strap extending through said first slot, said first strap having a first end extending outwardly of said shell, said first strap having a second end defining a first loop extending outwardly of said shell; 
 a second strap extending through said second slot, said second strap having a first end extending outwardly of said shell, said second end of said second strap defining a second loop extending outwardly of said shell; 
 a first ring received by said first loop; and 
 a second ring received by said second loop; 
   a third strap having a first end affixed to said first ring and extending outwardly therefrom; and   a fourth strap having a first end affixed to said second ring and extending outwardly therefrom, the first ends of said first and second straps removably attachable to the pair of upper hook-ups of said helmet, the second ends of said third and fourth straps being attached to said pair of lower hook-ups of said helmet.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first adapter having a snap post thereon, said snap post of said first adapter removably receiving a buckle or receptacle of said third strap thereon; and   a second adapter having a snap post thereon, said second adapter affixed to said helmet, said second adapter having a buckle or receptacle removably receiving the snap post of said fourth strap thereon.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , said third strap having a snap affixed thereto adjacent a second end of said third strap, said fourth strap that having another snap affixed thereto adjacent a second end of said fourth strap. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , said first end of said third strap defining a looped portion received in said first ring, said first end of said fourth strap defining a looped portion received in said second ring, said looped portion of said third strap being secured to said third strap by a removable fastener, said looped portion of said fourth strap having an end secured to said fourth strap by another removable fastener. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , each of said third and fourth straps comprising a ratchet strap, said ratchet strap adjustably received by a ratchet mechanism on said helmet.