Full-Face Helmet System

Abstract

The full-face helmet system comprises a full-facemask that combines the strength of a facemask frame and a reinforcement layer to allow for improved visibility, safety and impact performance, while reducing weight. The full-facemask comprises a reinforcement layer and a facemask frame, the reinforcement layer may be coupled to the external surface or internal surface of a facemask frame. The reinforcement layer may match or substantially match one or more contours of the facemask frame, the reinforcement layer comprises at least one vent opening that is coincident with the player's mouth.

1 . The full-face facemask comprising:
 a facemask frame, the facemask frame comprising an external surface and an internal surface, the facemask comprising an upper bar and a lower bar; and   a reinforcement layer, the reinforcement layer coupled to the external surface of the facemask frame, at least a portion of the reinforcement layer substantially matches the shape of the facemask frame, the reinforcement layer comprises at least one vent opening coincident with a player's mouth.   
     
     
         2 . The full-face facemask of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a clear or transparent plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The full-face facemask of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent opening comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . The full-facemask of  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement layer further comprises a plurality of openings disposed adjacent to the at least one vent opening. 
     
     
         5 . The full-facemask of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent opening comprises a plurality of perforations coincident with a player's mouth. 
     
     
         6 . The full-facemask of  claim 1 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises a middle bar. 
     
     
         7 . The full-facemask of  claim 5 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises one or more vertical bars that extend between the middle bar and the lower bar. 
     
     
         8 . The full-facemask of  claim 5 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises one or more vertical bars that extend between the upper bar and middle bar. 
     
     
         9 . The full-face helmet system comprising:
 a helmet, the helmet comprises an outer shell;   a facemask frame, the facemask frame comprising an external surface and an internal surface, the facemask frame comprising an upper bar and a lower bar; and   a reinforcement layer, the reinforcement layer coupled to the external surface or internal surface of the facemask frame, at least a portion of the reinforcement layer substantially matches the shape of the facemask frame.   
     
     
         10 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet further comprises an impact mitigation layer, the impact mitigation layer coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet further comprises an inner shell and an impact mitigation layer, the impact mitigation layer disposed between the outer shell and inner shell. 
     
     
         12 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet further comprises a stabilizer pad system, the stabilizer pad system coupled to the outer shell. 
     
     
         13 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the facemask frame is coupled to the stabilizer pad system. 
     
     
         14 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a clear or transparent plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one vent opening comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         16 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement layer further comprises a plurality of openings adjacent to the at least one vent opening. 
     
     
         17 . The full-face helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises a middle bar. 
     
     
         18 . The full-face helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises one or more vertical bars that extend between the middle bar and the lower bar. 
     
     
         19 . The full-face helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the facemask frame further comprises one or more vertical bars that extend between the upper bar and middle bar. 
     
     
         20 . The full-face helmet of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the facemask frame protrudes into the at least one vent opening.