Helmet and family of helmets

Abstract

A helmet including a helmet shell for receiving a head of a wearer of the helmet, the helmet shell including: a crown portion, and a first jaw shield portion integrally connected to the crown portion, the crown portion and the first jaw shield portion defining a front aperture; and a mask selectively closing the front aperture. The mask includes a mask body including a visor portion, and a second jaw shield portion integrally connected to the visor portion; and at least one connecting member connecting the mask body to the helmet shell, the mask body being selectively displaceable between a closed position and an open position: in the closed position, the mask body closing the front aperture and the second jaw shield portion mating with the first jaw shield portion, in the open position, the mask body being displaced away from the front aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet shell for receiving a head of a wearer of the helmet, the helmet shell including:
 a crown portion, and 
 a first jaw shield portion integrally connected to the crown portion, 
 the crown portion and the first jaw shield portion defining a front aperture; and 
   a mask connected to the helmet shell, the mask selectively closing the front aperture,   the mask comprising:
 a mask body including:
 a visor portion, and 
 a second jaw shield portion integrally connected to the visor portion; and 
 
 at least one connecting member connecting the mask body to the helmet shell, 
   the mask body being selectively displaceable between at least a closed position and an open position:
 in the closed position, the mask body closing the front aperture and the second jaw shield portion mating with the first jaw shield portion, 
 in the open position, the mask body being displaced away from the front aperture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the mask is selectively connected to the helmet shell, the at least one connecting member being selectively removeable from the helmet shell. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the mask body is moved from the closed position to the open position by disconnecting the at least one connecting member from the helmet shell and by drawing the mask body away from the front aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one connecting member is at least one resilient member; and   the at least one resilient member biases the mask body toward the closed position.   
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one resilient member includes:
 a left side elastic strap; and   a right side elastic strap.   
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein, in the open position:
 the mask body is disposed at least partially on the crown portion; and   tension applied by the at least one resilient member aids in maintaining the mask body on the crown portion.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the crown portion and the first jaw shield portion have an aperture edge defining the front aperture;   the mask body has an outer contour; and   the outer contour conforms to the aperture edge.   
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the mask further comprises at least one sealing member disposed around the outer contour; and   when the mask body is in the closed position, the at least one sealing member is arranged to impede flow of air between the mask body and the helmet shell.   
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second jaw portion further comprises an anti-fog sealing member configured for impeding passage of air between the second jaw portion and the visor portion; and   the second jaw portion defines therein at least one vent fluidly connecting an interior of the jaw portion with air exterior to the first mask body.   
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a majority of the mask body is formed from a transparent material; and   at least a portion of the second jaw shield portion is transparent.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein, when in use, the front aperture is sized and arranged to expose a mouth of the wearer when the mask body is in the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein, when the helmet is worn by the wearer, a bottom most edge of the front aperture is disposed vertically lower than a mouth of the wearer.