Helmet and method for assembling a helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes a helmet shell including the crown and jaw portions, a front aperture defined by the aperture edge; and a mask selectively disposed in the front aperture, the mask being chosen from a family of masks, the family of masks including at least two masks of different types, the mask having an outer contour sized and shaped to conform to the aperture edge. A method for assembling a helmet of a family of helmets including providing a helmet shell including a crown portion, and a jaw shield portion; selecting the helmet of the family of helmets to be assembled; in response to selecting a first helmet: attaching a first mask to the helmet shell; and in response to selecting a second helmet: attaching a second mask to the helmet shell, the second mask being different from the first mask.

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, 
 a jaw shield portion integrally connected to the crown portion, and 
 an aperture edge formed by the crown portion and the jaw shield portion, 
 a front aperture being defined by the aperture edge; and 
   a mask selectively connected to the helmet shell, the mask being disposed in the front aperture, the mask being chosen from a family of masks, the family of masks including at least two masks of different types,   the mask having an outer contour sized and shaped to conform to the aperture edge.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mask is a first mask of the family of masks;   the outer contour is a first outer contour;   the helmet shell and the first mask forming a first type of helmet; and   further comprising:
 a second mask of the family of masks, the second mask being selectively connectable to the helmet shell, 
 the helmet shell and the second mask connected thereto forming a second type of helmet. 
   
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein a second outer contour of the second mask conforms to the aperture edge. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third mask of the family of masks, the third mask being selectively connectable to the helmet shell, a third outer contour of the third mask conforming to the aperture edge,   the helmet shell and the third mask connected thereto forming a third type of helmet.   
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the first mask comprises:
 a first mask body including:
 a visor portion, and 
 a jaw portion integrally connected to the visor portion, 
 the first outer contour being formed by an outer edge of the visor portion and the jaw portion; 
   a first sealing member disposed along the first outer contour, the first sealing member being configured for impede passage of air between the first mask body and the helmet shell when the first mask is connected to the helmet shell; and   at least one first connecting member selectively connecting the first mask body to the helmet shell.   
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the jaw portion of the first mask further comprises an anti-fog sealing member configured for impeding passage of air between the jaw portion and the visor portion; and   the jaw portion defines therein at least one vent fluidly connecting an interior of the jaw portion with air exterior to the first mask body.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the second mask comprises:
 a second mask body having the second outer contour, at least a majority of the second mask body being formed in a transparent material, at least one vent being defined in the second mask body;   a second sealing member disposed along an edge of the second mask body, the second sealing member being configured for impeding passage of air between the second mask body and the helmet shell when the second mask is connected to the helmet shell; and   at least one second connecting member selectively connecting the second mask body to the helmet shell.   
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the first contour and the second contour are identical. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the third mask comprises:
 a third mask body comprising:
 a face portion defining a goggle aperture arranged to permit goggle usage when the helmet is worn by a user; and 
 a jaw portion integrally connected to the face portion, 
 an exterior edge of the face portion and the jaw portion forming the third outer contour. 
   
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a left jaw vent aperture is defined in a left side of the jaw shield portion;   a right jaw vent aperture is defined in a right side of the jaw shield portion,   a left jaw vent is defined in the left side of the jaw shield portion;   a right jaw vent is defined in the right side of the jaw shield portion;   the left jaw vent aperture opens into the left jaw vent; and   the right jaw vent aperture opens into the right jaw vent.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a left vent blocker selectively disposed in the left jaw vent aperture for selectively blocking the left jaw vent; and   a right vent blocker selectively disposed in the right jaw vent aperture for selectively blocking the right jaw vent.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the mask is a first mask of a family of masks;   the helmet shell and the first mask form a first type of helmet; and   further comprising:
 a second mask of the family of masks, the second mask being selectively connectable to the helmet shell, the second mask being different from the first mask, 
 the helmet shell and the second mask connected thereto forming a second type of helmet, the second type of helmet being different from the first type of helmet. 
   
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the helmet shell has an aperture edge defining the front aperture; and   an outer contour of each of the first mask and the second mask conforms to the aperture edge.   
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third mask of the family of masks, the third mask being selectively connectable to the helmet shell,   the helmet shell and the third mask connected thereto forming a third type of helmet.   
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the third helmet type is a motocross-style helmet; and   for the motocross-style helmet, the left and right vent blockers are removed from the left and right jaw vents to allow a flow of air through the left and right jaw vents.   
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the helmet shell has an aperture edge defining the front aperture; and   an outer contour of the third mask conforms to the aperture edge.   
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the helmet shell further defines at least one crown vent in the crown portion. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one crown vent blocker selectively disposed in at least one crown vent aperture for selectively blocking the at least one crown vent. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the helmet shell further defines therein:
 a left forward vent in a left forward part of the crown portion;   a right forward vent in a right forward part of the crown portion; and   a rear vent in a rear part of the crown portion.   
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one of:
 a left forward vent blocker selectively disposed in a left forward vent aperture for selectively blocking the left forward vent;   a right forward vent blocker selectively disposed in a right forward vent aperture for selectively blocking the right forward vent; and   a rear vent blocker selectively disposed in a rear vent aperture for selectively blocking the rear vent.