Helmet cheek pads

Abstract

A helmet is provided. The helmet can include a cheek pad having a projecting fastener. The helmet can also include a receiving fastener to receive the projecting fastener. The projecting fastener and the receiving fastener can be engaged to selectively retain the cheek pad to the helmet. The projecting fastener and the receiving fastener can be disengaged to release the cheek pad from the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell;   a cheek pad comprising a cheek pad material configured to receive one or more projecting fasteners; and   an inner lining disposed within the outer shell, the inner lining comprising one or more receiving fasteners configured to receive the one or more projecting fasteners, each receiving fastener comprising:
 an upper opening configured to engage a corresponding projection fastener in a snap-fit arrangement and a lower opening disposed below the upper opening, the lower opening configured to disengage the corresponding projecting fastener from the snap-fit arrangement; and 
 a ramped inner surface comprising one or more sloped portions and configured to guide the projecting fastener from the snap-fit arrangement. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is smaller than the lower opening. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each projecting fastener comprises a first end and a second end opposing the first end, the first end being configured to be received within a corresponding receiving fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the cheek pad material is disposed between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the first end is configured to pass through the lower opening of the corresponding receiving fastener but not the upper opening of the corresponding receiving fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein each projecting fastener comprises a stem connecting the first end and the second end, and
 wherein at least a portion of the stem extends beyond a front face of the corresponding receiving fastener when the projecting fastener is in the snap-fit arrangement with the receiving fastener.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sloped portion in the one or more sloped portions is at an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees from an axis corresponding to a front face of the receiving fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the cheek pad material comprises an opening, and
 wherein the projecting fastener is configured to be disposed through the opening.   
     
     
         9 . A helmet cheek pad and fastener system comprising:
 a projecting fastener comprising a first end and a second end opposing the first end;   a cheek pad comprising a cheek pad material configured to receive the projecting fastener; and   a receiving fastener configured to receive the first end of the projecting fastener to selectively retain the cheek pad, the receiving fastener comprising a tapered opening disposed in an outer frame, the tapered opening comprising:
 an upper opening; 
 a lower opening disposed below the upper opening, the lower opening being larger than the upper opening; 
 a tapered portion disposed between the upper opening and the lower opening; and 
 an inner surface configured to guide the first end of the projecting fastener within the tapered opening. 
   
     
     
         10 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner surface comprises a flat portion and a sloped portion. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 10 , wherein a transition between the flat portion and the sloped portion is curved. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface further comprises a lower bracket configured to extend below the sloped portion. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 10 , wherein the sloped portion is positioned behind the lower opening, the slope configured to guide the first end of the projecting fastener from the upper opening to the lower opening. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 9 , wherein the cheek pad material comprises an opening having a first diameter smaller than a second diameter of the first end and a third diameter of the second end such that the cheek pad material retains the projecting fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet cheek pad and fastener system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer frame comprises a cutout adjacent the upper opening, the cutout configured to facilitate flexing of the outer frame to receive the first end. 
     
     
         16 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell;   a cheek pad comprising a cheek pad material;   a projecting fastener configured to selectively retain the cheek pad material to the outer shell; and   a receiving fastener configured to receive the projecting fastener, the receiving fastener comprising:
 a front face comprising a first opening configured to engage the projecting fastener to retain the cheek pad to the outer shell and a second opening adjacent the first opening, the second opening configured to disengage the projecting fastener; and 
 a ramped inner surface, the ramped inner surface comprising a sloped portion disposed behind the second opening, the sloped portion configured to guide the projecting fastener from the first opening to the second opening. 
   
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the front face comprises a tapered portion extending into the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered portion is configured to retain the projecting fastener in the first opening. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the ramped inner surface further comprises:
 a top end; and   a bottom end opposing the top end, the ramped inner surface being coupled to the front face at the top end and the bottom end.   
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 19 , wherein the sloped portion extends from the bottom end of the ramped inner surface to a portion of the ramped inner surface below the top end. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the sloped portion of the ramped inner surface is at an angle between 40 degrees and 50 degrees from an axis corresponding to the front face.