Faceguard for a batting helmet

Abstract

Various embodiments of a faceguard for batting helmets are provided. In one embodiment, the faceguard includes an elongated body and a first attachment member. The elongated guard body includes a first planar portion and an intermediate portion extending away from the first planar portion along an extension direction. The intermediate portion curves away from the first planar portion to define a concave side of the elongated guard body and an opposing convex side of the elongated guard body. The first attachment member is coupled to the first planar portion adjacent to a first lateral edge of the first planar portion that extends parallel to the extension direction. The first attachment member is disposed on the concave side of the elongated guard body and extends away from a surface of the first planar portion and toward a second lateral edge of the first planar portion opposite from the first lateral edge.

1 . A faceguard, comprising:
 an elongated guard body including a first planar portion and an intermediate portion extending away from the first planar portion along an extension direction, the intermediate portion curving away from the first planar portion to define a concave side of the elongated guard body and an opposing convex side of the elongated guard body; and   a first attachment member coupled to the first planar portion adjacent a first lateral edge of the first planar portion, the first lateral edge extending parallel to the extension direction, the first attachment member disposed on the concave side of the elongated guard body and extending away from a surface of the first planar portion and toward a second lateral edge of the first planar portion opposite from the first lateral edge.   
     
     
         2 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member includes:
 a first extension extending away from the surface of the first planar portion in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the first planar portion; and   a second extension engaged with and extending away from a distal end of the first extension and toward the second lateral edge, the first extension and the second extension together defining a ridge that is configured to secure the elongated guard body to a tongue extension of a helmet.   
     
     
         3 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , further comprising a second attachment member coupled to the first planar portion adjacent to the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         4 . The faceguard of  claim 3 , wherein the first attachment member and the second attachment member together define a rail, the rail configured to receive a tongue extension of a helmet therein. 
     
     
         5 . The faceguard of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first attachment member or the second attachment member include a quick connect fastener disposed at a distal end thereof that is configured to detachably couple the first attachment member to the second attachment member. 
     
     
         6 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the first attachment member and the first planar portion together defining a channel configured to receive a tongue extension of a helmet therein. 
     
     
         7 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the first attachment member is spaced apart from the first planar portion by a gap, further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to one of the elongated guard body or the first attachment member, the adjustment mechanism configured to reduce a size of at least a portion of the gap between the first attachment member and the first planar portion. 
     
     
         8 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member is made from a flexible material that is configured to allow movement of the first attachment member relative to the first planar portion along an angle of rotation of at least 30° without damaging the first attachment member or the elongated guard body. 
     
     
         9 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated guard body further includes a second planar portion disposed on an opposite end of the intermediate portion as the first planar portion, the second planar portion being symmetric with the first planar portion. 
     
     
         10 . The faceguard of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated guard body includes a telescoping portion that is configured to adjust a length of the elongated guard body. 
     
     
         11 . A helmet assembly, comprising:
 a helmet defining an interior cavity and a face opening;   a tongue extension extending forward of the face opening; and   a faceguard including:
 an elongated guard body that is curved along an extension direction, the elongated guard body including a first planar portion and an intermediate portion extending away from the first planar portion along the extension direction, the intermediate portion curving away from the first planar portion to define a concave side of the elongated guard body and an opposing convex side of the elongated guard body; and 
 a first attachment member coupled to the first planar portion adjacent a first lateral edge of the first planar portion, the first lateral edge extending parallel to the extension direction, the first attachment member disposed on the concave side of the elongated guard body and extending away from a surface of the first planar portion and toward a second lateral edge of the first planar portion opposite from the first lateral edge, the first attachment member configured so that, when the elongated guard body is attached to the tongue extension, (i) the concave side of the elongated body faces toward the interior cavity, and (ii) the elongated guard body extends across the face opening from a first side of the face opening adjacent to the tongue extension to a second side of the face opening opposite the first side. 
   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first attachment member defines a ridge configured to receive the tongue extension therein. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first attachment member is configured to hook over the tongue extension to secure the faceguard to the tongue extension. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the faceguard further comprises a second attachment member coupled to the elongated guard body adjacent to the second lateral edge of the elongated guard body opposite the first lateral edge, the first attachment member and the second attachment member together defining a rail configured to receive the tongue extension therein. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment member circumscribes at least one end of the tongue extension when the elongated guard body is coupled to the tongue extension. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tongue extension includes a first guard attachment member, the first attachment member configured to detachably couple the elongated guard body to the first guard attachment member by pressing the elongated guard body against the first guard attachment member. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the faceguard further includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a holding force acting between the elongated guard body and the tongue extension. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a faceguard for a baseball helmet, comprising:
 forming an elongated guard body including a first planar portion and an intermediate portion extending away from the first planar portion along an extension direction so that the intermediate portion curves away from the first planar portion to define a concave side of the elongated guard body and an opposing convex side of the elongated guard body; and   forming a first attachment member that is coupled to the first planar portion adjacent to a first lateral edge of the first planar portion, the first lateral edge extending parallel to the extension direction so that the first attachment member is disposed on the concave side of the elongated guard body and extends away from a surface of the first planar portion and toward a second lateral edge of the first planar portion opposite from the first lateral edge.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising coupling an adjustment mechanism to one of the elongated guard body or the first attachment member, the adjustment mechanism including an adjustment member that is movably coupled to the elongated guard body adjacent to the first attachment member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming a second attachment member integrally with the elongated guard body adjacent to the second lateral edge of the first planar portion so that the first attachment member and the second attachment member together define a rail that is configured to receive a tongue extension of a helmet therein.