20130312166 | SPORTS HELMET - A sports helmet having a domed shell, and a forward peak each having a topside and an underside, said sports helmet being configured to co-operate with a face-guard for protecting the face of a wearer, wherein said peak comprises a proximal, rigid peak portion which is connected to the helmet main body and a distal, movable peak portion which is articulated on said proximal peak portion along a prescribed line of flexure, wherein said distal peak portion is capable of being deflected upwards when impacted by a moving ball or projectile. The helmet may further comprise a face guard attached or attachable to the domed shell portion, the face guard comprising a rigid structure of protective struts capable of extending about a wearer's face; said helmet, when attached to said guard, having a viewing gap between said guard and said peak; wherein said viewing gap is defined between said peak and a generally transversely extending upper sill of said guard. The helmet shell and guard are configured such that an incoming ball or projectile having a diameter roughly equivalent to the approximate dimension across said viewing gap and moving towards the head of a wearer approximately along a viewing axis through said viewing gap will be caused, upon contacting said upper sill, to deflect upwards, thereby deflecting said articulated distal peak section upwards, such that a said incoming projectile having contacted both said upper sill and said movable peak will tend to become blocked between said sill and said peak and will be prevented from passing through said viewing gap. | 11-28-2013 |
20130312165 | SPORTS FACE GUARD - A sports face guard having a cage type construction of interconnected struts, and creating an unobstructed viewing aperture proximate to the eyes of a wearer during use, comprises a forward transverse sill defining at least one boundary of said viewing aperture. The forward transverse sill is comprised of at least two generally transverse struts extending across the front of the face of a wearer during use, said transverse sill having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein a first surface of said sill at said distal edge and a second surface of said sill at said proximal edge are spaced linearly apart and lie approximately along a common viewing axis of a wearer during use. The face guard comprises a sill which presents a reduced profile in the field of view of a wearer while presenting an increased surface for contact with an incoming projectile such as a ball, allowing the ball to be impeded and deflected, thereby providing a blocking effect of the guard and reducing the chance of injury to a wearer. The guard may be worn in combination with a helmet and may be secured to a helmet. | 11-28-2013 |