Protective sports helmet chinstrap assembly
View Patent ↗A chin strap assembly is provided for use with a sports helmet. The chin strap assembly includes an inner pad member, a strap assembly and an outer protective member. The outer protective member is connected and released from the strap assembly by an attachment member, such as a post. A sports helmet with the chin strap assembly is also provided.
1. A multiple component protective chin strap assembly configured to be removably connectable to a protective sports helmet, the multiple component protective chin strap assembly comprising:
an inner pad member adapted to engage an extent of a chin of a person wearing the protective chin strap, the inner pad member having opposed first and second terminal ends that define a length of the inner pad member, the inner pad member also having an inner panel and an outer panel, the outer panel having a central opening, wherein the central opening resides in an intermediate region of the outer panel between the first and second terminal ends of the inner pad member;
a strap assembly comprising a first elongated strap member and a second elongated strap member extending through the first and second terminal ends of the inner pad member, wherein an intermediate portion of said first strap member extends through and between said first and second terminal ends of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad, and wherein an intermediate portion of said second strap member extends through and between said first and second terminal ends of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad;
an outer protective member releasably coupled to the strap assembly adjacent the inner pad member; and
at least one attachment member secured to one of the first and second strap members of the strap assembly, the attachment member comprising a post extending outwardly from a respective one of the first and second strap members and through the central opening of the inner pad member.
2. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer protective member includes an opening that receives the post to releasably couple the outer protective member to the strap assembly and define a connected position.
3. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the post has a top portion and a groove, wherein the groove engages an inner edge of the opening of the outer protective member in the connected position.
4. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 3 , wherein in the connected position the top post portion is substantially flush with an outer surface of the outer protective member.
5. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second strap members overlap at two distinct intersection locations to form a central strap aperture between said intersection locations, wherein the central strap aperture is aligned with the central opening of the inner pad member.
6. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 5 , wherein the distance between the intersection locations is 4-6inches.
7. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 1 , the inner panel of the inner pad member having a central portion that extends through the central opening formed in the outer panel of the inner pad member.
8. A sports helmet comprising:
a shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet;
a multiple component protective chin strap assembly removably connected to the shell, the chin strap assembly including:
an inner pad member adapted to engage an extent of a chin of a person wearing the protective chin strap, the inner pad member having opposed left and right outermost ends that define a length of the inner pad member, the inner pad member also having an inner panel and an outer panel, the outer panel having a central opening that resides within an intermediate region of the outer panel between the left and right outermost ends;
a strap assembly comprising a first elongated strap member and a second elongated strap member extending through the left and right outermost ends of the inner pad member, wherein an intermediate portion of said first strap member extends through and between said left and right outermost ends of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad, and wherein an intermediate portion of said second strap member extends through and between said left and right outermost ends of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad;
an outer protective member releasably coupled to the strap assembly adjacent the inner pad member; and
at least one attachment member secured to one of the first and second strap members of the strap assembly, the attachment member including an outwardly extending post disposed within and extending through the central opening of the inner pad member.
9. The sports helmet of claim 8 , wherein the outer protective member includes an opening that receives the post to releasably couple the outer protective member to the strap assembly and define a connected position of the chin strap assembly.
10. The sports helmet of claim 9 , wherein the post includes a top portion and a groove, wherein the groove engages an inner edge of the opening of the outer protective member in the connected position.
11. The sports helmet of claim 10 , wherein in the connected position the post is received by the opening in the outer protective member and the top post portion is substantially flush with an outer surface of the outer protective member.
12. The sports helmet of claim 8 , wherein the first and second strap members overlap at two distinct intersection locations to form a central strap aperture between said intersection locations, and wherein opposed ends of the inner pad member are positioned adjacent the intersections locations.
13. The sports helmet of claim 12 , wherein the distance between the intersection locations is 4-6inches.
14. A multiple component protective chin strap assembly configured to be removably connectable to a protective sports helmet, the multiple component protective chin strap assembly comprising:
an inner pad member adapted to engage an extent of a chin of a person wearing the protective chin strap, the inner pad member having an inner panel and an outer panel, the outer panel having a central opening, and opposed first and second terminal end openings that define a length of the inner pad member, wherein the central opening resides in an intermediate region of the outer panel between the first and second terminal end openings;
a strap assembly comprising a first elongated strap member and a second elongated strap member that overlap at two distinct locations to form a central strap aperture, wherein an extent of said first strap member extends through and between said first and second terminal end openings of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad, wherein an extent of said second strap member extends through and between said first and second terminal end openings of the inner pad member and across said length of the inner pad;
wherein the central strap aperture is aligned with the central opening of the outer panel of the inner pad member, and wherein a central portion of the inner panel of the inner pad member extends through the central strap aperture; and
an outer protective member releasably coupled to the strap assembly adjacent the inner pad member.
15. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 14 , the chin strap assembly further comprising at least one attachment member secured to one of the first and second strap members of the strap assembly, the attachment member disposed within and extending through the central opening in the inner pad member.
16. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer protective member includes an opening that receives the attachment member to releasably couple the outer protective member to the strap assembly and define a connected position.
17. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 16 , wherein the attachment member is a post with a top portion and a groove, wherein the groove engages an inner edge of the opening of the outer protective member in the connected position.
18. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 15 , wherein the attachment member extends through the central opening of the inner pad member without coupling to the inner pad member.
19. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer protective member has opposed first and second ends that define a length, and wherein the length of the outer protective member is less than the length of the inner pad member.
20. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein a periphery of the outer protective member is less than a periphery of the inner pad member, wherein an extent of the outer panel is exposed.
21. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein the outer protective member has opposed first and second ends that define a length, and wherein the length of the outer protective member is less than the length of the inner pad member.
22. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein a periphery of the outer protective member is less than a periphery of the inner pad member, wherein an extent of the outer panel is exposed.
23. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein the outer protective member has opposed first and second ends that define a length, and wherein the length of the outer protective member is less than the length of the inner pad member.
24. The multiple component protective chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein a periphery of the outer protective member is less than a periphery of the inner pad member, wherein an extent of the outer panel is exposed.