Quick release connector
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position, wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position.
1. A sports helmet comprising:
a shell;
a faceguard;
a faceguard connector assembly having a bracket and a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through both the bracket and an opening in the shell to secure the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the shell opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the shell opening in the use position, and wherein an extent of the elongated body is received by the opening of the washer in the use position; and,
a head operably connected to the elongated body and positioned within the bracket in the use position; and,
wherein an actuation force is applied to the head to rapidly move the releasable coupler mechanism from the use position to a disconnected position that allows for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell.
2. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the application of the actuation force does not result in rotation of the head.
3. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body lacks threads.
4. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the washer lacks threads.
5. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.
6. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, and the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to a first segment of the elongated body.
7. The sports helmet of claim 6 , wherein the spring is retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body.
8. The sports helmet of claim 5 , wherein the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.
9. The sports helmet of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a first segment and a second segment, the second segment having an engaging structure, wherein the washer has an internal engaging structure, and wherein the internal engaging structure of the washer engages the engaging structure of the second segment to prevent the couple mechanism from moving from the use position to the disconnected position without application of the actuation force.
10. The sports helmet of claim 9 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the coupler mechanism in the use position to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.
11. The sports helmet of claim 1 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the head in the use position and wherein the spring is compressed an extent when the actuation force is applied to the head to move the coupler mechanism from the use position.
12. A quick release connector for securing a faceguard to a protective sports helmet, the connector comprising:
a bracket with an aperture and at least one channel configured to receive an extent of the faceguard;
a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through an opening in the helmet to secure the faceguard to the helmet in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the helmet opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the helmet opening in the use position, and wherein an extent of the elongated body is received by the opening of the washer in the use position; and,
a head operably connected to the elongated body and positioned within the bracket in the use position; and,
wherein an actuation force is applied to the head to rapidly move the releasable coupler mechanism from the use position to a disconnected position that allows for the rapid removal of the coupler mechanism to permit the faceguard to be displaced with respect to the helmet.
13. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the application of the actuation force does not result in rotation of the head.
14. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the elongated body lacks threads.
15. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the washer lacks threads.
16. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.
17. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the elongated body having a first segment with a first diameter and a second segment with a second diameter, and the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to a first segment of the elongated body.
18. The quick release connector of claim 17 , wherein the spring is retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body.
19. The quick release connector of claim 16 , wherein the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.
20. The quick release connector of claim 12 , wherein the elongated body has a first segment and a second segment, the second segment having an engaging structure, wherein the washer has an internal engaging structure, and wherein the internal engaging structure of the washer engages the engaging structure of the second segment to prevent the couple mechanism from moving from the use position to the disconnected position without application of the actuation force.
21. The quick release connector of claim 20 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the coupler mechanism in the use position to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.
22. The quick release connector of claim 12 , the releasable coupler mechanism further comprising a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the head in the use position and wherein the spring is compressed an extent when the actuation force is applied to the head to move the coupler mechanism from the use position.
23. A sports helmet comprising:
a shell;
a faceguard;
a faceguard connector assembly having a bracket and a releasable coupler mechanism that extends through both the bracket and an opening in the shell to secure the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the releasable coupler mechanism including:
a washer having a main body that extends substantially perpendicular from a flange of the washer, the main body having an opening and extending into and positioned within the shell opening in the use position;
an elongated body that extends through the bracket and the shell opening in the use position, and wherein an extent of the elongated body is received by the opening of the washer in the use position;
a head operably connected to the elongated body and positioned within the bracket in the use position; and,
a spring operably connected to the elongated body, wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the head in the use position,
wherein an actuation force is applied to the head to rapidly move the releasable coupler mechanism from the use position to a disconnected position that allows for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell, and,
wherein the spring is compressed an extent when the actuation force is applied to the head to move the coupler mechanism from the use position.
24. A football helmet, comprising:
a shell having an opening;
a faceguard;
a first quick release connector assembly that secures the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the first quick release connector assembly including:
a bracket having a tab, the bracket encircling a portion of the faceguard, the tab having a recess and an opening;
a washer lacking threads and having a main body that extends from a flange of the washer, the main body of the washer having an opening;
an elongated body lacking threads and having: (i) a first segment with a first outer diameter and (ii) a second segment with a second outer diameter, and wherein the first outer diameter of the elongated body is different than the second outer diameter of the elongated body;
a head connected to the elongated body, the head having an outer diameter that is greater than both the outer diameter of the elongated body and the opening in the tab of the bracket;
wherein in the use position:
(i) an extent of the main body of the washer is positioned within the opening in the shell;
(ii) the elongated body extends through the opening in the tab of the bracket;
(iii) the elongated body extends through the opening in the shell;
(iv) the elongated body extends into the opening in the main body of the washer; and
(v) the head is substantially within the recess in the tab of the bracket; and
wherein the quick release connector assembly is movable from the use position to a disconnected position by the application of an inwardly directed force that is applied to the head to disconnect the elongated body from the washer, thereby allowing for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell.
25. The football helmet of claim 24 , wherein the application of the inwardly directed force does not cause the head to make one complete rotation.
26. The football helmet of claim 25 , wherein the application of the inwardly directed force does not cause the head to rotate.
27. The football helmet of claim 24 , wherein in the use position: (i) an extent of the flange of the washer engages an inner surface of the shell in the use position and (ii) the main body of the washer encircles substantially the entire second segment of the elongated body.
28. The football helmet of claim 27 , wherein in the use position: (i) the second segment of the elongated body does not extent through the flange of the washer, and (ii) the first segment of the elongated body does not extend through the opening in the shell.
29. The football helmet of claim 24 , the second segment of the elongated body having an engaging structure, the main body of the washer having an internal engaging structure, and wherein the internal engaging structure of the main body of the washer engages the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body in the use position.
30. The football helmet of claim 29 , the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.
31. The football helmet of claim 30 , the flange and the opposing end of the main body defining a length of the washer, wherein the internal engaging structure is positioned at the midpoint of said length.
32. The football helmet of claim 31 , wherein the elongated body has no more than two segments.
33. The football helmet of claim 29 , further comprising a spring that is retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body, and wherein the spring exerts a biasing force in the use position to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.
34. The football helmet of claim 33 , wherein the spring is compressed an extent to overcome said biasing force when the inwardly directed force is applied to the head.
35. The football helmet of claim 25 , further comprising:
a second quick release connector assembly that secures the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the second quick release connector assembly including:
a bracket having a tab, the bracket encircling a portion of the faceguard, the tab having a recess and an opening;
a washer lacking threads and having a main body that extends from a flange of the washer, the main body of the washer having an opening;
an elongated body lacking threads and having: (i) a first segment with a first outer diameter and (ii) a second segment with a second outer diameter, and wherein the first outer diameter of the elongated body is different than the second outer diameter of the elongated body;
a head connected to the elongated body, the head having an outer diameter that is greater than both the outer diameter of the elongated body and the opening in the tab of the bracket;
wherein in the use position:
(i) an extent of the main body of the washer is positioned within the opening in the shell;
(ii) the elongated body extends through the opening in the tab of the bracket;
(iii) the elongated body extends through the opening in the shell;
(iv) the elongated body extends into the opening in the main body of the washer; and
(v) the head is substantially within the recess in the tab of the bracket;
wherein the second quick release connector assembly is movable from the use position to a disconnected position by the application of an inwardly directed force that is applied to the head to disconnect the elongated body from the washer, wherein said inwardly directed force does not cause the head to make one complete rotation, thereby allowing for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell; and
wherein the disconnected position of both the first and second quick release connector assemblies allows the faceguard to be pivoted about a connector that resides along a brow region of the shell.
36. A football helmet, comprising:
a shell having an opening;
a faceguard;
a first quick release connector assembly that secures the faceguard to the shell in a use position, the first quick release connector assembly including:
a bracket having a tab, the bracket encircling a portion of the faceguard, the tab having a recess and an opening;
a washer lacking threads and having a main body that extends from a flange of the washer, the main body of the washer having both a central opening and an internal engaging structure;
an elongated body lacking threads and having: (i) a first segment with a first outer diameter and (ii) a second segment having both an engaging structure and a second outer diameter, and wherein the first outer diameter of the elongated body is different than the second outer diameter of the elongated body;
a head connected to the elongated body, the head having an outer diameter that is greater than both the outer diameter of the elongated body and the opening in the tab of the bracket;
a spring retained by a notch formed between the first segment of the elongated body and the second segment of the elongated body;
wherein in the use position:
(i) an extent of the washer flange engages an inner surface of the shell;
(ii) the elongated body extends through the opening in the tab of the bracket and through the opening in the shell;
(iii) the second segment of the elongated body extends into the opening in the main body of the washer;
(iv) the second segment of the elongated body does not extent through the flange of the washer;
(v) the head is substantially within the recess in the tab of the bracket; and
(vi) the spring exerts a biasing force to prevent disengagement of the internal engaging structure of the washer from the engaging structure of the second segment of the elongated body.
37. The football helmet of claim 36 , wherein the second segment of the elongated body has an end wall opening that spans a diameter of the second segment.
38. The football helmet of claim 37 , wherein the first segment of the elongated body does not extend through the opening in the shell in the use position.
39. The football helmet of claim 38 , wherein the flange and the opposing end of the main body defining a length of the washer, wherein the internal engaging structure is positioned at the midpoint of said length.
40. The football helmet of claim 39 , wherein the elongated body has no more than two segments.
41. The football helmet of claim 36 , wherein the quick release connector assembly is movable from the use position to a disconnected position by the application of an inwardly directed force that is applied to the head to disconnect the elongated body from the washer, thereby allowing for the rapid removal of the bracket from the shell.
42. The football helmet of claim 41 , wherein the application of the inwardly directed force does not cause the head to make one complete rotation.
43. The football helmet of claim 42 , wherein the application of the inwardly directed force does not cause the head to rotate.
44. The football helmet of claim 42 , wherein the spring is compressed an extent to overcome said biasing force when the inwardly directed force is applied to the head.