IP Library Granted Patent US 11,672,295
Granted Patent B2
US 11,672,295 · App. 17/035,449 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Helmet vent bezel

Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer (Santa Cruz, CA); Mark A. Busse (Santa Cruz, CA); Rafael T. Ramirez (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
A42B3/003A42B3/04A42B3/0493A42B3/063A42B3/28A42B3/061A42B3/08A42B3/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,672,295
App. No.
17/035,449
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A helmet may include a helmet body, a fit system, a bezel, and a hardware retainer. The helmet body may have an outer shell and an energy management layer. The bezel may be separate from the outer shell and coupled to the helmet body at the vent opening of the helmet, encircle the vent opening, and have a hardware opening extending through the bezel and an anchor opening in the bezel adjacent the hardware opening. The hardware retainer may be positioned behind and coupled to the bezel. The hardware retainer may include a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening and a hardware retainer cover coupled to a rear side of the hardware retainer. The hardware retainer may further include an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening. The bezel may be in-molded into the energy management layer.

Claims (22)

1. A helmet comprising:

a helmet body comprising an outer shell and an energy management layer inside the outer shell, the helmet body comprising a vent opening that extends through the outer shell and the energy management layer;

a helmet strap coupled to the helmet body;

a bezel separate from the outer shell and in-molded into the energy management layer, the bezel encircling the vent opening and having a hardware opening separate and offset from the vent opening and extending through the bezel and an anchor opening separate and offset from the vent opening and adjacent to the hardware opening; and

a hardware retainer embedded in the energy management layer, and positioned behind and coupled to the bezel offset from the vent opening, the hardware retainer comprising a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening, an internally threaded nut aligned with the hardware receiving aperture and the hardware opening, and a hardware retainer cover hingedly attached to the hardware retainer and configured to cover a rear side of the hardware receiving aperture, the hardware retainer further comprising an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening.

2. The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising an accessory connector coupled to the nut for connecting an accessory to the helmet.

3. The helmet of claim 2 , wherein the accessory connector defines external threads for engaging the internal threads of the nut.

4. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the hardware retainer is coupled to the bezel by being snapped into the bezel.

5. The helmet of claim 4 , wherein the bezel comprises at least one prong extending rearward of a rear surface of the bezel adjacent the hardware opening, the hardware retainer comprises at least one prong receiver, and the hardware retainer is snapped to the bezel by the at least one prong being received into the at least one prong receiver.

6. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the bezel further comprises a footing extending behind a rear surface of the bezel.

7. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bezel and the hardware retainer is configured to attach one or more of a strap anchor, a fit system, a comfort liner, and a multi-directional impact protection system to the helmet body.

8. A helmet comprising: a helmet body comprising an outer shell and an energy management layer inside the outer shell, the helmet body comprising a vent opening that extends through the outer shell and the energy management layer;

a helmet strap coupled to the helmet body;

a bezel separate from the outer shell and in-molded into the energy management layer, the bezel encircling the vent opening and having a hardware opening separate and offset from the vent opening and extending through the bezel and an anchor opening separate and offset from the vent opening and adjacent to the hardware opening;

a hardware retainer embedded in the energy management layer, and positioned behind and coupled to the bezel offset from the vent opening, the hardware retainer comprising a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening, an internally threaded nut aligned with the hardware receiving aperture and the hardware opening and configured to receive and engage an accessory connector therein, the hardware retainer further comprising an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening;

an accessory comprising a post configured to be received in the anchor opening and a slot through the accessory adjacent to the post; and

an accessory connector extending through the slot and coupling the accessory to the helmet.

9. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the accessory connector defines external threads for engaging the internal threads of the nut.

10. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the hardware retainer is coupled to the bezel by being snapped into the bezel.

11. The helmet of claim 10 , wherein the bezel comprises at least one prong extending rearward of a rear surface of the bezel adjacent the hardware opening, the hardware retainer comprises at least one prong receiver, and the hardware retainer is snapped to the bezel by the at least one prong being received into the at least one prong receiver.

12. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the bezel further comprises a footing extending behind a rear surface of the bezel.

13. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the bezel and the hardware retainer is configured to attach one or more of a strap anchor, a fit system, a comfort liner, and a multi-directional impact protection system to the helmet body.

Assignments (8)
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.
To: BELL SPORTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072908/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072238/0250 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC
To: FORTRESS CREDIT CORP., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069817/0586 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 069460/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; FOX HEAD, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 066959/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; QUIETKAT, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0747 →
ABL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 056033/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2021
From: SHAFFER, SAMUEL J.; BUSSE, MARK A.; RAMIREZ, RAFAEL T.
To: BELL SPORTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054940/0207 →