Sports helmet with adjustable chin strap system
A protective sports helmet that includes a chin strap system that allows for rapid, one-handed adjustment of a chin strap assembly by the player while he/she is wearing the helmet is provided. The chin strap assembly includes a protective chin cup and a pair of straps extending from opposed sides of the chin cup and having a plurality of securing elements. The assembly also includes a pair of adjustable connectors affixed to the helmet and that include a central opening that receives an extent of the strap and a lever that engages a portion of the securing elements. The adjustable connector allows movement of the strap in a first direction, and prevents movement of the strap in a second direction when the lever is engaged with at least one of the securing elements. The adjustable connector allows movement of the strap in both the first and second directions when the lever is not engaged with the securing elements.
1. A chin strap assembly for use with a protective football helmet configured to be worn by a player engaged in football activities, the chin strap assembly comprising:
a chin cup;
a strap;
an adjustable connector configured to be removably affixed to a football helmet shell, the adjustable connector having: (i) a housing including an opening configured to receive an extent of the strap, and (ii) an engaging element residing within the housing and being configured to interact with a first portion of the strap;
wherein the adjustable connector allows for sliding movement of the strap in a first direction corresponding to tightening of the strap; and
wherein the adjustable connector prevents sliding movement of the strap in a second direction corresponding to loosening of the strap due to interaction of the engaging element with said first portion of the strap.
2. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interaction between the strap and the adjustable connector allows for one-handed adjustment of the chin strap assembly.
3. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a top wall and a lower wall and the helmet shell includes an outer surface; and
wherein an extent of the lower wall is positioned interior to the outer surface of the helmet shell and extent of the top wall is positioned exterior to the outer surface of the helmet shell.
4. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strap lacks securement elements along its length.
5. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector allows sliding movement of the strap in the second direction after a force is applied to the chin strap assembly and the engaging element no longer interacts with said first portion of the strap.
6. The chin strap assembly of claim 5 , wherein when the force is applied to the chin strap assembly, the engaging element pivots such that a rear segment of the engaging element disengages said first portion of the strap to allow the strap to be moved in the second direction.
7. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector includes a biasing member operably connected to the engaging element; and
wherein the biasing member exerts a force on the engaging element that biases a segment of the engaging element into engagement with said first portion of the strap.
8. The chin strap assembly of claim 7 , wherein when a force is applied to the chin strap assembly, said force overcomes the force exerted by the biasing member on the engaging element, whereby the segment of the engaging element disengages from said first portion of the strap to allow the strap to be moved in the second direction.
9. The chin strap assembly of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is either a spring or a magnet.
10. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener having a circular periphery and being located adjacent an inner surface of the football helmet shell.
11. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a sloped first end wall extending between the top and bottom walls; and
wherein a first extent of the opening is formed in the sloped first end wall.
12. The chin strap assembly of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a sloped second end wall extending between the top and bottom walls, and wherein a second extent of the opening is formed in the sloped second end wall.
13. The chin strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a top wall having a top perimeter and a bottom wall having a bottom perimeter, and wherein the top perimeter is different than the bottom perimeter.
14. A chin strap assembly for use with a football helmet configured to be worn by a player engaged in football activities, the chin strap assembly comprising:
(i) a chin cup having an outer layer and a padding layer, and wherein said chin cup is designed to overly the player's chin when the chin strap assembly is worn by the player;
(ii) a upper elongated strap operably coupled to the chin cup; and
(iii) a lower elongated strap operably coupled to the chin cup and configured to be received by an adjustable connector that allows the player to use a single hand to:
(a) slide the lower elongated strap in a first direction corresponding to tightening of the strap while the chin strap assembly is worn by the player, and
(b) slide the lower elongated strap in a second direction that is substantially opposed to the first direction and corresponding to loosening of the strap while the chin strap assembly is worn by the player.
15. The chin strap assembly of claim 14 , the upper elongated strap is configured to be to be coupled to the football helmet at a first location that is above an ear opening formed in the football helmet and the lower elongated strap is configured to be coupled to the football helmet at a second location that is below the ear opening formed in the football helmet.
16. The chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein the lower elongated strap includes securement elements along an extent of its length.
17. The chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable connector is configured to be removably affixed to a football helmet shell, the adjustable connector having: (i) a housing including an opening configured to receive an extent of the lower elongated strap, and (ii) an engaging element residing within the housing and being configured to interact with a portion of the lower elongated strap.
18. The chin strap assembly of claim 17 , wherein the adjustable connector prevents sliding movement of the lower elongated strap in the second direction to an interaction between the engaging element and said portion of the lower elongated strap.
19. The chin strap assembly of claim 17 , wherein the adjustable connector allows sliding movement of the lower elongated strap in the second direction after a force is applied to the chin strap assembly and the engaging element no longer interacts with said portion of the lower elongated strap.
20. The chin strap assembly of claim 17 , wherein the adjustable connector includes a biasing member operably connected to the engaging element; and
wherein the biasing member exerts a force on the engaging element that biases a segment of the engaging element into engagement with the said portion of the lower elongated strap to prevent the lower elongated strap from moving in the second direction.
21. The chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable connector includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a sloped first end wall extending between the top and bottom walls; and
wherein a first extent of the opening is formed in the first sloped first end wall and is configured to receive the lower elongated strap.
22. The chin strap assembly of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable connector includes a housing having a top wall with a top perimeter and a bottom wall with a bottom perimeter, and wherein the top perimeter is different than the bottom perimeter.