Chinstrap and chin cup for a protective headgear

[0001] This invention pertains to protective headgear for sporting activities such as in boxing, martial arts and self-defense training. More specifically, this invention pertains to mechanisms, such as chinstraps, for securing the headgear on the head.

[0002] Participants in contact sports, or self-defense training often require protective wear to prevent or minimize injury. Helmets or protective headgear are used in various sports such as football, baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, martial arts, boxing or self-defense training. Protective headgear used in boxing and martial arts may be fabricated from a resilient foam material such as polyvinylnitrile foam, which is cut and/or molded to cover sensitive portions of the head for protection. Sections of the headgear may be perforated, or contain openings for ventilation, viewing or hearing. The foam absorbs energy from blows to the head, and is lightweight to minimize stress to the neck and shoulders during use.

[0003] Examples of padded headgear used in boxing, martial arts training or self-defense training are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. With respect to FIG. 1, the headgear 10 is retained on the head of a user by a chinstrap 11 that extends from one side of the headgear 10 to an opposite side. The chinstrap 11 is permanently affixed to a first side 12 and has a free end 13 that is attached to the second side 14 of the headgear 10 using known releasable fastening systems such as Velcro®. Although such a chinstrap works for purposes of retaining the headgear on the head, the headgear does not include a chin cup; therefore, the chin may be exposed to direct trauma.

[0004] The headgear 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a panel 15 that covers the chin for protection. The panel 15 is integrally formed and connected with the sides 16 and 17 of the headgear. A back panel 18 can be flexed to fit the headgear 10 onto the head of the user. An adjustable strap 19 tightens the back panel 18 against the head to secure the headgear 10. In as much as the chin panel 15 is integrally connected to the sides 16, the chin pad is not adjustable, and the headgear may tend to loosely fit around the chin.

[0005] Another headgear 10 is shown in FIG. 4 includes a chinstrap 11 laced through holes 12A and 14A on the sides 12 and 14 of the headgear. The chinstrap 11 includes Velcro® fasteners on free ends 11A and 11B of the strap 11, such that free ends 11A and 11B of the chinstrap 11 are laced through the apertures on the respective sides 12A and 14A of the headgear and detachably secured to the chinstrap 11 at or near the jaw or chin of a user.

[0006] However, headgear fabricated from foam materials as described above that are encased within a vinyl coating may have a tendency to slip when a user sweats. Such headgear may not pass certain testing standards adopted by the American Standards for Testing and Materials for martial arts headgear.

[0007] The present invention is for a chinstrap and chin cup for a protective headgear which headgear has a first side panel that covers at least a portion of one side of the head of a user and a second side panel that covers at least a portion of an opposite side of the head and each side panel has an aperture. A chin cup having an indentation for receiving and engaging a chin of a user is attached to a chinstrap.

[0008] The chinstrap has a first free end operatively connected to the chin cup and extending laterally from the chin cup, and a second free end operatively connected to the chin cup and extending laterally from the chin cup opposite the first free end. Each of the first free end and second free end is capable of being inserted through an aperture on a respective side panel of the headgear. A fastening system is operatively connected to the chinstrap, for detachably securing the first free end and the second free end to a bottom of the chin cup after being inserted through the apertures on the headgear.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the fastening system includes one or more hook and/loop fastening components. A hook component is affixed to a bottom surface of the chin cup; a first loop component is affixed to the first free end of the chinstrap; and, a second loop component is affixed to the second free end of the chinstrap. The free ends of the chinstrap are inserted through apertures on respective side panels of the headgear and detachably secured to the bottom surface of the chin cup.

[0021] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7 showing a headgear 20 with a chinstrap 22 having a chin cup 21. The chin cup 21 and chinstrap 22 are preferably used with a headgear that is constructed from a suitable foam material that is conformable and resilient, and is capable of absorbing energy and forces when contacted and deformed by a blow to the head of a user. For example, the foam material may be composed of polyvinylnitrile closed cell foam product that is die-cut according to predetermined specifications. The chinstrap 22 and chin cup 21 could also be used with other type helmets such as biking, football or lacrosse helmet having a hard plastic outer shell.

[0022] The headgear 20 preferably includes a circumferential member 23, or outer shell, that generally conforms to the shape of one's head and covers portions of one's head for protection. The circumferential member 23 includes a front selection 24 that covers the forehead, a back section 25 that covers the back of the head, two side sections 26 that cover the ears, temples, sides of the jaw and side of the head and a top section 27 that covers at least a portion of the top of the head. The sections 24, 25, 26 and 27 are arranged to form a first opening 28 through which a user is capable of viewing, and a second opening 29 through which a user's neck extends. Pads 30 may be attached to the circumferential member 23 to supplemental the protection of the member 23. All foam materials are encased within a reasonably tough pliable paint coating, preferably comprising a polyvinyl chloride. Known dipping or painting processes are used to apply the coating.

[0023] With respect to FIGS. 5 through 7 a chinstrap 22 is shown in connection with the headgear 20. The chinstrap 22 includes a chin cup 21 that receives and engages the chin of a user. The chinstrap 22 has two free ends 34 and 35 that extend laterally with respect to the chin cup 21. The chinstrap 22 and chin cup 21 may be formed as a flexible integral member, whereby the chin cup 21 is a widened portion of the strap 22. The material making up the chinstrap 22 may have some degree of rigidity so the widened area of the strap 22 forms the chin cup 21. Mesh materials may be inserted in the widened area for form the cup. Pliable plastic materials, such as neoprene plastics, known to those skilled in the art may also be used to fabricate the chin cup 21.

[0024] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the chin cup 21 may be composed of a foam material that is formed to take on a cup-like configuration. The chin cup 21 has an indentation 21A for receiving the chin of a user as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A foam material such as polyvinylnitrile may be used to fabricate the chin cup 21. The foam material is preferably encased within a tough pliable coating, preferably comprising a polyvinyl chloride. Known dipping or painting processes are used to apply the coating.

[0025] A fastening system for securing the chin cup 21 to the headgear 20, is attached to the free ends 34 and 35 of the chinstrap 22 and the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21 whereby the free ends 34 and 35 are connected to the headgear and detachably secured to the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21. Each side section 26 of circumferential member 23 has an aperture 40 through which a respective free end 34 or 35 is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each free end 34 and 35 is folded around a bottom end of a respective side section 26 and then detachably fastened to a fastener on the chin cup 21. An alternative embodiment that may used with headgear having a hard outer shell may include a buckle attached to the headgear, wherein the buckle has an aperture through which free ends 34 and 35 are laced.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein the fastening system includes one or more Velcro® sections, or other known hook/loop fasteners. The arrangement of the fastener sections as described herein is by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is contemplated that the invention covers any combination of fastener sections by which the free ends 34 and 35 connect to the headgear and are detachably affixed to a fastener section on the bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21, and/or to one another. Other fastening systems, such as snaps or buckles may be used.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the free ends 34 and 35 are integrally attached to a middle section 22A of the strap 22, which is affixed to a bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21 forming a single strap. Respective free ends 34 and 35 extend laterally from the middle section 22A. Alternatively, the strap 22 may include free ends, 34 and 35, which are not integrally attached to the middle section 22A, but are affixed directly to the chin cup 21. The free ends 34 and 35 have respective first sides 34A and 35A and respective second sides 34B and 35B to which hook or loop components of the fastening system may be attached.

[0028] The hook and loop fastening system includes a hook component 36 affixed to the middle section 22A of the strap 22 and/or bottom surface 32 of the chin cup 21. A first loop component 37 is affixed to the first side 34A of free end 34, and a second loop component is 38 is affixed to a first side 35A of free end 35.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a user places the headgear 20 on his/her head and inserts free ends 34 and 35 through respective apertures 40 on the side sections 26 of the headgear 20. The free ends 34 and 35 are folded under respective bottom ends of the side sections 26 and the hook components 37 and 38 are detachably secured to the loop component 36 on the chin cup 22. In an exemplary embodiment, either or both of the free ends 34 and 35 may have a hook component 39 affixed to the second side 34B or 35B of the respective free ends 34 and 35. Such a hook component 39 is provided because the free ends 34 and 35 may overlap one another when the free ends 34 and 35 are secured to the chin cup 21. For example, the loop component 37 on the first side 34A of free end 34 may engage the hook component 36 on the chin cup 21, and the loop component 38 on the first side 35A of free end 35 may engage the hook component 39 on the second side 34B of free end 34.

[0030] In this manner a headgear with a chinstrap and chin cup is provided in which the chinstrap is adjustable, provides protection to the chin of a user and passes applicable testing standards for protective headgear.

[0031] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only and not of limitation. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skilled in the art without departing from the teaching of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.