Abstract This invention relates to a novel face mask subassembly for use on football helmets characterized by a pair of bracket-forming attachments for opposite sides of the helmet that cooperate therewith to define forwardly opening sockets alongside the face, and mating rearwardly-extending tongues formed on the ends of the face mask arch operative when slidably received within said sockets to define a quick-disconnect coupling therebetween that remains effective to protect the wearer against injury from blows directed against the face while, at the same time, enabling said mask to separate from the helmet if pulled upon. While a slidable friction connection can be used to hold the mask onto the helmet until an extraordinary force tending to separate same is exerted, the invention also encompasses the inclusion of positive mechanical latches of a type effective to releasably lock the tongues into their respective sockets. The invention also encompasses the inclusion of a stabilizing strut and cooperating pin centered within that portion of the helmet covering the forehead.
A tear-away face mask assembly for football helmets and the like which comprises: a pair of bracket-forming members each having a channel formed therein effective when mounted in transversely-spaced opposed relation to one another upon the exterior face of the earflaps of a football helmet to cooperate therewith and define substantially parallel forwardly-opening sockets alongside thereof; a face mask having a horizontallyarched portion with the terminal ends thereof shaped to define a pair of transversely-spaced parallel tongues positioned and adapted for simultaneous insertion into the sockets in the bracket members and a vertically-disposed upwardly and rearwardly-curved arcuate strut depending from the mIdpoint of said arched portion terminating at the forehead-covering portion of the helmet when attached thereto, said sockets and tongues when interengaged cooperating to produce a quick-disconnect coupling therebetween operative to permit instantaneous detachment of the mask upon application of a pulling force thereto in a direction to separate same from the helmet; and, a quick-disconnect coupling connecting said terminal strut end to said helmet, said coupling comprising a pin mountable upon the forehead-covering portion of the helmet in position to receive the terminal end of the strut and an upwardly extending generally U-shaped yoke formed on said strut end positioned to receive said pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A tear-away face mask assembly for football helmets and the like which comprises: a pair of bracket-forming members each having a channel formed therein effective when mounted in transversely-spaced opposed relation to one another upon the exterior face of the earflaps of a football helmet to cooperate therewith and define substantially parallel forwardly-opening sockets alongside thereof; a face mask having a horizontallyarched portion with the terminal ends thereof shaped to define a pair of transversely-spaced parallel tongues positioned and adapted for simultaneous insertion into the sockets in the bracket members and a vertically-disposed upwardly and rearwardly-curved arcuate strut depending from the mIdpoint of said arched portion terminating at the forehead-covering portion of the helmet when attached thereto, said sockets and tongues when interengaged cooperating to produce a quick-disconnect coupling therebetween operative to permit instantaneous detachment of the mask upon application of a pulling force thereto in a direction to separate same from the helmet; and, a quick-disconnect coupling connecting said terminal strut end to said helmet, said coupling comprising a pin mountable upon the forehead-covering portion of the helmet in position to receive the terminal end of the strut and an upwardly extending generally U-shaped yoke formed on said strut end positioned to receive said pin.