Method and system for retaining ski goggles

Abstract

A set of hooks or clips disposed on the front of a ski helmet can catch ski goggles and prevent them from sliding off a ski helmet when the goggles are not being worn by the user. The tension of the goggle strap can keep the goggles in place. The goggle grabber design can be used on almost any helmet. The goggle grabber design of the present invention can be made as an add-on to an existing helmet or can be integrated into a helmet design.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to goggle retention devices and, more particularly, to a method and system for retaining ski goggles to the front of a ski helmet that can prevent the ski goggles from sliding off.

Most skiers wear helmets and goggles. When the skiers want to take their goggles off of their face, they often put them on their helmet. Many times, the goggles can, due to the angled tension between the goggles and the straps, slide off the top of the helmet. The goggles are then dangling from the strap in back of the helmet and is not easy to retrieve.

Some goggle companies have tried to address the above problem by affixing rubber nibs on the inside of the goggle straps. However, when the straps are cold, these rubber nibs don't work well and still allow the goggles to slide off the helmet. Moreover, even without cold temperatures, these goggles, with the rubber nibs, can also slide off when bumped.

As can be seen, there is a need for a method and system for retaining a skier's goggles on their helmet, preventing them from sliding off due to pulling by the straps, bumping the goggles or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system preventing goggles from sliding off a helmet comprises one or more hook assemblies disposed on the helmet; and a hook disposed on the one or more hook assemblies, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the helmet, the hook operable to grasp the goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the helmet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system preventing ski goggles from sliding off a ski helmet comprises first and second hook assemblies disposed on the ski helmet; and a hook disposed on the one or more hook assemblies, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the ski helmet, the hook operable to grasp the ski goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the ski helmet.

In a further aspect of the present invention a method to prevent ski goggles from sliding off a ski helmet when not in use comprises removing the ski goggles from the user's face and placing the ski goggles on a front surface of the ski helmet; and hooking a portion of the ski goggles on a hook disposed on the front surface of the ski helmet, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the ski helmet, the hook operable to grasp the ski goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the ski helmet.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skier wearing a ski helmet and ski goggles, with the goggles in a pre-goggle interface configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the skier of FIG. 1 showing a goggle interfacing configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the skier of FIG. 1 showing a post-goggle interface configuration, where the goggles are retained by the goggle grabber design of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ski helmet configured with a hook attachment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ski helmet having a recessed hook design according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ski helmet of FIG. 6 showing the hooks in a deployed configuration;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a set of hooks or clips disposed on the front of a ski helmet to catch goggles and prevent them from sliding off the helmet when not being worn by the user. The tension of the goggle strap can keep the goggles in place. The goggle grabber design can be used on almost any helmet. The goggle grabber design of the present invention can be made as an add-on to an existing helmet or can be integrated into a helmet design.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a user 10 can wear a helmet 12 and goggles 22, for example, for skiing. The helmet 12 can include clips 14, typically two clips 14, disposed on a front face of the helmet 12 to catch and hold the goggles 22 when they are lifted and placed on the front of the helmet 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The clips 14 can include a base member 16 with a hook 18 extending from the base member 16. The hook 18 can include a concave design pointing toward a face location of the helmet 12.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the clips 14 can be made integrally with the design of the helmet 12. In other embodiments of the present invention, the clips 14 can be attached to almost any ski helmet. Screws 20 can be used to help secure the clips 14 to the helmet 12. In addition, an adhesive, such as an epoxy, can be used to help secure the clips 14 to the helmet 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the goggles 22 are lifted and placed on front of the helmet 12, the goggles 22 can catch on the hook 18, preventing the goggles 22 from sliding upward and off the helmet 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 9, in some embodiments, recessed hooks 24 can be disposed in the helmet 12. The recessed hooks 24 can move between a recessed position (FIGS. 6 and 8) and a deployed position (FIGS. 7 and 9). The recessed hooks 24 can be received in a hook cavity 26 in the helmet 12.

Various mechanisms can be used to move the hooks 24 between the recessed and the deployed positions. For example, a user can simply life the hooks 24 out of the recessed hook cavities 26 to use them. In some embodiments, the hooks 24 can have a mechanism, such as a spring loaded release, to move the hooks 24 into the deployed position. For example, a user can press on the hooks 24 in the recessed position to cause them to deploy. If the user pressed the deployed hooks into the hook cavity 26, a catch can hold them in the recessed position until deployed again. Of course, other mechanisms for use of the recessed hooks 24 may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The hook assemblies described above can be made from various materials, such as plastic, metal (such as aluminum) or the like. The hook assemblies can be made in various colors to match or offset the helmet. The hook assemblies can have a length from about ¾ inch to about 2 inches and can be only about 1 inch high. Such a design allows a user to easily lift and unhook their goggles from the hooks for removal or replacement on the user's face.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system preventing goggles from sliding off a helmet, comprising:

one or more hook assemblies disposed on the helmet; and

a hook disposed on the one or more hook assemblies, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the helmet, the hook operable to grasp the goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the helmet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more hook assemblies include a first hook assembly and a second hook assembly disposed on a front face of the helmet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hook assemblies are secured to the helmet with screws passing through a base member of the hook assemblies and into the helmet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hook assemblies are disposed in a recessed hook cavity and the hook is movable between a recessed position, with the hook disposed within the recessed hook cavity, and a deployed position, where the hook is operable to grasp the goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the helmet.

5. A system preventing ski goggles from sliding off a ski helmet, comprising:

first and second hook assemblies disposed on the ski helmet; and

a hook disposed on the one or more hook assemblies, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the ski helmet, the hook operable to grasp the ski goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the ski helmet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hook assemblies are disposed in a recessed hook cavity and the hook is movable between a recessed position, with the hook disposed within the recessed hook cavity, and a deployed position, where the hook is operable to grasp the ski goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the ski helmet.

7. A method to prevent ski goggles from sliding off a ski helmet when not in use, the method comprising:

removing the ski goggles from the user's face and placing the ski goggles on a front surface of the ski helmet; and

hooking a portion of the ski goggles on a hook disposed on the front surface of the ski helmet, the hook having a concave curve facing a face portion of the ski helmet, the hook operable to grasp the ski goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the ski helmet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein hook includes a first hook and a second hook disposed on a front face of the helmet.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hooks are disposed in a recessed hook cavity and the hook is movable between a recessed position, with the hook disposed within the recessed hook cavity, and a deployed position, where the hook is operable to grasp the goggles to prevent them from sliding upward on the helmet.