Patents Assigned to Bell Sports, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11889883
    Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11882893
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 11871809
    Abstract: A protective helmet to be worn by a player engaged in a sport comprises a flexible outer shell and a multi-layer liner assembly disposed within the outer shell. The multi-layer liner assembly includes an inner-layer, a middle-layer and an outer-layer, and permits relative rotational movement between said layers when the helmet is worn by the player and receives an impact. The inner-layer is made from a first material with a first density and is mechanically coupled to the outer-layer without adhesive. The outer-layer is made from a second material with a second density that is greater than the first density of the inner-layer. The middle-layer is made from a third material that has a third density that is greater than the first density. The outer-layer also has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner-layer and varies between a front region of the outer-layer and a crown region of the outer-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11864614
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pivot mechanism for a shield for a helmet, the pivot mechanism comprising a curved track having a first end and a second end; and a clamp slidingly engaged to the curved track, wherein the clamp is configured to attach to an end of the shield and slide along the track between a first position proximate to the first end of the curved track and a second position proximate to the second end of the curved track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers
  • Patent number: 11849793
    Abstract: A helmet with an inner liner and an outer liner that slidably move in relation to each other. At least one flexible connector is positioned at the ovoid surface between the inner and outer liner that directly connects at least three of a plurality of liner ribs of the first liner segment to the second liner segment across a gap at a center portion of a second liner segment and at left and right sides of the second liner segment. The at least one flexible connector is in-molded with the first and second liner segments so that they move relative to each other when the inner liner slidably moves in relation to the outer liner by flexing the at least one flexible connector. Elastomeric anchors coupled to the outer liner and to the at least one flexible connector may be included, and a fit system may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 11850189
    Abstract: Goggles include a goggle frame, a goggle strap, and a goggle strap connector. The goggle strap has a direction of strap tension when the goggles are worn by a user. The goggle strap connector includes a female bracket and a male bracket. The female bracket is directly coupled to the goggle frame or the goggle strap, including first and second bracket walls, a channel defined between the bracket walls, projections, and recesses. The male bracket is configured to mateably couple to the female bracket, including a sliding bar and an enlarged bar end. First movement of the goggle strap in the strap tension direction may move at least one of the bar bumps of the enlarged bar end past at least one of the projections to position the at least one of the bar bumps within at least one of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, David M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11839257
    Abstract: A helmet includes a segmented outer shell having an upper portion and a lower portion with an elongated segmented opening extending along an interface of the upper and lower portions. The helmet also includes outer and inner energy management layers that define openings and a channel that facilitates airflow through the elongated segmented opening to provide improved ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, Christopher T. Pietrzak, Allen Bischofberger, Julio Valencia
  • Patent number: 11812812
    Abstract: A helmet and goggle strap clip combination includes a helmet body with an outer shell having an opening in a surface. The goggle strap clip includes a clip body and a resilient leg with a foot at an end of the leg, the foot having a foot body. A cover portion extends from the foot body in a first direction and a support fin extends from the foot body in a second direction opposite the first direction. The foot is configured to engage the opening in the outer shell of the helmet with the cover portion overlapping a portion of the outer shell and the support fin being positioned inside of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Patent number: 11758967
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: D1003519
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Doublin
  • Patent number: D1003520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Doublin
  • Patent number: D1003521
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Doublin
  • Patent number: D1003528
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Kyung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: D1004851
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013963
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers, Chad B. Hodge
  • Patent number: D1013964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1017142
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Ton, Gregg Jacobsen