Patents Examined by Rodney M. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 6952839
    Abstract: There is provided a pad set for a protective helmet. The pad set includes a plurality of internal pads of various thicknesses. A plurality of pad retaining/locating devices each have a pocket for receiving at least one of the plurality of internal pads so as to form an individual pad of the pad set. At least one fastener for each of the plurality of pad retaining/locating devices respectively secures each of the plurality of pad retaining/locating devices to a selected location within the protective helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Long
  • Patent number: 6944887
    Abstract: Antiglare system for a crash helmet with an outer and an inner helmet shell that has an eyeport that can be closed by a visor and that can be partially covered by a sunshade, wherein the sunshade has at least one first antiglare module and covers the eyeport in a upper region such a way that the sunshade is located above a horizontal line of sight and outside of a vertical field of vision when the wearer's head is in a relaxed, fairly upright position, and wherein the sunshade extends into the vertical field of vision when the helmet wearer's head is tilted forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventors: Gernot Heine, Jörg Strobel
  • Patent number: 6945249
    Abstract: A face mask is disclosed. The face mask includes an inside surface, an outside surface having at least one edge, and at least one loop having a first end and a second end attached to the outside surface, where the loop is less than about 80 millimeters in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Griesbach, III, Linda G. Harris
  • Patent number: 6941585
    Abstract: A ballistic protection apparatus including a garment made of ballistic material including a reinforced peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: James D. Wells, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6941577
    Abstract: A glare protection device for a welding protective mask includes an active electro-optical protective filter (2) and an electronic circuit (10). An UV-detector (UVD), which serves as an optical sensor, detects the welding light and, via an evaluation circuit (10.1), generates a signal (sin) for controlling of the protective filter (2). The signal corresponds to the detected UV intensity. The UV-detector includes a fluorescent layer (F) with an absorption in the UV range and an emission in the long-wave range corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of an assigned Si-photo detector (SD). This results in a simple and safe controlling of the protective filter, which is uninfluenced by the effects of extraneous light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Optrel AG
    Inventor: Emil Ackermann
  • Patent number: 6938272
    Abstract: A protective sports helmet includes a rigid shell configured to fit over a wearer's head, with top, rear, and side portions to protect the top, rear and side of a wearer's head. The shell has a face opening in the area of the wearer's face and an upper face cage attached to the shell so as to cover a part of the face opening to protect the wearer's eyes and upper face. A lower face cage is attached to the shell covering a part of the face opening to protect the wearer's lower face, nose and mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin J. Brown
  • Patent number: 6938276
    Abstract: A shroud plate for headgear is provided that may comprise a shell, an insert, a lock, a release mechanism wherein the shell extends around at least a portion of the insert has a smooth surface with rounded edges and corners and is shaped to match the contour of the headgear, and at least one attachment point wherein the attachment point is laterally movable within a restricted area. Further, the shroud plate may be attachable to headgear at a single attachment point and may be given rotational stability by an elevated ridge or a plurality of legs which may extend over or wrap around an edge of the headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Norotos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathon R. Prendergast
  • Patent number: 6938273
    Abstract: A cap with sunglasses has an elongated holder mounted on the underside of the visor. A carrier partially surrounds the holder and is slidable therealong for adjusting the position of sunglasses mounted on the carrier. A latching assembly is captured in the carrier and has projections in the form of tines for being selectively inserted between teeth disposed along the length of the holder. A spring normally urges the latching means to insert the tines between the holder teeth. Movement of the carrier relative to the holder is permitted when the latching assembly is pressed against the restoring spring force to disengage the projections on the latching assembly from between the holder teeth to permit adjustment of the position of the sunglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Myung-Gun Ko
  • Patent number: 6934971
    Abstract: A new football helmet includes: a jaw flap attached to the ear flap of the helmet, and the jaw flap overlies the sides of the lower jaw of football player; and a face guard connector which includes a shock absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Thad M. Ide, Ralph J. Infusino, Nelson Kraemer, Christopher R. P. Withnall, Timothy D. Bayne
  • Patent number: 6934967
    Abstract: A welding-operation, liquid crystal, protection mask for protecting the eyes of a human operator from an arc light generated during a welding operation, comprises a liquid crystal protection mask main body adapted to be attached to the face of a human operator; a detecting means disposed in the vicinity of the liquid crystal protection mask main body and capable of detecting an incident arc light generated during the welding operation and thus producing a detection result; a liquid crystal light blocking section that is disposed in a position corresponding to the eyes of a human operator wearing the protection mask with the human face being covered by the protection mask main body and that has a liquid crystal member that is capable of blocking the incident light by instantaneously reducing the light transmittance of the liquid crystal in accordance with the detection result output from the detecting means and by means of a liquid crystal driving power source; and a polarizing plate that is provided in front
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Miyashita, Shunsuke Suyama
  • Patent number: 6934972
    Abstract: A removable flat flexible disabling insert is disposed between interengaging members which are provided for registry with one another in opposed displaceable surface portions of adjustable shell portions of an adjustable helmet. The disabling insert prevents interengagement of the interengaging members but permits adjustable displacement of the shell portions. The disabling insert, when removed, permits engagement of the interengaging members. Particularly, but not exclusively, the insert is used with a hockey helmet having front and back adjustable shell portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Itech Sport Products Inc.
    Inventors: André Desjardins, Stephen Goodhand
  • Patent number: 6931664
    Abstract: A facemask harness used in a facemask for baseball is disclosed to have the body of the facemask harness formed of an inner foam rubber layer and an outer elastic fabric layer adhered to said inner foam rubber layer, the body of the facemask harness having a top strap stitched to the top side thereof and provided with hook and loop materials for fastening and two side straps respectively stitched to the two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively provided with hook and loop materials for fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Shyan-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 6931669
    Abstract: A restraint device for controlling the head of a driver during a high-performance vehicle collision. The device includes a rigid member positioned along the back of the driver, a tether for attaching the member to the driver's helmet, and a strap for anchoring the device. The vehicle's seat belt assembly or the driver's own body, such as his torso, waist or legs, may be used to anchor the device. During a vehicle collision, forces from the head are transferred through the device (i.e. tether, rigid member, and strap) into the anchor in order to resist forward movement and downward rotation of the driver's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Safety Dynamics, LLC
    Inventor: Trevor P. Ashline
  • Patent number: 6931670
    Abstract: To increase the amount of open air's introduction, have satisfactory good design and operability of a helmet. There are provided a plurality of turning center points of at least two or more during an opening or closing operation of the turning opening or closing member, any one of or more of these turning center points are set outside the operating mechanism and the turning center points are switched over during the turning operation from the closed state to the opened state of the turning opening or closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Michio Arai
  • Patent number: 6931671
    Abstract: A strong, lightweight, impact resistant helmet system protects the wearer from impact injury and minimizes bodily injury to other players brought into contact therewith during blocking and tackling events. Weight reduction is achieved by reinforcing inner and outer surfaces of the helmet shell with long length, high strength fibers. Orientation of the fibers is such that the fiber lengths are aligned generally in the direction of tension and compression forces imposed on the helmet surface during impact. This reinforcement geometry permits use of a thin helmet shell. Efficient impact absorption by the helmet shell is accomplished by limiting the bend curvature produced at the impact location. The bend curvature reduction increases the contact area between the helmet shell and a second pliable padded inner helmet made from energy absorbing polymeric foam disposed within the helmet shell in contact with its inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Skiba
  • Patent number: 6931668
    Abstract: A headmount apparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon which is comprised of a mounting shell having at least one pad and having at least one mounting surface to which the vision enhancing equipment is mounted, where at least one pad is configured to contact the user's head. The headmount apparatus is also comprised of at least one elastic strap which is attached to the mounting shell for securing the mounting shell to the user's head. The headmount apparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon could alternatively be comprised of at least one mounting frame for attaching vision enhancement equipment, at least one hardware mounting surface for accepting the mounting frame, and a hood configured to fit over a user's head where the hood is made at least in part from an elastic material and which contains the hardware mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair R. Dobbie, Charles D. Willey, Steven A. Brillhart
  • Patent number: 6928662
    Abstract: A helmet is particularly well suited for cold-weather use. The helmet includes a jaw shield that is detachable from a head portion. A breathing mask connects to the jaw shield via a mask adjustment mechanism that selectively axially moves the breathing mask toward and away from an inner surface of the jaw shield to precisely and accurately position the breathing mask against the nose and mouth of the helmet's wearer. A spring-loaded quick-release tinted shield is controlled by a lever that selectively raises and lowers the tinted shield. An eye shield pivotally connects to the helmet and is disposed in front of the tinted shield. An eye shield heating system on the eye shield electrically connects to the head portion of the helmet to provide electric power to the heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Fournier
  • Patent number: 6928657
    Abstract: A face mask is provided. The face mask includes a body portion that is configured to be placed over a mouth and at least part of a nose of a user. A first extension portion is present and is attached to the body potion. The first extension portion is configured to at least partially extend around at least a portion of a head of the user. A second extension portion is attached to the body portion. Also, a hook and loop type fastener is present and has a hook section and a loop section. One of the hook and loop sections is attached to the first extension portion, and the other of the hook and loop sections is attached to the second extension portion. Engagement of the hook section and the loop section causes the body portion, the first extension portion, and the second extension portion to be retained on the user. Disengagement of the hook section and the loop section causes the body portion, the first extension portion, and the second extension portion to be released from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Steven Bell, Naveen Agarwal, Michael Andrew Amante, Jeffrey M. Willis
  • Patent number: 6925657
    Abstract: A head protecting body for a safety helmet, in which a first liner member for an impact-on-the-head absorbing liner includes a swell for reinforcing at least one region of a forehead region, a left temple region, a right temple region and an occiput region in an overlapping region with respect to a second liner member having a density lower than that of the first liner member, on an overlapping surface side of the first liner member, and the second liner member includes a hollow having a shape substantially corresponding to the swell. According to this head protecting body, despite that the impact-on-the-head absorbing liner is not broken easily more than necessary near a region reinforced with the reinforcing swell, both the maximum acceleration during impact and an HIC can be decreased effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: SHOEI, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Takahashi, Shinichi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6925655
    Abstract: Protective helmet comprising a two piece shell, an electric motor and impeller useful for creating a positive pressure environment in the head space, and a filter for removing particulates and other substances. The impeller introduces atmospheric air into an air channel defined by two detachably attached shell pieces. The air is pushed through a particulate filter in the air channel and then through at least one aperture into the head space. A heating element may be used to heat the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Maki, Joshua J. Leonard, Robert E. Mekash