Patents by Inventor Michael J. Musal

Michael J. Musal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230086118
    Abstract: A helmet for protecting the head of a user may include at least one liner comprising an inner surface and a lower edge surrounding the inner surface at a helmet opening configured to receive a head of a helmet wearer. At least two coupling points may be located on the inner surface proximal to the lower edge. At least one flexible forehead strap may follow the lower edge of the energy management layer and may be inwardly offset from the inner surface. At least two prongs may be coupled to, and slidably extend between, the flexible forehead strap and the at least two coupling points, respectively. A continuous gap between the inner surface and the flexible forehead strap may be provided by an offset created by the at least two prongs, the at least two prongs flexibly maintaining the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. MUSAL, Christopher T. PIETRZAK
  • Patent number: 11510453
    Abstract: A helmet for protecting the head of a user may include at least one liner comprising an inner surface and a lower edge surrounding the inner surface at a helmet opening configured to receive a head of a helmet wearer. At least two coupling points may be located on the inner surface proximal to the lower edge. At least one flexible forehead strap may follow the lower edge of the energy management layer and may be inwardly offset from the inner surface. At least two prongs may be coupled to, and slidably extend between, the flexible forehead strap and the at least two coupling points, respectively. A continuous gap between the inner surface and the flexible forehead strap may be provided by an offset created by the at least two prongs, the at least two prongs flexibly maintaining the offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Musal, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 11397334
    Abstract: A pair of goggles with a lens assembly, a goggle frame, and at least one lens retention shelf is disclosed. The lens assembly includes a lens with a projection extending from the assembly. The goggle frame is made of a first material and has a frame aperture sized large enough to receive the projection from the lens assembly through it. The lens retention shelf is made of a second material harder than the first material and is disposed behind the frame. The first lens retention shelf includes a projection connector corresponding to the projection, the projection connector is aligned with the frame aperture and sized to receive and engage the projection with the goggle frame interposed between the lens retention shelf and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20220000208
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. MUSAL
  • Patent number: 11134740
    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, a resilient leg extending in a first direction with a foot at an end of the leg. The foot includes a foot body, an outer side facing away from the helmet body and an inner side facing the helmet body, a cover extends from the foot body in the first direction, a support fin extending from the foot body in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cover overlaps the outer shell by a side edge, the support fin is positioned inside of and engaging the outer shell by a second side edge, and the clip body is in direct contact with the outer shell separate from the leg and its foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20200249495
    Abstract: A pair of goggles with a lens assembly, a goggle frame, and at least one lens retention shelf is disclosed. The lens assembly includes a lens with a projection extending from the assembly. The goggle frame is made of a first material and has a frame aperture sized large enough to receive the projection from the lens assembly through it. The lens retention shelf is made of a second material harder than the first material and is disposed behind the frame. The first lens retention shelf includes a projection connector corresponding to the projection, the projection connector is aligned with the frame aperture and sized sized to receive and engage the projection with the goggle frame interposed between the lens retention shelf and the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, Michael J. Musal
  • Patent number: 10670882
    Abstract: A pair of goggles with a lens assembly, a goggle frame, and at least one lens retention shelf is disclosed. The lens assembly includes a lens with a projection extending from the assembly. The goggle frame is made of a first material and has a frame aperture sized large enough to receive the projection from the lens assembly through it. The lens retention shelf is made of a second material harder than the first material and is disposed behind the frame. The first lens retention shelf includes a projection connector corresponding to the projection, the projection connector is aligned with the frame aperture and sized sized to receive and engage the projection with the goggle frame interposed between the lens retention shelf and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20190380418
    Abstract: A helmet for a head of a user with a liner with an outer shell and an energy management layer having an inner surface and a lower edge surrounding the inner surface at a helmet opening, at least two coupling points located on the inner surface proximal to the lower edge, at least one flexible forehead strap following the lower edge of the energy management layer and inwardly offset from the inner surface, at least two prongs comprising a stem and a head, the head having a larger cross-section than a cross-section of the stem, wherein the stem is attached to and projects away from the flexible forehead strap towards the inner surface and the head couples with the inner surface at one of the at least two coupling points, a continuous gap between the inner surface and the flexible forehead strap extending around an entirety of the lower edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20190343215
    Abstract: A helmet for protecting the head of a user may include at least one liner comprising an inner surface and a lower edge surrounding the inner surface at a helmet opening configured to receive a head of a helmet wearer. At least two coupling points may be located on the inner surface proximal to the lower edge. At least one flexible forehead strap may follow the lower edge of the energy management layer and may be inwardly offset from the inner surface. At least two prongs may be coupled to, and slidably extend between, the flexible forehead strap and the at least two coupling points, respectively. A continuous gap between the inner surface and the flexible forehead strap may be provided by an offset created by the at least two prongs, the at least two prongs flexibly maintaining the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Musal, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 10390588
    Abstract: A quick tightening system for a shoe comprises at least two shoelace segments, a pull-tab having a first side of a hook-and-loop fastener on a bottom surface of the pull-tab, and a second side of the hook-and-loop fastener. The at least two shoelace segments each includes an aglet at a distal end of the shoelace segment, each of the at least two shoelace segments coupled to the first side of the shoe at a proximal end of the shoelace segment and extending through the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The pull-tab includes aglet channels. The aglet channels each is sized to removably receive at least a portion of one of the aglets into one of the aglet channel while each of the at least two shoelace segments extends from the aglet channels into the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The second side of the hook-and-loop fastener is disposed on an outer surface of the second side of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Fisher, Steven D. Swartzendruber, Eric Horton, Ahadin Maryo Hutasoit, Michael Friton, Michael J. Musal, Scott Junker
  • Publication number: 20190239591
    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, a resilient leg extending in a first direction with a foot at an end of the leg. The foot includes a foot body, an outer side facing away from the helmet body and an inner side facing the helmet body, a cover extends from the foot body in the first direction, a support fin extending from the foot body in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cover overlaps the outer shell by a side edge, the support fin is positioned inside of and engaging the outer shell by a second side edge, and the clip body is in direct contact with the outer shell separate from the leg and its foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Patent number: 10258099
    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, a resilient leg extending in a first direction with a foot at an end of the leg. The foot includes a foot body, an outer side facing away from the helmet body and an inner side facing the helmet body, a cover extends from the foot body in the first direction, a support fin extending from the foot body in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cover overlaps the outer shell by a side edge, the support fin is positioned inside of and engaging the outer shell by a second side edge, and the clip body is in direct contact with the outer shell separate from the leg and its foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20180220731
    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, a resilient leg extending in a first direction with a foot at an end of the leg. The foot includes a foot body, an outer side facing away from the helmet body and an inner side facing the helmet body, a cover extends from the foot body in the first direction, a support fin extending from the foot body in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The cover overlaps the outer shell by a side edge, the support fin is positioned inside of and engaging the outer shell by a second side edge, and the clip body is in direct contact with the outer shell separate from the leg and its foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20180136484
    Abstract: A pair of goggles with a lens assembly, a goggle frame, and at least one lens retention shelf is disclosed. The lens assembly includes a lens with a projection extending from the assembly. The goggle frame is made of a first material and has a frame aperture sized large enough to receive the projection from the lens assembly through it. The lens retention shelf is made of a second material harder than the first material and is disposed behind the frame. The first lens retention shelf includes a projection connector corresponding to the projection, the projection connector is aligned with the frame aperture and sized sized to receive and engage the projection with the goggle frame interposed between the lens retention shelf and the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, Michael J. Musal
  • Publication number: 20180027927
    Abstract: A quick tightening system for a shoe comprises at least two shoelace segments, a pull-tab having a first side of a hook-and-loop fastener on a bottom surface of the pull-tab, and a second side of the hook-and-loop fastener. The at least two shoelace segments each includes an aglet at a distal end of the shoelace segment, each of the at least two shoelace segments coupled to the first side of the shoe at a proximal end of the shoelace segment and extending through the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The pull-tab includes aglet channels. The aglet channels each is sized to removably receive at least a portion of one of the aglets into one of the aglet channel while each of the at least two shoelace segments extends from the aglet channels into the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The second side of the hook-and-loop fastener is disposed on an outer surface of the second side of the shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Simon Fisher, Steven D. Swartzendruber, Eric Horton, Ahadin Maryo Hutasoit, Michael Friton, Michael J. Musal, Scott Junker
  • Patent number: 9814281
    Abstract: A shoe quick tightening system includes two shoelace segments with aglets at the ends threaded through openings on the shoe, a pull-tab is connected to an aglet clip with at least two aglet channels to receive the two shoelace segments and aglets, and a clip cover engaged with the clip and enclosing the aglets within the clip and cover, the pull tab including hook and loop fastener portion adapted to couple with a mating hook and loop fastener portion on a surface of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Fisher, Steven D. Swartzendruber, Eric Horton, Ahadin Maryo Hutasoit, Michael Friton, Michael J. Musal, Scott Junker
  • Publication number: 20170231326
    Abstract: A shoe quick tightening system includes two shoelace segments with aglets at the ends threaded through openings on the shoe, a pull-tab is connected to an aglet clip with at least two aglet channels to receive the two shoelace segments and aglets, and a clip cover engaged with the clip and enclosing the aglets within the clip and cover, the pull tab including hook and loop fastener portion adapted to couple with a mating hook and loop fastener portion on a surface of the shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Simon Fisher, Steven D. Swartzendruber, Eric Horton, Ahadin Maryo Hutasoit, Michael Friton, Michael J. Musal, Scott Junker
  • Publication number: 20170095028
    Abstract: A helmet with an adjustable fit system is disclosed herein. The helmet includes a protective shell and the adjustable fit system. The adjustable fit system is coupled to an positioned at least partially within the protective shell. The adjustable fit system includes a frame having two cord attachment points, a cord coupled to the two cord attachment points of the frame, and a tension device releasably coupled to the cord between the two attachment points. The tensioning device is configured to adjust a distance between the two attachment points of the frame via movement of the tensioning device relative to the cord to adjust a size of the adjustable fit system. The cord may pass through the tensioning device to form a first portion between each cord attachment point and the tensioning device, and a looped second portion extending from the tensioning device away from the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. Musal, Mark Eastwood
  • Patent number: D794253
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Jay Marting, Michael J. Musal