SHOCK ABSORBING FACE GUARD

Abstract

The present invention is a shock absorbing face guard for reducing an impact force by a user. The segmented face guard has a hub wearable by a user or mountable to a helmet, and a face bar having a portion slidably associated with the hub. The hub includes a hub magnetic element featuring a first pole. The face bar portion received in the hub includes a face bar magnetic element featuring a first pole oriented toward the first pole of the hub magnetic element. The first pole of the face bar magnetic element is of a same pole as the first pole of the hub magnetic element so as to produce a magnetic repulsion force at a predetermined distance therebetween. Connection bars can be articulately between face bars so as to provide additional impact absorption, and to support the face bars while allowing independent movement of the face bars.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shock absorbing face guard for use in connection with reducing the impact force on sport equipment using magnetic repulsive elements.

Description of the Prior Art

Athletes that participate in contact sports, such as American football and hockey, are subject to exposure to hyperextension, whiplash-type head movement, axial cervical compressive forces, concussion and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Particular athletes and their playing positions are subjected to greater physical contact per play which can force the athletes head rapidly backward to create a whiplash effect or can incur a strong impact, which can result in serious and disabling injury, and even contribute to death.

According to a research by The New York Times released on Sep. 16, 2007, at least 50 high school or younger football players in more than 20 states since 1997 have been killed or have sustained serious head injuries on the field. A further study published in the September 5^th issue of Neurology, indicated that National Football League (NFL) players may face a higher risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study links the risk to head injuries, even while wearing a protective helmet authorized by the NFL.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati analyzed 3,439 former NFL players who had spent at least five seasons in the league between 1959 and 1988. Of those players, 334 of them had died. Their causes of death were analyzed by researchers, and it was found that seven had died of Alzheimer's and seven had died of ALS. It was also determined that this is nearly four times higher a rate than that of the general population. Thus resulting in a possible direct link between helmet impacts and increase rate of death.

Outside the link between Alzheimer's disease or ALS and head injuries, another type of injury suffered by football players is a concussion. A concussion is defined as an impact to the head that causes a change in mental status. Changes in mental status include memory problems, dizziness, headaches, confusion, and blurred vision or even loss of consciousness. These symptoms may last a few minutes or many days. Not all people who have concussions lose consciousness.

Although football players wear helmets with face guards and other protective equipment, many players still suffer concussions. Over the last 20 years there have been studies that indicate that 15-20% of high school football players (200,000-250,000 players) suffer concussions each year. Researchers at the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory at the University of North Carolina analyzed data from 242 schools and 17,549 football players. They found that 888 players (5.1%) had at least one concussion in a season. Of the 888 players who had one concussion, 131 of them (14.7%) had another concussion the same season.

Even though concussions appear to have decreased in the number and severity over the last few years, the overall number of head injuries is still high. As shown by the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory study, players who have one concussion are approximately three times more likely to have a second concussion the same season than those players who have not had an injury. Head injuries jeopardize not only football players' careers, but their future health.

Several types of impact absorbing equipment, such as helmets with face guards, have been developed for athletes participating in severe contact sports wherein the face guard helmet mount includes shock absorbing elements. However, these systems to do not provide magnetically repulsive impact absorbers that provides movability to each face guard bar independent from each other.

Known impact absorbing face guard system include spring biased means that is connected to the face guard. Thus keeping the face guard as a single unit, thereby transferring any impact forces throughout the entire face guard.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a shock absorbing face guard that allows reducing the impact force on sport equipment using magnetic repulsive elements.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved shock absorbing face guard that can be used for reducing the impact force on sport equipment magnetic repulsive elements. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the shock absorbing face guard according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing the impact force on sport equipment using independent impact absorbing segments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shock absorbing face guard mounts now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved shock absorbing face guard, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved shock absorbing face guard and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a shock absorbing face guard which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a shock absorbing face guard for reducing an impact force by a user. The segmented face guard has at least one hub mountable to a helmet, and at least one face bar having a portion slidably associated with the hub. The hub includes a hub magnetic element featuring a first pole. The face bar portion slidably received in the hub includes least one face bar magnetic element featuring a first pole oriented toward the first pole of the hub magnetic element. The first pole of the face bar magnetic element is of a same pole as the first pole of the hub magnetic element so as to produce a magnetic repulsion force at a predetermined distance therebetween.

The hub can be removably mounted to a helmet.

The hub can further include at least one hub cavity defined therein configured to slidably receive an end of the portion of the face bar, and a hub opening defined through the hub in communication with the hub cavity. The hub opening can be configured to slidably receive the portion of the face bar. The hub cavity can be defined in at least one extension member, and the hub opening can be defined through an end of the extension member.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

The invention may also include a connection bar articulately attached to at least two face bars. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shock absorbing face guard that has all of the advantages of the prior art shock absorbing face guard mounts and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shock absorbing face guard that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shock absorbing face guard that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such shock absorbing face guard economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new shock absorbing face guard that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorbing face guard for reducing the impact force on sport equipment using magnetic repulsive elements. This allows for reducing the impact received by a user wearing a helmet fitted with the shock absorbing face guard by providing independent impact absorbing face bars.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the shock absorbing face guard on a helmet constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with any phantom lines depicting environmental structure and forming no part of the claimed invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shock absorbing face guard of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the hub of the shock absorbing face guard of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the magnetic impact absorbing assembly in a non-impacted position taken from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the magnetic impact absorbing assembly in an impacted position.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the face and connection bar assembly in a non-impacted position taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the face and connection bar assembly in an impacted position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the face and connection bar assembly.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment face and connection bar assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment end section of the connection bar of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plane view of an alternate embodiment opening of the face bar of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment face and connection bar assembly of the present invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-12, an embodiment of the shock absorbing face guard of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

In FIG. 1, a new and improved shock absorbing face guard 10 of the present invention for reducing the impact force on sport equipment using independent impact absorbing segments is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the shock absorbing face guard 10 can be any type of face guard, face shield or face protector used alone or in combination with a helmet 2.

Alternatively, the face guard 10 can also be used in association with sport paraphernalia containing magnetically repulsive sport equipment, such as but not limited to, baseballs, softballs, bats, hockey pucks, hockey sticks, footballs or polo mallets. The present application will describe, as an example, an embodiment of the present invention as being associated with a football helmet 2. However, it can be appreciated that the present invention can be associated with any impact protection equipment or alone as being worn by a user. Thus the following exemplary description does not limit the scope of the present invention.

The face guard 10 can be used in combination with the helmet 2 which has an outer shell 4, and an inner shell or liner assembly. The helmet 2 can also include multiple magnetic elements associated with the outer shell 4, the inner shell or an area in between the outer and inner shells.

The face guard 10 includes a pair of hubs 12, a top bar 30, a plurality of face bars 32, and a plurality of connection bars 42. The hubs 12 are each secured to either side of the helmet 2 by a clip or mount 28. Each hub 12 can be configured to be received by the clip 28 that is of standard use for the helmet 2. It can be appreciated that the clip 28 can be modified so as to fit to or receive the hub 12, if the hub is of different size. The top bar 30 is secured to an additional section of the helmet 2 by additional clips 28, wherein the additional clips can be the same type of clips used to secure the hub 12 to the helmet 2. The top bar 30 can be positioned adjacent or in the vicinity to an upper section of a face opening of the helmet 2.

The top bar 30 and face bars 32 (impact absorbing bars) are movable in relation to the helmet 2, and independent of each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This provides multiple independent impact absorbing bars 30, 32 that are moveably connected to each other by the connection bars 42. It can be appreciated that any number and/or configuration of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32, and connection bars 42 can be used with the present invention and the following is exemplarily of one configuration.

It can be appreciated that the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 can further include magnetic elements (not shown) associated therewith, which having similar magnetic poles facing away from their corresponding impact absorbing bar 30, 32. In practice, the magnetic elements of similar impact absorbing bar 30, 32 would produce repulsion between them at a predetermined distance. This repulsion force would further reduce the impact produced when the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 make contact, and this reduction of impact force would begin prior to contact between the impact absorbing bar 30, 32.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the hub 12 includes a body having a section configured to be coupled with the clip 28 so as to be removably secured to the helmet. It can be appreciated that the hub 12 can be a single solid unit or multiple units joined together so as to assist in assembly or repair. The hub 12 is illustrated with plastic cross-sectional hatching, however it can be appreciated that any suitable material can be used, such as but not limited to, metals, alloys, composites, resin infused materials or any combination thereof.

The hub 12 additionally includes a plurality of extension 14 which equal the number of impact absorbing bars 30, 32. Each extension 14 has a flanged opened end 16 configured to slidably receive a section of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32, a cavity or chamber 18 configured to slidably receive an end of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32, and a hub magnetic element 20. The hub magnetic element 20 is located on a surface opposite the flanged opened end 16, and can be received in a recess defined in the surface or attached to the surface.

The impact absorbing bars 30, 32 can have any geometric cross-sectional configuration, such as but not limited to, cylindrical, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal or a combination thereof. The impact absorbing bars 30, 32 are illustrated with metal cross-sectional hatching, however it can be appreciated that any suitable material can be used, such as but not limited to, plastics, alloys, composites, resin infused materials or any combination thereof.

The impact absorbing bars 30, 32 each include an end featuring an exteriorly extending bar flange or ledge 34, and a face bar magnetic element 36. The face bar magnetic element 36 can be received in a recess defined in the end or attached to the end. The ledge 34 and end of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 are configured so as to be slidably received in the chamber 18. The chamber 18 and ledge 34 can have a shape that prevents rotation of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 along a longitudinal axis of the extension 14.

The flanged opened end 16 includes an interiorly extending flange or ledge that prevents the ledge 34 of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 from being removed therefrom, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. It can be appreciated that the ledge 34 can include an angled or curved insertion surface so as to create a latch element. The latch element would allow the end of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 to be inserted through the flanged opened end 16, while keeping the ledge 34 in contactability with the flanged opening 16.

The hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 are each made from any material that produces a magnetic field or magnetic flux between a north and south pole. However, the hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 may be monopoles, when such technology becomes available, or plurality of magnetic elements so arranged to produce monopole characteristics. The magnetic field is invisible but produces a force that attracts the opposite pole of other magnets, or repels the same poles of other magnets. The hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 can be made from, but not limited to, ferromagnetic materials, paramagnetic materials or diamagnetic materials. Ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic materials can be, but not limited to, iron, nickel, cobalt, alloys of rare earth metals, lodestone, alnico, ferrite, gadolinium, dysprosium, magnetite, samarium-cobalt, neodymium-iron-boron (NIB), lanthanoid elements, ceramics or curable resins comprising magnetic materials. Paramagnetic materials can be, but not limited to, platinum, aluminum, oxygen or magnetic ferrofluids. Diamagnetic materials are magnets that are repelled by both poles.

The hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 are orientated so that each magnetic element 20, 36 has the same pole facing each other when the end of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 is received in the chamber, respectively. Consequently, a repulsive force F¹, F² is produced between the similar poled hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36. This repulsive force provides a biasing force which separates the hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 a non-deployed distance D1, which places the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 in a deployed position, ready for receiving an impact, as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

When a user wearing the shock absorbing face guard 10 receives an impact force Fⁱ on any of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32, the impact force Fⁱ pushes the corresponding impact absorbing bar 30, 32 in a direction toward the hub 12. Consequently, the ends of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 are pushed and slide within the chamber 18 toward their corresponding hub magnetic element 20, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. The distance between the hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 decreases to a secondary distance D2, which is less than the non-deployed distance D1. The repulsive force F¹, F² created by the same polled facing hub and face bar magnetic elements 20, 36 additionally reduces the impact force Fⁱ. Thus reducing the impact force felt by a person wearing the helmets 2, and reduces the potential of head or neck injury.

The magnetic field lines 21 substantially contour lines that can be used as a qualitative tool to visualize magnetic forces. For example, in ferromagnetic substances, magnetic force lines 21 can be understood by imagining that the field lines exert a tension, along their length, and a pressure perpendicular to their length on neighboring field lines. Similar poles of the magnet elements 20, 36 repel because their magnetic field lines 21 do not meet, but run parallel, pushing on each other, thereby producing the repulsive force F¹, F² between the end of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 and the hub magnetic element 20. It is known to one skilled in the art that magnetic fields of permanent magnets have no sources or sinks (Gauss's law for magnetism), so their field lines have no start or end: they can only form closed loops, or extend to infinity in both directions.

The magnetic field 21 of each of the magnet elements 20, 36 will have a repulsive force F¹, F² that varies from a distance from each pole. The strength of the magnetic field 21 will be less at the non-deployed distance D1 than at the secondary distance D2. The hub 12 and/or the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 can be made from a non-magnetic responsive material, and thus the magnetic fields lines 21 will travel therethrough without any deviation in direction or alternation in strength. It can be appreciated that other materials can be associated with the magnet elements 20, 36, hub 12 and/or the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 which can control, shield or manipulate the magnetic fields 21 of the magnet elements 20, 36.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of a head-on or direct impact to one of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 of the face guard 10 is illustrated. The face bar magnetic element 36 produces the repulsive force F¹ to the similarly poled hub magnetic element 20 at a distance D1, which represents the instant the magnetic fields 21 contact each other. Correspondingly, the hub magnetic element 20 produces the repulsive force F² to face bar magnetic element 36. It can be appreciated that the repulsive forces F¹, F² increase and are interrelated to the distance between the magnet elements 20, 36. Thus, the repulsive forces F¹, F² are greater at the secondary distance D2 than at the non-deployed distance D1. The repulsive forces F¹, F² produce a resultant force r that pushes against the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 thereby reducing total overall impact received by a head of the user via the face guard.

The above reduction of impact force between the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 and the hub 12, respectively, can be quantified by with the following Equation 1. Equation 1 is valid only for cases in which the effect of fringing is negligible and the volume of the air gap or chamber 18 is much smaller than that of the magnetized material:

$\begin{array}{cc}F=\frac{{\mu }_0H^2A}{2}\frac{B^2A}{2{\mu }_0}& \mathrm{Equation}1\end{array}$

where:

A is the area of each surface, in m²;

H is their magnetizing field, in A/m;

μ₀ is the permeability of space, which equals 47 π×10⁻⁷ T·m/A; and

B is the flux density, in T.

In use with the example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and with each magnet elements 20, 36 being two identical cylindrical bar magnets in an end to end configuration representing a head-on impact, Equation 1 can be approximated as Equation 2:

$\begin{array}{cc}F=\left[\frac{B_0^2A^2\left(L^2+R^2\right)}{{\mathrm{\pi \mu }}_0L^2}\right]\left[\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{{\left(x+2L\right)}^2}-\frac{2}{{\left(x+L\right)}^2}\right]& \mathrm{Equation}2\end{array}$

where:

B₀ is the magnetic flux density very close to each pole, in T;

A is the area of each pole, in m²;

L is the length of each magnet, in m;

R is the radius of each magnet, in m; and

x is the separation between the two magnets, in m.

Equation 3 relates the flux density at the pole to the magnetization of the magnet.

$\begin{array}{cc}{B}_0=\frac{{\mu }_0}{2}M& \mathrm{Equation}3\end{array}$

For two cylindrical magnet elements 20, 36 with radius R, and height h, with their magnetic dipole aligned, the force can be well approximated (even at distances of the order of h) by:

$\begin{array}{cc}F\left(x\right)=\frac{{\mathrm{\pi \mu }}_0}{4}M^2R^4\left[\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{{\left(x+2h\right)}^2}-\frac{2}{{\left(x+h\right)}^2}\right]& \mathrm{Equation}4\end{array}$

Where M is the magnetization of the magnet elements 20, 36 and x is the distance between them (D1, D2). A measurement of the magnetic flux density very close to the magnet B₀ is related to M by the formula:

B₀=(μ₀/2)*M  Equation 5

Thus the effective magnetic dipole can be written as:

m=MV  Equation 6

Where V is the volume of the magnet, and for this example since the magnets are a cylinder, the volume is V=πR²h.

When h<<x the point dipole approximation is thus obtained by:

$\begin{array}{cc}F\left(x\right)=\frac{3{\mathrm{\pi \mu }}_0}{2}M^2R^4h^2\frac{1}{x^4}=\frac{3{\mu }_0}{2\pi }M^2V^2\frac{1}{x^4}=\frac{3{\mu }_0}{2\pi }m_1m_2\frac{1}{x^4}& \mathrm{Equation}7\end{array}$

Equation 7 consequently matches the expression of the force between two magnetic dipoles, which is in correlation to the resultant repulsive impact force r between the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 and the hub 12, which can be secured to the helmet.

It is known to one skilled in the art that the magnetic force between two same pole magnets decreases as the distance between the magnets increase. This phenomenon is characterized by Equation 8.

$\begin{array}{cc}F=\frac{M1\times M2}{d^{2}}& \mathrm{Equation}8\end{array}$

The above phenomenon associated with Equation 8 is further illustrated in Table 1, which is a graphical representation of the magnetic repelling force (F¹, F²) for a grade N 35 Neodymium magnet having a diameter of 0.5 inch, a thickness of 0.5 inch and a maximum distance between two N35 magnets of 1 inch. Table 1 is exemplary of one type of magnet since all magnets contain this characteristic, and is not to limit the material or dimensions of the magnetic elements 20, 36 of the present invention.

One skilled in the art can conclude that the repelling magnetic force F¹, F² between the magnetic elements 20, 36, incrementally or exponentially increases as the distance between the magnetic elements 20, 36 decreases. Thus, the shock absorbing characteristic of the repelling magnetic force F¹, F² increases in strength the stronger the impact force Fⁱ is, since this results in the distance D2 of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 and the hub 12 to decrease.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the connection bars 42 having an elongated body with an enlarged or rounded ends 44 that are received in a cavity 38 defined in the impact absorbing bars 30, 32, respectively. Each of the ends 44 is received through an opening 40 defined through a side of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32. The opening 40 is in communication with the cavity 38. The ends 44 can be press fitted through their corresponding opening 40, or by thermal fitting means.

A diameter of the end 44 is greater than a diameter of the opening 40, thereby prohibiting the ends 44 from being removed from its corresponding impact absorbing bar 30, 32, and thus securing the impact absorbing bars 30, 32 in a predetermined configuration and creating additional protection for gaps or spaces between the impact absorbing bars 30, 32.

The ends 44 of the connection bars 42 are configured so as to allow their corresponding impact absorbing bars 30, 32 to freely and independently move in relation each other. Each end 44 features a first transition section 46 having a radius R1, a second transition section 48 having a radius R2, and an end section 50 having a radius R3. The first and second transition sections 46, 48 can be perimeter transition sections, with the second transition section 48 having a diameter larger than the first transition section 46. It can be appreciated that the first transition section 46, the second transition section 48 and the end section 50 can each or in combination be a planar surface without a radius.

The first transition section 46 is positioned a distance D3 from an edge 41 defining the opening 40 of it corresponding impact absorbing bar 30, 32. The distance D3 allows for movement of the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 along the connection bar 42 when the impact absorbing bar 30, 32 is impacted. The distance D3 additionally allows for the ends 44 of the connection bars 42 to pivot about the edge 41 and thus rotationally move in the cavity 38, as best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The first transition radius R1 of each connection bar 42 is configured to provide a smooth pivoting action with the edge 41. The radius R1 can also evenly distribute any tension loads to the entire perimeter of the first transition section 46 during contact of the edge 41 with first transition section 46 when corresponding impact absorbing bars 30, 32 are forced apart by an impact.

The second transition radius R2 of each connection bar 42 is configured to assist with insertion through the opening 40, and to provide a smooth contoured surface in cases of contact with an interior surface defining the cavity 38.

The end section radius R3 of each connection bar 42 is configured to assist with insertion through the opening 40, and to allow a gap between adjacent ends 44 of two opposite connection bars 42 associated with the same face bar 32, as best illustrated in FIG. 7. The end section radius R3 is additionally configured to allow non-contacting pivoting of adjacent end sections 50.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment impact absorbing bars 30, 32, and connection bars 42. The cavity 38 can include a cavity magnetic element 54 positioned in a spaced apart relationship with the end surface 50 of the connection bar 42. The end sections 50 of the connection bars 42 each include a connection bar magnetic element 52. The cavity 54 and the connection bar magnetic elements 52 are configured to have similar magnetic poles facing each other, thus providing a repulsion force therebetween. This repulsion force creates a biasing force that pushes adjacent end sections 50 and/or the interior surface of the cavity 38 and the end section 50 away from each other. This repulsion force also provides an additional impact absorbing characteristic between adjacent end sections 50 and/or the interior surface of the cavity 38 and the end section 50, respectively.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment end 44 of the connection bars 42, which can include multiple latching elements 56 each featuring an angled insertion surface 58 in combination with the first and second transition sections 46, 48. The latching elements 56 would allow the ends 44 of the connection bar 42 to be inserted through the opening 40, while keeping the ends 44 in their corresponding cavity 38. The latching elements 56 could flex during insertion when the angled surface 58 contacts the edge 41 of the opening 40, and then return to their original shape once passed through the opening 40.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate embodiment opening 40 of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32, which includes a plurality of slits 60 defined radially with the opening 40. The slits 60 create the plurality of latching elements 56 therebetween, with an edge of the latching elements 56 defining a majority of the opening 40. The latching elements 56 can include a predetermined amount of flexibility, so that the end 44 of the connection bar 42 can be more easily inserted therethrough. Once the end 44 of the connection bar 42 passes through the opening 40 and into the cavity, the latching elements 56 can return to their original shape thereby retaining the end 44 in the cavity.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternate embodiment impact absorbing bars 30, 32, and connection bars 42′, which incorporates a pivoting end fitting 70 connected to each end of the connection bar 42′. Each end fitting 70 features a connection member 72 that is configured to couple with an end of the connection bar 42′. The end fitting 70 is rotatably coupled to its corresponding impact absorbing bar 30, 32 by a bushing or sleeve 74. The connection member 72 can be, but not limited to, sized to slidably receive, threadably engage with or mechanically join with the end of the connection bar 42′. A gap 76 is defined between the end of the connection bar 42′ and the fitting 70 or an end surface of the connection member 72. The gap 76 allows for longitudinal movement of the connection bar 42′ during differential movement of the impact absorbing bars 30, 32. It can be appreciated that magnetic elements (not shown) can be associated with the ends of the connection bar 42′ and the end surface of the connection member 72, so as to provide a repulsive force between the connection bar 42′ and the end surface of the connection member 72. This would provide additional impact absorbing characteristics to the connection bar 42′.

The shock absorbing face guard of the present invention can include a sensor for detecting a potential impact prior to actual impact. The sensor would communicate a signal to a controller or processor for deploying the impact absorbing bars away from the helmet. The sensor, processor and a power supply could be integrated into the hub, the helmet or external of the helmet. Prior to deployment, the impact absorbing bars can be held in a retracted or partially retracted position in relation with the chamber of the hub. Upon detection by the sensor, the processor could control a retention assembly or a deployment assembly associated with the impact absorbing bars to deploy the appropriate impact absorbing bar to a deployed or extended position.

The retention assembly would be used to prevent the impact absorbing bars from being deployed when the impact absorbing bars are biased to a deployed position. The impact absorbing bars can be biased to the deployed position by the repulsive magnetic force created by the similarly poled magnet elements of the impact absorbing bars and hub, or by other means such as but not limited to springs, inflatable bladders, electromagnets, resilient materials, memory shaped materials, or fluids. Upon potential impact detection, the retention assembly would release the appropriate biased impact absorbing bar to a deployed or extended position, thereby increasing the travel distance of the impact absorbing bars and thereby provided increased impact absorption by the similarly poled magnet elements.

While embodiments of the shock absorbing face guard have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Although reducing the impact force on sport equipment using independent impact absorbing segments have been described, it should be appreciated that the shock absorbing face guard herein described is also suitable for use with any connectible sport equipment or paraphernalia.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing face guard for reducing an impact force by a user, said shock absorbing face guard comprising:

at least one hub having a hub magnetic element featuring a first pole; and

at least one face bar having a portion slidably associated with said hub, said portion having at least one face bar magnetic element featuring a first pole oriented toward said first pole of said hub magnetic element, said first pole of said face bar magnetic element being of a same pole as said first pole of said hub magnetic element so as to produce a magnetic repulsion force at a predetermined distance therebetween.

2. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 1, wherein said hub having a configuration so as to be removably attachable to a helmet.

3. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 1, wherein said hub further comprising at least one hub cavity defined therein having a configuration to slidably receive an end of said portion of said face bar, and a hub opening defined through said hub in communication with said hub cavity, said hub opening having a configuration to slidably receive said portion of said face bar.

4. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 3, wherein said hub magnetic element being located in said hub cavity, and said face bar magnet being associated with said end of said portion of said face bar.

5. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 4, wherein said hub cavity being defined in at least one extension member, and said hub opening being defined through an end of said extension member.

6. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 5, wherein said hub cavity and said hub opening having a configuration so that said face bar magnetic element is aligned with said hub magnetic element when said end of said portion of said face bar is received in said hub cavity.

7. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 1, where said face bar is a plurality of face bars in a spaced apart relationship.

8. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 7 further comprising at least one connection bar coupled to at least two of said face bars.

9. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 8, wherein said connection bar includes ends each being articulatably coupled to one of said face bars.

10. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 9, wherein each of said ends of said connection bar further comprises a fitting that rotatably receives said face bar.

11. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 8, wherein said face bar further comprising at least one face bar cavity defined therein, and at least one face bar opening defined through said face bar in communication with said face bar cavity, said face bar opening having a configuration to receive a portion of said connection bar, said face bar cavity having a configuration to receive an end of said connection bar.

12. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 11, wherein said end of said connection bar has a width larger than a width of said face bar opening.

13. The shock absorbing face guard according to claim 12, wherein said end of said connection bar has a first transition section from said portion of said connection bar, and a second transition section from said first transition section, said first transition section features a first radius, said second transition section features a second radius.