FIELD

The present invention relates to a chin strap used in sports and other physical activities.

BACKGROUND

Helmets are typically used in sports (such as football, lacrosse, hockey, etc.) or other physical types of activities (e.g., police riot gear) for protecting a user's head during such activities. A chin strap, connected to the helmet, is also provided to assist in securing a helmet to a user's head and/or protect the user's chin and jaw from abrasive or other contacting forces associated with the physical activity in which the user is engaged. The chin strap typically includes one or more flexible straps tethered to a central cup. The distal ends of the flexible straps include fasteners that secure the chin strap to the helmet such that the cup is generally aligned with the users chin. The flexible straps can be adjustable in length to facilitate adjustment of a distance from which the chin strap extends from the helmet to provide a proper chin alignment, as well as a comforting fit for the user wearing the helmet.

The cup of such conventional chin straps includes a symmetrical cup, i.e., a cup defining equal surface areas on opposite sides of the cup's central longitudinal or lengthwise axis. This conventional cup is prone to slippage caused by contact during game play. That is, when a force is applied to the helmet (e.g., via helmet-to-helmet contact), the helmet will shift/rotate on the wearer's head. In addition, while the adjustability feature for the straps of the chin strap is desirable to facilitate a precise comfort fit for different users of a helmet (e.g., users having different facial contours and configurations), this can also result in a user adjusting the strap lengths so that the chin strap is loosely fit over the user's chin, resulting in the potential for the chin strap to slip from and/or provide less protection to the user's chin when engaging in the physical activity.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a chin strap having a more secure fit, and that is effective to retain the position (e.g., rotational position) of the helmet on the wearer's head during game play.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a chin strap or guard comprises a protective shell and a cushion member. The shell defines an outer surface that faces away from a user's chin during use of the chin strap, the outer surface including a curved and convex contour extending between lengthwise ends of the shell. The shell further includes a first curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell and a second curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell. The cushion member is secured to the inner surface of the shell opposite the shell outer surface. The cushion member includes an interior surface having a curved and concave contour that extends between lengthwise ends of the cushion member such that the cushion member engages with the user's chin during use of the chin strap.

A cross-section along a lengthwise central axis of the chin strap defines first and second outer surface shell portions that are asymmetrical such that the first outer surface shell portion of the cross-section including the first curved edge defines a first area that is less than a second area defined by the second outer surface shell portion of the cross-section including the second curved edge.

During use, the chin strap is oriented in relation to a user's chin such that the second curved edge and greater surface area defined by the second outer surface shell portion are located beneath the user's chin.

In another embodiment, a chin strap comprises a protective shell including a curved and convex contour extending between lengthwise ends of the shell, the shell further including a first curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell and a second curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell. A cross-section along a lengthwise central axis of the chin strap defines a first shell portion including the first curved edge and a second shell portion including the second curved edge. The first shell portion of the cross-section defines a first surface area between the lengthwise central axis and the first curved edge, and the second shell portion of the cross-section defines a second surface area between the lengthwise central axis and the second curved edge. The first surface area is less than the second surface area.

In a further embodiment, a chin strap comprises a protective shell including a curved and convex contour extending between lengthwise ends of the shell, the shell further including a first curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell and a second curved edge extending between the lengthwise ends of the shell. At least a portion of the second curved edge of the shell extends further in distance from a leading forward edge of the shell than at least a portion of the first curved edge of the shell.

The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.

