US5953761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective headgear
Assignee: Ampac Enterprises Inc
•
Filing: 1998-01-26
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2018-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The protective headgear, such as a catcher's/umpire's headgear, is defined by a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell articulately interconnected together adjacent upper portions thereof. Resilient straps snap-secure opposite lower side portions of the forward shell to opposite lower edge portions of the rear shell. A rigid framework having a relatively large view opening is fastened to a view opening of the forward shell to afford maximum visibility to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Jurga
- 👤 Charles O'Brien
- 👤 Eric Niskanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:40
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/32; A42B3/328; A42B3/04; A42B3/10; A42B3/14; A42B3/145; A42B3/18; A42B3/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A protective headgear comprising a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell; said forward shell including a crown portion, a forehead portion, opposite side face portions and a jaw portion; a view opening in said forward shell defined by a continuous forward edge; a protective open framework substantially closing said view opening, said continuous forward edge including an uppermost edge portion defining a boundary of said forehead portion, opposite side edge portions defining boundaries of said opposite side face portions, and a lowermost edge portion defining a boundary of said jaw portion; said rear shell including a back head portion and a lower nape portion; means for articulately connecting said back head portion to said crown portion, and means for resiliently urging said shells toward each other whereby the head of a wearer can be embraced thereby while at the same time permitting the rapid removal of the headgear from a user's head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A protective headgear comprising a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell; said forward shell including a crown portion, a forehead portion, opposite side face portions and a jaw portion; a view opening in said forward shell defined by a continuous forward edge; a protective open framework substantially closing said view opening, said continuous forward edge including an uppermost edge portion defining a boundary of said forehead portion, opposite side edge portions defining boundaries of said opposite side face portions, and a lowermost edge portion defining a boundary of said jaw portion; said rear shell including a back head portion and a lower nape portion; means for articulately connecting said back head portion to said crown portion, and means for resiliently urging said shells toward each other whereby the head of a wearer can be embraced thereby while at the same time permitting the rapid removal of the headgear from a user's head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said resiliently urging means includes at least one resilient strap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration defined by upper and lower generally vertical lateral edge portions and a rear-to-front inclined step edge portion therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 including means for absorbing impact shocks carried by said jaw portion, and means for readily removably attaching and detaching said impact absorbing means relative to said jaw portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower nape portion terminates in a lower terminal edge, and said lower nape portion is outwardly concavely curved whereby said lower terminal edge is prevented from contacting a user's nape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration, and said stepped side edges define a boundary edge of a protective cheek portion of each side face portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 2 including means for releasably connecting said at least one resilient strap to at least one of said shells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration defined by upper and lower generally vertical lateral edge portions and a rear-to-front inclined step edge portion therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 including means for absorbing impact shocks carried by said jaw portion, and means for readily removably attaching and detaching said impact absorbing means relative to said jaw portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said lower nape portion terminates in a lower terminal edge, and said lower nape portion is outwardly concavely curved whereby said lower terminal edge is prevented front contacting a user's nape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said articulately connecting means includes a strap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 9 wherein said articulately connecting means includes a strap, and means for adjusting the length of said last-mentioned strap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 16 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 16 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration defined by upper and lower generally vertical lateral edge portions and a rear-to-front inclined step edge portion therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 16 including means for absorbing impact shocks carried by said jaw portion, and means for readily removably attaching and detaching said impact absorbing means relative to said jaw portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 16 wherein said lower nape portion terminates in a lower terminal edge, and said lower nape portion is outwardly concavely curved whereby said lower terminal edge is prevented from contacting a user's nape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient urging means includes a pair of resilient straps.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient urging means includes a pair of resilient straps, and each strap being connectable to said nape portion and one of said side face portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 including means for releasably connecting said resiliently urging means to at least one of said shells.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 including means for releasably connecting said resiliently urging means to each of said shells.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edges, a lower substantially transverse edge, and two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration defined by upper and lower generally vertical lateral edge portions and a rear-to-front inclined step edge portion therebetween.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 including means for absorbing impact shocks carried by said jaw portion, and means for readily removably attaching and detaching said impact absorbing means relative to said jaw portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 including means for absorbing impact shocks carried by said jaw portion, and hook and loop means for readily removably attaching and detaching said impact absorbing means relative to said jaw portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower nape portion is outwardly concavely curved.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower nape portion terminates in a lower terminal edge, and said lower nape portion is outwardly concavely curved whereby said lower terminal edge is prevented from contacting a user's nape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of alternating flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom, and said flutes and valleys terminate at a rearmost portion of said forward rigid shell.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
57 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of alternating flutes and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom, and said flutes and valleys terminate at a rearmost portion of said forward rigid shell.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous forward edge includes an upper substantially transverse edge, a lower substantially transverse edge, two laterally spaced side edges therebetween; and each of said side edges being of a stepped configuration, and said stepped side edges define a boundary edge of a protective cheek portion of each side face portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
141 words
A protective headgear comprising a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell; said forward shell including a crown portion, a forehead portion, opposite side face portions and a jaw portion; a view opening defined by a continuous forward edge; said continuous forward edge including an uppermost edge portion defining a boundary of said forehead portion, opposite side edge portions defining boundaries of said opposite side face portions, and a lowermost edge portion defining a boundary of said jaw portion; said rear shell including a back head portion and a lower nape portion; means for articulately connecting said back head portion to said crown portion, said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of ribs and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
141 words
A protective headgear comprising a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell; said forward shell including a crown portion, a forehead portion, opposite side face portions and a jaw portion; a view opening defined by a continuous forward edge; said continuous forward edge including an uppermost edge portion defining a boundary of said forehead portion, opposite side edge portions defining boundaries of said opposite side face portions, and a lowermost edge portion defining a boundary of said jaw portion; said rear shell including a back head portion and a lower nape portion; means for articulately connecting said back head portion to said crown portion, said forehead portion includes a central forwardmost wall portion of relatively minor surface area, and a plurality of ribs and valleys emanate from said central forwardmost wall portion and extend rearwardly therefrom.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The protective head gear as defined in claim 36 wherein said view opening is located in said forward shell, and a protective open framework substantially closing said view opening.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 37 wherein said ribs and valleys are disposed in alternating relationship to each other.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 38 wherein said ribs are disposed in rearwardly diverging relationship to each other.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 36 wherein said ribs and valleys are disposed in alternating relationship to each other.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective headgear as defined in claim 40 wherein said ribs are disposed in rearwardly diverging relationship to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |