# US 9,750,298 B2 · Shock-absorbing face guard connector for athletic helmet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,298 B2 - Document ID: US9750298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/179,414 - Filed: 2016-06-10 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-10 - Assignees: Hobart-Mayfield LLC - Applicants: Hobart-Mayfield LLC - Inventors: Justin H. Summerville - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750298B2 ## CPC - A42B 3/20: Face guards, e.g. for ice hockey (A42B3/22 takes precedence) - A63B 71/10: for the head ({A63B71/081 takes precedence } ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00) - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A shock-absorbing face guard connector for an athletic helmet such as a helmet worn in American football, ice hockey, cricket, or baseball and softball. The shock-absorbing face guard connector couples a face guard to the athletic helmet, and can absorb some or all of the forces resulting from a strike to the face guard amid play. The shock-absorbing face guard connector includes a compressible piece that can compressible yield when the face guard is struck. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shock-absorbing face guard connector for an athletic helmet, the shock-absorbing face guard connector comprising: a base having a first bore spanning therethrough for receiving a section of a face guard, said base having a cavity; a compressible piece received in said cavity of said base, said compressible piece having a second bore spanning therethrough; a plate situated at said base, said plate having a third bore spanning therethrough; and a fastener extending through said cavity of said base, extending through said second bore of said compressible piece, and extending through said third bore of said plate, said fastener for attaching the shock-absorbing face guard connector to the athletic helmet; wherein, in assembly and installation on the athletic helmet, when the face guard is struck, said base is displaced relative to said plate and relative to said fastener, said base compressing said compressible piece upon displacement, and hence shock associated with the strike to the face guard is absorbed at least in part via said compressible piece. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base has a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, said front, back, first side, and second side walls at least partly defining said cavity, and said cavity having an open top side and an open bottom side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of said front wall, back wall, first side wall, or second side wall has a step situated thereat, said compressible piece seated on said step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate is situated at a top side of said base and is exposed during use of the shock-absorbing face guard connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base and said plate interfit with each other via an extension-recess interfit, wherein said extension-recess interfit guides displacement of said base in at least one direction via surface-to-surface sliding between surfaces of said extension-recess interfit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein said extension-recess interfit includes at least a pair of slanted surfaces, and the surface-to-surface sliding occurs between said at least pair of slanted surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein said extension-recess interfit includes a first notched recess of said base and a second notched recess of said base, and said extension-recess interfit includes a first extension of said plate and a second extension of said plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fastener assembly including said fastener, a sleeve, and a nut, said fastener extending through said sleeve, said sleeve extending through said cavity of said base and extending through said second bore of said compressible piece and extending through said third bore of said plate, said nut threading onto said fastener for attaching the shock-absorbing face guard connector to the athletic helmet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein, when the face guard is struck, abutment between said base and said plate precludes displacement of said base relative to said plate and relative to said fastener in at least one direction. ### Claim 10 A shock-absorbing face guard connector for an athletic helmet, the shock-absorbing face guard connector comprising: a base having a first bore spanning therethrough for receiving a section of the face guard, and said base having a cavity; a compressible piece received in said cavity of said base, and said compressible piece having a second bore spanning therethrough; a plate; and a fastener assembly; wherein, when assembled and installed on the athletic helmet, and when a face guard is struck in a first direction, said compressible piece is compressed and absorbs at least a portion of shock associated with the strike to the face guard; and wherein, when assembled and installed on the athletic helmet, and when the face guard is struck in a second direction, abutment between said base and said plate precludes compressing of said compressible piece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein said plate is situated at said base, and said plate has a third bore spanning therethrough. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fastener assembly extends through said cavity of said base, extends through said second bore of said compressible piece, and extends through said third bore of said plate, said fastener assembly for attaching the shock-absorbing face guard connector to the athletic helmet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A shock-absorbing face guard connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the abutment between said base and said plate that precludes compressing of said compressible piece involves an extension-recess interfit of said base and said plate.