ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,495,855, issued on Dec. 16, was assigned to Bell Sports Inc. (Scotts Valley, Calif.).
"Hingeplate mechanism" was invented by Scott S. Whitesell (Camarillo, Calif.) and Lawrence Broers (Aptos, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A closed face motorcycle helmet includes a shell with an eyeport and a shield attached for hinged or pivoted motion between a closed or lowered position covering and sealing the eyeport and an open position or raised position displaced above the eyeport. A hinge plate is attached to the shell on each side and includes a moving pivot socket into which a hub of the shield is rotatably disposed for hinged movement ...