Abstract: A retaining assembly for protective headgear comprising, a chin cup for receiving the wearer's chin, and a strap having one end for attachment to the headgear. The other end of the strap is releasably attached to a side of the chin cup such that the strap releases from the chin cup under loads.

Abstract: Protective headgear comprising, a relatively rigid shell for covering the wearer's head. The headgear has a bumper for the shell comprising, a flexible cover attached to a front of the shell adjacent a lower front edge of the shell, with the cover having a recess facing the shell, and a pad of high energy attenuation material received in the recess.

Abstract: A pad structure for a protective headgear comprising, a resilient foam inner pad, a thin flexible front cover sheet of a foam material being formed into a configuration defining a cavity of a shape to closely receive and cover inner and side surfaces of the inner pad. The pad structure has a back cover sheet of flexible material covering a back surface of the inner pad and joined to the front cover sheet along bond lines adjacent a back portion of the inner pad and extending around sides of the inner pad.

Abstract: An inflation device comprising, an inflatable member having a fluid receiving cavity and an opening extending through the member to the cavity. The device has a fluid lock element secured to the inflatable member in the opening, with the lock element having flexible wall means defining a chamber, first opening means extending from the chamber toward the outside of the lock element, and second opening means spaced from the first opening means and extending from the chamber toward the cavity. The first and second opening means are normally closed to prevent passage of fluid therethrough, with the first opening means being openable to permit passage of the tip of an inflation needle from the outside of the lock element to the chamber, and with the second opening means being openable and positioned to permit passage of the tip of the inflation needle or fluid from the chamber to the cavity.

Abstract: A protective helmet comprising a shell, and flexible liner means positioned in the shell to dissipate forces applied against the helmet, with the liner means having fluid filled chamber means and a plurality of openings extending through the liner means. The helmet also has a plurality of resilient pad means positioned in the openings with at least a portion of the inner surfaces of the pad means being spaced from an inner surface of the liner means.