Abstract: A protective helmet employs an inflatable bladder on the interior of the helmet. The inflatable bladder has cells that extend to the lower rear octants of the wearers head and also to either the crown or upper front octants of the wearers head. The cells are inflatable through a single valve and properly secure the helmet to the wearers head during use. In the preferred embodiment, the helmet is fully lined with resilient material interposed between the bladder and the wearer's head.

Abstract: The jaw pad is formed of resilient material having a uniform thickness and formed in a curved shape corresponding to the curvature of the earflaps of the headgear. Four female snap members are secured to its back face, capable of engaging the three male snap members formed on both the left hand and right hand earflaps such that the jaw pad can be used on both the left and right sides of the headgear.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adjustable chin strap assembly for use with athletic helmets. The chin strap assembly consists of a flexible piece of material which forms the chin cup, two support straps slideably attached to this chin cup, two adjustment pieces through which the support straps slideably intersect, and a set of four slideable snaps which releasibly fasten the support straps to an athletic helmet. The attitude of the flexible chin cup can be adjusted by sliding the adjustment piece along the lengths of the support straps to each side of the chin cup thereby allowing for maximum user comfort.

Abstract: A headgear comprising a helmet shell and a combination of energy-absorbing and sizing means mounted on the inside surface of the shell. The combination includes a crown-engaging structure either in the form of a web suspension or an air-inflatable means. These pad structures comprise curved assemblies which engage the forehead and back of the wearer's head and the pad structures enable automatic alignment of the helmet along the long axis of the head whereby the air-inflatable side members are operated after the helmet has been put on the head. Air inflatable sizing means are located intermediate the pad structures at the front and back of the shell, and these sizing means engage the respective sides of the werer's head to provide a side-to-side fit on the head. A combination serving as a sizing means and energy-absorbing means is located on the lower rear inside wall of the shell. Separate energy-absorbing pad structures are located on the front and back inner walls of the shell.