Abstract: A safety helmet comprising an inflatable, interconnected air-cushion system wherein the air-cushion system is positioned in the lower part of an integral helmet. The integral helmet has a tapered portion extending in a downward direction below the chin of the wearer, and has a frontal opening for the face. The air cushion system is positioned within a pocket in the helmet and extends from the lower edge of said helmet to at least the level of the ears, but not higher than the level of the temples of a wearer of the safety helmet. The air-cushion system comprises a continuous band of two flexible foils, and means for interconnecting said foils in an air-tight manner, preferably comprising cross-pieces extending between the foils in such a way that the foils and the cross-pieces form two inflatable cheek cushions and one inflatable neck-cushion.

Abstract: A safety helmet for motorcyclists or the like including a hard shell having a lining of flexible material behind which are disposed a plurality of air cushions interconnected by means of tubes provided with pressure equalization delay devices to provide a yielding engagement by the lining with the enclosed parts of the face and skull together with air-foil-like projections on the outer surface of the shell acted upon by an airstream to reduce the weight of the helmet.