Abstract: A football helmet comprises a plastic shell having a recess formed in the shell, a shock absorbing pad in the recess and removably connected to the shell, and a floating shell plate removably attached to the shock absorbing pad and further connected to the shell by a tab-slot engagement. The helmet may further comprise an inner liner comprising a shock absorbing element, an inflatable liner element, and a mobility layer disposed between the shock absorbing element and the inflatable liner element, the mobility layer having a plurality of raised elements formed therein to separate the shock absorbing element from the mobility layer thereby forming a gap between the shock absorbing element and the mobility layer, enabling relative movement of the inflatable liner with respect to shock absorbing element.

Abstract: A plastic football helmet has a shell with a left earflap in a left side region and a right earflap in a right side region, each ear flap having a non-circular ear hole, and an offset area defined on a top edge by a top banked portion and on a bottom edge by a bottom banked portion, the offset area extending continuously from the right ear flap, across the rear region, to the left ear flap. The non-circular ear holes are in the offset area. Both the top edge and the bottom edge of the offset area curve upward from the right ear flap to the rear region and curve upward from the left ear flap to the rear region. The top edge and bottom edge do not meet at any point such that offset area begins at an open right end in the right earflap and ends at an open left end in the left earflap. Cheek support are attached to the earflaps to improve retention of the helmet and provide protection to the cheek area against blows.

Abstract: A NOCSAE-certified football helmet having a shell, internal padding attached to an inner surface of the shell, and a face guard attachable to the shell, is configured and designed to have a Predictive Concussion Incidence below 1.90, or 0.75 plus or minus 0.25, or in the range of 0.50 to 1.90, as measured by the 2018 Adult Football STAR Methodology. The face guard is attached to the shell at a plurality of attachment points below a line constructed through the midpoint of the height of the helmet and has an upper portion which contacts the shell above the face opening, without being attached to the shell at that point. The internal padding includes a front pad attached within the shell above the face opening, defining a first zone of a first stiffness and, adjacent to and above the first zone, a second zone of a second stiffness lower than the first stiffness. The internal padding also includes helmet liners which are not inflatable, and which contain slow response microcellular polyurethane pads.

Abstract: A NOCSAE-certified football helmet having a plastic shell, internal padding attached to an inner surface of the shell, and a face guard attached to the shell, is configured and designed to have a Predictive Concussion Incidence below 1.90, or 0.75 plus or minus 0.25, or in the range of 0.50 to 1.90, as measured by the 2018 Adult Football STAR Methodology. The face guard is attached to the shell at a plurality of attachment points below a line constructed through the midpoint of the height of the helmet and has an upper portion which contacts the shell above the face opening, without being attached to the shell at that point. The internal padding includes a front pad attached within the shell above the face opening, defining a first zone of a first stiffness and, adjacent to and above the first zone, a second zone of a second stiffness lower than the first stiffness. The internal padding also includes helmet liners which are not inflatable, and which contain slow response microcellular polyurethane pads.

Abstract: A liner assembly for a protective helmet has a rigid shell with an inner surface and concave curvature having a front portion, a rear portion, a crown portion, a pair of opposite portions and a pair of opposite jaw flaps; a wrap-around pad has a plurality of circular cells spaced along a curved line around the inner surface, and at least one additional cell at each end of the curved line. Two jaw pads, each jaw pad removably engaged to a respective one of the jaw flaps, and each jaw pad has one cell having one cell with two curvilinear segments. Each cell of the wrap around pad and the jaw pads includes an outer sheet of thermoplastic and an inner sheet of thermoplastic.

Abstract: A football helmet has a rigid plastic football helmet shell with a raised plateau of the shell extending from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. This raised plateau is the only raised plateau of the shell which begins in the front portion, extends over the crown portion, and ends in the back portion. The raised plateau has a left border and a right border. The left border is composed of a plurality of segments and extends continuously from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. The segments of the left border including at least a first segment and second segment, which meet to form an angle. A non-circular first ventilation hole through the shell has at least a first side, a second side, and a third side, and is positioned at the angle, such that the first side is adjacent to the first segment and the second side is adjacent to the second segment.

Abstract: A plastic football helmet has a shell with a left earflap in a left side region and a right earflap in a right side region, each ear flap having a non-circular ear hole, and an offset area defined on a top edge by a top banked portion and on a bottom edge by a bottom banked portion, the offset area extending continuously from the right ear flap, across the rear region, to the left ear flap. The non-circular ear holes are in the offset area. Both the top edge and the bottom edge of the offset area curve upward from the right ear flap to the rear region and curve upward from the left ear flap to the rear region. The top edge and bottom edge do not meet at any point such that offset area begins at an open right end in the right earflap and ends at an open left end in the left earflap. Cheek support are attached to the earflaps to improve retention of the helmet and provide protection to the cheek area against blows.

Abstract: A NOCSAE-certified football helmet having a plastic shell, internal padding attached to an inner surface of the shell, and a face guard attached to the shell, is configured and designed to have a Predictive Concussion Incidence below 1.90, or 0.75 plus or minus 0.25, or in the range of 0.50 to 1.90, as measured by the 2018 Adult Football STAR Methodology. The face guard is attached to the shell at a plurality of attachment points below a line constructed through the midpoint of the height of the helmet and has an upper portion which contacts the shell above the face opening, without being attached to the shell at that point. The internal padding includes a front pad attached within the shell above the face opening, defining a first zone of a first stiffness and, adjacent to and above the first zone, a second zone of a second stiffness lower than the first stiffness. The internal padding also includes helmet liners which are not inflatable, and which contain Poron pads.

Abstract: A football helmet has a rigid plastic football helmet shell with a raised plateau of the shell extending from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. This raised plateau is the only raised plateau of the shell which begins in the front portion, extends over the crown portion, and ends in the back portion. The raised plateau has a left border and a right border. The left border is composed of a plurality of segments and extends continuously from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. The segments of the left border including at least a first segment and second segment, which meet to form an angle. A non-circular first ventilation hole through the shell has at least a first side, a second side, and a third side, and is positioned at the angle, such that the first side is adjacent to the first segment and the second side is adjacent to the second segment.

Abstract: A football helmet has a rigid plastic football helmet shell with a single raised plateau in the crown portion of the shell extending from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. The raised plateau has a left border and a right border. The left border is composed of a plurality of segments and extends continuously from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. The segments of the left border including at least a first segment and second segment, which meet to form an angle. A non-circular first ventilation hole through the shell has at least a first side, a second side, and a third side, and is positioned at the angle, such that the first side is adjacent to the first segment and the second side is adjacent to the second segment.

Abstract: A football helmet has a shell made of polycarbonate or ABS plastic or thermoplastic composite material and two cheek supports, each removably connected to an earflap. Each cheek support comprises an outer brace, an inner plate removably connected to the outer brace by fasteners passing through through-going holes formed in the earflap, and a cheek pad attached to the inner plate. The outer brace has a lower edge having a contour shaped to follow a contour of the lower edge of the earflap without extending substantially beyond the lower edge of the earflap. The inner plate has a lower edge having a contour shaped to follow the contour of the lower edge of the earflap without extending substantially beyond the lower edge of the earflap and an extension extending from a body of the inner plate and beyond the front edge of the earflap. A cheek pad is removably attached to the inner plate and positioned to overlay the cheek of a wearer.

Abstract: A football helmet comprises a plastic shell having a recess formed in the shell, a shock absorbing pad in the recess and removably connected to the shell, and a floating shell plate removably attached to the shock absorbing pad and further connected to the shell by a tab-slot engagement. The helmet may further comprise an inner liner comprising a shock absorbing element, an inflatable liner element, and a mobility layer disposed between the shock absorbing element and the inflatable liner element, the mobility layer having a plurality of raised elements formed therein to separate the shock absorbing element from the mobility layer thereby forming a gap between the shock absorbing element and the mobility layer, enabling relative movement of the inflatable liner with respect to shock absorbing element.

Abstract: A football helmet comprising a rigid plastic shell adapted to cover the head of a wearer and a faceguard in the form of a cage of metal bars and removably attached to the shell. The faceguard includes an upper portion including an uppermost bar having a center bar part and a pair of side bar parts, and a horizontal bar below the center bar part and connected to the center bar part by a vertical bar, the uppermost bar and horizontal bar defining a gap between them which extends the entire length of the horizontal bar. The faceguard has a pair of raised eyebrow areas, each raised eyebrow area consisting of one of the pair of side bar parts bent upwardly with respect to the center bar part, in the uppermost bar being positioned on either side of the front portion of the shell and above the lower edge of the front portion of the shell.

Abstract: A liner assembly for a protective helmet has a rigid shell with an inner surface and concave curvature having a front portion, a rear portion, a crown portion, a pair of opposite portions and a pair of opposite jaw flaps; a wrap-around pad has a plurality of circular cells spaced along a curved line around the inner surface, and at least one additional cell at each end of the curved line. Two jaw pads, each jaw pad removably engaged to a respective one of the jaw flaps, and each jaw pad has one cell having one cell with two curvilinear segments. Each cell of the wrap around pad and the jaw pads includes an outer sheet of thermoplastic and an inner sheet of thermoplastic.

Abstract: A liner assembly for a protective helmet has a wrap-around pad inside the helmet with plural circular cells spaced along a curved line, at least one additional cell at each end of the line and one additional cell located off the line. A crown pad removably engageable in a crown of the helmet and two L-shaped jaw pads removably engageable to jaw flaps of the helmet. Each cell includes an outer sheet welded around its perimeter to the perimeter of an inner sheet, each inner sheet engaging a player's head and defining one enclosure for each cell. Each cell containing a foam cushion and multiple spaced apart hollow protrusions contacting the inside of the helmet. Each protrusion has an open large diameter base near the cushion and flat smaller diameter peak engaging the helmet. Each protrusions also having a conical side wall tapering from base to peak.

Abstract: A football helmet comprising a rigid plastic shell adapted to cover the head of a wearer and a faceguard in the form of a cage of metal bars and removably attached to the shell. The faceguard includes an upper portion including an uppermost bar having a center bar part and a pair of side bar parts, and a horizontal bar below the center bar part and connected to the center bar part by a vertical bar, the uppermost bar and horizontal bar defining a gap between them which extends the entire length of the horizontal bar. The faceguard has a pair of raised eyebrow areas, each raised eyebrow area consisting of one of the pair of side bar parts bent upwardly with respect to the center bar part, in the uppermost bar being positioned on either side of the front portion of the shell and above the lower edge of the front portion of the shell.