Safer baseball batting helmet

Abstract

A safer baseball or softball helmet is constructed of a two-piece molded shell (rounder than the standard helmet today). The inner-shell is the basic helmet (rounder) as we see today. Two options are available for implementation. Option one: retrofit an exiting helmet by installing a rim or no rim and outer-shell cap, attached by a bolt/axis and assorted washers (steel or rubber/pads) to the inner-shell, for a flexing motion as a pogo stick movement to the inner-shell that serves to deflect, rotate, and disperse the force of impact. Option two: manufacture a helmet, with a molded rim or (no rim) as part of the inner-shell, into which the outer-shell will fit. With this design, the outer-shell cap could be interlocked with the helmet inner-shell locking rim with no needed for the bolt/axis. The two shell baseball or softball helmet is designed to reduce all impact forces by rotating outer-shell cap.

Description

BACKGROUND

Professionals and amateurs, alike, wear protective head gear to reduce the chance of head injury while batting and running the bases in baseball and softball today. The batting helmet did not become a required piece of equipment until it was grandfathered in to the major leagues starting with the 1956 th season. Players who had been playing before the helmet was required could continue to play without one, but those who started in 1956 and beyond had to wear a helmet. Helmets had been used at the players' option since 1941 season when the Dodgers first introduced them. Outsiders had called on baseball to adopt batting helmets ever since the 1920 season, when Ray Chapman was hit in the head by a fastball thrown by Carl Mays and died as a result of the beaning. Modern batting helmets are made of hard plastic and they protect the side of the face with ear flaps that hang down to the cheek level. On Nov. 8, 2007, MLB mandated all baseball coaches wear batting helmets. My baseball or softball batting helmet invention should provide a safer helmet in the game of baseball and softball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A baseball or softball batting helmet is a hard plastic hat worn over a player's normal baseball cap. While the name implies that it worn exclusively by batters, it is actually worn by offensive players in every stage of their appearance on the field: while on deck, in the batter's box, and running the bases. This baseball batting helmet composing: two piece-shell, one the inner/shell is a standard baseball or softball batting helmet with liner/pads, and (no rim) or rim added to the inner/shell helmet whereas the outer-shell cap is on top of said helmet inserted in the rim to helmet track to rotate in. A bolt and assorted washers (steel or rubber) near crown center of the helmet serves to connect the outer/shell cap to the inner/shell helmet with freedom to rotate. The baseball or softball batting helmet with dual earflap shall have two shells (inner and outer) below the rounder rim to give better protection of impact from contact of the ball or object.

Front and rear linear helmet contacts on the outer-shell cap will deflect, rotate, disperse, and reduce the force of impact or (no rim) of the inner-shell helmet: therefore reducing the risk of head injuries and concussions.

Side helmet contacts on the outer-shell cap will deflect, rotate, and disperse the outer/shell cap by reducing the force of impact to either side of the inner/shell helmet therefore reducing the risk of head injuries and concussions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We all agree that no baseball or softball batting helmet can completely prevent all head injuries to players in the sport of baseball or any sport for that matter. This baseball or softball batting helmet invention includes two shells (one standard rounded helmet with a rim or (no rim) around so to insert the outer-shell helmet with a rim around so to insert the outer-shell cap) and a bolt in the top crown area connecting the two shells. The object of this helmet invention is to provide significant reduction of all impact forces from any direction to the helmet. Lastly this baseball or softball batting helmet invention should improve the safety of all players in the game of baseball or softball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of the outer-shell cap helmet of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the inner-shell helmet of the invention. The outer-shell cap of FIG. 1 will be inserted on top of inner-shell helmet in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the outer-shell cap helmet of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the inner-shell helmet of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the outer-shell cap helmet of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the inner-shell helmet of this invention.

FIG. 7 is the top view of the outer-shell cap helmet of this invention.

FIG. 8 is the top view of the inner-shell helmet of this invention.

FIG. 9 is the cut out front view of the outer-shell cap helmet connecting by inserted by interlocking to the rim track of the inner-shell helmet of this invention.

FIG. 10 is the cut out front view of the outer-shell cap helmet connecting by a bolt and inserted with the U or H shape edge to the rim track of the inner-shell helmet of this invention.

Claims

1. In the game of baseball or softball the batter or base runner is in danger of being hit by the baseball, therefore players are required to wear a helmet for head protection. This helmet, composed of a two-piece shell, is designed to minimize the shock of direct contact by the rotation of the outer-shell. The impact force will be dispersed by the outer and inner-shell area, therefore reducing the risk of head injuries and concussions.

2. Contacts from any direction on the outer-shell cap will deflect, rotate, disperse and reduce the impact to the rim or (no rim) of the of the helmet, therefore reducing the risk of head injuries and concussions.