Abstract: A protective head device for protecting the forehead, temporal, and occipital portions of a user's head. The protective head device includes an elongated member. The elongated member includes a first end, a second end, a front side, a back side and a peripheral edge extending between the front and back sides. The elongated member comprises a resiliently flexible material. There is also a securing means for selectively coupling the first end and the second end of the elongated member.

Abstract: A helmet cover is provided for covering a helmet having a rigid shell with an outer surface, and inner surface and an outer edge. A padding material is also coupled to the inner surface. The cover comprises a flexible cover body that is adapted to be removably disposed about the outer surface of the shell. The flexible body has an outer periphery and an elastic material that is disposed near the outer periphery. Further, the body is shaped that it is adapted to be folded over the outer edge of the shell such that the elastic material is positioned generally adjacent to the inner surface of the shell.

Abstract: A helmet cover system for visually enhancing conventional helmets thereby encouraging children to wear helmets. The inventive device includes an outer shell, a support strap attached to the outer shell, and a securing device for securing the outer shell about a conventional helmet. The outer shell preferably has a visually appealing appearance such as a cartoon character, a sport team's helmet, or other desirable shape for children. The outer shell comprises a body, a cavity within the body having a lower opening, a face opening, and a curved member. The cavity is formed to removably receive the conventional helmet and yet be easily worn individually by the child upon their head without discomfort. The body of the outer shell is preferably comprised of injected foam material and painted with a resilient paint for providing a visually stimulating appearance to the child.

Abstract: A protective hat is designed to protect the head of an infant and is formed of a shell and a jacket fitted over the shell. The shell has a projecting front brim, two projecting side brims corresponding in location to the ears of an infant, and a number of ventilation holes. The jacket is formed of an inner layer, an outer layer, and a space located between the inner layer and the outer layer for receiving the shell. The jacket is provided with a chin strap and a zipper to facilitate the fitting of the jacket over the shell and the removing of the jacket from the shell.

Abstract: A hard hat that includes a number of user adjustable air vents to allow the user to adjust the volume of air flow through the hard hat to provide a cooling effect to the head of the wearer. The hard hat is constructed from phosphorescent plastic so that the glow from the hard hat could alert fellow workers of the position of the wearer of the hat in dark ambient light conditions.

Abstract: A protective helmet made from a resilient shell. The shell has a plurality of slits. Each slit has a first end located at a lower edge of the shell and has an adjustable width effective for adjusting the size of the shell. The helmet also has an energy absorbing liner disposed inside the shell. The shell is very stiff to effectively distribute an impact force.

Abstract: A multiple-piece removable helmet can be disassembled on the wearer's head so that, in the event of a medical emergency, the front portion can be removed to afford access to the face of the wearer for administration of first aid and to facilitate the diagnosis of the extent of the injury. A neck brace can be attached and the injured can be lifted out of the back portion of the helmet. Apparatus for removably attaching the two halves include, in various embodiments, screws, adjustable tension cables, buckles, and spring fingers on one half engaging in indentations in the other with the fingers being secured in place by screws.

Abstract: A bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including a front vent that is wider than high. Also, a bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including at least one rear exit port opening outward onto a surface that is below the most rearward margin of the helmet body. Preferred helmets include both such a front vent and a pair of such rear exit ports, and preferred helmets include at least one and more preferably two lengthwise interior channels that may conduct air rearwardly within the helmet over the head of the wearer from the front vent or to the rear exit port or ports, or both from the anterior vent and to the rear exit port or ports. Methods for fabricating a helmet according to the invention include forming the helmet body of two separate parts and affixing the two formed parts together.

Abstract: A method for fabricating the leather firefighting helmet includes the steps of: (a) providing an outer leather covering, where the covering includes a bowl-shaped head portion attached to a brim portion; (b) providing an inner leather liner, where the liner includes a bowl-shaped head portion attached to a brim portion; (c) positioning a layer of reinforcing fibers between the covering and the inner liner; (d) positioning liquid thermoset resin between the covering and the liner; (e) assembling the cover with the liner such that the bowl-shaped head portion of the liner is received within the bowl-shaped head portion of the covering; and (f) curing the covering, liner, reinforcing fibers and thermoset resin together to form a substantially unitary firefighting helmet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved protective pad for protecting the human body against impact forces. The pad is formed using layers of high density closed-cell polymer foam low density closed-cell polymer foam, and resilient or non-resilient energy absorbing inserts. The high density layer absorbs and shunts impact forces, while the low density layer acts as a cushion against the human body, and provides for comfort. The pad can be provided with a plurality of holes through its thickness to provide for breathability and release of heat from the human body, the surface area of the holes being great enough to allow for adequate ventilation but not so great as to significantly decrease the protection offered by the pad. The pad can also be provided with a plurality of score lines across its surface and partially through its thickness to provide for flexibility and conformability to the part of the human body being protected.

Abstract: A bicolor reversible protective headgear comprising a left side panel, a right side panel, a forehead panel and a top panel, the panels being connected by elastic means to form the headgear and having a first color on one side and a second color on the other side, the headgear being reversible whereby the first color is visible when the headgear is in a first configuration and the second color is visible when the headgear is turned inside out to a second configuration.

Abstract: A suspension system for a helmet comprising a crown support assembly having a center portion and a plurality of strap portions extending radially from the center portion. The suspension system further comprises a headband and a plurality of connectors, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors comprises an anchor portion for attaching the suspension system to a helmet, a first support member extending from the anchor portion and attached to one of the plurality of strap portions, a second support member spaced from the first support member, extending from the anchor portion, and attached to the headband, and a spacing member extending from one of the first and second support members toward the other of the first and second support members. The connector may be a single piece, and may be a molded piece. The connector may also comprise at least one more spacing member extending from one of the first and second support members toward the other of the first and second support members.

Abstract: An air ventilation safety helmet includes a molded helmet and an air funnel which can be attached to the molded helmet by using a rubber band, a spring, a screw, or the like. In the front of the air funnel, there is an air inlet through which the air can flow into the helmet. Inside the liner of the molded helmet, there are several air ducts directed to the air funnel so that the air can flow through the air ducts to provide good air ventilation. When it rains or it is cold, the air funnel can be rotated to prevent the cold air from flowing into the helmet and to avoid water leakage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective bicycling helmet with a rear support structure having at least two generally vertical columns mounted in the rear portion of the helmet body for providing improved ventilation while retaining or improving the rigid structural integrity of the helmet.

Abstract: Improved head protection for soccer players comprising a headband formed of resilient material which may be worn alone or inside a conventional soccer helmet to cushion the effects of impacts to the head, especially for children in their formative years.

Abstract: A headband to be worn on the head of a soccer player including a padded portion adapted to ride on that area of the head normally used to head a soccer ball.

Abstract: A protective device comprising a shell and a liner. The shell includes an interior surface. The liner is associated with the interior surface of the shell. The liner includes a member for enabling control displacement of the preselected regions of the liner upon various degrees of impact of the protective device. The control displacement member comprises a first member and a second member. Each of the first and second members having a top surface, a bottom surface and a different impact absorbing characteristic. The top surface of at least one of the first and second members is associated with the interior surface of the shell. At least a portion of the bottom surface of the first member extends further from the interior surface of the shell and the bottom surface of the second member.

Abstract: A structural shell for protective headgear includes a shell-form body composed of a plurality of cells. This structural shell can withstand loads much greater than conventional single walled structural shells, without buckling.

Abstract: A protective cap is formed of a cap body having an inner layer and an outer layer with a clearance therebetween. A number of air holes are provided in the inner and outer layers so that the air holes in the inner layer are displaced from those in the outer layer, and a dam is provided around each of the air holes in the inner layer on a surface thereof facing the outer layer. A spacer formed of a vertical wall contacting the inner and outer layers is provided at least adjacent to each of the air holes of the inner layer. Thus, the protective cap has excellent ventilating capability, a waterproof feature in rain and strength.

Abstract: Body-fitted padding having a padding adapter and device for the production thereof, in particular for a crash helmet, the adapter having a ventilation system. To this end a flexible covering consisting of a hood and a sleeve is provided which form an inner space to receive a curable impact and/or shock-absorbing material. The covering is here approximated to the contour of the protective article to be padded out or to be adapted and to that of the body part to be protected, so that, after curing of the material, the adapter can be laid in the protective article without modification of the contour of the side exactly matched to the body part.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an improved headguard for athletes and in particular soccer players. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a headguard is provided which includes a headcover and an adjustable head strap disposed on a perimeter of the head for drawing sections of the headcover together. The headcover includes padding having at least a front portion and a top portion and also includes a flexing section. The flexing section of the headcover is positioned such that, when the head strap is adjusted, at least a portion of the headcover flexes at the flexing section to generally conform to at least a portion of the head of a wearer.

Abstract: A pad for an interior body of a helmet includes a shaped cushion material made of foamed urethane or the like, a stretchable first cloth on one side of the cushion material for contact with a head of a user, a nonstretchable second cloth disposed on a side of the cushion material opposed to the cloth. The interior body includes a plurality of pads connected to form a band shape around the head of a user and so as not to bend in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Head-protective helmet including a single mounting means, e.g. a plurality of anchor clips, which at least assist in mounting an inner impact shell to the outer shell, mount a head band to the outer shell, mount a plurality of head straps to the outer shell, and depending upon the material of which the mounting means is made may absorb energy created upon a downwardly acting force being applied to the outer shell. A head band including pivotally interconnected forehead member and nape device. A mounting member particularly useful for mounting head-protective helmet components together.

Abstract: This safety cap comprises a unitary shell made of a rigid, light weight and impact-resistant plastic material and forming a dome shaped body to fit the wearer's head with ventilation openings and a rear recess for the passage of a wearer's pony tail. An air permeable fabric cover completely covers the shell body for the purpose of thermal insulation, for esthetic value and for preventing entering of insects through the shell ventilation openings while allowing ventilation within the shell body. The fabric cover has a dependent flange which is folded around the exposed edge of the shell body and attached to the interior surface of the shell body by hook and loop fastener bands. This flange is padded and extends around the wearer's head. The rear portion of the cover has also a recess in register with the shell body recess and is provided with length adjustable fastening straps to secure the cap in position.

Abstract: A head protector for a helmet, in which at least one groove is provided in a predetermined inner surface of an impact-on-the head absorbing liner, the predetermined inner surface including at least a top portion to face the vertex of a person with a helmet on, but not substantially including at least a front portion to face the person's sinciput and a plurality of projections at least partially surrounded by the groove are provided in the predetermined inner surface. Owing to this head protector, the rigidity of the whole of the impact-on-the-head absorbing liner is not worthlessly reduced and, nevertheless, both the maximum acceleration and HIC due to an impact are effectively reduced.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a protective head covering having a protective impact absorbing pad located therein. The head covering is mainly designed for skiing where frequent falls or spills occur. The head covering is so designed that to a casual observer the head covering makes a fashionable appearance. The head covering is constructed from a unitary piece of material which initially lies flat. The flat piece of material has first and second edges and third and fourth edges and two side edges. The first and the second edges are forming substantially semi-circles and when sewn together, they form a hollow head contacting portion. The third and fourth edges have contours which are different from the first and second edges and they form a hollow crown portion when sewn together. Thereafter, the head portion is inverted into the crown portion.

Abstract: A bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including a front vent that is wider than high. Also, a bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including at least one rear exit port opening outward onto a surface that is below the most rearward margin of the helmet body. Preferred helmets include both such a front vent and a pair of such rear exit ports, and preferred helmets include at least one and more preferably two lengthwise interior channels that may conduct air rearwardly within the helmet over the head of the wearer from the front vent or to the rear exit port or ports, or both from the anterior vent and to the rear exit port or ports. Methods for fabricating a helmet according to the invention include forming the helmet body of two separate parts and affixing the two formed parts together.

Abstract: A light-weight protective headgear for athletes and persons involved in activities involving a high falling risk. The protective headgear of this invention comprises a one-piece body of form-molded soft resilient closed cell foam material covered with a tough pliable surface coating having a double securing feature i.e. under the chin of the user and at the back of the head and when adjusted in position will stay fixed throughout usage. The protective headgear also provides adequate ventilation through spaces in the tip portion.

Abstract: A helmet that provides protection to the head and neck regions of a wearer is disclosed and is comprised of separable front and rear portions so as to allow easy removal from the head of the wearer. The easy removal of the helmet prevents further agitation to any head and/or neck injuries always created by the wearer suffering from a sudden impact.

Abstract: An industrial safety helmet comprises a shell of a semioval shape, a crad and a chin strap. The shell has one or more flexures capable of strengthening the shell and of promoting air circulation of the shell. The flexures are provided respectively at the front end thereof with an air inlet while at least one of the flexures is provided at the rear end thereof with an air outlet. The cradle has an energy-absorbing mechanism. The chin strap is provided with a detachable adhesive buckling mechanism.

Abstract: A head protector includes two bands of material, one of which extends from beneath the chin to the top of the head, and the other of which extends from the forehead to the rear of the head. These bands are interconnected together to form a unitary device although, if desired, each band may be used individually. Each band includes padded portions which are preferably filled with a silastic gelin material which is located in areas designed to protect the eye sockets and eyes, zygoma, temporal bones and occiput which are the major bone complexes making up the lower sides and lower back of the skull. Additionally, the head protector protects the ear zygoma, the jaw and the top of the head vertex.

Abstract: A bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including a front vent that is wider than high. Also, a bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including at least one rear exit port opening outward onto a surface that is below the most rearward margin of the helmet body. Preferred helmets include both such a front vent and a pair of such rear exit ports, and preferred helmets include at least one and more preferably two lengthwise interior channels that may conduct air rearwardly within the helmet over the head of the wearer from the front vent or to the rear exit port or ports, or both from the anterior vent and to the rear exit port or ports. Methods for fabricating a helmet according to the invention include forming the helmet body of two separate parts and affixing the two formed parts together.

Abstract: A helmet for protection against non-motorized injuries comprises a number of arched segments with ventilation spaces between them, the arched segments being shaped to extend about and engage the skull. The helmet is constructed to cover the apical as well as the frontal, temporal and occipital basilar skull. The arched segments are convex on their outer surfaces, have flat, curved inner surfaces, and are made of a cushioning, impact absorbing material such as plastic foam. Reinforcing elements extend in longitudinal passages in the arched segments to provide resistance against forces which are only partly absorbed by the cushioning material. In an alternate embodiment, support straps extend over the apical skull, and an impact resistant helmet is worn over the apical skull.

Abstract: Disclosed is head equipment having a shell with flanks on each side of a plane of symmetry of the shell, an upper part and a rear part, and a rigid structure designed to bear an optronic device. The head equipment comprises linking assemblies to attach the structure and the shell to each other in a locally movable way. The linking assemblies are attached to the structure and to the shell and are capable of changing shape. The linking assemblies may be blocks of elastomer or pins attached to the structure, sliding in cylinders attached to the shell.

Abstract: A safety helmet has a hard outer shell having front and rear edges. A bowl-shaped liner with front and rear edges and a peak between the edges is contoured to fit snugly in the shell so that the front and rear edges of the liner are adjacent to the front and rear edges of the shell. The liner has an interior surface contoured generally to fit a wearer's head and a corrugated exterior surface, the tips of the liner corrugations contacting the shell along multiple lines of contact. The corrugations in at least a central zone of the liner adjacent to the peak extend fore and aft between the front and rear edges of the liner such that the corrugations define valleys that are spaced from the shell to provide air passages in the helmet extending from the front of the helmet to an array of through-holes in the liner and to a vent opening in the shell adjacent to the rear edge of the liner. A valve is provided to control air flow through the passages and the through-holes.

Abstract: A protective cover apparatus for a helmet including a helmet shell with a helmet outer surface and a face exposing opening bordered by a helmet male snap fastener half protruding from the helmet outer surface, a helmet anchoring chin strap assembly having a strap extending from the strap assembly, the strap having a strap female snap fastener half which engages the helmet male snap fastener half bordering the face exposing opening includes a shock-absorbing layer having a layer inner surface and a layer outer surface and which extends over the helmet outer surface and over the helmet male snap fastener half; a shock-absorbing layer attachment assembly including an attachment mechanism including a fastener interconnection structure passing through the layer at a location corresponding to and directly over the helmet male snap fastener half, the interconnection structure having a structure inside end to which is affixed a cover female snap fastener half for removably engaging the corresponding helmet male snap

Abstract: A bicycle helmet and bicycle helmet molding process provide an impact attenuating bicycle helmet/shell having the advantages of low cost, ease of manufacture, as well as ruggedness and durability. In preferred embodiments, a shell having inner and outer walls defining a sealable cavity is provided and an access hatch is formed in the outer wall. The cavity is fully or partially filled through the access hatch with an impact attenuating material. The helmet is treated if necessary to cause the impact attenuating material to harden or fuse or otherwise remain within the sealable cavity, and a plug is used to close the access hatch, thus providing a superior bicycle helmet/shell wherein the impact attenuating material is trapped within the shell portion of the product.

Abstract: A bicycle helmet including a pair of spaced synthetic plastic shells and contains an opening having an annular wall surface connecting the shells, the annular wall being successively axially convergent and divergent, thereby to reinforce the helmet, and to afford circulation of air to the user's head.

Abstract: A high performance sport safety helmet. The helmet is formed by an outer shell adapted for fitting upon a wearer's head, with a frontal periphery defining a centrally arched portion forming a front opening exposing the face and a major portion of the forehead of the wearer. The shell further has a base periphery defining an arcuate base opening for receiving the wearer's neck. A flexible resilient expandable front band is secured to and extends across the front opening of the shell with a substantial portion of the band lying below the centrally arched portion. The band snugly engages and substantially completely covers the forehead of the wearer. An articulated shell liner is secured to and covers the inner surface of the shell. The liner is partially separable and non-detachable from the shell. A visor is pivotally secured to the shell and nestable between the shell and the shell liner for selectively shielding the front opening of the shell.

Abstract: A protective pad to be placed to protect a part of a person's body from injury due to impacts includes two layers of foamed polyethylene spaced a distance apart from each other and a layer of foamed polystyrene granules interposed between the two polyethylene layers. Also included is a garment for securing the protective pad in a position adjacent the part of the person's body subject to injury from impact. The securing apparatus may be a hip garment to protect the hips of a wearer that includes a piece of fabric to fit around the hips of the wearer and pockets attached to the fabric, the pockets holding the protective pad. The protective pad may also be used in a chest garment to protect the chest of a wearer.

Abstract: A flexible protective helmet assembly comprising an outer layer of impact resistant segments (11-17) overlying an inner layer of closely abutting impact resistant and energy absorbent structures (18-24) fixedly attached and interconnected by flexible elastic panels (26-32) and including an elliptically annular crown structure (25).

Abstract: A bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including a front vent that is wider than high. Also, a bicycle helmet includes a helmet body having a plurality of vents, including at least one rear exit port opening outward onto a surface that is below the most rearward margin of the helmet body. Preferred helmets include both such a front vent and a pair of such rear exit ports, and preferred helmets include at least one and more preferably two lengthwise interior channels that may conduct air rearwardly within the helmet over the head of the wearer from the front vent or to the rear exit port or ports, or both from the anterior vent and to the rear exit port or ports. Methods for fabricating a helmet according to the invention include forming the helmet body of two separate parts and affixing the two formed parts together.

Abstract: A pair of sports eyeglasses having a substantially hard, rigid frame, a pair of soft, resilient strap connector pads, and a headband assembly coupled to the rigid frame by the soft resilient strap connector pads. The soft connector pads provide cushioning at the junction between the rigid frame and the straps to provide a comfortable fit to the user. The frame front is shortened at its ends for use with helmets used in sporting activities or the like. The headband assembly includes a first elastic strap extending between the soft, resilient connector pads, a second strap coupled at its ends to the first strap and extending over the top of the user's head, and a third strap extending between the first and second straps along a rear portion of the wearer's head.

Abstract: Novel composites are formed from a low rigidity oriented and non-oriented gelatinous elastomer composition of poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) or poly(styrene-ethylene-proplene-styrene) triblock copolymer and high levels of a plasticizing oil. The gelatinous elastomer composition is physically interlocked with an open cell sponge thereby displacing the air space within the sponge and the gel rigidity is found to be greater than about the sum of the combined rigidity of the gelatinous elastomer composition and sponge alone. The gelatinous elastomer composite exhibits a novel combination of properties including unexpectedly high elongation and tensile strength and excellent shape retention after extreme deformation under high-velocity impact and stress conditions. The gelatinous elastomer composites can be made firm or soft and flexible.

Abstract: The helmet includes a shell, made of polystyrene, and a rim, made of polypropylene and integrally connected to the shell. Both the shell and the rim have air ventilation apertures. Chin straps integrally depend from the internal face of the shell. The shell and the rim are interconnected by cross-sectionally L-shape fingers, integral to the rim, and complementary cavities, made in the shell peripheral edge and engaged by the fingers. The rim apertures are obliquely inclined at the lateral sides thereof, to promote air ventilation around the wearer's head. A set of arcuate metallic wires, embedded into the helmet and preferably made of titanium, may also integrally interconnect the shell to the rim.

Abstract: A protective helmet for use by children is provided, with a top portion formed as a hollow dome, containing a plurality of ventilation openings. The top portion includes a stretch panel which extends from the top of the dome to a rim of the top portion. The protective helmet also includes a padded brim which is formed as a band mounted to and encircling an outer circumference of the top portion at the rim, and includes a stretch panel adjacent to the stretch panel of the top portion. The protective helmet further includes a first strap and a second strap mounted to the padded brim that are attachable to and detachable from each other. Each strap has an ear protection portion at the point of attachment to the padded brim that is configured to provide protection to the ears of the child, with a plurality of ventilation openings therein for the passage of air and sound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective head covering to be worn mostly while skiing. In this particular sport many falls and or spills occur which can be quite hurtful to the head of a skier, especially to the back of the head where many injuries are sustained. The head covering consists of an inner head contacting portion having an elastic strap placed thereon which will retain an impact absorbing pad. The pad is made of an open cell material and is shaped in the form of a crescent to thereby extend over the head of a wearer from substantially the forehead to the lower margin of the cranium at the back of the head of a wearer. The impact absorbing pad has a predetermined thickness and also extends width-wise across the head to its sides. The inner head contacting portion and the outer crown portion are made of a unitary piece of a material and they have a mutual margin in the form of a fold at a lower edge of the head covering.

Abstract: An aerodynamically streamlined flexible protective helmet assembly comprising an outer layer of impact resistant segments (61-67) confined within fabric chambers overlying an inner layer of closely abutting impact resistant energy absorbing structures (71-77) confined within elastic fabric chambers and including an elliptically annular crown structure (78) confined within a fabric chamber.

Abstract: Novel gelatinous compositions and articles are fromed from an intimate melt blend admixture of poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer and high levels of a plasticizing oil.The gelatinous composition is transparent and have a novel combination of properties including unexpectedly high elongation and tensile strength and excellent shape retention after extreme deformation under high-velocity impact and stress conditions. The gelatinous products of this invention are soft, flexible, and have elastic memory, characterized by a gel rigidity of from about 20 gram to about 700 gram Bloom. These and other properties are particularly essential for the gelatinous composition to have utility as toys, therapeutic hand exercising grips, shock absorbers, acoustical isolators, components for cushions, and other uses.

Abstract: A football helmet and shoulder pad combination are designed to prevent head and neck injuries. An outer helmet is connected to a neck assembly which permits but limits head turning mobility as well as up-down and left and right head tilt. The neck mechanism which is mounted about the neck comprises substantially circular inner and -outer spherical guides and a concentric movable inner element therebetween with an upwardly extending member on each side of the neck. The guides contain stops to limit the motion permitted by the helmet and the lower portion of the mechanism is mounted on the shoulder pads to distribute the load during impact. The helmet portion with a resilient coupling joining the portions. The upwardly extending members on the inner element are mounted to respective sides of the outer helmet. The helmet may also be retrofitted to existing equipment.