Abstract: An article of headwear (10) includes a solid transparent fully carbonate block (18). The block lies on top of the wearer's head and defines a non-straight light path to the wearer's eyes. The block does not obscure the majority of the normal field of vision for the wearer but can be seen when the wearer looks upwards. The upper surfaces 24 of the block allow internal reflection of light through the block and the rear end of the block is open and faces backwards so that by looking upwardly into the block a wearer can obtain a view of what is behind him. The article of headwear may be a motorcycle helmet for example. In another embodiment of the invention a display screen is located at the rear of the block so that it can be seen through the block when the wearer looks upwardly into the block.

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: 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 chin strap assembly incorporating a semi-rigid, flexible support member formed of plastic or other resilient material and having upwardly extending end portions which bear upwardly against first and second sides of the wearer's jawbone, and a downwardly arched center portion which relieves the soft-tissue, hypoglossal area of the throat from upward pressure generated by tension on the helmet strap thereby rendering it easier for the wearer to breath under exertion. A fabric wrap fits over the strap and support members to hold the latter in place at the desired location, and the wrap also provides cushioning for the wearer's jaw.

Abstract: A drag reduction arrangement for the body of an athlete moving through a fluid medium, comprises a device attachable to the athlete's body for delaying the onset of boundary layer separation at a trailing surface thereof. The device preferably comprises an array of vortex generators. As a result, form drag is reduced by an amount which is substantially greater than any increase in skin friction due to the presence of the vortices.

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 helmet having an inexpensive polymeric protective layer for preventing or minimizing gouges, scuff marks, flares and the like to the exterior surface of the helmet is provided. The protective layer may be a post-production item which may be readily removable and replaceable by an unskilled user. The helmet is preferably used during a sporting event, such as football, since the protective layer is effective during practice, scrimmage or official games to protect the helmet's exterior surface at all times.

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: An equestrian show helmet includes an impact resistant outer helmet shell formed to cover a wearer's head. The helmet shell has an upper dome-shaped portion and a lower rim extending from a forward portion of the dome, thence rearwardly to a pair of lateral side portions of the dome, and thence further rearwardly and downwardly to a rear portion of the dome wherein the rim is at its lowest point. A brim extends forwardly from the lower rim at the forward portion of the dome. A protective inner helmet liner is mounted within the dome portion of the helmet shell. The helmet liner has an upper dome-shaped portion that nests within the helmet shell, and a lower rim located substantially proximal to and extending substantially parallel with the helmet shell lower rim. A first vent aperture is formed in the helmet shell at a central top portion of the helmet shell dome. A second vent aperture is formed in the helmet liner at a central top portion thereof which is adjacent to the first vent aperture.

Abstract: A brain and spinal cord protector is provided to protect the brain and spinal cord of a user against a fall. The protector comprises a jacket which is worn about the user's torso, a head shield shaped to cover the user's head, a support extending from the jacket to the head shield to position the head shield above the jacket so that the inner surface of the head shield is spaced from the user's head. This will allow the user to have full and free movement of his head relative to the head shield when wearing the head shield, and will prevent forces which impact the head shield from impacting the head, and will prevent compression and bending injuries to the neck, the forces of such impacts being transferred to the vest through the support.

Abstract: An improved helmet constructed with a rigid shell having a soft outer covering which absorbs impacts and disperses energy thereby protecting the wearer of the helmet, as well as protecting the impacting object. When used for contact sports such as football, this covering is effective in preventing injuries resulting when the helmet is used as a striking object. The covering may be applied in segmented pieces or as a continuous layer around the shell which forms a solid frame-like structure. A face mask can also be covered with soft, durable covering and be mounted in such a manner to allow the covering to act as a shock absorber against sliding of the mask due to external forces.

Abstract: A football helmet sizing card is described which permits convenient, rapid and efficient sizing and adjustment of football helmets on a football player's head. The card includes indicia which may be used to quickly and efficiently measure spacing of the football helmet from the player's eyebrows to the front rim of the helmet. The card is also sized in width so as to correspond to the manufacturer's recommended spacing distance from the nose to the face mask of the helmet. In this way, the card can be used quickly and efficiently over the course of the season to test for helmet sizing and adjustment, and this is particularly useful with helmets which have adjustable air bladder inflation systems so that appropriate inflation of the bladders can be made during the course of the season as atmospheric conditions warrant.

Abstract: A sport cap includes a body, eyelets respectively in a front and a rear portion, an eyelet in the top, drop-shaped air holes around the top eyelet, a protector respectively extending down from a right and a left side of the body, an opening formed just behind each protector, and a protective peripheral edge formed along a peripheral lower side of the body.

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 head worn sound gathering apparatus having a pair of sound gathering horns with rearward facing apertures. Each sound gathering horn includes a tapered sound channeling tube portion which communicates with an ear covering. Sound received through the rearward facing apertures is amplified and directed to the ear coverings wherein the sounds reach the ears of a wearer. The sound gathering horns and ear covers are preferably worn in association with a helmet such as a cyclist helmet.

Abstract: An adjustable baseball batter's and catcher's helmet automatically adjusts and grips wearer's heads of differing sizes. The helmet has a rigid shell with shock absorbing foam pads secured to the interior of the shell. An elastic band or strap extends horizontally within the helmet and has a mid-portion secured to the back of the helmet. Arms of the elastic strap diverge forwardly and end in attachments under the front portions of the side pads of the helmet. The V-shaped elastic band snugly cradles and forwardly biases the helmet on the wearer's head and tends to space the helmet from the wearer's head at the sides and rear areas. The catcher's helmet is known as a half-hat, and in combination with a catcher's mask, provides the same function as the batter's helmet. The helmet is believed particularly useful in youth baseball leagues which have limited budgets and time to individually fit helmets to players' heads.

Abstract: A head-worn acoustic receiver apparatus for use by cyclists and the like wherein an acoustic receiver cup is coupled to a cyclist helmet in a rearward facing direction. A microphone within the acoustic receiver cup receives sound reflected by the cup and directs the sound to earphones wherein the sound is reproduced and amplified for the wearer of the invention. Ear housings, which contain the earphones, are positioned over the wearer's ears to reduce the ambient wind noise associated with cycle travel.

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 protective wrestling headgear is provided having a pair of ear guards. Each ear guard has a generally disk-like core having a peripheral edge portion, an interior surface and an exterior surface. Preferably, a pattern of a plurality vent openings is provided in the core and connect the interior and exterior surfaces. A layer of gel cushioning material, preferably silicon gel cushioning material covers the interior surface of the peripheral edge. Preferably, a one-piece removable ear guard covering of a flexible material covers each ear guard. The covering has a core portion of a continuous web that covers the exterior surface of the core, leaving the pattern of vent openings exposed. The covering also includes a peripheral edge portion that covers the exterior surface of the peripheral edge and the layer of gel cushioning material. The flexible covering surrounding the peripheral edge has a tacky exterior surface to grip the area surrounding the wrestlers ear.

Abstract: Protective headgear with adjustable strap system and chin guard includes a first strap secured at its opposite ends to opposite sides of the headgear and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom to beneath the jaw of a person wearing the headgear, and a second strap secured at its opposite ends to opposite rear portions of the headgear and adapted to extend forwardly to and in front of the chin of a person wearing the headgear. The first and second straps are connected with first and second coupling members, respectively, at opposite sides of the strap system, connecting the first and second straps together where they intersect. The coupling members are fixed relative to the first strap and are slidable along the second strap, and one of the coupling members includes a quick-disconnect fitting to enable the first strap to be disconnected between its ends to enable the helmet to be quickly and easily applied to and removed from the head of a person using the headgear.

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 helmet suitable for safe use by a person having long hair is disclosed. The helmet includes an outer dome-shaped shell of impact-resistant material configured to fit on the head of a wearer. A liner affixed to the inside of the shell snugly positions the helmet on the head and dissipates impact forces received by the outer shell. A hair-entraining passage formed in the rear portion of the helmet is sized to enable the wearer's hair to be gathered and controllably guided thereby. The passage may be defined by a bulge in the helmet shell or by an aperture formed therethrough. The aperture is sized small enough to prevent harmful impact penetration of an object such as a ball, hockey puck or the like with the wearer's head.

Abstract: A bicycle helmet is disclosed having a flexible, articulated member depending from the rear of the helmet, providing a closer fit to an individual wearer's head and improving stability of the helmet on the head, particularly for mountain bike riding. The articulated member contacts the wearer's head beneath the occipital region and applies a forward and upward pressure against the head. The general embodiment of the invention includes an elastic strap stretching from one side of the helmet, across the back of the articulated member, to the opposite side of the helmet. Adjusting this strap allows the wearer to adjust the forward and upward pressure exerted by the articulated member on the wearer's head.

Abstract: A helmet shell, particularly a face mask for ice-hockey goal tenders, has an impact-absorbing padding adapted to the individual shape of the wearer's head. A padding blank is first cut from a sheet of thermoplastic material of suitable hardness and the blank is heated to a temperature at which it softens so as to become easily shaped. The blank is then placed in the helmet shell and the shell is placed on the head of the intended wearer and pressed down against the head with a force sufficient for the blank to be brought to the shape of the head and of the helmet shell. This force is maintained until the blank cools to a temperature at which the material retains its shape, whereafter the padding is affixed to the helmet shell with the aid of fasteners applied to the helmet shell and/or the padding.

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: The present invention is directed to helmet, and, more particularly, a device for adjusting the occipital fixing of a cyclist helmet. A shell fits the skull of the cyclist. Straps integral with side walls of the shell are linked on each side at a single point with a clip. A housing in the shell receives an plate of an occipital support block, articulated with respect to the helmet, which connect through a spindle. At least one occipital strap in the support block assists in lateral adjustment of the support block.

Abstract: An interface apparatus for adapting separate bicycle accessories such as a visor, a chin protector or both to standard bicycle helmets. The interface apparatus comprises rear locking fasteners so that the interface apparatus can be locked in position surrounding: the perimeter of the standard bicycle helmet and before it is attached thereto.

Abstract: A signalling device is installed in headwear, such as an athletic helmet, and includes sensing devices for detecting linearly and rotationally directed impacts above a selected magnitude. The sensing devices trigger the signalling device so as to produce a perceivable signal, thereby alerting observers that a potentially injurious impact has occurred.

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: 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: A head impact force diversion system utilizes an apertured helmet, a rigid transfer arm, and a vest. The helmet, possessing an opening associated with an elevation which may be pivotable upon the helmet or integral with its surface, and vest are worn in a conventional manner. The rigid transfer arm is mounted and affixed to the vest and extends upward from the mounting, arches near and enters the aperture of the helmet, and terminates underneath the elevation. This system permits the usual range of motion of the head and neck during various activities and protects the head and neck when the helmet receives an impact force.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protective helmet for a cyclist having a conventional shock-absorbing shell and a fastening strap. The rear part of the fastening strap is threaded through an abutment plate which is slightly concave and destined to bear on the occipital bone of the head of the cyclist. The front part of the fastening strap is attached to the front part of the helmet. The abutment plate is attached to a loop band which hangs from the rear part of the helmet. When the cyclist puts the helmet on and fastens the fastening band, the abutment plate bears on his occipital bone to prevent the helmet from tilting frontwardly in the sagittal plane.

Abstract: A protective apparatus has a helmet and shoulder pads. The helmet is coupled to the shoulder pads by a rear support and lateral supports. The rear support is coupled to the shoulder pads by a ball and socket joint. The lateral supports have rollers which are received by channels formed in the shoulder pads. Impacts to the helmet are transmitted to the shoulder pads by the supports. The helmet can move from side-to-side with respect to the shoulder pads by the lateral support rollers traversing the channels, and up and down by the rear support ball and socket joint. Inside of the helmet is a crown that has inner and outer bands. The outer band is pivotally coupled to the helmet so as to allow the head to move up and down within the helmet. The inner band is located within the outer band and rotates within the outer band so as to allow the head to move from side-to-side within the helmet.

Abstract: The helmet of the present invention comprises an air deflector or boundary layer control device disposed over the top and sides of the helmet's outer shell. In the preferred embodiment the air deflector is a wicker formed of a strip of rubber or a similar material, which is disposed along the top and sides of the outer shell of the helmet. The helmet of the present invention also comprises a spoiler disposed along the bottom of the front and sides of the helmet's outer shell. The wicker and spoiler interact with the air flowing by the helmet at high speeds to reduce the effects of lift, thrust, pitch and buffeting on the helmet.

Abstract: An adjustable baseball batter's helmet automatically adjusts and grips wearer's heads of differing sizes. The helmet has a rigid shell with shock absorbing foam pads secured to the interior of the shell. An elastic band or strap extends horizontally within the helmet and has a mid-portion secured to the back of the helmet. Arms of the elastic strap diverge forwardly and end in attachments under the front portions of the side pads of the helmet. The V-shaped elastic band snugly cradles and forwardly biases the helmet on the wearer's head and tends to space the helmet from the wearer's head at the sides and rear areas. The helmet is believed particularly useful in youth baseball leagues which have limited budgets and time to individually fit helmets to players' heads.

Abstract: Scoring equipment particularly adaptable to a sword combat sport, includes a limb target and a helmet. The limb target has a base configured to be worn by a user at a location near a joint of the user's limb. A lever is pivotally mounted on the base and extends to a lever terminal end. The lever terminal end is fastened to the user on a side of the user's joint opposite the base. A locking mechanism is connected between the base and the lever. The locking mechanism has a set condition in which articulation of the user's joint is unencumbered by the scoring equipment. The locking mechanism also has a tripped condition in which the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the lever relative to the base and thereby restricts the articulation of the user's joint. The locking mechanism is responsive to a force applied to the locking mechanism to place the locking mechanism in the tripped condition from the set condition.

Abstract: A head impact force diversion system utilizes an apertured helmet, a rigid transfer arm, and a vest. The helmet, possessing an opening associated with a second shell which may be removably attached to the helmet or integral with its surface, and vest are worn in a conventional manner. The rigid transfer arm is mounted and affixed to the vest and extends upward from the mounting, the aperture of the helmet created by the two layers, and terminates underneath the outer shell above the wearers head. This system permits the usual range of motion of the heard and neck during various activities and protects the head and neck when the helmet receives an impact force.

Abstract: A helmet removal device for removing a helmet from a head of a wearer without applying tensile forces on the neck of the wearer. The removal device includes a bladder disposed between the helmet and the top of the head with the bladder so constructed and arranged that upon inflation from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the bladder at least partially displaces the head from within the helmet. The removal device may also include an inserting tool for inserting the bladder between the helmet and head while the helmet is being worn.

Abstract: A helmet that prevents catastrophic neck injuries; in the preferred embodiment, for hockey, a high-impact plastic casing is snugged on top of the player's head by cantilever supports from the inside sides of the casing; a flange at the bottom of the casing is formed so that a collision such as a head-on collision on top of the head will drive the helmet into contact with the torso, thus transmitting all collision force to the torso. The top of the helmet is high enough that the top of the head does not contact the underside of the top of the helmet under the peak collision force. Further, in the most dangerous high-incident-angle collisions, a tip projecting rearwards from the top of the helmet, in conjunction with rollers on the top surface, act to position the helmet for symmetrical transmission of force axially.

Abstract: An ornamental device is mounted on a vehicle for displaying a fan's sports team preference. A first embodiment includes a molded cap replica of a sports team official cap. A first means for attaching the cap to the vehicle comprises a magnet. A second means for attaching the molded cap to the vehicle is through use of a cord. The cord and magnet may also both be used. The cord is connected to one end of the outer diameter of the molded cap, and subsequently is stretched across the top of the roof, through the interior of the car, then secured to the opposite side of the molded cap. Sports fans can appreciate the simple device which is, easily seen by others, and yet quickly and easily removable. In a second embodiment, a fabric cap is placed over a molded cap and secured to the molded cap.

Abstract: A thermoplastic article formed of a composition for customizable moulding parts of devices such as hand grips or sports equipment or orthopaedic equipment comprises a composition which is set below 37.degree. C. and is conformably mouldable between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C. The article can be moulded, used, and re-moulded and re-used, repeatedly. Such a composition may be an acrylate polymer, possibly a methacrylate polymer. The acrylate polymer may soften or become liquid in the range of 50.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. and may be mixed with another such polymer which is set at that temperature range so that a pasty mouldable mass is formed, for example by warming in warm water. The invention includes a method of forming the composition.

Abstract: A neck and cervical spine protector device for the dispersement of axial compressive forces on the head away from the neck and cervical spine region to the posterior midline portions of the shoulders and upper thoracic region of the user includes a U-shaped upper structure for fitting about the back and opposite sides of the neck of the user and resting upon the posterior midline portions of the shoulders of the user adjacent to the opposite sides of the neck, a top surface defined on the U-shaped upper structure for seating thereon a head protector worn by the user, and a lower structure, connected to and extending downwardly from a lower portion of the U-shaped upper structure, to overlie the upper thoracic region on opposite sides of the spinal column for dispersing axial compressive forces applied on the head away from the neck and spine directly to a greater area on the shoulders and upper thoracic region of the user's body or indirectly thereto in conjunction with shoulder protectors worn by the user.

Abstract: A helmet assembly for providing an indication when a predetermined axial compressive force tending to cause serious injury to the wearer is applied thereto. The assembly comprises a rigid helmet having a lower rim for at least partially encircling the head of the wearer. The helmet is defined by an exterior surface including a crown areal. A transmitting device is carried by the helmet for transmitting a signal to a remote location when a predetermined amount of axial compressive force is applied to the crown area. Receiving means disposed remotely from the helmet receives the signal transmitted by the transmitting device.

Abstract: A sports helmet transparent guard assembly adapted for use in association with a sports helmet having opposing side regions with C-shaped recesses positioned therein, the apparatus comprising: a transparent guard device fabricated of transparent materials, the guard device including a support bar formed in a generally semicircular configuration with two ends, coupling devices being positioned along the support bar, a side flap being formed in an arcuate generally circular configuration, each side flap having a linear upper end coupled to an end of the support bar, each side flap adapted to be positioned in the C-shaped recesses of the helmet in an operative orientation, the support bar being coupled to the upper cross bar of the face mask to secure the guard device in place, the transparent face guard providing users with increased peripheral visibility to avoid injuries while participating in contact sports.

Abstract: An improved cooling apparatus for a protective helmet is disclosed. The cooling apparatus employs hook and loop fastener strips to secure the bladder to the helmet padding. The bladder is filled with a breakable pouch of encapsulated ammonium salt surrounded by water. An annular chamber in the bladder allows free communication of the cooling medium within the chamber to allow for differnet heat loads at different areas of the bladder.

Abstract: A signalling device is installed in headwear such as an athletic helmet and includes triaxially sensitive sensors for detecting impacts above a selected magnitude and for providing a signal characteristic of the magnitude and direction of an impact.

Abstract: A protective facial mask system having an outer, high impact, rigid layer (of, e.g., polycarbonate) and an inner, flexible, relatively soft layer of energy absorption and dissipating material (e.g. an unaerated viscoelastic polymer). The inner, soft layer preferably has variable or different thicknesses of material (e.g., going from about an eighth of an inch minimum to about a quarter inch maximum thickness), affording greater protection to facial areas where the underlying bone structure is weaker (e.g., the nasal region), which is where in the invention the inner layer is thickest, and thinner where the bone structure is stronger (e.g. over the flanking, supra-orbital/glabella regions). The inner soft layer thereby best absorbs, redirects and dissipates the energy from impact forces to the face, protecting the facial skeleton from, for example, fracturing. The mask, in all three of its embodiments (FIGS. 1 & 2, FIGS. 3 & 4, and FIGS.

Abstract: A protective helmet suitable for safe use by a person having long hair is disclosed. The helmet includes an outer dome-shaped shell of impact-resistant material configured to fit on the head of a wearer. A liner affixed to the inside of the shell snugly positions the helmet on the head and dissipates impact forces received by the outer shell. An aperture formed through the rear portion of the helmet is sized to enable the wearer's hair to be gathered and entrained therethrough, but is sized small enough to prevent harmful impact penetration of an object such as a ball, hockey puck or the like with the wearer's head.

Abstract: A decorated helmet is formed by applying a decoration to a side of a plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is heated and applied to a helmet shell with the decoration between the plastic sheet and the helmet shell. A vacuum is applied to the heated plastic sheet to stretch the plastic sheet and mold the plastic sheet directly about the helmet shell with the decorations sandwiched between the plastic sheet and the helmet shell.

Abstract: A baseball type cap for over a conventional sports helmet (e.g., for bicyclists). An elastic band is sewn or otherwise affixed to the bottom edge of the cap. The band fits against the bottom edge of the helmet to hold the cap in place. When the cap is removed from the helmet, it can be worn on the head. For such use the band is folded inward to a position parallel to the lower edge of the cap. The elastic band fits tight against the head. Thus, although the cap is necessarily larger than the head, the elastic holds it in place.