Abstract:
A sports helmet includes a soft casing having a plurality of holes to allow for proper aeration, and a rear orifice to allow for hair pieces, such as pony tails, to extend from a wearer&#39;s head therethrough so as not to interfere with the operation of the helmet or distract the wearer from play. The helmet also contains a front edge which is particularly shaped to conform to the top edge of protective eyewear to eliminate any unprotected gap between the helmet and the eyewear.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/402,108, which was filed on Aug. 24, 2010, and is entitled “Sports Helmet”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to protective helmets, in particular, anatomically conforming sports helmets. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Conventionally, protective helmets are used in a wide variety of sports such as football, hockey, skiing, cycling and men&#39;s lacrosse. These helmets, which may vary in design based upon the risk factors of a particular sport and the desired level of protection, offer an effective means for limiting and preventing traumatic head and spinal cord injuries. In many team sports, such as lacrosse, football and hockey, the entire team is required to wear a helmet. One of the deciding factors in determining whether helmets are mandatory or optional for the individual members of a team is the risk that the helmet itself poses to other players. 
         [0006]    For example, lacrosse and hockey involve high speed movements of players, sticks and balls/pucks. Helmets for these sports are constructed of foam cushioning encapsulated by hard rigid plastic shells. The hard shells prevent damage to the internal cushioning from the repetitive impacts of balls, pucks and sticks. Additionally, the hard rigid plastic shells protect the athlete from serious impacts resulting from other athletes&#39; helmets, which also can cause injuries in the form of fractures, cuts and abrasions to an unprotected athlete. 
         [0007]    Consequently, some sports that do not require helmets, such as women&#39;s lacrosse, actually prohibit individual team members from wearing helmets for supplemental protection due to the increased risk of injury to the non-helmet wearing athletes. Hence, either the entire team wears helmets or no one on the team may wear a helmet. 
         [0008]    With respect to the construction of protective helmets, conventional helmets often have a “one size fits all” type design in which straps and lacing may be tightened and loosened to make the helmet conform to the athletes head as closely as possible. However, due to a wide variety of anatomical differences among athletes in general, even the best conventional helmet often shifts and bounces during high activity movements. As a result, some athletes are forced to sacrifice comfort in favor of safety and over-tighten their helmets. Furthermore, athletes with long hair are forced to put it in a “pony tail” like arrangement which creates discomfort on the back of the head where the pony tail protrudes. When the athlete&#39;s hair is placed in this arrangement, the pony tail protrusion may prevent the conventional helmet from properly conforming to the head of the athlete. 
         [0009]    Athletes with vision impairment or who desire eye protection often wear protective eyewear. However, conventional helmet designs are limited in their ability to facilitate the retaining straps coupled to protective eyewear. As with pony tail type hair arrangements, protective eyewear includes a retaining strap that creates a bulge on the sides and back of the athlete&#39;s head. When a conventional helmet is forced over the protective eyewear, comfort and safety are compromised. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a novel protective helmet that comfortably conforms to, and protects, an athlete&#39;s head while providing means for accommodating protrusive hair styles and protective eyewear. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide protective headgear for a sports athlete. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a sports helmet that has a soft casing and a hair extension orifice for use with sports athletes, such as women lacrosse players. 
         [0013]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sports helmet worn by athletes and which is particularly shaped to conform to the shape of goggles also worn by athletes so as to eliminate or minimize any gap between the helmet and the goggles. 
         [0014]    In accordance with one form of the present invention, a sports helmet (which encompasses protective headgear used in many different athletic activities) includes a continuous, molded casing formed from a vinyl-sealed, closed cell, foam-like material. The casing has a top side, a front side, a rear side situated opposite the front side, and two opposite lateral sides. The front and rear sides are integrally joined to the lateral sides, and the top side is integrally joined to the front and rear sides and to the two opposite lateral sides. The top side, front and rear sides and opposite lateral sides together define a cavity to receive the head of a sports player so that the helmet provides protection to the sports player&#39;s head when worn by the sports player. The helmet further includes a pair of ear loops, a respective ear loop of the pair of ear loops being attached to a corresponding lateral side of the casing and extending therefrom. 
         [0015]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a right side elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, with protective goggles situation thereon. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an exploded top left perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention and protective goggles. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a top left perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a rear left perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is another rear left perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a rear left perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, worn by a sports player, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  right side elevational view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention, worn by a sports player, with protective goggles situated thereon. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a partially exploded, bottom right perspective view of the sports helmet formed in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The sports helmet  2  (which includes protective headgear useable in many different athletic activities) formed in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a non-rigid casing  4  having a front  6 , back  8 , top  10  and two oppositely disposed sides  12 ,  14 . The casing  4  is shaped to define a cavity  16  therein to conform to the general anatomy of an athlete&#39;s head. 
         [0030]    A pair of semi-hemispherical chin strap extension ear loops  15  are attached to, and extend downwardly from, each side  12 ,  14  of the casing  4 . The ear loops  15  may be fixedly or detachably joined to an exterior or interior surface of the casing  4  by adhesive, sewing, chemical bonding, using clips or other fasteners, including plastic stud/clips and plastic/nylon washers, or by any other means or method. One end of each loop  15  is situated more forward the front of the helmet than is found on conventional protective helmets. Each chin strap extension loop  15  preferably defines an opening  18  which is positioned over the athlete&#39;s ears so not to limit audible transmissions. The chin strap extension loops  15  are interconnected by an adjustable chin strap  20  that is positioned under the athlete&#39;s chin. The chin strap  20  may be shortened or lengthened by an adjustment clip  22  to secure the sports helmet  2  to the athlete&#39;s head and prevent inadvertent movement of the helmet. Although the adjustment clip  22  is the preferred method for adjusting the chin strap, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to use other similar type methods and devices such as Velcro™, buckles, lacing or snaps. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the chin strap  20  is further comprised by two mating first and second sections  48  and  49 , respectively, and a chin strap securing device  50 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Each of the first and second sections  48 ,  49  has a first and second free end  51 ,  52  which are secured to corresponding ear loops. The chin strap securing device  50  is comprised by attachable and detachable mating first and second portions  53  and  54 , respectively. The first portion  53  of the chin strap securing device  50  is secured to the second free end  52  of the first section  48  of the chin strap. The second portion  54  of the chin strap securing device  50  is secured to the second free end  52  of the second section  49  of the chin strap  20 . 
         [0032]    The non-rigid casing  4  of the sports helmet  2  formed in accordance with the present invention is preferably formed from a vinyl-sealed, closed cell, foam-like material preferably about three-eighths of an inch (⅜″) to about three-quarters of an inch (¾″) in thickness, and even more preferably, about one-half of an inch (½″) in thickness, over at least portions thereof so as to provide shock absorption protection to the athlete&#39;s head as well as offer protection to other athletes from inadvertent collisions between the sports helmet  2  and other unprotected athletes. More specifically, the casing  4  may be uniformly formed of the foam or foam-like material so as to provide protection on an inner surface  24  thereon, the inner surface being in communication with the head of the athlete wearing it, and an opposite outer surface  26 . The rigidity and flexibility of the foam casing may be modified to the specific sport the helmet is to be used for. For example, high impact sports such as lacrosse and hockey may benefit from a relatively more dense foam casing to protect the athlete, while in less active sports such as wrestling or rollerblading, a softer, less rigid casing may be preferred. 
         [0033]    The sports helmet  2  formed in accordance with the present invention may be formed in a variety of different sizes. It is envisioned that four (4) sizes may properly conform to the majority of athletes&#39; heads; however, it is possible to create more sizes to fit uniquely sized persons. The casing  4  may be easily modified to conform to any athlete&#39;s anatomy, even athletes with musculoskeletal abnormalities. 
         [0034]    In a second embodiment of the present invention, the sports helmet  2  may include a plurality of aeration holes  27  formed through the thickness of the casing  4  and situated at one or more of the front  6 , back  8 , top  10  and two oppositely disposed sides  12 ,  14  of the casing  4 . The aeration holes  27  allow the release of heat and perspiration from the athlete as well as provide a path for air to travel and circulate between the athlete and casing  4 . The casing  4  also preferably includes a larger access hole  28  in the back portion  8  thereof. The access hole  28  may accommodate hair arrangements such as a pony tail which may be inserted through the access hole to allow the inner surface  24  of the casing  4  to properly conform with the head of the athlete, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The helmet  4  may also include a plug  41 , adapted to be received by and fill the larger access hole  28 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The plug  41  may be used if an athlete does not require use of the large access hole  28  for a hair piece and would like that part of their head protected. The outer surface of the plug  41  may include one or more Velcro™ fastening strips  43 , which are engagable with one or more mating Velcro™ fastening strips  45  attached to the portion of the helmet defining the access hole  28  to secure the plug  41  within the hole  28 . 
         [0035]    In a third embodiment of the present invention, the sports helmet  2  may further include a contoured, convex front upper edge  30  formed in the outer surface  26  of the front portion  6 . The contoured edge  30  is preferably shaped to conform to the slightly concave, upper edge  47  of standard protective eyewear  31  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , such as sports goggles, for women&#39;s lacrosse. More specifically, the convex front upper edge is defined by opposite side edge portions  53 , and a central edge portion  55  (see  FIG. 7 ) interposed between the opposite side edge portions  53 . The central edge portion  55  extends downwardly to a greater extent than the opposite side edge portions  53 . Conventional protective helmets are cut straight across in the front above the wearer&#39;s eyes, thus leaving an unprotected gap between the front edge of the helmet and the top edge of the protective eyewear, or goggles. With the preferred form of the helmet  2  of the present invention described above, the front edge  30  of the helmet meets the top edge  47  of the goggles, leaving no gap therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the sports helmet  2  may further include a pair of chin strap extension ear loops  33  attached to, and extending downwardly from, slots  37 ,  39  formed in the thickness of the lower edges of the helmet on each side  12 ,  14  of the casing  4 . Each loop  33  comprises a flattened first free end  34 , a flattened second free end  35 , and a body  36  extending therebetween. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the ear or chin strap extension loops  15  are preferably formed as a unitary piece of flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene. In this embodiment, the ear loops or chin strap extension loops  33  are preferably formed from a three-quarter inch (¾″) nylon strap or web whose center portion  36  is folded over transversely or rolled up about itself widthwise and sewn together, leaving a rounded (in transverse cross-section) center portion  36  and two axially opposite flattened first and second free ends  34 ,  35 . 
         [0037]    The flattened first and second free ends  34  and  35  of each loop  33  are received by and attach to first and second slots  37  and  39 , respectively, of the casing  4 , on each side  12 ,  14 . The loops  33  can be attached to the casing  4  by a variety of methods, including using an adhesive or sewing a portion of the first and second ends  34 ,  35  to a surface of the casing or within the slots  37 ,  39 . These chin strap extension loops  33  can be interconnected by an adjustable chin strap  20  that is positioned under the athlete&#39;s chin, such as described previously with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sports helmet  2  may further include a securing device  32  mounted on the outer surface  26  of the casing&#39;s back portion  8  and cooperating with the strap of protective eyewear, or goggles, worn by the athlete. The protective eyewear strap may be stretched across the outer surface  26  of the casing, along the sides  12 ,  14  and the back  8 , and the strap securing device  32  may be used to secure the strap to the helmet, which in turn secures the protective eyewear to the athlete. The strap securing device  32 , as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, may be formed of a variety of materials and structures. Preferably, the strap securing device  32  is formed of Velcro™ hook and loop fastening material which is adhesively secured to the outer surface  26  of the casing  4  and which attaches to a mating Velcro™ hook and loop fastener (not shown) mounted on the strap of the protective eyewear to secure removably the protective eyewear strap to the helmet  2 . Although the preferred means of securing the eyewear strap to the helmet is a Velcro™ fastener, the strap securing device  32  may also take other forms, such as snaps, clips, buckles or lacing. 
         [0039]    Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.