Abstract:
A goggle retention system which also acts as a sport protective headgear. The headgear takes the form of a main section which is to be placed on the occiput of a head from which extends a parietal section which is to be placed against the parietal of a head, Also, integrally connected to the main section is a right side section which is to be placed against the right side of a head and a left side section which is to be located against the left side of a head. The entire headgear is designed to retain goggles and be shock absorbing in order to protect the head of the wearer from shock that might occur during an athlete having a falling accident.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention relates generally to goggle retention and protective headgear for athletics and more particularly relates to a sport protective headgear that is designed primarily to be used by snowboarders and skiers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Participants in many sports use protective headgear. Football players have long worn helmets to protect themselves from blows to the head. Hockey players also wear helmets for the same reason. Bicyclists are now wearing helmets. 
     A relatively new sport is snowboarding which is performed on the “slopes” along with skiers. Snowboarders and skiers are especially susceptible to accidents. For the most part, these accidents involve falling. The United States Consumer Products Commission has concluded that helmet use by skiers and snowboarders could prevent or reduce the severity of forty-four percent of head injuries to adults and fifty-three percent of head injuries to children. The using of head protection by snowboarders and skiers could prevent several deaths each year. In at least one country, a national study found that head injuries amongst skiers wearing helmets were fifty percent lower than for skiers not wearing helmets. 
     In the past few years, more and more snowboarders and skiers are starting to wear helmets. The increase of helmet usage is great news. However, there are still a substantial number of people who refuse to wear helmets. Some snowboarders and skiers feel that helmets are big, heavy, bulky and ridiculous looking. A terminology “mushroom heads” is being applied to a user of a helmet. Also, the added weight of the helmet throws off the rider&#39;s center of gravity. Helmets are hot and sweaty. Many times, a skier or snowboarder can&#39;t even use goggles with a helmet because of the heat that is generated by the helmet which causes fogging up of the goggles. Many times, it is impractical to use a helmet with goggles because it is difficult to get the goggles to fit in conjunction with the helmet. There is a need to construct a light weight but yet very protective form of headgear that can be used by a skier and snowboarder that looks attractive and can be purchased at a reasonable cost. 
     The primary areas of head injury in conjunction with skiers and snowboarders are the back of a head and the sides of a head. Therefore, it is the intention of the protective headgear of the present invention to provide for protection to exactly these areas of the head. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Sport protective headgear which utilizes a main section to be placed on the occiput of a head with the main section formed of a hard rigid shell mounted on a shock absorbing layer to be placed directly against the occiput. A parietal section is integrally connected to the hard rigid shell of the main section. The parietal section is elongated and designed to be placed against the parietal of the head. The protective headgear also includes a right side section and a left side section with the right side section to be located against the right side of the head and the left side section to be located against the left side of the head. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the main section including ventilation holes to provide for the escape of heat. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the shock absorbing layer of the main section to be removable for purposes of cleaning and replacement. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the shock absorbing layer of the main section including at least one gel pack for increased shock absorbing capability. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the parietal section including an elongated slot which forms the parietal section into a bifurcated configuration defining a pair of spaced apart legs. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the both the right side section and the left side section being integral to the shock absorbing layer of the main section. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the right side section and the left side section each including at least one shock absorbing gel pad. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the right side section being a mirror image of the left side section. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the attaching of a resilient shock absorbing plate on the exterior surface of the hard rigid shell of the main section. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by there being included an additional layer of shock absorbing material located between the shock absorbing plate and the hard rigid shell. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the shock absorbing plate being disengageable relative to the hard rigid shell of the main section in order to permit the insertion of a goggle strap located between the plate and the additional layer of shock absorbing material. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by a pair of goggles being connectable between the right side section and the left side section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention showing such installed on a user&#39;s hea; 
     FIG. 2 is a back view of the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the first embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention showing such installed on the head of a user and with a conventional goggles being also mounted on the head of the user and connected to the headgear; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view similar to FIG. 7 but showing only the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention void of the goggles; 
     FIG. 9 is a right side/rear direction isometric view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of sport protective headgear of the present invention taken along line  14 — 14  of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings, there is shown the first embodiment  20  of sport protective headgear of the present invention. Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the sport protective headgear  20  is shown mounted on the head  22  of a human. The first embodiment  20  includes goggles  24 . The goggles  24  are to be placed over the eyes of the human. Soft pad  26  of the goggles  24  is to abut directly against the face of the human  22  about the eyes. The goggles  26  includes a double pane see-through lens  28 . 
     Mounted on the right side of the goggles  24  is a buckle bar  30 . A similar buckle bar  32  is mounted on the left side of the goggles  24 . Both the buckle bars  30  and  32  have an elongated slot, such as elongated slot  34  shown in buckle bar  32 . A strap  36  is conducted through the elongated slot  34 . A similar strap  38  is conducted through the elongated slot  34  (not shown) of the buckle bar  30 . The inner end of the strap  30  is sewn on itself forming a loop. The inner end of the strap  38  is also sewn upon itself also forming a loop. The outer end of the strap  36  is conducted through slot opening  40  formed within left side extension  42  of a rigid base frame  44 . In a similar manner, the free outer end of the strap  38  is conducted through a slot opening  46  formed within the right side extension  48  of the base frame  44 . The outer free end of the strap  36  is connected to a buckle frame  50 . The buckle frame  50  permits adjustment of the length of the strap  36  so as to tighten or loosen the goggles  24  on the head  22  of the human. Similarly, the outer free end of the strap  38  is connected to a buckle frame  52  to again provide adjustment of the goggles  24 . 
     The left side extension  42  and the right side extension  48  are joined at the back of the base frame  44 . Extending from the back of the base frame in an upward direction is a rigid parietal extension  54 . Parietal extension  54  has an inner surface upon which is mounted oval-shaped resilient pads  56  and  58  and a portion of an inner liner  60  which is pretty much mounted across almost the entire surface of the base frame  44 . Fixedly mounted on the inner surface base frame  44  and directly adjacent the inner liner  60  are a pair of resilient pads  62  and  64 . There may also be mounted gel pads in conjunction with the back cover  72 , left side extension  42  and right side extension  48 . A gel pad is to be mounted interiorly of the left side cover  66 , right side cover  67  and back cover  72 . The purpose of the gel pads is to absorb shock upon the first embodiment  20  encountering a hard structure, such as the ground when falling. Directly adjacent the left side cover  66  is a ventilation opening  68 . Mounted across opening  68  would normally be some form of a netting  70 . There will be a similar ventilation opening and netting formed within the right side extension  48 , which is not shown. 
     Mounted across the back of the first embodiment  20  is the back cover  72 . The back cover  72  will extend up across the exterior surface of the parietal extension  54 . The back cover  72  includes an elongated ventilation opening  74  which again will normally be closed by a netting  76 . It is to be understood that the netting  76 , as well as netting  70 , will easily permit the passage of air therethrough for purposes of ventilation. The ventilation openings that are provided with the first embodiment  20  are to help keep the head  22  of the wearer cool. It is to be noted that the inner liner  60  will extend and pretty much cover the inside surface of the left side extension  42  and the right side extension  48 . It is also to be understood that the inner liner  60  will be adhesively secured to the back area, the inside surface of the parietal extension  54 , the inside surface of the left side extension  42  and the inside surface of the right side extension  48 . 
     The back cover  72  has a left side ventilation opening  78  and a right side ventilation opening  80 . The left side ventilation opening  78  includes a section of netting  82 . A similar section of netting  84  covers the right side ventilation opening  80 . The parietal extension  54 , the left side extension  42  and the right side extension  48  as well as the back portion will normally be constructed of a shock absorbing material. A slightly deflectable foam, rubber or plastic material will be preferred. The back cover  72  will be adhesively mounted on the exterior surface of the structure that makes up the left side extension  42 , the right side extension  48  and parietal extension  54 . The back cover  72  will normally be constructed of a hard plastic material. In between the inner surface of the back cover  72  and the back of the first embodiment  20  is a shock absorbing pad  86 . Pad  86  normally will be constructed of a layer of fabric or rubber material. Pad  86  is to extend to be in alignment with neck edge  88 . 
     The back of the first embodiment  20  that is connected to the left side extension  42 , the right side extension  48  and the parietal section  54  also includes left side neck extension  90  and right side neck extension  92 . The neck extensions  90  and  92  will be located directly adjacent the neck of the wearer and function to retain the headgear in place. The left side neck extension  90  includes a ventilation opening  94 . Similarly, the right side neck extension  92  includes a ventilation opening  96 . The openings  94  and  96  are basically mirror images of each other and about the same size. The same is also true regarding openings  78  and  80  which are also mirror images and are about the same size. Included within opening  94  is netting  98 . A similar netting  100  is included within the opening  96 . 
     The common areas of a user&#39;s head that typically encounters a striking force are the back of the head  22  and the right and left sides of the head  22 . By the first embodiment  20  of this invention, the back cover  72  combined with the pad  86  and the main supporting structure on which it is mounted provides protection to the back of the head  22 . The right side of the head is provided protection by left side cover  66  and right side cover  67 . The parietal, or top of the head, is provided protection by the parietal extension  54 . 
     The inner layer  60  includes a series of specially configured cutouts  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108 . These cutouts are mainly for purposes of ventilation and also to provide a high tech attractive appearance. 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 7-14 of the drawings, there is shown the second embodiment  110  of sport protective headgear of this invention which is shown mounted on head  112  of a user. The second embodiment  110  is formed of a main frame member  114  which again will be constructed of a somewhat resilient shock absorbing material, usually rubber or plastic. The main frame member  114  includes a parietal extension  116 , a right side extension  118 , a left side extension  120 , a right side neck extension  122  and a left side neck extension  124 . The inner surface of the main frame member  114  has fixedly mounted thereon a series of resilient pads  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  133  and inner liner  134 . The inner liner  134  extends to cover substantially most of the parietal extension  116 , the right side extension  118 , and the left side extension  120  as well as a portion of the right side neck extension  122  and the left side neck extension  124 . It is to be understood that the adhesive liner  134  as well as resilient pads (possibly constructed of neoprene)  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  133  and inner liner  134  are adhesively secured to the main frame member  114 . It is also to be noted that the inner liner  134  is actually composed of two separate inner liner members which include a central cut-out area  136 . 
     The right side neck extension  122  includes a ventilation opening  138  which is covered by a netting  140 . The left side neck extension  124  includes a ventilation opening  142  which is covered by a netting  144 . Mounted on the exterior surface of the main frame member  114  is a fabric liner  146 . Mounted about the back section of the main frame member  114  and against the fabric liner  146  is a shock absorbing pad  148  (about 0.046 inches thick). The pad  148  is helped to be retained in place by a pair of attaching straps  150  which is mounted over the peripheral edge of the main frame member  114 . One of the attaching straps  150  will be on one side of the parietal extension  116  and the other strap  150  is located on the opposite side of the parietal extension  116 . The inner liner  134  is to include a series of cut-outs  152 ,  154 ,  156  and  158  with these cut-outs being intended to increase flow of air for ventilation purposes. 
     The lower edge of the pad  148  is wrapped around the lower edge of the main frame member  114  and connects with the resilient pad  132 . Mounted on the exterior surface of the pad  148  is a gel pad  149 . Outside of gel pad  149  is a rigid plastic shell  160 . The rigid plastic shell  160  is to be fixedly secured to the main frame member  114 . However, the shell  160  does provide a slight amount of flexibility relative to the main frame member  114  so that upon the shell  160  encountering a shocking force that the shell  160  will function to distribute that force across its entire area for that force to then be absorbed by the gel pad  149 , shock absorbing pad  148 , fabric liner  146  and main frame member  114 . Mounted on the exterior surface of the shell  160  are grips  162  and  164 . The grips  162  and  164  comprise protrusions which help to retain in place a goggle strap  166  which is connected to goggles  168  which will normally be worn in conjunction with the second embodiment  110  of this invention. The goggle strap  166  is also retained in place by a back plate  170  which is hingedly mounted by hinge  172  to the shell  160 . The back plate  170  is only capable of a limited amount of the hinging movement in order to permit the goggle strap  166  to be inserted between the back plate  170  and the shell  160 . When the goggle strap  166  is so inserted, securement straps  174  which are fixedly secured to the shell  160  are then to be fastened to the back plate  170 . 
     The parietal extension  116  has a pair of legs  176  and  177  mounted thereon. The parietal section  176  is integral with the shell  160 . The parietal section  176  has an elongated center slot  178 . The center slot  178  will normally be covered by a netting  180 . Legs  176  and  177  are secured by adhesive pads  179  to parietal extension  116 . Shell  160  is fixed by adhesive pads  161  to fabric liner  146 . 
     The right side extension  118  has mounted thereon an ear plate  182 . A similar ear plate  184  is mounted on the left side extension  120 . The ear plate  182  has hingedly mounted thereon, by means of hinge strap  186 , a right side shock plate  188 . The shock plate  188  is capable of pivotable movement at least ninety degrees or more relative to the ear plate  182 . When in juxtaposition with the ear plate  182 , there is utilized a disengageable fastener assembly  190  which retains the shock plate  188  in position relative to the ear plate  182 . Similarly, hingedly mounted on the ear plate  184  a hinge strap  192  is a shock plate  194 . The shock plate  194  is again pivotable by the hinge strap  192  to a position similar to how the shock plate  188  is pivotable. A fastener  196  is to be disengageably connected but is to function to secure the shock plate  194  to the ear plate  184  when the shock plate  192  is in juxtaposition with the ear plate  184 . The shock plates  188  and  194  are to be pivoted outwardly away from their respective ear plates  188  and  184  in order to install in position the goggle strap  166 . When the goggle strap  166  is located between the shock plate  188  and the ear plate  182  and the shock plate  194  and the ear plate  184 , the shock plates  188  and  194  are reinstalled in position reengaging their respective fasteners  190  and  196 . 
     It is the function of the shock plates  188  and  194  to absorb and distribute shock if impacted by a force to protect the sides of the head  112  of the wearer. In fact, the plates  188 ,  194  and  170  are located in areas where it is common that shock is encountered by the head  112  in order to distribute any shock and hopefully minimize any injury to the head  112 . There may be included gel pads (not shown) in conjunction with the ear plates  184  and  188  (interiorly thereof). 
     The headgear of this invention may include electronics such as telecommunication equipment, storage devices and music listening devices.