Abstract:
A protective hat comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable shock absorbing members positioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer of the hat, wherein each shock absorbing member is shaped to create a cavity between the shock absorbing member and the skull to allow for inward deflection of the shock absorbing member towards the skull as a result of the shock absorbing member being impacted by an object.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to protective headwear. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Hats such as baseball caps are well known and are worn by a wide range of individuals for fashion and for protection from the sun. 
         [0003]    Baseball caps are commonly worn by players and spectators at sporting events. Some sporting events such as golf, baseball and cricket involve hard balls that can cause severe injuries if they impact a person&#39;s head. A typical baseball cap, for example, offers little or no protection from such an impact. There is therefore an advantage in providing a hat that can protect the wearer from the impact of a projectile or other object. 
         [0004]    There are many other circumstances in which a person is vulnerable to injury due to an impact on their head. Examples include security guards, police and armed forces. 
         [0005]    The most common type of protective hat is a helmet. It is very effective at protecting the head of the wearer but can be large and cumbersome. In many cases, people may not want to wear a helmet for these reasons and may instead prefer to wear a typical baseball cap style hat, for example, because it is smaller, more comfortable and more fashionable. 
         [0006]    There is therefore a need to provide a hat that can protect the wearer&#39;s head from impacts while being comfortable and fashionable to wear. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective hat and/or a liner for a hat and/or a shock absorbing member for a hat which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In a first aspect the present invention consists in a protective hat comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable shock absorbing members positioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer of the hat, wherein each shock absorbing member is shaped to create a cavity between the shock absorbing member and the skull to allow for inward deflection of the shock absorbing member towards the skull as a result of said shock absorbing member being impacted by an object. 
         [0009]    Preferably the inner surface of the shock absorbing member can deflect into the cavity as a result of impact from an object. 
         [0010]    Preferably the inner surface of each shock absorbing member is shaped so that upon deflecting into the cavity, more of the inner surface contacts the skull so that the impact load is spread over a larger scull contacting area. 
         [0011]    Preferably each the shock absorbing member is resilient so that it returns to its original shape after the impact force from said object has been dissipated. 
         [0012]    Preferably wherein each shock absorbing member has a perimeter within the bounds of which is defined the cavity. 
         [0013]    Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of each shock absorbing member. 
         [0014]    Preferably the lip is positioned adjacent to the skull of the wearer of the hat and the cavity is distal more the skull of the wearer. 
         [0015]    Preferably each shock absorbing member is disk shaped and circular in plan view. 
         [0016]    Preferably the cavity of each shock absorbing member is a concavity of the base of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0017]    Preferably a plurality of resilient shock absorbing members are affixed to a liner that is received inside the hat. 
         [0018]    Preferably the lip is thicker than the rest of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0019]    Preferably the shock absorbing member comprises a profile similar to a dome or partial sphere. 
         [0020]    Preferably the profile is steeper towards the lip than a dome or sphere. 
         [0021]    Preferably the profile radius decreases towards the lip. 
         [0022]    Preferably the liner is flexible. 
         [0023]    Preferably the liner is a fabric. 
         [0024]    Preferably alternatively the liner is plastic. 
         [0025]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are stitched to the liner. 
         [0026]    Preferably alternatively the shock absorbing members are glued to the liner. 
         [0027]    Preferably the liner includes a plurality of independent panels. 
         [0028]    Preferably the independent panels are dimensioned to substantially match the dimensions of a typical hat design. 
         [0029]    Preferably a plurality of shock absorbing members are affixed to each panel of the liner. 
         [0030]    Preferably alternatively the liner may be made up of one or two pieces of material (fabric, plastic or other) that is cut and shaped to a predetermined shape to fit inside a hat of a predetermined size and shape. 
         [0031]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected. 
         [0032]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected to each other in a part spherical configuration. 
         [0033]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are arranged such that there is a minimal gap between adjacent members. 
         [0034]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are connected together. 
         [0035]    Preferably shock absorbing members are linked to one another by a linkage member. 
         [0036]    Preferably said linkage member allows limited movement between the shock absorbing members it links together, such that movement between the shock absorbing member is allowed but the shock absorbing members are prevented moving apart to an extent sufficient to otherwise allow a ball (eg a golf ball or baseball or cricket ball) to contact the user&#39;s skull in use. 
         [0037]    Preferably any gap between two or more adjacent shock absorbing members is not large enough to prevent a golf ball or similarly sized projectile from contacting a shock absorbing member and directly impact the skull. 
         [0038]    Preferably different sized shock absorbing members are utilised, smaller of the shock absorbing members used to reduce the gaps between larger of the shock absorbing members. 
         [0039]    Preferably three different sized shock absorbing members are employed. 
         [0040]    Preferably at least two sectors of linked shock absorbing members are provided, each sector being integrally moulded there being a live hinge between shock absorbing members of the sector to interconnect the shock absorbing members of a sector together and wherein peripheral shock absorbing members of each sector are able to connect to peripheral shock absorbing members of an adjacent said sector by connection clips. 
         [0041]    Preferably said connection clips are integrally formed with a said shock absorbing member. 
         [0042]    Preferably said connection clips are each separate items. 
         [0043]    Preferably said connection clips are each separate items. 
         [0044]    Preferably each said connection clips is able to engage into an aperture of a said peripheral shock absorbing member. 
         [0045]    Preferably said clip includes two hook formations, each hook formation able to penetrate through an aperture of a peripheral shock absorber. 
         [0046]    Preferably said hook formation and each said aperture with which the hook formation can engage, are adapted to allow an articulation of the connection clip joined shock absorbing members. 
         [0047]    Preferably alternatively up to five different sized shock absorbing members are employed. 
         [0048]    Preferably the liner is removable from the cap. 
         [0049]    Preferably the liner is integral with the cap. 
         [0050]    Preferably the liner includes a fastener to tighten the panels of the liner into the desired shape. 
         [0051]    Preferably said fastener is a draw string. 
         [0052]    Preferably alternatively said fastener is a hook and loop material, such as Velcro™. 
         [0053]    Preferably the hat is a baseball cap style hat. 
         [0054]    Preferably each shock absorbing member is a moulded item. 
         [0055]    Preferably each shock absorbing member is made of a plastics material, such as PVC. 
         [0056]    In a further aspect the present invention consists in a liner for a hat, the liner comprising a plurality of connected resiliently deformable shock absorbing members, wherein each shock absorbing member is shaped defining a cavity to be directed towards the skull of a wearer, the member able to deflect inwardly as a result of receiving an impact from an object. 
         [0057]    Preferably said members are frisbee-shaped. 
         [0058]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are positioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer of a hat when the liner is located in the hat, the cavity presented towards the skull. 
         [0059]    Preferably the inner surface of each shock absorbing member can deflect into the cavity as a result of an impact from an object. 
         [0060]    Preferably as a result of the inner surface of the shock absorbing member deflecting into the cavity, more of the inner surface pressed onto the skull so that the impact load is spread over a larger area. 
         [0061]    Preferably the shock absorbing member is resilient so that it returns to its original shape after the impact load has been dissipated. 
         [0062]    Preferably the shock absorbing member has a continuous perimeter inside which is defined the cavity. 
         [0063]    Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0064]    Preferably the lip is positioned adjacent to the skull of the wearer of the hat. 
         [0065]    Preferably the shock absorbing member is circular in plan shape. 
         [0066]    Preferably the plurality of resilient shock absorbing members are affixed to a liner that is received inside the hat. 
         [0067]    Preferably the liner is flexible. 
         [0068]    In a further aspect the present invention consists in a resiliently deformable shock absorbing member for a hat, the shock absorbing member being substantially flat and having two opposed face sides, one face side being concave in shape to allow for deflection of the shock absorbing member as a result of an impact from an object on the opposite face side. 
         [0069]    Preferably the one face side of the shock absorbing member can deflect into the cavity as a result of an impact from an object. 
         [0070]    Preferably the shock absorbing member is resilient so that it returns to its original shape after the impact load has been dissipated. 
         [0071]    Preferably the shock absorbing member has a continuous perimeter inside which the concave face side is defined. 
         [0072]    Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0073]    Preferably as a side profile, the continuous lip is of a curvature that is more pronounced than the curvature of the remaining region of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0074]    Preferably at any radially extending cross sectional plane, the continuous lip is of a material thickness greater than the remainder of the shock absorber. 
         [0075]    Preferably the exterior surface (the ball impacting side) of the shock absorber is of a surface of revolution defined by a semi oblong or semi oval curve. 
         [0076]    Preferably the shock absorbing member is circular in plan shape. 
         [0077]    Preferably the shock absorbing member is part of an integrally formed patch of interconnected show absorbing members. 
         [0078]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected to each other in a part spherical configuration. 
         [0079]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are arranged such that there is a minimal gap between adjacent members. 
         [0080]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are connected together. 
         [0081]    Preferably shock absorbing members are linked to one another by a linkage member. 
         [0082]    Preferably said linkage member allows limited movement between the shock absorbing members it links together, such that movement between the shock absorbing member is allowed but the shock absorbing members are prevented moving apart to an extent sufficient to otherwise allow a ball (e.g. a golf ball or baseball or cricket ball) to contact the user&#39;s skull in use. 
         [0083]    Preferably any gap between two or more adjacent shock absorbing members is not large enough to prevent a golf ball or similarly sized projectile from contacting a shock absorbing member and directly impact the skull. 
         [0084]    Preferably different sized shock absorbing members are utilised, smaller of the shock absorbing members used to reduce the gaps between larger of the shock absorbing members. 
         [0085]    Preferably three different sized shock absorbing members are employed. 
         [0086]    Preferably some of the adjacent shock absorbing members are integrally moulded there being a live hinge between such shock absorbing members to interconnect the shock absorbing members together. 
         [0087]    In a further aspect the present invention consists in a liner for a hat comprising of a plurality of shock absorbing members able to sit between the dome of a hat and the skull of the wearer and help protect the skull from impact damage from airborne objects, wherein each shock absorbing member comprises a partial dome of a resiliently deformable material, presenting an object contacting side and a concave skull facing side and having a perimeter to be positioned proximal most the skull of the wearer. 
         [0088]    Preferably the wall thickness of the dome at the perimeter is greater than intermediate of the perimeter. 
         [0089]    Preferably the partial dome is elliptical in side profile having its major axis extending from one location at the perimeter to an opposite location at the perimeter. 
         [0090]    Preferably the partial dome is circular in plan profile. 
         [0091]    Preferably the perimeter is a continuous perimeter. 
         [0092]    Preferably the shock absorbing members are all interconnected to as part of or to form the liner. 
         [0093]    In a further aspect the present invention consists in a shock absorbing member to be incorporated as part of a hat with like shock absorbing members to provide protection to the skull of the wearer of the hat, the shock absorbing member comprising, as a unitary construction, a thin walled outwardly arcuate spanning region peripherally bounded by an annular abutment region of a resiliently flexible material presenting an airborne object impacting face side and a concave skull facing side, the abutment region to be located proximate most the skull and configured to distribute any object impact loading received by the shock absorbing member to the skull and to resist inward collapse of the spanning region during any object impact loading imparted thereon. 
         [0094]    Preferably the abutment region and spanning region present a said impacting face side of an elliptical or oblong side profile. 
         [0095]    Preferably the spanning region is of an even wall thickness. 
         [0096]    Preferably the abutment region is of a configuration to provide hoop strength at the perimeter of the shock absorbing member. 
         [0097]    Preferably the abutment region is in a radial cross section constant and preferably triangular. 
         [0098]    Preferably the abutment region is circular in plan perimeter profile. 
         [0099]    Preferably the spanning region is continuously curved, preferably together with the outer surface of the abutment region. 
         [0100]    Preferably the shock absorber and like shock absorbers are in abutment with each other. 
         [0101]    Preferably the spanning region is a region enclosing the concavity beneath. 
         [0102]    Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0103]    In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art. 
         [0104]    For the purposes of this specification, the term “hat” shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of headwear products. 
         [0105]    As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both. 
         [0106]    As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun. 
         [0107]    The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features prefaced by that term in each statement all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner. 
         [0108]    The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0109]    This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0110]    The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings. 
           [0111]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art method employed in protective headwear by showing a ball impacting a foam layer over three positions. 
           [0112]      FIG. 2 a    shows a shock absorbing member of the present invention in a normal position. 
           [0113]      FIG. 2 b    shows the shock absorbing member in a compressed position as a result of an impact from a projectile such as a ball. 
           [0114]      FIG. 3  shows a shock absorbing member located adjacent a skull. 
           [0115]      FIG. 4  shows a typical baseball cap style hat. 
           [0116]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a liner in a flat condition, for a hat, with many shock absorbing members attached thereto. 
           [0117]      FIG. 6  shows a ball impacting a shock absorbing member directly. 
           [0118]      FIG. 7  shows a ball impacting two adjacent shock absorbing members. 
           [0119]      FIG. 8  shows a ball impacting at the gap between two adjacent shock absorbing members. 
           [0120]      FIG. 9 a    shows an alternative shock absorbing member. 
           [0121]      FIG. 9 b    shows a bottom view of the shock absorber of  FIG. 9 a    with load distribution indicated as D. 
           [0122]      FIG. 9 c    shows a view of the shock absorber of  FIG. 9 a    collapsed under force of an object. 
           [0123]      FIG. 10  shows the shock absorbing member of  FIG. 9  being impacted by a ball. 
           [0124]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing as an example a one piece liner made up of a plurality of connected shock absorbing members of the present invention. 
           [0125]      FIG. 12  shows a view beneath of the liner of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0126]      FIG. 13  shows a top view of the liner of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0127]      FIG. 14  shows an inverted view of the liner of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0128]      FIG. 15  shows a further embodiment of the shock absorbing members of the present invention where two shock absorbers are shown in sectional view and that are joined by a live hinge. 
           [0129]      FIG. 16  shows a sectional view of two shock absorbers connected by an intermediate clip. 
           [0130]      FIG. 17  shows clusters of interconnected shock absorbers, arranged in a manner to show how the clusters are able to be connected using the clip as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0131]      FIG. 18  shows a sectional view of a comparison between shock absorber profiles and a ball. 
           [0132]      FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of clusters of interconnected shock absorbers, arranged in a manner to show how the clusters are able to be connected using an integrated clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0133]    The present invention relates to protective headwear that can protect the wearer against impact from projectiles such as golf balls, or other objects (herein after referred to for simplicity as a ball). 
         [0134]    Many of the prior art examples of protective headwear rely on a layer of padding such as foam to protect the wearer from an impact.  FIG. 1  shows such a soft padding layer  1 , and shows a ball  2   a,    2   b  and  2   c  over three positions as it impacts the layer  1 . If the force ‘F’ applied by the ball is large, then the ball can deeply penetrate into the layer  1  and deliver a severe load over a small area, e.g. at position  3 . As the ball compresses the layer, the load is still potentially directly imparted to the skull of the wearer of the headgear over a very small area. This means there is a high force per unit contact area that can result in a potentially damaging blow the skull of the wearer. 
         [0135]      FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    shows a ball  2  over two positions as it commences engagement with a shock absorbing member  4  of the present invention. The shock absorbing member is preferably a semi domed, disk, oblong or elliptical shaped member. Preferably the exterior surface (the ball impacting side) of the shock absorber is of a surface of revolution defined by a semi oblong or oval or elliptical curve. The height of the shock absorber being less than its width (diameter). 
         [0136]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a shock absorbing member  4  positioned adjacent to the skull  5 . The shape of the shock absorbing member  4  is such that a cavity  6  (preferably a singular concavity) is defined at the inner surface  7  at the head facing side  40 . The cavity can be established between the inner surface  7  and the skull  5 . 
         [0137]    Preferably each shock absorbing member is dome shaped. Preferably its perimeter acts as an abutment to that part of the dome intermediate of the perimeter. Preferably the dome has a ball contact side  30 . Whether presented for direct contact or preferably below an obscuring surface such as the dome of a cap or hat, it is the side of the shock absorber that receives the ball impact. 
         [0138]    A plurality of such absorbers, of the same of different sizes, may be positioned to be able to cover a substantial part of the head of person as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0139]    The shock absorbing member  4  may be formed in a hard material such as PVC. It does not require to be, and preferably is not, of a compressible material such as foam but instead is engineered into a shape to absorb shock. In other forms the shock absorbing members may be made out of other appropriate materials, such as other plastics or other such materials. 
         [0140]    Each shock absorbing member  4  preferably has a ball contact side  30  and a head facing side  40 . The ball contact side is presented to be contacted by a ball (whether directly or indirectly via another layer). The head facing side  40  is positioned to transfer force received by an object such as a ball onto the skull of the wearer. Preferably the head facing side is or has a concave surface and a perimeter. The concave surface prevents a ball&#39;s impact of the shock absorber being transferred directly to the skull of the wearer at least during initial contact and instead the force is distributed at the peripheral lip  8  of the perimeter of the concavity. 
         [0141]    A ball such as a cricket ball, golf ball, baseball or similar may hit the persons head and exert a force onto the head. By having the shock absorbers placed intermediate of the ball and the skull of the person, as the force from the ball  2  is exerted on a shock absorbing member  4  it may compress the member as shown between  FIG. 2 a    and  FIG. 2   b.  In instead of cushioning the ball, a sufficient force of the ball may depress the shock absorbing member  4 . Some energy is absorbed by the shock absorber and dissipates as heat. Some energy is transferred via the shock absorber as a distributed force D distributed over a larger area at the peripheral lip  8  of the head facing side  40  of the shock absorber. This has the effect of reducing the force per unit area which is transferred to the skull. 
         [0142]    In one embodiment the dome shape ball contacting side of each shock absorber, with a corresponding concavity on the opposite side, helps provide an engineered arched structure for energy absorption. Initial contact by the ball with a shock absorber receives a large reaction force by the shock absorber due to this preferred configuration. Like an arched bridge supported by abutments at each end. This is unlike the prior art example as shown in  FIG. 1  where the ball, at initial contact, in fact receives very little reaction force from the padding layer  1  as the material simply compresses as the ball advances towards the skull. 
         [0143]    In a preferred embodiment the profile of each shock absorber member is designed with steeper angles at the outer edge. It is preferably not merely part of a sphere, but is a unique shape or camber. This profile is shown in  FIG. 15  and also as a comparison in  FIG. 18 , where a domed shock absorber  100  and associated ball  101  is overlaid against a steep angled profile shock absorber member  4  and associated ball  2 . The ball impacts the shock absorber initially at a distance further from the skull than if the shock absorber were purely spherical. This, providing greater distance of travel of the ball towards the skull for the shock absorber to work in transferring and dissipating the ball&#39;s energy. A spherical profile is still ok but it is lower on the outer edge of each shock absorber member. When a ball makes contact between two shock absorber members, it may touch, or is close to touching the skull in between the two shock absorber members before the shock absorbers have a chance to work. So the ball is likely to impact the skull as a point load. 
         [0144]    Preferably, there is considerably more and/or more effective shaped material at the outer edge of the absorber then there would otherwise be with a spherical. The increased amount of material and/or shaping means greater tensile strength and a relatively stronger spring for the same material. The perimeter shape and/or more material thereat helps increase the hoop strength of the shock absorber at the perimeter. The steep periphery strengthens and reinforces the outer edge which works in tension as the load of the ball is applied to the shock absorber. This helps provide increased spring for the dome. 
         [0145]    The preferred design helps keep the ball further from the skull while the shock absorber is compressing. The preferred design helps keep the ball further from the skull when the ball or object lands in the space between two adjacent shock absorbers. 
         [0146]    If a ball hits with a small force F 1 , the load is spread around the perimeter of the shock absorbing member  4 .This can be seen in  FIG. 9 b    where the load it transferred purely via the perimeter surface  16 , some of the energy also dissipated as heat as the material is deformed. If a ball hits with a large force F 2 , the shock absorbing member  4  eventually collapses. As the shock absorbing member  4  collapses, energy is taken away from the impact as the dome stretches as shown in  FIG. 9   c.  The perimeter acts as an abutment to the parts of the dome intermediate to allow the dome intermediate to stretch and absorb energy and dissipate it as heat H. Surface  16  continues to transfer force to the skull but further collapse of the dome intermediate will result in contact with the skull thereby. This contact results in an increase in contact surface area with the skull thereby reducing force per area. 
         [0147]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention each of the shock absorbing members are circular in plan view and each have a peripheral lip  8  that is preferably continuous and defines the perimeter of each member. 
         [0148]    The lip is located outwardly of the concavity. Alternatively the shock absorbing members  4  could be non-circular shapes such as ovals, squares or any other suitable shapes. They are preferably formed as a unitary item from a resilient material (such as PVC) such that they can snap back into their original shape after object impact loading has been diffused. 
         [0149]      FIG. 4  shows a typical baseball cap style hat  9 . Such a hat  9  is typically made up of a number of panels  10  and may include a brim  11 . 
         [0150]      FIG. 5  shows a liner  12  suitable for incorporation with hat  9 . The liner  12  is made up of a number of panels  13 . These may preferably corresponds with the number of panels  10  of the hat  9 . Each panel  13  has a number of shock absorbing members  4  attached thereto. The shock absorbing members may be arranged in any suitable arrangement such that the gap between adjacent shock absorbing members  4  is minimised. There may be different sized members  4  utilised to achieve optimal spacing between adjacent members  4 . 
         [0151]    By making the profile steeper on the edges, the space between the shock absorbers can be increased making the liner breathe better and be more flexible with fewer parts, while also keeping an impacting ball further from the skull allowing the shock absorbers to compress and work better that is the shock absorber was purely part of a sphere. 
         [0152]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention the liner  12  is fabric, but could be any other suitable material such as a plastic material. The various shock absorbing members  4  are attached to the liner  12  via any suitable attachment method. Such attachment methods include stitching or gluing. 
         [0153]    In other forms of the protective headwear of the present invention, the liner may be made from fewer pieces or panels. For example, the liner may be made up of one or two pieces of material that is/are cut and shaped to a predetermined shape to fit a hat of a predetermined size and shape. In this form of liner less adjustment or no adjustment of the liner is possible. 
         [0154]      FIGS. 11 to 14  show an illustration of a one piece liner with shock absorbing members that may be fitted into a hat. The liner  20  has a plurality of shock absorbing members  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″ attached together by appropriate means. For example, the various shaped shock absorbing members  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″ may be stitched, glued or otherwise fixed to a piece of fabric or flexible plastic (not shown), to make up the liner  20 . 
         [0155]    As can be seen in these figures, three shock absorbing members are shown making up the liner  20 ; a large shock absorbing member  24 , medium shock absorbing member  24 ′ and small shock absorbing member  24 ″. Fitted together the three different sized shock absorbing members make up a liner that is a partial sphere shape, that shape in use conforming to the shape of a human head. As described above, the spacing between the shock absorbing members does not exceed 12.4 mm, but could be any spacing smaller than this. 
         [0156]    It must be noted that the use of three members is merely one example, additional sizes of the members may also be used, or less sizes may be used. Also, the particular configuration of shock absorbing members as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 14  is only one example. Different configurations of the shock absorbing members are possible. 
         [0157]    The liner  12  (or liner  20 ) may be interchangeable between hats  9 , or may be manufactured integrally with a hat  9 . It should be appreciated that the liner  12  may be used in any type of hat, and is not necessarily limited to use with a baseball cap style hat. 
         [0158]    When the liner  12  is located within the hat  9  the shocking absorbing members  4  are positioned adjacent to the skull  5  of the wearer of the hat. The arrangement of the shocking absorbing members  4  is such that they at least substantially cover the wearer&#39;s skull over the entire area of the skull covered by the hat  9 . Therefore, the shock absorbing members are effective at diffusing the force from a projectile or other object which impacts any part of the skull which is covered by the hat. 
         [0159]    The liner  12  is relatively thin and can easily sit between the skull and the hat. It therefore doesn&#39;t detract from the comfort of the hat, nor does it alter the shape or aesthetics of the hat. 
         [0160]      FIGS. 15-17  show an alternative configuration of a plurality of shock absorbers. The shock absorbers may be made up of clusters of integrally formed shock absorbers.  FIG. 17  shows a plurality of clusters, each cluster  50  being of a plurality of shock absorbers  4  connected together to adjacent shock absorbers in the cluster by a bridge  30 . The bridge  30  illustrated as rectangles in  FIG. 17 . The bridge  30  may be a live hinge. A live hinge can allow adjacent shock absorbers to rotate relative to each other to help the cluster conform to part of the shape of a skull of the wearer. Other forms of bridges may be utilised, to allow an articulation of shock absorbers to occur. 
         [0161]    Clips such a clip  41  may be used to connect shock absorbers together. Some shock absorbers may have an aperture  52  through them to allow engagement with a clip  41  as seen in  FIG. 16 . The clip can engage at two apertures one of each of an adjacent shock absorber. The clip  4  can then hold such shock absorbers together. The clip may be used to connect shock absorbers of adjacent clusters together. The dotted lines in  FIG. 17  illustrate where clipped connection between shock absorbers of adjacent clusters may be established. 
         [0162]    The clip and its engagement with the shock absorbers preferably also allows pivotability, so clipped shock absorbers can articulate relative each other. The clip, seen in cross section in  FIG. 16 , is preferably C shaped in cross section. Some shock absorbers may have a plurality of apertures for clipping purposes. 
         [0163]    In one embodiment, the clips are integrally attached to one of the two shock absorbers to be attached together. In this embodiment, only the other shock absorber, with no clip, has an aperture for clipping purposes- as shown in  FIG. 19 . In other embodiments, the clips are not integrally attached, but glued or affixed onto the shock absorber, whilst the other end of the clip engages with the aperture. 
         [0164]    Advantages of the separate clip are that tooling and assembly may be less complex, and the separate clip may provide greater flexibility than the integrally attached clip. 
         [0165]    An assembly of clusters of shock absorbers as seen with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 17  may not require the use of a liner substrate for the shock absorbers to be mounted to. The assembly can be located below the dome of a hat or cap and sit there untethered or tethered or otherwise affixed to it. 
         [0166]      FIGS. 6, 7 and 8  show three different scenarios of a ball  2  impacting and deflecting one or more shock absorbing members  4 . In  FIG. 6  the ball  2  impacts directly one shock absorbing member deflects. In  FIG. 7  the ball  2  impacts two adjacent shock absorbing members, both of which deflect. In  FIG. 8 , the ball  2  impacts at a location in which there is a gap  14  between two adjacent shock absorbing members  4 . As the members  4  are circular in plan shape there will exist gaps  14  between adjacent members  4 . However, the gap  14  is preferably not too large that the shock absorbing members  4  are not effective, and will still prevent the ball  2  from directly impacting the skull. The use of different sized members  4  in the arrangement means that the gaps  14  can be reduced. Preferably the gaps  14  do not exceed 12.4 mm. 
         [0167]    The gaps  14  also may act as ventilation channels through which air can pass to improve the comfort for the wearer of the hat. 
         [0168]      FIGS. 9 a   - 10  show an alternative shock absorbing member  15  which performs in the same manner as the shock absorbing member  4 , however has a different cross-sectional shape. The shock absorbing member  15  has a peripheral lip  16  that defines the perimeter of the member  15 . The lip  16  includes a flange  17  formed on the inner edge of the perimeter. The flange  17  provides additional support for the perimeter as well as spring force. As seen in  FIG. 9   b,  the force distribution D from the lip  16  to the skull can be transferred over the entire perimeter of the shock absorber. 
         [0169]    The cavity  18  that may be formed in the member is more of a semi-circular shape compared to the triangular shape of the cavity  6  of member  4  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0170]    Other shaped cavities of shock absorbing members of the present invention are envisaged. For example, the formed may be more of a rhomboid type shape, or any other appropriate shape. 
         [0171]    Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth. 
         [0172]    Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.