Patent ID: 7114194

Claim:
A safety helmet, comprising: a shell constructed of a rigid material, the shell having a body portion and a brim portion extending outwardly from the body portion, the body portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an interior cavity defined by the interior surface of the body portion, and a bottom opening in open communication with the interior cavity, the interior cavity of the body portion sized to receive a portion of a head of a person; an adjustable webbing assembly connected to the interior surface of the body portion for supporting the interior surface of the body portion of the shell a distance from the person's head; a plenum extending along a portion of the exterior surface of the body portion of the shell, the plenum having an air inlet located on an underside of the brim portion of the shell so as to allow air to flow upwardly into the air inlet, at least one air outlet and an air flow passageway extending between the air inlet and the at least one air outlet whereby the plenum terminates at a position between the at least one air outlet and a brim portion of the shell oppositely disposed to the air inlet, the at least one air outlet of the plenum in open communication with the interior cavity of the body portion of the shell wherein the at least one air outlet is disposed in an area where the air flows through the at least one air outlet and over a top portion of the head of the person wearing the safety helmet; and a fan supported within the air flow passageway of the plenum such that the fan is disposed between the air inlet and the at least one air outlet of the plenum whereby upon activation of the fan, air is drawn into the air inlet of the plenum and discharged through the at least one air outlet of the plenum to cool the head of the person wearing the safety helmet.