Patent ID: 7797764

Claim:
A helmet comprising: a generally hemispherical-shaped rigid shell adapted to fit over the head of a person and cover a substantial portion of the person's crown when worn, the shell comprising a shell bottom rim, a left shell exterior surface, a right shell exterior surface and a back shell exterior surface; a generally horseshoe-shaped rigid neck shield partially overlapping the shell back exterior surface and at least portions of the shell left and shell right exterior surfaces proximate the bottom rim, the neck shield including a top edge, a bottom edge and a neck shield exterior surface, the neck shield being adapted to cover at least a substantial portion of back and sides of the person's neck when the helmet is worn; and a plurality of elongated straps, each strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of each strap being coupled to one of the left, right and back shell exterior surfaces, the second end of each strap being coupled to the neck shield exterior surface generally proximate the top edge, each strap being substantially straight and vertically disposed when the helmet is being worn by the person when the person is in an upright position; wherein a first vertical distance between a top fastener of each strap of the plurality of straps and the top edge of the neck shield is equal to or greater than a second vertical distance between the bottom rim of the shell directly below the strap and the bottom edge of the neck shield.