Patent ID: 6970691

Claim:
A sports helmet having integral speakers, comprising: a liner comprised of impact resistant material configured to form a helmet; a protective shell encasing an outer surface of the liner; a pair of speakers positioned within the protective shell generally opposite from one another and directed toward a head of a wearer above the ears of the wearer so as to provide audio to the helmet wearer without blocking out surrounding sound; and means for receiving a signal from a portable audio device; a pair of cavities formed in opposite sides of the liner so as to be directed toward a head of a wearer above the ears of the wearer so as to provide audio to the helmet wearer without blocking out surrounding sound, wherein the cavities each include a first cavity formed in an exterior surface of the liner and approximating the outer diameter of the speakers, and a second cavity contiguous with the first and extending through the liner, the second cavity being of a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the first cavity.