Patent ID: 7954177

Claim:
A football helmet comprising: a plastic shell configured to receive a head of a wearer of the helmet, the shell having a front region, a rear region, and two side regions wherein each side region has an ear flap with an ear opening, each ear flap having a slot and an integral jaw flap that extends forward towards the front region; the shell further having a lower edge extending between the jaw flaps and along the rear region, the lower edge having an angled transition portion positioned below each ear opening, the transition portion formed by two segments of the lower edge that intersect, wherein the lower edge forward of the transition portion resides below the lower edge rearward of the transition portion; and a chin strap assembly that releasably secures the helmet to the wearer, the chin strap assembly having a central member and at least one flexible strap extending outwardly from each side of the central member, wherein the at least one flexible strap releasably connects to the shell.