Patent ID: 8533869

Claim:
Energy absorbing helmet underwear that is adapted to be worn by a user under a rigid hard hat or the like and comprising: a pair stretchable fabric shells; a shock absorbing core material that is disposed between said shells; and a stretch band attached to the fabric shells to enable the headpiece to be fitted over the user's head while the shock absorbing core material provides a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head; wherein the shock absorbing core material comprises an energy absorbing core layer that is a three-dimensional warp knit spacer fabric; wherein the stretchable fabric layers have a greater elasticity that the energy absorbing core layer; wherein the energy absorbing core layer is disposed in a pocket defined between the stretchable fabric layers and is free-floating therein without any fastening means between the stretchable fabric layers and the energy absorbing core layer; wherein, when the energy absorbing underwear is off the head of the user, the energy absorbing core layer substantially fills the entire pocket between the stretchable fabric layers; wherein, when the energy absorbing underwear is applied to the head of the user, then the stretchable fabric layers stretch relative to the energy absorbing core layer leaving a slight gap on either end of the energy absorbing core layer; and wherein the stretch band is a continuous annular-shaped band that is adapted to fit about the head of the user.