Headgear having a neck protecting flap

Claim 1

IN A PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE HAVING A RIGID SHELL COMPRISING A CROWN PORTION AND DEPENDING EAR COVERING PORTIONS AND GENERALLY CONTOURED TO FIT THE HEAD AND HAVING A RIGID REAR RIM PORTION NORMALLY SPACED FROM THE BACK OF THE NECK OF THE WEARER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A CUTOUT SECTION IN SAID REAR RIM PORTION, A FLAP MEMBER BEHIND SAID EAR PORTIONS COVERING SAID CUTOUT SECTION AND CONTOURED TO FIT AROUND THE NECK OF THE WEARER, SAID CUTOUT SECTION BEING DEFINED BY SIDE EDGES AND AN UPPER EDGE, SAID FLAP MEMBER INCLUDING SIDE EDGES WHEREIN SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID FLAP OVERLAP SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID CUTOUT PORTION, SAID FLAP MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNNECTED AT BOTH SIDES OF SAID SHELL PERMITTING SADI FLAP MEMBER TO TELESCOPE UNPWARDLY OVER THE CROWN OF SAID SHELL, ELASTIC MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FLAP MEMBER AND SAID SHELL, SAID ELASTIC MEANS NORMALLY RETAINING SAID FLAP MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH SAID CUTOUT SECTION AND PERMITTING SUBSTANTIAL OUTWARD AND UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FLAT MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID FLAP MEMBER UPON CONTACT WITH THE NECK OF THE WEARER WILL BE DISPLACE AND WILL NOT BEAR DOWN ON THE NECK OF THE WEARER.