Wrestling helmet

Claim 2

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a continuous piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, the piece including: (a) an elongated central strap adapted to fit longitudinally on the sagittal crest of the wearer and extending at its front end from the vicinity of the forehead to the back of the head; (b) an elongated transverse front strap formed integrally with the front end of the central strap; (c) an elongated transverse middle strap formed integrally with and extending from opposite sides of the middle of the central strap; and (d) an elongated transverse rear strap formed integrally with the rear end of the central strap, a right earpiece secured to the right ends of the front, middle and rear straps, a left earpiece secured to the left ends of the front, middle and rear straps, and a chin strap connected to the earpieces.

Claim 3

A helmet according to claim 1 in which the chin strap is formed of a first elongated elastic chin strip secured at one end to one earpiece, and a second elongated elastic chin strip secured to the other earpiece, and means for securing the strips together to form a chin strap.

Claim 4

A helmet according to claim 2 in which each chin strip is formed integrally with its respective earpiece; and the earpieces, chin strips and said continuous piece of fabric are made of the same material.

Claim 5

A helmet according to claim 1 in which the cOntinuous piece of knitted fabric is made of two sheets stitched together to provide a double thickness, and the stitching securing the sheets together is of the type to permit stretching of the sheets in the area where they are stitched together.

Claim 6

A helmet according to claim 1 in which the rear strap is substantially wider than the front strap.

Claim 7

A helmet according to claim 1 in which the earpiece, chin strap and said continuous piece of fabric are all of the same material.

Claim 8

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a first sheet of flexible and stretchable knitted fabric shaped to fit snugly on the head of a wrestler, the first sheet being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions and including stretchable and flexible right and left earpieces each shaped to fit over the right and left ears, respectively, of the wrestler, a separate stretchable and flexible outside sheet disposed over each earpiece, means bonding the periphery of each earpiece to its respective outside sheet to form a pocket between each earpiece and respective outside sheet, a separate elastic and flexible ring disposed in each pocket, each ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler, and a chin strap connected to the earpiece.

Claim 9

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a first sheet of flexible and stretchable knitted fabric shaped to fit snugly on the head of a wrestler, the first sheet being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions and including stretchable and flexible right and left earpieces each shaped to fit over the right and left ears, respectively, of the wrestler, a separate stretchable and flexible outside sheet disposed over each earpiece, means bonding the periphery of each earpiece to its respective outside sheet to form a pocket between each earpiece and respective outside sheet, a separate elastic and flexible ring disposed in each pocket, each ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler, and a chin strap connected to the earpiece.

Claim 10

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a continuous piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, the piece including: (a) an elongated central strap adapted to fit longitudinally on the sagittal crest of the wearer and extending at its front end from the vicinity of the forehead to the back of the head; (b) an elongated transverse front strap formed integrally with the front end of the central strap; (c) an elongated transverse middle strap formed integrally with and extending from opposite sides of the central strap; and (d) an elongated transverse rear strap formed integrally with the rear end of the central strap; a right earpiece shaped to fit over the right ear of the wrestler and secured to the right ends of the front, middle and rear straps; a left earpiece shaped to fit over the left ear of the wrestler and secured to the left ends of the front, middle and rear straps, each earpiece comprising: (a) a continuous inner piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions; (b) an outer piece disposed over the inner piece and comprising a continuous piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions; (c) means securing the periphery of the outer piece to the inner piece to form a pocket between the outer piece and the inner piece; and (d) an elastic and flexible ring disposed in the pocket, the ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler; and a chin strap connected to the earpieces.

Claim 11

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a continuous piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, the piece including: (a) an elongated central strap adapted to fit longitudinally on the sagittal crest of the wearer and extending at its front end from the vicinity of the forehead to the back of the head; (b) an elongated transverse front strap formed integrally with the front end of the central strap; (c) an elongated transverse middle strap formed integrally with and extending from opposite sides of the central strap; and (d) an elongated transverse rear strap formed integrally with the rear end of the central strap; a right earpiece shaped to fit over the right ear of the wrestler and secured to the right ends of the front, middle and rear straps; a left earpiece shaped to fit over the left ear of the wrestler and secured to the left ends of the front, middle and rear straps, each earpiece comprising: (a) a continuous inner piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions; (b) an outer piece disposed over the inner piece and comprising a continuous piece of knitted fabric which is substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions; (c) means securing the periphery of the outer piece to the inner piece to form a pocket between the outer piece and the inner piece; and (d) an elastic and flexible ring disposed in the pocket, the ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler; and a chin strap connected to the earpieces.

Claim 12

A helmet according to claim 8 in which the chin strap is formed of a first elongated chin strip formed integrally with one earpiece, and a second elongated chin strip formed integrally with the other earpiece, and means for securing the strips together to form a chin strap.

Claim 13

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a flexible and stretchable knitted fabric shaped to fit snugly on the head of a wrestler, the fabric being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, and including right and left ear portions each shaped to fit over the right and left ears, respectively, of the wrestler, separate ear pieces of flexible and stretchable knitted fabric disposed over each ear portion of the helmet, each earpiece being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, means securing the periphery of each earpiece to its respective ear portion to form a pocket between each ear portion and respective earpiece, a separate elastic and flexible ring disposed in each pocket, each ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler, and a chin strap connected to the pockets.

Claim 14

A wrestler''s helmet comprising a flexible and stretchable knitted fabric shaped to fit snugly on the head of a wrestler, the fabric being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, and including right and left ear portions each shaped to fit over the right and left ears, respectively, of the wrestler, separate ear pieces of flexible and stretchable knitted fabric disposed over each ear portion of the helmet, each earpiece being substantially equally elastic in mutually perpendicular directions, means securing the periphery of each earpiece to its respective ear portion to form a pocket between each ear portion and respective earpiece, a separate elastic and flexible ring disposed in each pocket, each ring being shaped to fit around a respective ear of the wrestler, and a chin strap connected to the pockets.