Low profile size adjustable protective helmet

Claim 2

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet for the human head comprising a helmet bodY and a releasable chin strap for holding said helmet body on the head, said helmet body being comprised of a plurality of sections each adapted to cover a portion of the head extending from one side thereof to the other side thereof and being conformed to leave the ears and the portions of the head immediately around the ears uncovered by said helmet, each of said sections comprising a substantially rigid outer shell having shock absorbing material fixed to portions of the inner surface thereof, said sections including a principal section adapted to extend over the top of the head from a point above one ear to a point above the other ear and at least one other section adapted to cover a portion of the head not covered by said principal section and adjustably mounted on said principal section, the lower portions of said sections being joined together on each side of the head in cantilever fashion by fastening means which provide for a substantially rigid joint in each of a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of head sizes and shapes, and said principal section being provided with a channel in the outer surface thereof extending transversely thereof from one side of said section to the other side thereof, said channel being adapted to receive the headband of a communication head set therein.

Claim 3

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 1 wherein said sections comprise a front section adapted to cover the frontal portion of the upper head, said principal section adapted to cover the top and sides of the head and a rear section adapted to cover the rear portion of the head, said principal section being provided with an integral extension on the forward and rear edges thereof adapted to telescope with the rear edge of the front section and the forward edge of the rear section respectively, to close the opening between sections throughout the range of adjustment therebetween.

Claim 4

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 2 wherein said shock absorbing material in said section adjoining said extension is spaced from the edge of said section to provide clearance for said extension throughout the range of adjustment between said adjoining sections.

Claim 5

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise a plurality of removable fasteners adapted to engage in openings provided in the lower portions of the sides of said sections, at least one of said sections being provided with an excess of openings in spaced relation whereby said fasteners may be selectively engaged in more than one set of openings to adjust the size of said helmet.

Claim 6

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 1 wherein said rigid outer shell is comprised of a ballistic material.

Claim 7

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 1 wherein said helmet is provided with a removable outer shell formed of ballistic material.

Claim 8

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet for the human head comprising a helmet body and a releasable chin strap for holding said helmet body on the head, said helmet body being comprised of a plurality of sections each adapted to cover a portion of the head extending from one side thereof to the other side thereof and being conformed to leave the ears and the portions of the head immediately around the ears uncovered by said helmet, each of said sections comprising a substantially rigid outer shell having shock absorbing material fixed to portions of the inner surface thereof, said sections including a principal section adapted to extend over the top of the head from a point above one ear to a point above the other ear and at least one other section adapted to cover a portion of the head not covered by said principal section and adjustably mounted on said principal section, the lower portions of said sections being joined together on each side of the head in cantilever fashion by fastening means which provide for a substantially rigid joint in each of a pluralIty of positions corresponding to a plurality of head sizes and shapes, said shock absorbing material fixed to the inner surface of those portions of said shell extending over the sides of the head being more readily compressible than said shock absorbing material fixed to the inner surface of those portions of the shell extending over the top, front and back of the head whereby head sizes of varying width may be accommodated by said helmet.

Claim 9

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet for the human head comprising a helmet body and a releasable chin strap for holding said helmet body on the head, said helmet body being comprised of a plurality of sections each adapted to cover a portion of the head extending from one side thereof to the other side thereof and being conformed to leave the ears and the portions of the head immediately around the ears uncovered by said helmet, each of said sections comprising a substantially rigid outer shell having shock absorbing material fixed to portions of the inner surface thereof, said sections including a principal section adapted to extend over the top of the head from a point above one ear to a point above the other ear and at least one other section adapted to cover a portion of the head not covered by said principal section and adjustably mounted on said principal section, the lower portions of said sections being joined together on each side of the head in cantilever fashion by fastening means which provide for a substantially rigid joint in each of a pluralIty of positions corresponding to a plurality of head sizes and shapes, said shock absorbing material fixed to the inner surface of those portions of said shell extending over the sides of the head being more readily compressible than said shock absorbing material fixed to the inner surface of those portions of the shell extending over the top, front and back of the head whereby head sizes of varying width may be accommodated by said helmet.

Claim 10

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing material comprises a layer of relatively firm material fixed to the inner surface of the shell over the portions thereof which cover the top, front and back of the head and a layer of relatively soft cushioning material covering said relatively firm material and extending over the inner surface of the side portions of said shell, the thickness of said relatively soft material extending over said side portions of the shell being at least equal to the combined thickness of the two layers of shock absorbing material fixed to the top portions of the shell.

Claim 11

A low profile size adjustable protective helmet as in claim 8 wherein the thickness of said relatively soft material extending over the side portions of the shell is greater than the combined thickness of the two layers of shock absorbing material fixed to the top portions of the shell.