Hockey helmet

Claim 2

In a protective helmet for use by an ambulatory wearer having an outer semi-ovoidal shaped shell adapted to fit loosely over the head of the wearer in spatial conformity therewith said shell comprising: a. a front member extending downwardly and terminating transversely above the eye level of the wearer; b. a back member extending downwardly and terminating generally transversely at least as low as said front member; c. a pair of side members being formed of uninterrupted material joining said front and back members and including relieved portions adapted to extend above the ears of the wearer; and d. a top member joining said front, back and two side members, said members being formed as a unitary plastic body of uniform thickness, said top member having a plurality of outwardly directed ribs extending generally longitudinally from said front member to said back member, at least one of said plurality of ribs containing a plurality of smooth molded openings free of stress points disposed along said rib, said openings having an area of about 10% of the area of said rib between the forehead of the user and the suboccipital region, said openings constructed and arranged to provide a significant flow of air therethrough when the wearer is in motion.

Claim 3

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein at least the outermost of said plurality of ribs containing said plurality of openings progressively narrow from the front to the back of said shell.

Claim 4

The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of ribs includes a central rib disposed equal distance between a pair of outer ribs having said openings therein, said openings being elongated and having the largest dimension thereof extending transversely across said ribs, and said outer ribs diverging from the front to the back of the shell.

Claim 5

A protection helmet for use by an ambulatory wearer comprising: a. an outer semi-ovoidal shaped shell of substantially uniform thickness adapted to fit loosely over the head of the wearer in spatial conformity therewith having a front, back and two side members joined by a top member, said front member extending downwardly and terminating transversely above the eye level of the wearer, said back member extending downwardly and terminating generally transversely at least as low as said front member, said side members being forMed of uninterrupted material joining said front and back members and including a relieved portion adapted to extend above the ears of the wearer, and said top member having a plurality of outwardly directed ribs extending generally longitudinally from said front member to said back member, at least one of said plurality of ribs containing a plurality of openings disposed along said rib and formed therethrough; b. a pair of side pads secured on the inside to said side members and adapted to engage the sides of the head of the wearer, said pads each having an upper edge adjacent and conforming to the most lateral edges of said plurality of ribs; and c. a central elongated pad secured on the inside to said front, top, and back members and adapted to engage the front, top and back of the head of the wearer, said central pad having a pair of edges spaced from and extending transversely between the innermost lateral edges of said side pads, said ribs and openings therein and said adjacent pad edges forming passages for movement of air over the head of the wearer.

Claim 6

A protection helmet for use by an ambulatory wearer comprising: a. an outer semi-ovoidal shaped shell of substantially uniform thickness adapted to fit loosely over the head of the wearer in spatial conformity therewith having a front, back and two side members joined by a top member, said front member extending downwardly and terminating transversely above the eye level of the wearer, said back member extending downwardly and terminating generally transversely at least as low as said front member, said side members being forMed of uninterrupted material joining said front and back members and including a relieved portion adapted to extend above the ears of the wearer, and said top member having a plurality of outwardly directed ribs extending generally longitudinally from said front member to said back member, at least one of said plurality of ribs containing a plurality of openings disposed along said rib and formed therethrough; b. a pair of side pads secured on the inside to said side members and adapted to engage the sides of the head of the wearer, said pads each having an upper edge adjacent and conforming to the most lateral edges of said plurality of ribs; and c. a central elongated pad secured on the inside to said front, top, and back members and adapted to engage the front, top and back of the head of the wearer, said central pad having a pair of edges spaced from and extending transversely between the innermost lateral edges of said side pads, said ribs and openings therein and said adjacent pad edges forming passages for movement of air over the head of the wearer.

Claim 7

The structure as defined in claim 4 including: d. a pair of strap members secured to said side members and adapted to extend under the ears of the wearer and be interconnected by a chin strap.

Claim 8

The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said pads are formed from a plurality of distinct materials secured to each other in laminate arrangements, the material in contact with said outer shell having the highest density.

Claim 9

The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of ribs includes a central rib disposed equal distance between a pair of outer ribs having said openings therein, said central elongated pad spanning said central rib and having its peripheral portions cemented to said outer shell thereby forming an air space between said central rib and said central pad.

Claim 10

The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said plurality of ribs have elongated openings therein and said plurality of elongaged openings have the largest dimension of said openings extending transversely across said ribs and progressively narrow from the front to the back of said outer shell.

Claim 11

The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said central rib includes an opening at the front and back of said outer shell extending therethrough and through said central pad providing ventilation to the head of the wearer.

Claim 12

The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said openings are of an elongaged configuration.

Claim 13

The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said openings are elongated and the area thereof progressively decreases from the front to the back of said shell.

Claim 14

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the area of said openings progressively decreases from the front to the back of said shell.