Pressure attenuating helmet

A pressure attenuating helmet comprising;

• a plurality of separate plates each plate having a plate thickness, an outer surface, under surface, and edges adjacent to other edges of the plurality of plates, the plates joined along the adjacent edges thereby forming a helmet shell;
• flanges formed along the under surface at the adjacent edges of the plurality of separate plates, the flanges formed inwardly along a line spaced at a first dimension from the adjacent edges of each of the plates, the flanges extending in a direction of the thickness of the plates;
• a network of elastomer splines shaped and positioned to separate the plates both along the edges and the flanges;
• and
• a first foam layer is formed to the undersurface of each plate and at least a second foam layer is formed to a surface of the first foam layer facing away from the plates;
• wherein foam material of the first foam layer includes a durometer rating, the second layer having a durometer rating less than the durometer rating of the first foam layer.