Ear protector for helmet, helmet and method for protecting ears

Abstract

A detachable ear protector (13) for attachment to a helmet (11) having a chin strap (25). The ear protector comprising a support member (35), a rigid protective outer cover (37) and an inner pocket (39). The support member (35) being shaped to cover an ear of a wearer of the helmet. The outer cover (37) being formed of material resistant to high impact and integrally formed with the support member (35) to provide a high impact protective region covering a major portion of the support member (35) on the outer side. The inner pocket (39) being formed of resilient ear contacting material attached to the inner periphery of the support member (35) defining an inner recess (61) to proximately accommodate the pinna of the wearer's ear within the pocket. The pocket (39) being partly attached to the side edges of the support member (35) to define a pair of openings. One opening (63) is disposed at the bottom of the support member (35) and another opening (65) is disposed at the top of the support member. The openings are sized to pass the chin strap (25) through so that the ear protector (13) is positively engaged by the chin strap against the side of the head and covering the ear of the wearer, when fitted thereon.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.