# US 2022/0031004 A1 · Nape Pad for a Helmet

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- Number: US 2022/0031004 A1
- Document ID: US20220031004A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/413,389
- Filed: 2019-12-31
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-04
- Assignees: Gentex Corporation
- Applicants: Gentex Corporation
- Inventors: Matthew Hanudel; Duco Noordzij
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220031004A1

## CPC

- A42B 3/127: {with removable or adjustable pads}
- A42B 3/085: {Occipital retention systems}
- A42B 3/105: {with additional protection for the neck (protective garments for neck or shoulder area A41D13/0512)}
- A42B 3/121: {with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid}
- A42B 3/142: {with restraining or stabilizing means, e.g. nape straps (A42B3/085 takes precedence)}
- A42B 3/145: {Size adjustment devices}
- F41H 1/08: of plastics; Plastic head-shields
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A nape pad for use with a helmet, the nape pad comprising: a base comprised of a rigid material and having an outer surface and an inner surface, a left side and a right side, and a top edge and a bottom edge, the outer surface being generally convex from the left side to the right side and having an upper portion proximate the top edge and a lower portion proximate the bottom edge, the upper portion being generally smooth and configured to extend into and slide along an inner surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the base being generally concave from the left side to the right side; a fastener coupled to the lower portion of the base and configured to releasably couple to a retention system of the helmet; and at least one compressible comfort pad coupled to the inner surface of the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nape pad for use with a helmet, the nape pad comprising:
a base comprised of a rigid material and having an outer surface and an inner surface, a left side and a right side, and a top edge and a bottom edge, the outer surface being generally convex from the left side to the right side and having an upper portion proximate the top edge and a lower portion proximate the bottom edge, the upper portion being generally smooth and configured to extend into and slide along an inner surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the base being generally concave from the left side to the right side;
a fastener coupled to the lower portion of the base and configured to releasably couple to a retention system of the helmet; and
at least one compressible comfort pad coupled to the inner surface of the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the top edge is defined in one plane by the a radius of an arcuate portion of a circle, the arcuate portion configured to generally contour to the nape of a user's neck.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge has generally the same radius as the top edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the base has a width defined by the lateral distance between the left and right sides and a height defined by a longitudinal distance between the top and bottom edge, the height being generally equal to the width.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the base has a width defined by the lateral distance between the left and right sides and a height defined by a longitudinal distance between top and bottom edge, the height being greater than or equal to the width.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of one or more of a ceramic material, an aromatic fiber, a metal, a polycarbonate, or a reinforced polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge includes a flared portion extending along the bottom edge, the flared portion being curved away from the inner surface of the base.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes indicia markings corresponding to a plurality of attachment positions along the fastener.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a first fastener and the base includes a second fastener coupled to the inner surface, wherein the at least one compressible comfort pad is releasably coupled to the second fastener.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The nape pad of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a plurality of hooks to form half of a hook and loop fastener.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A retention system for a helmet, the retention system comprising:
the nape pad of claim 1;
the helmet having a front area, rear area and a bottom periphery; and
the retention system coupled to the helmet and the at least one fastener of the nape pad,
wherein the upper portion is slidably coupled to the inner surface of the helmet.

### Claim 12

A helmet system comprising:
a helmet having a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom periphery;
a retention system comprised of, at least one front strap coupled to an inside surface of the helmet and extending downwardly from the front portion of the helmet, at least one rear strap coupled to the inside surface of the helmet and extending downwardly from the rear portion of the helmet, and at least one cross strap coupling the at least one rear strap and at least one front strap, the at least one cross strap being generally transverse to one or more of the at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap;
a base comprised of a rigid material and having an outer surface, an inner surface, a left side, a right side, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the outer surface being generally convex from the left side to the right side and having an upper portion proximate the top edge and a lower portion proximate the bottom edge, the upper portion slidably coupled to the inside surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the base being generally concave from the left side to the right side;
a first fastener coupled to the lower portion of the base and releasably coupled to the retention system, the first fastener including a plurality of loops to form half of a hook and loop fastener;
at least one compressible comfort pad coupled to the inner surface of the base; and
a second fastener coupled to the base opposite the first fastener, the second fastener including a plurality of hooks to form half of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the at least one compressible pad is coupled to the second fastener.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The helmet system of claim 12, wherein the base has a width defined by the lateral distance between the left and right sides and a height defined by a longitudinal distance between the top and bottom edge, the height being greater than or equal to the width.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The helmet system of claim 12, wherein the bottom edge includes a flared portion extending along the bottom edge, the flared portion being curved away from the inner surface of the base.