Sports helmet protective device
OwnerNorman E. Allisoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modified football helmet has an inner cap attached by elastic straps to the inside of the helmet shell providing a space above the cap. The helmet is further modified incorporating a rigid collar extending outwardly from the bottom of the helmet which has a lower surface positioned a distance above two upright post members extending upwardly from the rigid shoulder pads.
Claims17
A protection apparatus to be worn by a person participating in a sport, the apparatus comprising:
- (A) a helmet fitting over the head of the person, the helmet comprising:
- (i) a rigid outer shell of a size and shape to encompass a major portion of the person's head, the shell comprising:
- (a) an inside surface defining an interior cavity bounded by an inside upper surface section and, an inside side surface section around the perifery of the inside surface, and
- (b) an outer surface having a lower section,
- (ii) a cap of a size and shape to extend over an upper portion of the person's head,
- (iii) attachment means connecting the cap peripherally to the inside side surface section of the shell and providing elastic resistance against movement of the cap upwardly a first distance to the inside upper surface section of the shell, and
- (iv) a rigid annular collar attached to and extending outwardly from the lower section of the outer surface of the shell, the collar comprising a firm lower horizontal surface,
- (B) force distribution means on shoulders of the person to distribute a downwardly directed force over an area of the person's body, and
- (C) a pair of vertical members attached on top of the force distribution means, each of the members positioned over opposite shoulders of the person and comprising an upper end surface positioned a second distance under the lower horizontal surface of the collar,
- wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
Protection apparatus for a person participating in a sport wearing shoulder pads comprising rigid panels on shoulders of the person to distribute a downwardly directed force over an area of the person's body, the apparatus comprising:
- (A) a helmet fitting over the head of the person, the helmet comprising:
- (i) a rigid outer shell of a size and shape to encompass a major portion of the person's head, the shell comprising:
- (a) an inside surface having an inside side surface section around the perifery of the inside surface, and
- (b) an outer surface having a lower section,
- (ii) padding means on the inside surface of the shell to provide a cushion against the person's head, said means defining an interior padded cavity bounded by an upper padded interior surface,
- (iii) a cap of a size and shape to extend over an upper portion of the person's head,
- (iii) attachment means connecting the cap peripherally to the inside side surface section of the shell and providing elastic resistance against movement of the cap upwardly a first distance to the upper padded interior surface, and
- (iv) a rigid annular collar attached to and extending outwardly from the lower section of the outer surface of the shell, the collar comprising a firm lower horizontal surface with an outer partial circular edge,
- (B) force distribution means on shoulders of the person to distribute a downwardly directed force over an area of the person's body, and
- (C) a pair of vertical members attached on top of the force distribution means, each of the members positioned over opposite shoulders of the person and comprising an upper end surface positioned a second distance under the lower horizontal surface of the collar,
- wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.