Flexible helmet

A flexible protective helmet assembly comprising a plurality of relatively rigid discreet impact resistant and energy absorbent structures arranged into an inner layer of structures, a plurality of relatively rigid impact resistant fixedly attached segments arranged into an outer layer of segments, flexible elastic material fixedly attaching said structures to abutting structures of said inner layer of structures and fixedly attaching said segments to said inner layer of structures, said flexible elastic material selected from a group consisting of flexible elastic textile fabric and flexible elastic sheet form material, wherein the upper lateral margins of said structures form a crown area, and wherein means are included fixedly attaching said flexible elastic material to said structures and to said segments, said means including an adhesive chemical compound, whereby said helmet provides a wearer protection from impacts substantially equivalent to that provided by helmets employing and comprising in part substantially unitary relatively rigid outer shells.