Hockey helmet with self-adjusting padding

A pad assembly for use in a protective helmet shell, said pad assembly being formed of shock-absorbing material and comprising a front pad assembly, a back pad assembly, an intermediate pad assembly centrally positioned between said front pad assembly and said back pad assembly, and an interlocking tongue, said intermediate pad assembly being slidably connected to said front pad assembly and to said back pad assembly by said interlocking tongue, wherein said intermediate pad assembly has a front portion and a rear portion, and said interlocking tongue protrudes from both said front portion and said rear portion of said intermediate pad assembly and has a length sufficient to partially overlap said front pad assembly and said back pad assembly.

A protective helmet comprising:

• an outer rigid helmet shell having a front portion, a back portion and an inner surface and being shaped to protect top, rear, front and side regions of the head of a wearer;
• and
• a pad assembly disposed in said helmet shell, said pad assembly being formed of a shock-absorbing material and having a front pad assembly secured to said front portion, a back pad assembly secured to said back portion, and a loose intermediate pad assembly centrally positioned between said front pad assembly and said back pad assembly, and wherein said intermediate pad assembly is slidably connected to said front pad assembly and to said back pad assembly.

A protective helmet comprising

• an outer rigid helmet shell having a front portion, a back portion, and an inner surface and being shaped to protect top, rear, front, and side regions of the head of a wearer;
• and
• a pad assembly disposed in said helmet shell, said pad assembly being formed of a shock-absorbing material and having a front pad assembly, a back pad assembly, an intermediate pad assembly centrally positioned between said front pad assembly and said back pad assembly, and an interlocking tongue and wherein said intermediate pad assembly is slidably connected to said front pad assembly and to said back pad assembly by said interlocking tongue.