Soccer helmet

Abstract

A soccer helmet includes a generally dome-shaped padding layer and a generally dome-shaped shell layer fitting over and attached to the padding layer. The padding layer might have a substantially uniform thickness of approximately ⅜ inches. The shell layer is smooth and has some rigidity such that when the soccer helmet is being worn on a human head, the ball rebounds from the shell layer in about the same direction and with about the same speed, or with a greater speed, as the soccer ball would if rebounded off an unprotected human head. Therefore, the soccer helmet does not interfere with heading a soccer ball. The soccer helmet protects the head from repetitive blows due to, for example, heading. Furthermore, the soccer helmet protects the head from single event injuries such as collisions with goalposts, the ground, and other players' head, knees, elbows, and feet.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A soccer helmet comprising: 
 a generally dome-shaped padding layer having inside and outside surfaces; and    a generally dome-shaped shell layer having inside and outside surfaces, wherein the inside surface of the shell layer is attached to the outside surface of the padding layer,    wherein the outside surface of the shell layer is smooth such that, when the soccer helmet is being work on a human head, a soccer ball rebounding off the shell layer rebounds in substantially the same direction as the soccer ball would rebound if rebounded directly from the human head,    wherein the shell layer has a resiliency such that, when the soccer helmet is being worn on the human head, the soccer ball rebounds off the shell layer with substantially the same speed or more as the soccer ball would rebound if rebounded directly from the human head.    
     
     
         2 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 means for securing the padding layer and shell layer to the human head.    
     
     
         3 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the generally dome-shaped padding layer has a substantially uniform thickness.  
     
     
         4 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the generally dome-shaped padding layer has a substantially uniform thickness at an area corresponding to the temple and crown of the human head.  
     
     
         5 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the generally dome-shaped padding layer has a thickness of approximately ⅜ inches.  
     
     
         6 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the generally dome-shaped padding layer has a thickness of approximately ⅜ inches at an area corresponding to the temple and crown of the human head.  
     
     
         7 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the generally dome-shaped shell layer comprises: 
 a major portion for covering a forehead and crown of the human head; and    a minor portion for covering a rearward portion of the human head, wherein the major portion is flexibly coupled to the minor portion.    
     
     
         8 . The soccer helmet of    claim 7   , wherein the minor portion of the generally dome-shaped shell layer is a first minor portion of the dome-shaped shell layer, the generally dome-shaped shell layer further comprising: 
 a second minor portion for covering an intermediate portion of the human head between the crown and the rearward portion of the human head, wherein the second minor portion is flexibly coupled to the first minor portion and to the major portion.    
     
     
         9 . The soccer helmet of    claim 8   , wherein the first and second minor portions of the generally dome-shaped shell layer define holes, wherein the padding layer defined corresponding holes such that ambient air contacts the human head through the holes when the soccer helmet is worn on the human head.  
     
     
         10 . The soccer helmet of    claim 8   , wherein the first minor portion of the shell layer defines a hole, wherein the padding layer defines a corresponding hole sized such that a pony tail from the human head can fit through the hole.  
     
     
         11 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , further comprising means for attaching the generally dome-shaped shell layer to the generally dome-shaped padding layer.  
     
     
         12 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a Velcro™ compatible loop material coupled to one of the shell layer or padding layer; and    a Velcro™ sheet coupled to the other of the shell layer or padding layer, wherein the shell layer is attached to the padding layer by contacting the loop material with the sheet.    
     
     
         13 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , further comprising a chin strap coupled to one of the padding layer or shell layer for securing the padding layer and shell layer to the human head when the soccer helmet is worn on the human head.  
     
     
         14 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the padding layer is removably attached to the shell layer.  
     
     
         15 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the padding layer comprises closed cell foam.  
     
     
         16 . The soccer helmet of    claim 1   , wherein the outer surface of the shell layer is smooth at an area corresponding to a human forehead.  
     
     
         17 . A method comprising: 
 forming a soccer helmet padding layer, the padding layer having a uniform thickness at an area corresponding to a forehead;    forming a soccer helmet shell layer shaped to fit over the soccer helmet padding layer; and    attaching the soccer helmet shell layer to the soccer helmet padding layer.    
     
     
         18 . A method comprising: 
 attaching a soccer helmet padding layer to a soccer helmet shell layer; and    removing the soccer helmet padding layer from the soccer helmet shell layer.