Sports helmet having slotted padding for receiving the ears of a user

Abstract

A sports helmet configured for protecting a user's head. The helmet includes a shell and a padding assembly. The shell includes first and second side panels sized to generally cover the ears of the user. The shell and the first and second side panels have an inner surface. The padding assembly is coupled to the inner surface, and includes first and second pad sub-assemblies extending over at least a portion of the inner surface of the first and second side panels, respectively. The first and second pad sub-assemblies include first and second slots, respectively. Each of the first and second slots upwardly extends from a lower edge of the first and second pad sub-assemblies. Each of the first and second slots is sized to receive the user's ears and to facilitate the placement and removal of the helmet onto, and from, the user's head.

1 . A batting helmet configured for protecting a batter's head, the helmet comprising: 
 a shell including at least one side panel sized to generally cover at least one of the batter's ears, the shell and the side panel having an inner surface; and    a pad assembly coupled to the inner surface, and including at least one pad sub-assembly extending over at least a portion of the inner surface of the side panel, the pad sub-assembly including a slot upwardly extending from a lower edge of the pad sub-assembly, the slot sized to receive the batter's ear and to facilitate the placement and removal of the helmet onto, and from, the batter's head.    
   
   
       2 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel is first and second side panels, wherein the first and second side panels generally cover the left and right ears of the batter, respectively, and wherein the at least one pad sub-assembly includes first and second pad sub-assemblies extending over the inner surface of the first and second side panels, respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The batting helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second pad sub-assemblies include first and second slots, respectively.  
   
   
       4 . The batting helmet of  claim 1  wherein the pad sub-assembly a multilayered pad.  
   
   
       5 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the pad sub-assembly is affixed to the inner surface of the side panel.  
   
   
       6 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the pad sub-assembly is a single layered pad.  
   
   
       7 . The batting helmet of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second pad sub-assemblies includes at least two spaced-apart pads defining the first and second slots.  
   
   
       8 . The batting helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the helmet further includes a chin strap releasably connectable between the first and second side panels.  
   
   
       9 . The batting helmet of  claim 8 , wherein the strap is releasably connected to the shell through a fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop type fastener, a snap, a releasable buckle, a press-fit connector, a button and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The batting helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second side panels include first and second through holes, respectively, positioned adjacent to the user's ears, and wherein the first and second through holes are contiguous with the first and second slots, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The batting helmet of  claim 1  wherein the shell further includes a bill.  
   
   
       12 . The batting helmet of  claim 1  further comprises a face mask matably coupled to the shell.  
   
   
       13 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is formed of a substantially rigid and durable material.  
   
   
       14 . The batting helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the material of the shell is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, a polycarbonate, a plastic, other polymers, aluminum, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A sports helmet configured for protecting a user's head, the helmet comprising: 
 a shell including first and second side panels sized to generally cover the ears of the user, the shell and the first and second side panels having an inner surface; and    a pad assembly coupled to the inner surface, and including first and second pad sub-assemblies extending over at least a portion of the inner surface of the first and second side panels, respectively, the first and second pad sub-assemblies including first and second slots, respectively, each of the first and second slots upwardly extending from a lower edge of the first and second pad sub-assemblies, each of the first and second slots being sized to receive the user's ears and to facilitate the placement and removal of the helmet onto, and from, the user's head.    
   
   
       16 . The sports helmet of  claim 15  wherein each of the first and second pad sub-assemblies is a multilayered pad.  
   
   
       17 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second pad sub-assemblies are affixed to the inner surface of the first and second side panels, respectively.  
   
   
       18 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the pad sub-assembly is a single layered pad.  
   
   
       19 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second pad sub-assemblies includes at least two spaced-apart pads defining the first and second slots.  
   
   
       20 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second side panels include first and second through holes, respectively, positioned adjacent to the user's ears, and wherein the first and second through holes are contiguous with the first and second slots, respectively.  
   
   
       21 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the helmet further includes a chin strap releasably connectable between the first and second side panels.  
   
   
       22 . The sports helmet of  claim 22 , wherein the strap is releasably connected to the shell through a fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop type fastener, a snap, a releasable buckle, a press-fit connector, a button and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       23 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the shell further includes a bill.  
   
   
       24 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the helmet further comprises a face mask matably coupled to the shell.  
   
   
       25 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the shell is formed of a substantially rigid and durable material.  
   
   
       26 . The sports helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the material of the shell is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, a polycarbonate, a plastic, other polymers, aluminum, and combinations thereof.