Head and neck protector

Abstract

A head projector comprises a protective skirt for use with a helmet for protecting parts of a wearer's head below the peripheral edge of the helmet, such as the temporal and occipital regions. The protective skirt comprises one or more layers of high tensile strength flexible material, such as an aramid material and a securing mechanism for enabling the skirt to be suspended from the helmet in the required position. The protective skirt may extend to a position below a person's head to cover and protect a person's neck region.

1 . A protective skirt for protecting at least one of a head and neck region of a wearer, the protective skirt comprising at least one layer of high tensile strength flexible material and securing means for enabling the skirt to be held at a position adjacent the head of a wearer. 
     
     
         2 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of layers of high tensile strength material. 
     
     
         3 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the high tensile strength material comprises an aramid or other polymeric fibre. 
     
     
         4 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least one cover layer of material covering at least a portion of the high tensile strength material. 
     
     
         5 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said securing means comprises at least one of:
 (1) attachment means for attaching said skirt to a helmet;   (2) a head cap for wearing on the head of the wearer;   (3) a helmet cover for covering a helmet; and   (4) a balaclava.   
     
     
         6 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising attachment means for releasably attaching the skirt to the head cap or to the helmet cover. 
     
     
         7 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said protective skirt is suspended from said head cap or helmet cover. 
     
     
         8 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said helmet comprises a retention system, and said attachment means is arranged to attach to said helmet retention system. 
     
     
         9 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said retention system comprises at least one strap or band, and said attachment means comprises a web or strap for attaching to and/or around said strap or band. 
     
     
         10 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said attachment means includes a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         11 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the strap or band of the retention system of said helmet is disposed around the lower peripheral edge of the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securing means comprises means for securing the protective skirt to an inside surface of a helmet shell. 
     
     
         13 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the helmet comprises one or more surface fasteners on the inside surface thereof and said attachment means comprises a complementary fastener for fastening to the helmet fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein one or more of said fasteners comprise a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         15 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of skirt sections, each section being connected to an adjacent section. 
     
     
         16 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each section comprises one or more layers of high tensile strength flexible material. 
     
     
         17 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least two adjacent sections overlap. 
     
     
         18 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least two adjacent sections are connected together by a plurality of spaced connector means providing regions between the connection means where the sections are disconnected from each other. 
     
     
         19 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein at least one connection means comprises a flexible web of material. 
     
     
         20 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein one section of the skirt comprises an upper section and another section comprises a lower section below said upper section. 
     
     
         21 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the lower section is suspended from the upper section. 
     
     
         22 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the skirt includes a rear portion for protecting the back of the head. 
     
     
         23 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the skirt is sized to cover at least a side portion of the head of a wearer. 
     
     
         24 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said balaclava includes attachment means for attaching said protective skirt thereto. 
     
     
         25 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said attachment means comprises a pocket. 
     
     
         26 . A protective skirt as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said pocket is formed on the inside of said balaclava. 
     
     
         27 . A balaclava comprising one or more layers of high tensile strength material positioned to cover at least a portion of a wearer's head and/or neck. 
     
     
         28 . A balaclava as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said layer of high tensile strength material is arranged to cover at least one of a portion of the back of the head and a portion of the side of the head. 
     
     
         29 . A balaclava as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said high tensile strength material is arranged to cover an occipital region and/or temporal region of a wearer's head. 
     
     
         30 . A balaclava as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said protective skirt comprises a plurality of layers of high tensile strength material. 
     
     
         31 . A head protector comprising a plate having opposed upper and lower edges and opposed right and left side edges, said plate having a concave inner surface between said side edges for conforming generally to the shape of the base of the rear of a person's skull, and a convex outer surface between the opposed side edges, wherein the plate comprises a ballistic resistant structure. 
     
     
         32 . A head protector as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising a fastener for fastening the plate to a helmet. 
     
     
         33 . A head protector as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said fastener comprises a flexible or hinged fastener for enabling the head protector to move back and forth relative to a helmet. 
     
     
         34 . A head protector as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said plate comprises any one or more of a ceramic material, a plastics material, one or more layers of high tensile strength fabric, one or more layers of an aramid material, one or more layers of a polymeric material and one or more layers of a foam material. 
     
     
         35 . A head protector as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said plate is sized to cover the occipital region and said side edges extend to a position behind a person's ears. 
     
     
         36 . A head protector as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said plate includes a lower portion adjacent the lower peripheral edge which is directed outwardly relative to an upper portion of said plate.