Helmet moisture removal system

Abstract

A moisture removal system for a helmet is provided. The moisture removal system includes an absorbent region that is positioned inside the helmet and an evaporative region positioned outside the helmet, and is made of a moisture wicking material that carries moisture collected by the absorbent region to the evaporative region where it is dispersed by evaporation. The moisture removal system can withdraw moisture from other helmet components such as pads and/or the harness, and can be provided within a helmet or as a kit that is used to upgrade existing helmets.

1 . A protective helmet, comprising:
 a concave shell of protective material including an inside surface and an outside surface, configured to cover at least an upper portion of a user's head, and   a moisture removal system comprising an absorbent region and an evaporative region, wherein the absorbent region is positioned on the inside surface and the evaporative region is positioned outside of the helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent region is attached to a helmet liner, harness, or padding system within the helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative region is positioned on the outside surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         4 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture removal system comprises a plurality of sheets. 
     
     
         5 . The protective helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of sheets comprise a moisture wicking material, and each of the sheets includes an absorbent region and an evaporative region. 
     
     
         6 . The protective helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the moisture wicking material comprises a polyester or polypropylene fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture removal system comprises a single sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The protective helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the moisture removal system comprises a moisture wicking material. 
     
     
         9 . The protective helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the moisture removal system includes a strap for holding a pad in the absorbent region and the evaporative region comprises a plurality of straps that can be attached at the ends of the straps when they are wrapped over the outside surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein a connective region is provided between the absorbent region and the evaporative region. 
     
     
         11 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative region is configured as camouflage. 
     
     
         12 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent region is attached to a helmet liner, suspension, or padding system within the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The protective helmet of  claim 12 , wherein the padding system comprises a plurality of pads that include moisture wicking material that are connected by piping material to an absorbent region. 
     
     
         14 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative region includes one or more folds in order to increase the evaporative surface area of the evaporative region. 
     
     
         15 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the protective helmet is a combat helmet. 
     
     
         16 . A moisture removal kit for a helmet, comprising one or more sheets of moisture wicking material, each of which includes an absorbent region and an evaporative region, and means for attaching the absorbent region to the inside of the helmet and the evaporative region to the outside of the helmet. 
     
     
         17 . The moisture removal kit of  claim 16 , wherein the moisture wicking material comprises a polyester or polypropylene fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The moisture removal kit of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sheets of moisture wicking material are connected by piping material that includes means for attachment to one or more pads inside a helmet. 
     
     
         19 . The moisture removal kit of  claim 16 , wherein the evaporative region includes one or more folds in order to increase the evaporative surface area of the evaporative region. 
     
     
         20 . The moisture removal kit of  claim 16 , wherein the absorbent regions include one or more attachment devices to attach the absorbent regions to a harness, pad, or the inside surface of the helmet.