Military Helmet

Abstract

Embodiments of a protective helmet have a shell formed from a cushioning material, a cushioning spacer layer coupled to the shell and only partially covering an inner surface of the shell, a ballistic-resistant inner shell having an outer surface attached to the cushioning spacer layer and an inner surface, and an innermost cushioning pad layer attached to the inner surface of the ballistic-resistant inner shell. A flexible thin cover extending around an outer surface of the cushioning shell and with or without graphics may be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective helmet comprising:
 a continuous cushioning material shell having an inner surface;   a cushioning spacer layer coupled to said cushioning shell, said cushioning spacer layer only partially covering said inner surface of said cushioning shell;   a continuous hard anti-ballistic inner shell having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface attached to said cushioning spacer layer;   an innermost cushioning pad layer attached to said inner surface of said hard inner structure.   
     
     
         2 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said hard anti-ballistic inner shell is formed from at least one of para-aramid synthetic fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.   
     
     
         3 . A helmet according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible thin cover extending around an outer surface of said cushioning shell.   
     
     
         4 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cushioning shell is formed from one of foam, thermoplastic polyurethane, and open-cell polyurethane.   
     
     
         5 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cushioning spacer layer is formed from at least one of foam, thermoplastic polyurethane, and open-cell polyurethane.   
     
     
         6 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said innermost cushioning pad layer is formed from at least one of foam, thermoplastic polyurethane, and open-cell polyurethane.   
     
     
         7 . A protective helmet according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said hard anti-ballistic inner shell is formed from a para-aramid synthetic fiber.   
     
     
         8 . A protective helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said cushioning spacer layer comprises at least one spacer defining spaces.   
     
     
         9 . A protective helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said at least one spacer comprises a plurality of spacers.   
     
     
         10 . A protective helmet according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said innermost cushioning pad layer comprises at least one pad defining spaces.   
     
     
         11 . A protective helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said innermost cushioning pad layer comprises a plurality of pads defining space therebetween.   
     
     
         12 . A protective helmet according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said flexible thin cover comprises one of a fabric, film and foil.   
     
     
         13 . A protective helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said flexible thin cover comprises one of ballistic nylon, polychloroprene, polyester fabric, para-aramid synthetic fiber, and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.   
     
     
         14 . A protective helmet according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said flexible thin cover is adapted to be removable from said cushioning shell without damaging said cushioning shell.   
     
     
         15 . A protective helmet, comprising:
 a continuous cushioning shell formed from at least one of foam and thermoplastic polyurethane, said continuous cushioning shell having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface;   a cushioning spacer layer coupled to and only partially covering said concave inner surface of said cushioning shell, said cushioning spacer layer including at least one pad defining first spaces and formed from at least one of foam and thermoplastic polyurethane;   a continuous ballistic-resistant inner shell having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, said convex outer surface of said ballistic-resistant inner shell attached to said cushioning spacer layer and formed from at least one of a para-aramid synthetic fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene;   an innermost cushioning pad layer attached to said concave inner surface of said ballistic-resistant inner shell and formed from at least one of foam, thermoplastic polyurethane, and open-cell polyurethane.   
     
     
         16 . A protective helmet according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a flexible thin cover extending around said outer convex surface of said cushioning shell.   
     
     
         17 . A protective helmet according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said flexible thin cover is adapted to camouflage said helmet.