Helmet padding system

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are directed to helmet padding systems. One helmet padding system includes a rigid shell and a spacing pad. The rigid shell is configured to cover a top of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap. The rigid shell includes an opening formed in an area of the rigid shell opposite the front of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn on the user's head. The spacing pad is positioned within the rigid shell. The spacing pad includes a layer of elastomeric material. The helmet padding system may further include the baseball cap positioned overtop the rigid shell. The baseball cap has a cut-out in a rear portion thereof.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a rigid shell configured to cover a top of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap, the rigid shell including an opening formed in an area of the rigid shell opposite the front of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn on the user's head; and   a spacing pad positioned within the rigid shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is surrounded on all sides by material of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet padding system of  claim 2 , wherein the opening has an elliptical or circular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet padding system of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid shell includes a bridge portion extending between an edge of the opening and a lower circumferential edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable portion configured to fit within and fill the opening of the rigid shell, the removable portion formed of the same material as the rigid shell. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet padding system of  claim 5 , wherein the removable portion is configured to be attached to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid shell comprises a continuous lower circumferential edge extending around the entire rigid shell. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet padding system of  claim 7 , wherein the lower circumferential edge extends approximately in a single plane. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid shell comprises a body portion and a pair of side portions, the body portion having a lower front edge between the pair of side portions, the pair of side portions extending downward below the lower front edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet padding system of  claim 9 , wherein the side portions are sized to cover the user's temples when the rigid shell is worn by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet padding system of  claim 9 , wherein a lower rear edge of the body portion opposite the lower front edge of the body portion extends approximately in a same plane as the lower front edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid shell comprises at least one elevated ridge extending from an area adjacent a lower front edge of the rigid shell toward a lower rear edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion extending circumferentially around an entire lower circumferential edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet padding system of  claim 13 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a portion extending from an area adjacent a lower front edge of the rigid shell over an apex of the rigid shell to an area adjacent a lower rear edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet padding system of  claim 16 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         18 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a cap having a cut-out in a rear portion thereof;   a rigid shell configured to be worn under the cap, the rigid shell comprising an opening formed in an area of the rigid shell directly beneath the cut-out in the cap when the rigid shell is worn under the cap; and   a spacing pad positioned within the rigid shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material.   
     
     
         19 . The helmet padding system of  claim 18 , wherein the opening in the rigid shell is surrounded on all sides by material of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet padding system of  claim 19 , wherein the opening has an elliptical or circular shape. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet padding system of  claim 19 , wherein the rigid shell includes a bridge portion extending between an edge of the opening and a lower circumferential edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet padding system of  claim 18 , further comprising a removable portion configured to fit within the opening of the rigid shell, the removable portion formed of the same material as the rigid shell. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet padding system of  claim 22 , wherein the removable portion is configured to be attached to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         24 . The helmet padding system of  claim 18 , wherein the rigid shell comprises a continuous lower circumferential edge extending around the entire rigid shell. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet padding system of  claim 24 , wherein the lower circumferential edge of the rigid shell is positioned approximately in a same plane as a lower edge of the cap when the rigid shell is worn under the cap. 
     
     
         26 . The helmet padding system of  claim 18 , wherein the cap is an adjustable baseball cap, and the cut-out in the cap is formed in an area adjacent an adjustable strap of the adjustable baseball cap. 
     
     
         27 . The helmet padding system of  claim 18 , wherein the rigid shell comprises a body portion and a pair of side portions, the pair of side portions extending downward below a lower edge of the cap. 
     
     
         28 . The helmet padding system of  claim 27 , wherein the side portions are sized to cover the user's temples when the rigid shell is worn by the user. 
     
     
         29 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a rigid shell comprising a body portion and a pair of side portions, the body portion configured to cover a top of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap, the body portion having a lower front edge between the pair of side portions, the pair of side portions extending downward below the lower front edge of the body portion;   a facemask coupled to the rigid shell, the facemask configured to cover the user's face when the rigid shell is worn by the user; and   a spacing pad positioned within the rigid shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material.   
     
     
         30 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein the side portions are sized to cover the user's temples when the rigid shell is worn by the user. 
     
     
         31 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein the rigid shell comprises a lower rear edge between the pair of side portions. 
     
     
         32 . The helmet padding system of  claim 31 , wherein the lower rear edge extends along approximately a same circumferential line as a lower edge of the pair of side portions. 
     
     
         33 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein the body portion of the rigid shell comprises a pair of cutouts on ends of the lower front edge between the lower from edge and the respective side portions. 
     
     
         34 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein the body portion of the rigid shell includes a cutout in an area of the body portion opposite the lower front edge. 
     
     
         35 . The helmet padding system of  claim 34 , further comprising a removable portion configured to fit within the cutout of the rigid shell, the removable portion formed of the same material as the rigid shell. 
     
     
         36 . The helmet padding system of  claim 35 , wherein the removable portion includes a plurality of tabs configured to create a frictional coupling with the rigid shell by contacting outer and inner surfaces of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         37 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein the facemask is removably coupled to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         38 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , wherein each side portion of the rigid shell includes one or more attachment points for attachment of the facemask to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         39 . The helmet padding system of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more attachment points comprise one or more grooves sized to receive a bar portion of the facemask. 
     
     
         40 . The helmet padding system of  claim 38 , wherein the lower front edge of the rigid shell includes one or more additional attachment points for attachment of the facemask to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         41 . The helmet padding system of  claim 40 , wherein the attachment points of the side portions and the lower front edge each comprise a groove sized to receive a respective bar portion of the facemask. 
     
     
         42 . The helmet padding system of  claim 40 , wherein the respective bar portions of the facemask are removably received in respective grooves. 
     
     
         43 . The helmet padding system of  claim 29 , further comprising a chinstrap coupled to the rigid shell, the chin strap configured to cover the user's chin when the rigid shell is worn by the user. 
     
     
         44 . The helmet padding system of  claim 43 , wherein each side portion of the rigid shell includes one or more attachment points for attachment of the chin strap to the rigid shell. 
     
     
         45 . The helmet padding system of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more attachment points comprise one or more slots accommodating snaps that connect with a corresponding structure on the chin strap.