Protective headgear systems

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to protective headgear. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a protective headgear system is disclosed. The protective headgear system includes an elongated pad having a width, a length greater than the width, and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending along the length of the elongated pad. The protective headgear system further includes a pair of side pads coupled to the elongated pad, each side pad having a half disk shape with a semicircular edge and a diameter edge; and a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads therein.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective headgear system comprising:
 an elongated pad having a width, a length greater than the width, and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending along the length of the elongated pad;   a pair of side pads coupled to the elongated pad, each side pad having a half disk shape with a semicircular edge and a diameter edge; and   a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads therein.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the semicircular edge of each side pad is adjacent a respective longitudinal edge of the elongated pad. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the semicircular edge of each side pad has a length approximately the same as the length of the longitudinal edges of the elongated pad. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal sides of the elongated pad are concave or convex. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal sides of the elongated pad are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated pad further comprises a pair of opposed end edges extending between the longitudinal edges of the elongated pad. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each end edge of the elongated pad extends from one of the diameter edges to the other one of the diameter edges. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the end edges and the diameter edges define a rim of the system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the elongated pad extends from a rear of the user's head to a front of the user's head. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the elongated pad extends to a forehead of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the elongated pad extends to a top portion of a neck of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the side pads extend to a top portion of each ear of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the diameter edge of each side pad is positioned lower than the top of each ear of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated pad and the side pads contain at least one impact resistant layer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one impact resistant layer consists of a single elastomer layer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one impact resistant layer includes an elastomer layer and a high-tensile strength fibrous layer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are formed from a unitary piece of folded fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are stitched together. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are stitched together along the semicircular edge of each side pad. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket accommodating the elongated pad is stitched to the pockets accommodating each side pad. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket accommodating the elongated pad is formed from a unitary piece of fabric with the pockets accommodating each side pad. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pockets are each stitched to a separate fabric layer. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated pad and the side pads are each affixed to a respective one of the pockets. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the elongated pad and the side pads are affixed to the respective one of the pockets via stitching. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the elongated pad and the side pads are affixed to the respective one of the pockets via an adhesive. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a helmet configured to be positioned overtop of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the helmet is unconnected with the elongated pad and the pair of side pads. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a constriction band attached to a rim of the system, the constriction band formed from a ring of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the constriction band is formed from elastane fibers. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pockets are formed from elastane fibers. 
     
     
         32 . A protective headgear system comprising:
 an elongated pad having a width, a length greater than the width, a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending parallel to one another along the length, and a pair of opposed end edges extending between the longitudinal edges;   a pair of side pads coupled to the elongated pad, each side pad having a half disk shape with a semicircular edge and a diameter edge, the semicircular edge of each side pad being adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge of the elongated pad and having a length approximately the same as the length of the longitudinal edges of the elongated pad;   each end edge of the elongated pad extends from one of the diameter edges to the other one of the diameter edges such that the end edges and the diameter edges define a rim of the system;   the elongated pad and the side pads containing at least one impact resistant layer, the at least one impact resistant layer including an elastomer layer;   a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads therein; and   when the system is worn on a user's head the elongated pad extends from a rear of the user's head to a front of the user's head and the side pads extend to a top portion of each ear of the user.   
     
     
         33 . A protective headgear system comprising:
 three or more side pads, each side pad having two side edges and an arc edge, each side edge having a first end and a second end, the arc edge extending from the first end of one side edge to the first end of the other side edge, and each side pad further having a separation extending from the second end of each side edge to a center portion of the side pad, the side pads coupled to one another such that each first end is positioned at common location with another first end, and such that all second ends are positioned at a common vertex; and   a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the side pads therein.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the separation comprises a cut in the side pad delineating a first cut edge and a second cut edge. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the first cut edge and the second cut edge are secured to one another. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein when the first cut edge is positioned adjacent the second cut edge, the respective side pad forms a curve. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the separation comprises a removed portion of the side pad, the removed portion having a triangular shape. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the system comprises exactly four of the side pads. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein when the system is worn on a user's head the system extends from a rear of the user's head to a front of the user's head and from a top portion of the user's head to each ear of the user. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the side pads contain at least one impact resistant layer. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are formed from a unitary piece of folded fabric. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are stitched together. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are stitched together along the side edges of each side pad. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of pockets are each stitched to a separate fabric layer.