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 at least a portion of a top of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap. The rigid shell includes a pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from a back of the user's head to 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.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of a top of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap, the rigid shell including a pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from a back of the user's head to 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 rigid shell comprises a lower circumferential edge configured to extend around less than all of the user's head. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet padding system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower circumferential edge extends approximately in a single plane. 
     
     
         4 . 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 rear edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet padding system of  claim 7 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of slots are positioned on either side of an apex of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion coupled to the rigid shell between the pair of slots. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet padding system of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the spacing pad coupled to the rigid shell between the pair of slots is positioned adjacent a rear edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         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 rear edge of the rigid shell, and
 wherein the pair of slots are positioned on either side of the at least one elevated ridge.   
     
     
         13 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion extending circumferentially around at least a portion of a lower circumferential edge of the rigid shell.