Helmet padding system

Abstract

Helmet padding systems are disclosed. One helmet padding system includes a rigid shell configured to cover a top of a user's head and be worn under a piece of headgear. The rigid shell includes a first pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from a back of the user's head toward a front of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn on the user's head. A spacing pad is positioned within the rigid shell. Another helmet padding system includes a rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap. The rigid shell includes a lower edge and an upper edge. The lower edge extends around no more than half of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn under the baseball cap. A spacing pad is positioned within the rigid shell.

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 piece of headgear, the rigid shell comprising a first pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from a back of the user's head toward a 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 first pair of slots are positioned on either side of an apex of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet padding system of  claim 2 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion coupled to the rigid shell between the first pair of slots. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of slots increases in width in the direction from the back of the user's head toward the front of the user's head. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet padding system of claim wherein the rigid shell further comprises a second pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from the front of the user's head toward the back of the user's head. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet padding system of  claim 6 , wherein the second pair of slots extend along lines which are outward from the first pair of slots relative to an apex of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet padding system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the second pair of slots has a constant width. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet padding system of  claim 6 , wherein the first of slots and second pair of slots do not contact one another. 
     
     
         10 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a rigid shell configured to cover at least a portion of a user's head and be worn under a baseball cap, the rigid shell including a lower edge and an upper edge, the lower edge extending around no more than half of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn under the baseball cap; and   a spacing pad positioned within the rigid shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet padding system of  claim 10 , wherein the lower edge extends approximately in a single plane. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet padding system of  claim 10 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion extending circumferentially along an entirety of the lower edge of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet padding system of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid shell further comprises a pair of slats extending from the upper edge toward the lower edge. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet padding system of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of slots are positioned on either side of an apex of the rigid shell. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet padding system of  claim 1  wherein the spacing pad comprises a portion coupled to the rigid shell between the pair of slots. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet adding system ref  claim 10 , where the upper edge extends in a plane which is parallel to a plane in which the lower edge extends. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet padding system of  claim 16 , wherein, the rapper edge, maintains a predetermined distance from the lower edge.