Energy diverting football helmet

Abstract

An energy diverting football helmet is disclosed. The helmet contains the shell having an inside and an outside, padding positioned against the inside of the shell. There is also a face mask attached to the front of the football helmet, and a chin strap. On the outside of the shell there is a plurality of flexible energy divergent baffles (FEDB) attached to the outside of said shell. The flexible energy divergent baffle comprises a base, a flat top, and an offset baffle connecting the flat top with the base. On top of the base is a wafer, upon which resides an energy transferring bumper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) An energy diverting football helmet, said helmet comprising:
 a) a shell, said shell having an inside and an outside;   b) padding positioned against the inside of the shell;   c) a face mask attached to the front of the football helmet;   d) a chin strap; and   e) a plurality of flexible energy divergent baffles attached to the outside of said shell.   
     
     
         2 ) The football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each said flexible energy divergent baffle comprises:
 a) a base;   b) a flat top; and   c) an offset connector system connecting the flat top with the base.   
     
     
         3 ) The football helmet of  claim 2 , wherein each said flexible energy divergent baffle has a duro of no greater than 45. 
     
     
         4 ) The football helmet of  claim 3 , wherein each said flexible energy divergent baffle has a duro no greater than 35. 
     
     
         5 ) The football helmet of  claim 4 , wherein each said flexible energy divergent baffle has a duro no greater than 30. 
     
     
         6 ) The football helmet of  claim 4 , wherein each said flexible energy divergent baffle is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, or silicone. 
     
     
         7 ) The football helmet of  claim 2 , further comprising a wafer, said wafer affixed to said top of said flexible energy divergent baffle. 
     
     
         8 ) The football helmet of  claim 7 , further comprising a bumper, said bumper affixed to said wafer positioned on to of said flexible energy divergent baffle. 
     
     
         9 ) The football helmet of  claim 8 , wherein said bumper is comprised of a material consisting of rubber, plastic, or silicone. 
     
     
         10 ) The football helmet of  claim 2 , further comprising a bumper, wherein said bumper is affixed to said flexible energy divergent baffle. 
     
     
         11 ) The football helmet of  claim 8 , wherein said bumpers have a dur of between about 70 to about 100. 
     
     
         12 ) The football helmet of  claim 10  wherein said bumper has a dur of between about 70 to about 100. 
     
     
         13 ) The football helmet of  claim 9 , further comprising a soft plastic layer covering the bumpers, said soft plastic layer having a dur of no greater than about 50.