Protective headband

Abstract

Protective headbands are disclosed. One protective headband has a padding layer that includes a pair of first portions extending in a first direction along a first axis, a second portion extending in the first direction and spaced from the first axis, and a pair of angled portions connecting between the pair of first portions and the second portion. Another protective headband has a padding layer that includes a pair of first arcuate portions, and a second arcuate portion extending between the pair of first arcuate portions, the second arcuate portion curving in a same direction as the pair of first arcuate portions.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective headband, the protective headband having a padding layer comprising:
 a pair of first portions extending in a first direction along a first axis;   a second portion extending in the first direction and spaced from the first axis; and   a pair of angled portions connecting between the pair of first portions and the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of angled portions extend in an oblique direction relative to the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of angled portions extend at an angle between approximately 15° and approximately 23° relative to the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The headband of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of angled portions extend at an angle between approximately 17° and approximately 21° relative to the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of angled portions have a length of between approximately 2-4 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is spaced from the first axis a distance of between approximately 0.5-2.0 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer comprises at least one layer of elastomeric material and at least one layer of high tensile strength fibrous material. 
     
     
         8 . The headband of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one layer of high tensile strength fibrous material is configured to be positioned closer to the user than the at least one layer of elastomeric material when the headband is worn by a user. 
     
     
         9 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer is sufficiently flexible to maintain contact with a user's head along an entire circumference of the user's head. 
     
     
         10 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a width greater than a width of either of the pair of first portions. 
     
     
         11 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a substantially straight shape. 
     
     
         12 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a substantially arcuate shape. 
     
     
         13 . The headband of  claim 1 , further comprising a fabric layer surrounding the padding layer. 
     
     
         14 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer comprises at least one attachment mechanism for attaching an end of one of the first portions of the padding layer to an end of the other first portion of the padding layer. 
     
     
         15 . A protective headband, the protective headband having a padding layer comprising:
 a pair of first arcuate portions, each first arcuate portion having opposed upper and lower arcuate edges; and   a second arcuate portion extending from a first end of one of the pair of first arcuate portions to a first end of the other of the pair of first arcuate portions, the second arcuate portion having opposed upper and lower arcuate edges,   wherein the opposed upper and lower arcuate edges of each of the pair of first arcuate portions curve in a same arcuate direction, and the opposed upper and lower arcuate edges of the second arcuate portion all curve in the same arcuate direction as the opposed upper and lower arcuate edges of each of the pair of first arcuate body portions.   
     
     
         16 . The headband of  claim 15 , wherein the second arcuate portion has a radius of curvature different from a radius of curvature of the pair of first arcuate portions. 
     
     
         17 . The headband of  claim 16 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second arcuate portion is between approximately 9-12 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The headband of  claim 16 , wherein the radius of curvature of the pair of first arcuate portions is between approximately 7-10 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The headband of  claim 15 , wherein the padding layer is sufficiently flexible to maintain contact with a user's head along an entire circumference of the user's head. 
     
     
         20 . The headband of  claim 15 , further comprising a fabric layer surrounding the padding layer. 
     
     
         21 . The headband of  claim 20 , wherein the fabric layer comprises at least one attachment mechanism for attaching an end of one of the first portions of the padding layer to an end of the other first portion of the padding layer. 
     
     
         22 . The headband of  claim 15 , wherein the padding layer further comprises a pair of notches formed at both ends of the second arcuate portion, the notches formed in one of the upper or lower arcuate edges of the second arcuate portion.