Protective helmet with attachment ring

Abstract

A protective helmet adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer includes an outer shell and an attachment ring removably secured to the outer shell, such that the attachment ring can be selectively attached to or detached and removed from the outer shell. The outer shell is shaped to protect the head of the wearer of the protective helmet and defines a bottom opening and an internal cavity for receiving the head of the wearer. The attachment ring acts as a point of attachment for, and thus secures, one or more components of the protective helmet configured to engage the head of the wearer, such that the components secured to the attachment ring are transported with the attachment ring when the attachment ring is detached and removed from the outer shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective helmet adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer, comprising:
 an outer shell shaped to protect the head of the wearer, the outer shell defining an opening and an internal cavity for receiving the head of the wearer; and   an attachment ring removably secured to the outer shell and extending coextensively with the opening defined by the outer shell, the attachment ring securing one or more components of the protective helmet configured to engage the head of the wearer, such that the one or more components configured to engage the head of the wearer are transported with the attachment ring when the attachment ring is detached and removed from the outer shell.   
     
     
         2 . The protective helmet as recited in claim I, wherein the one or more components configured to engage the head of the wearer includes a headband assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the attachment ring is the exclusive structure of the protective helmet to which the headband assembly is secured. 
     
     
         4 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more components configured to engage the head of the wearer includes a chinstrap. The protective helmet as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the attachment ring is the exclusive structure of the protective helmet to which the chinstrap is secured. 
     
     
         6 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 an inner liner positioned within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell.   
     
     
         7 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the inner liner is supported by a shelf defined by the attachment ring. 
     
     
         8 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the inner liner is sandwiched between the outer shell and the attachment ring. 
     
     
         9 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the one or more components configured to engage the head of the wearer includes an internal padding positioned within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell, the internal padding providing an intermediate layer between the head of the wearer and an interior surface of the inner liner when the protective helmet is worn. 
     
     
         10 . A protective helmet adapted to receive and protect a head of a wearer, comprising:
 an outer shell shaped to protect the head of the wearer, the outer shell defining an opening and an internal cavity for receiving the head of the wearer;   a headband assembly for engaging the head of the wearer positioned at least partially within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell; and   an attachment ring removably secured to the outer shell;   wherein the headband assembly is secured to the attachment ring, such that the headband assembly can be removed from the internal cavity defined by the outer shell by detaching and removing the attachment ring from the outer shell.   
     
     
         11 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 an inner liner positioned within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell and supported by a shelf defined by the attachment ring.   
     
     
         12 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the inner liner is sandwiched between the outer shell and the attachment ring. 
     
     
         13 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 an internal padding secured to the attachment ring and positioned within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell, the internal padding providing an intermediate layer between the head of the wearer and an interior surface of the inner liner when the protective helmet is worn.   
     
     
         14 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the attachment ring is the exclusive structure of the protective helmet to which the headband assembly is secured. 
     
     
         15 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a chinstrap for engaging the head of the wearer and secured to the attachment ring;   wherein the attachment ring is the exclusive structure of the protective helmet to which the chinstrap is secured.   
     
     
         16 . A protective helmet adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer, comprising:
 an outer shell shaped to protect the head of the wearer, the outer shell defining an opening and an internal cavity for receiving the head of the wearer;   an attachment ring removably secured to the outer shell; and   an inner liner positioned within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell;   wherein the attachment ring defines a shelf on which the inner liner is supported, such that the inner liner can be removed from the internal cavity defined by the outer shell by detaching and removing the attachment ring from the outer shell.   
     
     
         17 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the inner liner is sandwiched between the outer shell and the attachment ring. 
     
     
         18 . The protective helmet as recited in  claim 16 , and further comprising:
 a headband assembly for engaging the head of the wearer positioned at least partially within the internal cavity defined by the outer shell;   wherein the headband assembly is secured to the attachment ring, such that the headband assembly can be removed from the internal cavity defined by the outer shell by detaching and removing the attachment ring from the outer shell.