Blunt helmet appliqué

Abstract

A helmet includes a ballistic helmet shell with an accessory mount, a helmet appliqué, and a removable panel. The helmet appliqué has a rigid outer shell and an energy absorbing layer. At least one of the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer are attached to the ballistic helmet shell. The removable panel is configured to attach to at least one of the rigid outer shell, the energy absorbing layer, the ballistic helmet shell, and the accessory mount. The removable panel covers the accessory mount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a ballistic helmet shell comprising an accessory mount;   a helmet appliqué comprising a rigid outer shell and an energy absorbing layer, wherein at least one of the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer are attached to the ballistic helmet shell; and   a removable panel configured to attach to at least one of the rigid outer shell, the energy absorbing layer, the ballistic helmet shell, and the accessory mount, wherein the removable panel covers the accessory mount.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the removable panel comprises a rigid outer shell and an energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mount is a side accessory mount. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory mount is a shroud accessory mount. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein an accessory attached to the accessory mount extends through the helmet appliqué. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for attaching the helmet appliqué to the ballistic helmet shell. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of patches of hook and loop material disposed between the ballistic helmet shell and the energy absorbing layer of the helmet appliqué. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises a securing member extending between two attachment portions, the attachment portions being removably attached to side accessory mounts of the ballistic helmet shell. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises a panel removably attached to the ballistic helmet shell by a plurality of attachment portions. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises a tag extending between the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer of the helmet appliqué. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises a securing member extending between two attachment portions attached to the ballistic helmet shell and through a retaining element attached to the helmet appliqué. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid outer shell is made from at least one of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and aramid fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing layer is made from at least one of expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, open cell polyurethane, and closed cell polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . A helmet appliqué comprising:
 a rigid outer shell; 
 an energy absorbing layer; and 
 an attachment portion configured to be attached to a ballistic helmet shell without penetrating the ballistic helmet shell. 
 
     
     
         15 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid outer shell is made from at least one of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and aramid fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , wherein the energy absorbing layer is made from at least one of expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, open cell polyurethane, and closed cell polyurethane. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , further comprising a side panel attached to the at least one of the energy absorbing layer and the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , further comprising a front panel removably attached to the at least one of the energy absorbing layer and the rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , further comprising a fastener configured to attach the helmet appliqué to a ballistic helmet shell. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet appliqué of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener comprises a tag extending between the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer.