Headgear Including A Helmet

Abstract

A shock absorber for use with a cricket headgear. The headgear provides a protected mounting location for mounting a shock absorber for a faceguard.

1 . A protective headgear, comprising:
 a head-engaging portion;   a protective faceguard; and   a plurality of shock absorbers, each of said plurality of shock absorbers connecting said faceguard to said head-engaging portion, wherein each of said plurality of shock absorbers is for supporting said protective faceguard relative to said head-engaging portion, each of said plurality of shock absorbers comprising:   a support structure adapted for attachment to one of the head-engaging-portion and the faceguard;   a guide rod supported by said support structure in a fixed position relative to said support structure, said guide rod having first and second end portions, a length, and a longitudinal axis;   a sliding member guided by said guide rod for rectilinear movement in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said guide rod, said sliding member being adapted for attachment to another one of the head engaging member and the faceguard; and   the attachments between the shock absorber and face guard are resilient,   wherein said sliding member has an opening therethrough and said guide rod extends through said opening, and   wherein said support structure supports said guide rod at said first end portion of said guide rod and at said second end portion of said guide rod; and   wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs of L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers such that said respective shock absorber is in a protected location between said first frame member and said second frame member of said head-engaging portion.   
     
     
         2 . A protective headgear comprising:
 a head-engaging portion;   a protective faceguard; and   at least one shock absorber connecting said faceguard to said head-engaging portion,   wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members, said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs of L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers.   
     
     
         3 . A protective headgear according to  claim 1  comprising:
 a head engaging portion comprising 
 an inner shell for positioning proximate the upper portion of a human head, the inner shell having an upper surface; 
 an outer shell, spaced from the inner shell; and 
 a plurality of shock absorption devices extending between the inner shell and the outer shell for dampening impulse force directed to the outer shell, each of the plurality of the shock absorption devices having a central axis; and 
 a protective faceguard, 
 wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members, said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers such that said respective shock absorber is in a protected location between said first frame member and said second frame member of said head-engaging portion. 
 
     
     
         4 . A protective head device according to  claim 3  wherein the inner shell is generally coextensive with the outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . A protective head device according to  claim 3  wherein each of the plurality of shock absorption devices is mounted normal to the upper surface of the inner shell. 
     
     
         6 . A helmet stabilization harness that maintains the center of mass of the helmet upon the central axis of the user in which the harness is attached to the helmet in at least two places and contains a counterweight which counterbalances a frontal load of weight upon the helmet. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet stabilization harness of  claim 6  wherein the counterweight is removable. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet stabilization harness of  claim 6  wherein the counterweight is attached or removed from a helmet by a hook and loop connection interface. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet stabilization harness of  claim 6  wherein the counterweight is incorporated in the harness. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet stabilization harness of  claim 6  wherein the counterweight is selected from the group consisting of 0.5 pound weights and 1.0 pound weights. 
     
     
         11 . A protective headgear according to  claim 1  and comprising a head engaging portion which comprises inner and outer shells; and
 a plurality of shock absorbers extending between the inner side of the outer shell and the outer side of the inner shell, each of said plurality of shock absorbers comprising a spiral forming the shape of a continuous curving line that forms circles around a center point. 
 
     
     
         12 . A protective headgear according to  claim 11  wherein the headgear also comprises a protective face guard. 
     
     
         13 . A protective headgear according to  claim 11  wherein the spiral is placed between the inner and outer shells and acts as a shock absorber. 
     
     
         14 . A protective headgear according to  claim 11  wherein the spiral is made from wire. 
     
     
         15 . A protective headgear according to  claim 11  wherein the spiral is made from square blocks that are connected. 
     
     
         16 . A cricket headgear, comprising:
 a head-engaging portion;   a protective faceguard; and   a plurality of shock absorbers, each of said plurality of shock absorbers connecting said faceguard to said head-engaging portion, wherein each of said plurality of shock absorbers is for supporting said protective faceguard relative to said head-engaging portion, each of said plurality of shock absorbers comprising a support structure adapted for attachment to one of the head-engaging-portion and the faceguard wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs of L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers such that said respective shock absorber is in a protected location between said first frame member and said second frame member of said head-engaging portion.   
     
     
         17 . A cricket headgear comprising:
 a head-engaging portion;   a protective faceguard; and   at least one shock absorber connecting said faceguard to said head-engaging portion,   wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members, said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs of L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers.   
     
     
         18 . A cricket headgear comprising:
 a head engaging portion comprising   an inner shell for positioning proximate the upper portion of a human head, the inner shell having an upper surface;   an outer shell, spaced from the inner shell; and   a plurality of shock absorption devices extending between the inner shell and the outer shell for dampening impulse force directed to the outer shell, each of the plurality of the shock absorption devices having a central axis; and   a protective faceguard,   wherein said head-engaging portion comprises first and second frame members, said first frame member being larger than said second frame member and being sized to substantially surround a wearer's face, a plurality of pairs L-shaped bars connecting said second frame member to said first frame member, each pair of L-shaped bars supporting a respective one of said plurality of shock absorbers such that said respective shock absorber is in a protected location between said first frame member and said second frame member of said head-engaging portion.   
     
     
         19 . A cricket headgear according to  claim 18  wherein the inner shell is generally coextensive with the outer shell. 
     
     
         20 . A cricket headgear according to  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of shock absorption devices is mounted normal to the upper surface of the inner shell.