Protective headgear

Abstract

Aspects herein relate to protective headgear for sports and to methods of using such headgear. In one aspect, the headgear has an external head-protecting shell that is soft to reduce the risk of injuring other players. In another aspect, the headgear has a rear closure arrangement that includes a bridge component for ease of putting on the headgear and for added protection at the closure area of the rear closure arrangement. In another aspect, fit pads of different sizes are removeably attachable to a cheekbone extension member of the headgear to provide a proper fit to the wearer's cheekbone. A face mask is integrated with the headgear in some embodiments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective headgear, such as for a women's lacrosse player, comprising:
 an external head-protecting shell having a first end portion and a second end portion, each of the first and second end portions located on a rear side of the shell, and the second end portion being moveable relative to the first end portion;   a tightener attached to the shell, the tightener being constructed and arranged to move the second end portion toward the first end portion to tighten the shell; and   a bridge component attached at a rear of the shell to at least partially stabilize the headgear on a wearer's head prior to tightening of the shell;   wherein, when the tightener tightens the shell, the tightener tightens the shell around the wearer's head and at least a portion of the bridge component overlaps with at least a portion of the first end portion and/or the second end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the tightener comprises a connector attached to the second end portion, the connector being constructed and arranged to removably attach to the first end portion,
 wherein when the connector is attached to the first end portion, attachment of the connector to the first end portion tightens the shell around the wearer's head and at least a portion of the bridge component overlaps with at least a portion of the first end portion and/or the second end portion,   and wherein when the connector is detached from the first end portion, the second end portion can be moved away from the first end portion to form a separation distance between the first and second end portions.   
     
     
         3 . The protective headgear of  claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a first strap. 
     
     
         4 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein when the tightener is loosened, the second end portion can be moved away from the first end portion to form a separation distance between the first and second end portions. 
     
     
         5 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion comprises a first rear flap and the second end portion comprises a second rear flap. 
     
     
         6 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge component is attached to the first end portion via a second strap, the second strap comprising a resilient material. 
     
     
         7 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge component is attached to the second end portion via a third strap, the third strap comprising a resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . The protective headgear of  claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a resilient material that returns to a set length after being stretched. 
     
     
         9 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge component is attached to inwardly-facing surfaces of the first and second end portions. 
     
     
         10 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein when the tightener tightens the shell, at least a portion of the bridge component overlaps with at least a portion of each of the first and second end portions. 
     
     
         11 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the protective headgear is for a women's lacrosse player. 
     
     
         12 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , further comprising a face mask attached to the headgear without a strap. 
     
     
         13 . A protective headgear, such as for a women's lacrosse player, comprising:
 an external head-protecting shell to at least partially cover a wearer's head;   the shell including a first downwardly-angled rear portion extending from a first side portion of the shell toward a rear of the shell, and further including a second downwardly-angled rear portion extending from a second side portion of the shell toward the rear of the shell; wherein   the first downwardly-angled rear portion has a first upper edge, and the first upper edge forms an angle of between 30 and 50 degrees inclusive relative to a horizontal plane when the headgear is oriented as if being worn by a wearer standing in an upright position and pointing his or her head straight forward;   the second downwardly-angled rear portion has a second upper edge, and the second upper edge forms an angle of between 30 and 50 degrees inclusive relative to the horizontal plane; and   the first and second downwardly-angled rear portions form an opening between the first and second upper edges and a lower edge of an upper rear portion of the shell.   
     
     
         14 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , wherein the first downwardly-angled rear portion comprises a first end portion, and the second downwardly-angled rear portion comprises a second end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The protective headgear of  claim 14 , further comprising a tightener which can move the first end portion toward the second end portion. 
     
     
         16 . The protective headgear of  claim 14 , further comprising a strap which can attach the first end portion to the second end portion. 
     
     
         17 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , wherein the lower edge of the upper rear portion of the shell forms an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees inclusive relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         18 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , wherein the external head-protecting shell comprises a thermoplastic polymer having a void fraction of less than 20%. 
     
     
         19 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , wherein the first upper edge forms an angle of between 35 and 45 degrees inclusive relative to the horizontal plane, and the second upper edge forms an angle of between 35 and 45 degrees inclusive relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         20 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , further comprising a face mask attached to the headgear without a strap.