Provided is a protective headgear that includes a first shell section, second shell section, third shell section, and fourth shell section. The first shell section is configured to extend about a head of the user, and include a first central portion, a first strap and a second strap that extend from the first shell section. The first central portion includes a first protective layer and a second protective layer disposed atop the first protective layer. The second shell section is configured to extend about a jaw of the user, and include a second central portion, a third strap and a fourth strap that extend from the second shell section. The third shell section is connected to the first shell section by the first strap and the third strap, and the fourth shell section is connected to the second shell section by the second strap and the fourth strap.

The helmet uses a new fastener to fasten a cage to the helmet shell allowing sides of the cage to be mounted directly against the shell, reducing the width of the shell on each side. A ball is attached to a portion of a bar of the cage to act as a limit stop precluding movements of the cage with respect to the helmet. A chin bar is fastened to the helmet at two points on each side of the shell. The shell is molded with recessed portions designed to receive the two branches of the chin bar on each side where they will be fastened to the shell so that the outer surfaces of the chin guard are flush with the shell at the locations of attachment to provide a smooth transition and reduce weight. An adjustment device to adjust the fit of the helmet to the user includes a star wheel on each side of the helmet attached to an arcuate flexible strip extending rearwardly around the occipital area of the skull. A sliding mechanism attached to the strip allows the strip to be moved forward and backward to allow it to be tightened or loosened, respectively, with respect to the player's head. A ratcheting lateral adjustment device is also disclosed.

The helmet uses a new fastener to fasten a cage to the helmet shell allowing sides of the cage to be mounted directly against the shell, reducing the width of the shell on each side. A ball is attached to a portion of a bar of the cage to act as a limit stop precluding movements of the cage with respect to the helmet. A chin bar is fastened to the helmet at two points on each side of the shell. The shell is molded with recessed portions designed to receive the two branches of the chin bar on each side where they will be fastened to the shell so that the outer surfaces of the chin guard are flush with the shell at the locations of attachment to provide a smooth transition and reduce weight. An adjustment device to adjust the fit of the helmet to the user includes a star wheel on each side of the helmet attached to an arcuate flexible strip extending rearwardly around the occipital area of the skull. A sliding mechanism attached to the strip allows the strip to be moved forward and backward to allow it to be tightened or loosened, respectively, with respect to the player's head. A ratcheting lateral adjustment device is also disclosed.

Emergency call processing in a helmet (100) with a rigid shell (101) that spatially divides a shell interior from a shell ambiance includes receiving an emergency indication signal, upon reception of the emergency indication signal establishing a speech link between a controllable transceiver and a counterpart transceiver via at least one wireless communication channel, and reproducing sound in the shell interior and picking up sound with a sensitivity that is higher in the shell interior than in the shell ambience. The sound reproduced in the shell is received from the counterpart transceiver and the sound picked-up in the shell interior is transmitted to the counterpart transceiver.

A suspension band assembly to be used to support a hard hat on a head of a user. The suspension band assembly includes a primary support loop to receive the head of the user therein. An electronic peripheral is fixedly secured to the primary support loop. An attachment strap extends out from the primary support loop to a strap distal end. An anchor is fixedly secured to the strap distal end for securing the attachment strap to the hard hat. An electrical anchor contact is fixedly secured to the anchor to provide an electrical connection between the hard hat and the electronic peripheral located on the primary support loop.

A universal combination sweatband, headband, and protective headgear device covers and protects crucial areas around the entire circumference of a user's head while conforming to each user's particular anatomy, including head shape and size. Two or more layers of impact absorbing elastomeric polymer materials having full elastic memory are encapsulated on either the inside or the external part of the headgear, between inner and outer layers of moisture absorbing material, such as neoprene or cotton knitted fabric. Hook and loop fasteners or stretching allow for adjusted fitting to the user's head. The elastomeric polymer layers are structured and disposed to absorb and dissipate significant impact forces. The two or more layers of elastomeric polymeric materials are provided with an arrangement of ventilation holes formed therethrough to allow perspiration to be transferred from the inner layer to the outer layer of moisture absorbing material for dissipation.

A method for fabricating a hat or cap by forming a crown; and attaching a brim around said crown; and wherein said brim has at least 30% area with a UV material to block transmission of substantially all UV light.

A method for fabricating a hat or cap by forming a crown; and attaching a brim around said crown; and wherein said brim has at least 30% area with a UV material to block transmission of substantially all UV light.

A football helmet has a rigid plastic football helmet shell with a raised plateau of the shell extending from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. This raised plateau is the only raised plateau of the shell which begins in the front portion, extends over the crown portion, and ends in the back portion. The raised plateau has a left border and a right border. The left border is composed of a plurality of segments and extends continuously from the front portion, over the crown portion, toward the back portion. The segments of the left border including at least a first segment and second segment, which meet to form an angle. A non-circular first ventilation hole through the shell has at least a first side, a second side, and a third side, and is positioned at the angle, such that the first side is adjacent to the first segment and the second side is adjacent to the second segment. The first segment extends beyond the first ventilation hole by a first distance at least as long as the first side and the second segment extending beyond the first ventilation hole by a second distance at least as long as the second side.

A helmet can include an outer shell including a faceport, a first segment including a longitudinal ridge extending from a front of the helmet to a rear of the helmet, a gap disposed along the edge of the first segment, and a second segment offset from the first segment by the gap. A hinged zone can be formed by an elastomeric material disposed within the gap and coupled to the first segment and the second segment of the outer shell. The hinged zone can elastically flex in a radial direction towards a center of the helmet. An energy absorbing liner can be coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell, and an open space can be formed between an inner surface of the hinged zone and an outer surface of the energy absorbing liner.