A pivot assembly for pivoting a viewing device in relation to a helmet includes a connection plate configured to be coupled to a helmet interface assembly. A hinge barrel is pivotable about a pivot axis in relation to the connection plate among (a) a deployed position in which the hinge barrel is held relative to the connection plate in positive, locking retention; 5 (b) a stowed position in which the hinge barrel is held relative to the connection plate in positive, locking retention; and (c) an intermediate position between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the hinge barrel is held relative to the connection plate by a threshold retentive force and wherein displacement of the hinge barrel from the intermediate position 10 relative to the connection plate requires application of an actuating force which exceeds the threshold retentive force. In a further aspect, a helmet mount apparatus is provided.

A helmet includes a shell having an interior surface, a padding disposed along the interior surface of the shell, and a chinbar. The padding defines a first engagement surface positioned at a first lateral side of the padding and a second engagement surface positioned at an opposing second lateral side of the padding. The chinbar includes a cage, a first flange, and a second flange. The cage includes a first end defining a third engagement surface and a second end defining a fourth engagement surface. The third engagement surface interfaces with the first engagement surface and the fourth engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface. The first flange extends from the first end of the cage. The second flange extends from the second end of the cage. The first flange and the second flange of the chinbar are embedded within the padding.

A helmet includes a shell having an interior surface, a padding disposed along the interior surface of the shell, and a chinbar. The padding defines a first engagement surface positioned at a first lateral side of the padding and a second engagement surface positioned at an opposing second lateral side of the padding. The chinbar includes a cage, a first flange, and a second flange. The cage includes a first end defining a third engagement surface and a second end defining a fourth engagement surface. The third engagement surface interfaces with the first engagement surface and the fourth engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface. The first flange extends from the first end of the cage. The second flange extends from the second end of the cage. The first flange and the second flange of the chinbar are embedded within the padding.

A helmet assembly having a helmet, a mandible guard, and an accessory attachment system that is used to selectively attach and secure the mandible guard to the helmet is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mandible guard is arranged to be detached from a first side of the helmet while remaining secured to a second side of the helmet. In such embodiments, the mandible guard may be moved outwardly and away from a wearer as the mandible guard pivots around the accessory attachment system attached to the second side of the helmet.

A helmet can comprise an upper-body and a lower-body nested within the upper-body. An opening can be formed within a front portion of the helmet and disposed between an outer surface of the upper-body and an inner surface of the lower-body. A first magnet can be encased within the upper-body or the lower-body and adjacent the opening. A shield can comprise a shield mount and a second magnet coupled to the shield mount that is sized to fit within the opening and to be releasably coupled to the first magnet. The first magnet and the second magnet can be self-aligned in direct alignment with eyes of a user. A third magnet can be disposed above the first magnet and aligned with the second magnet on an outer surface of the helmet out of sight from eyes of the user.

A helmet accessory attachment member includes a finger-actuatable lock configured to secure an accessory attachment member mount to a helmet mount as part of securing an accessory such as a mandible guard to a helmet. The lock includes a pivot arm with a rotation axis that is parallel to the helmet surface, and also includes one or more blocking surfaces on the pivot arm to engage with grooves on the helmet mount. The lock may be positioned on a slidable insert of the accessory attachment member.

A total contact helmet, including a rigid body that is customized to an individual's head for being in direct contact with the head and having a force distribution mechanism for distributing the force of an impact laterally to a large surface area of the rigid body. A method of protecting the head of an individual by the individual wearing a total contact helmet including a rigid body that is customized to the individual's head for being in direct contact with the head and having a force distribution mechanism for distributing the force of an impact laterally to a large surface area of the rigid body, and when receiving an outside impacting force to the total contact helmet, distributing the force of impact over the surface area of the total contact helmet. A method of decreasing risk of concussion and head injury in an individual by wearing the total contact helmet.

A helmet (10) formed of a plurality of layers wherein at least one of the layers comprises a plurality of beads (16) encased within a liner (28), and a second liner selected from the group consisting of a hard layer (36) and a soft layer (26).

A sports helmet comprises a single-piece plastic shell, an occipital shock absorber attached to the inner surface of the shell in the rear region to at least partially overlie an occipital area of the head, an inflatable occipital pad removably attached to the inner surface of the shell in the rear region and positioned between the inner surface of the shell and the lateral padding assembly to push the occipital shock absorber forward when the occipital pad is inflated. The occipital pad comprises a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded together, a plurality of inflatable pockets formed in the top sheet and fluidly connected through channels formed in the top sheet, a valve assembly for inflating the plurality of inflatable pockets, the valve assembly bonded to the bottom sheet. The valve assembly extends through a hole in the shell for inflation.

A collapsible helmet for cyclists, the collapsible helmet comprising: at least one elongate, curved central portion adapted to extend over a crown of a user's head from front to back; and, a plurality of side portions supported either side of the at least one central portion, the plurality of side portions configured to nest substantially under the at least one central portion when in a collapsed position, and the plurality of side portions configured to form a helmet when in an operative position; and, at least one flexible strap interconnecting the plurality of side portions and the at least one central portion, wherein the at least one flexible strap limits the relative separation of the plurality of side portions in the operative position.