A helmet an include a shell, a liner disposed within the shell, a flexible band disposed between the shell and a portion of the liner to releasably couple the liner to the shell without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps. The helmet can also include an energy-absorbing layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) including a groove. The comfort liner can be attached to the energy-absorbing layer without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, and a flexible band can be releasably disposed between the energy-absorbing layer and the comfort liner. The helmet can also include a groove on an inner surface of an outer shell. An energy-absorbing liner can include expanded polypropylene (EPP), and a flexible band can be disposed between the outer shell and the energy-absorbing liner to provide additional energy management, to releasably couple the energy-absorbing liner to the outer shell, or both.

An impact-attenuating liner for a helmet includes a liner body made from an impact-absorbing material and a plurality of pads removably attached to an interior surface of the liner body, each of the pads being repositionable at different locations on the interior surface of the liner body. A retention system may be attached to the liner body and configured to secure the liner to the wearer's head during use. The liner may be configured to provide substantially uniform impact protection throughout the interior region of the helmet.

The present application relates to a welding helmet comprising a helmet housing and a head cover adapted to be worn on a wearer's head and made of an air-impermeable and flexible material, wherein a zipper arrangement is provided between the helmet housing and the head cover to detachably connect the head cover to the helmet housing around the whole perimeter of an opening of the helmet housing, and wherein after the head cover is connected to the helmet housing, the zipper arrangement is located within the housing of the welding helmet. The present application also relates to an assembly having the welding helmet.

A shock absorbing cap provides shock abortion in the space between the interior of a traditional safety helmet and the head of the wearer. The cap has a first region next to the scalp which is made of 100% knitted cotton for comfort and the absorption of sweat. A second region is made of 100% wool fleece braided fiber bundles that extend alternately in longitudinal and lateral directions sufficiently to nearly fill the space. The outermost region is made of one or more layers of braided 100% carbon fiber bundles, which run the opposite direction of the last wool lock. In an alternative, the first region is used but the second region completely fills the space with woven aramid and carbon fiber squares laid on top of each other and sewn together. The uppermost portion is laser cut for a tight but comfortable fit under the helmet.

A protective helmet may include an energy management material inside an outer surface, a rim positioned on an outwardly facing surface between an inner surface and the outer surface, a sweat management pad assembly with an absorbent forehead pad positioned in a front portion of the helmet proximate the rim, the assembly including at least one absorbent extension tab extending from the absorbent forehead pad and across a portion of a surface of the rim outward of the inner surface of the energy management material, wherein the absorbent extension tab extends at least half a distance across the rim between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a fastener positioned between the absorbent extension tab and the rim and coupling the absorbent extension tab to the rim.

A nape pad for use with a helmet, the nape pad comprising: a base comprised of a rigid material and having an outer surface and an inner surface, a left side and a right side, and a top edge and a bottom edge, the outer surface being generally convex from the left side to the right side and having an upper portion proximate the top edge and a lower portion proximate the bottom edge, the upper portion being generally smooth and configured to extend into and slide along an inner surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the base being generally concave from the left side to the right side; a fastener coupled to the lower portion of the base and configured to releasably couple to a retention system of the helmet; and at least one compressible comfort pad coupled to the inner surface of the base.

A protective hood for a garment is provided. The hood can have a multi-layered sidewall that has an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer that cooperate to define a first pocket. A padding layer is positioned within the pocket.

This disclosure relates to a brain cooling and spinal cord cooling system, device or mechanism for use in military helmets, and in an adapted format in non-military helmets. The system is comprised of an inflatable pad, or a set of interconnected pads, attached to the interior surface of the helmet, together with a series of valves that allow cooling gases to be delivered from a high pressure canister. The use of different cooling gases permits the achievement and maintenance of cooling of the brain for 24 to 96 hours at a mild (36° C.) or moderate (33° C.-35° C.) brain hypothermia, which is 1.5° C.-4.5° C. below the core temperature.

Apparatus for protecting the head of a person from an external force includes an inner shell which fits over the head of the person and an outer shell which fits over the inner shell. A plurality of bags which contain a pressurized gas are disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell. When an external force is applied to the outer shell some of the bags distribute and partially absorb the external force thereby reducing the force experienced by the person.

Apparatus for protecting the head of a person from an external force includes an inner shell which fits over the head of the person and an outer shell which fits over the inner shell. A plurality of bags which contain a pressurized gas are disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell. When an external force is applied to the outer shell some of the bags distribute and partially absorb the external force thereby reducing the force experienced by the person.