Soft athletic helmet and rear closure mechanism
A protective headgear having a protective outer layer, an inner impact dispersing layer, an opening in the posterior of the helmet to allow hair to exit the protective helmet, and juxtaposed to the posterior opening, a flap that covers a portion of the opening and is selectively attachable to the inner impact attenuating layer.
1. A protective headgear comprising:
a compressible protective outer layer having a front, two sides, a crown, a rear, a rear flap, a top and a bottom, said rear comprising a rear opening extending from the bottom to an intermediate position between the crown and the bottom;
a non-compressible inner polymer shell having an outer face secured to the compressible protective outer layer, and an inner face having a front, sides and rear; an opening corresponding to the rear opening in the compressible protective outer layer; and comprising an inner left and right support positioned within said opening;
at least one compressible pad attached to the inner polymer shell;
the flap hingeably attached to one side of the rear of the compressible protective outer layer, having attached thereto, a flap core having a length sufficient to extend beyond the left and right supports of the inner polymer shell; and an attachment means suitable to connect said flap to an inner support of said inner polymer shell; and
a rear closure strap having opposing ends connected to a portion of the inner support, and extending towards the rear and below the bottom of the headgear, and comprising a closure means to selectively tighten said rear strap.
2. The protective headgear of claim 1 further comprising a chin strap.
3. The protective headgear of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is made from an elastomeric foam material.
4. The protective headgear of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is made from a molded polymer material.
5. The protective headgear of claim 1 wherein the inner polymer shell is made from a semi-rigid material.
6. The protective headgear of claim 1 comprising at least six compressible pads; wherein a first pad is positioned at the front of the inner polymer shell; a second pad is attached to the crown of the inner polymer shell; a third and fourth compressible pads attached to the left and right supports; and a fifth and sixth compressible pads attached to the the inner polymer shell sides.
7. The protective headgear of claim 6 wherein at least one of the compressible pads comprises a membrane having an opening therein and covering at least one type of compressible pad therein.