Football helmet with pressable front section
A protective helmet comprises a shell made of plastic and having a raised central region oriented from a front of the shell towards a rear of the shell, a first vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a left side of the raised central region, a second vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a right side of the raised central region, a pressable front section created by a non-linear slit through the shell, which does not extend to an edge of the shell, ear holes formed in the shell; and an energy absorbing layer protected by the shell and having an outer surface.
1. A football helmet comprising:
a shell made of plastic;
the shell having a raised central region oriented from a front of the shell towards a rear of the shell;
a first vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a left side of the raised central region, a second vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a right side of the raised central region;
a pressable front section created by a non-linear slit through the shell, said non-linear slit does not extend to an edge of the shell;
ear holes formed in the shell; and
an energy absorbing layer protected by the shell and having an outer surface;
wherein the non-linear slit partially surrounds the pressable front section such that the pressable front section is connected on one edge to a remainder of the shell.
2. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the energy absorbing layer includes a raised ridge positioned in the non-linear slit.
3. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing layer is secured to the pressable front section.
4. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the non-linear slit is U-shaped.
5. The football helmet of claim 3 wherein the non-linear slit is U-shaped.
6. The football helmet of claim 2 wherein the raised ridge fills the non-linear slit to provide a relatively smooth exterior surface.
7. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the pressable front section allows for bend or flex into the energy absorbing layer.
8. The football helmet of claim 7 wherein the energy absorbing layer is secured to the pressable front section.
9. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the plastic is polycarbonate or ABS.
10. The football helmet of claim 1 further comprising a face guard system comprising a wire face guard and a pair of upper side mounts secured to the helmet.
11. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the non-linear slit intersects the raised central region.
12. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the pressable front section is on the raised central region.
13. The football helmet of claim 1 wherein the pressable front section includes at least a portion of the raised central region.
14. A plastic shell for a football helmet comprising:
a raised central region oriented from a front of the plastic shell towards a rear of the plastic shell;
a first vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a left side of the raised central region, a second vent opening adjacent to the raised central region on a right side of the raised central region; and
a pressable front section created by a non-linear slit through the plastic shell, said non-linear slit does not extend to an edge of the plastic shell;
wherein the non-linear slit partially surrounds the pressable front section such that the pressable front section is connected on one edge to a remainder of the plastic shell.
15. The plastic shell of claim 14 wherein the non-linear slit is U-shaped.
16. The plastic shell of claim 14 wherein the plastic shell is made of polycarbonate or ABS plastic.