Adjustable helmet with side protective members

1. A protective helmet adapted to protect a head of a wearer, the protective helmet comprising:

first and second helmet sections each including an outer shell section and an inner layer section of protective material mounted to the respective outer shell section, the first and second helmet sections being displaceable relative to one another to adjust a size of the helmet;

two opposed side protective members received inwardly of the outer shell sections on opposed sides of the helmet, each of the side protective members having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion engaged with the first helmet section, the second end portion engaged with the second helmet section; and

means for adjusting a position of the side protective members relative to the inner layer sections of protective material, said means disposed at least in part between the outer shell sections and the inner layer sections and configured such that, when the protective helmet is adjusted when on the head of the wearer, the protective members remain substantially stationary with respect to the head of the wearer when the inner layer sections are displaced with the first and second helmet sections.

2. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting a position of the side protective members includes a sliding connection defined between the first end portion of the protective member and one of the inner layer sections of protective material, the sliding connection including a recess and a protrusion received by the recess for sliding displacement relative to one another, the sliding connection providing relative displacement between the side protective member and said inner layer section.

3. The protective helmet of claim 2 , wherein the recess includes an elongated aperture that defines a path along which the protrusion slides from one end of the elongated aperture to the other, the recess defined in one of the first end portion of the side protective member and the inner layer section.

4. The protective helmet of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion extends from the other of the first end portion of the side protective member and the inner layer section, the protrusion being received within the elongated aperture and slidingly displaceable therewithin along the path.

5. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein each side protective member is displaceable relative to the outer shell sections and relative to the inner layer sections of protective material.

6. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting a position of the side protective members defines a limited path of relative movement between the side protective members and the inner layer sections.

7. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein the side protective members are unattached to the outer shell sections.

8. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein the side protective members include a foam material.

9. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein each of the side protective members include an outer foam member circumscribing an inner foam member, the outer and inner foam members being made of different foam materials.

10. The protective helmet of claim 9 , wherein the inner foam member comprises a rate sensitive foam.

11. The protective helmet of claim 1 , comprising a top protective member configured to overlay a top of the head of the wearer.