Baseball Helmet

Abstract

A liner for a child's baseball helmet, and the like, and which includes a crown portion. The liner includes a flexible annular head band having a head size adjustment means, and a plurality of head straps integrally attached at their lower ends to the annular head band at circumferentially spaced apart positions, and with the upper ends of the straps being integrally attached to a head engaging pad. The annular head band, plurality of head straps and head engaging pad being integrally formed from a pliable, flexible plastic material so that the head band and the head straps will conform to the head shape of a user.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to liners for children's play helmets, and more particularly, to a novel and improved liner for a child's play baseball helmet.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved liner for children's play helmets, which includes an annular head band having a head size adjustment means with a plurality of head straps integrally attached at their lower ends to the annular head band at circumferentially spaced apart positions. A head engaging pad is integrally attached to the upper ends of the plurality of head straps. The annular head band, plurality of head straps and head engaging pad are integrally formed from a pliable, flexible, plastic material so that the head band and the head straps will conform to the head shape of the user. A suspension tab is struck from the lower end of each head strap in the upper portion of the head band with the lower end thereof being integrally hinged to the head band, and with an upper free end being swung outward into contact with the inner surface of the crown portion of the helmet in which the liner is used and at a position above the head band. Suitable means, as rivet means, is provided for attaching each of the upper free ends of the suspension tabs to the crown portion to suspend the liner in the crown portion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved liner for a child's play helmet which is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of baseball helmet made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a central elevational section view of the baseball helmet illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2--2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the baseball helmet structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3--3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the baseball helmet structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 4--4 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 5--5 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 6--6 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designates the crown portion, and the numeral 11 the integral peak portion of a conventional molded plastic baseball helmet or cap. The crown portion 10 is provided with a plurality of ventilation openings 12. The baseball helmet illustrated in the drawings is made from any suitable rigid plastic, such as bakelite or fiberglas bonded with polyester resin.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the crown portion 10 of the helmet is provided with an improved liner generally indicated by the numeral 13. Although the improved liner 13 has been illustrated in the drawings as being used in a baseball helmet or cap, it will be understood that it may also be used in similar caps for wear in such games as hockey, polo, and so forth. The liner 13 comprises an annular liner head band 14 which is suspended in the crown portion 10 by a plurality of liner head engaging straps 15, 16, 17 and 18. The straps 15 through 18 are evenly spaced around the head band 14 in positions about 90.degree. apart.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of each of the head straps 15 through 18 is integrally connected to the head band 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 a circular head engaging pad or member 19 is integrally attached at its outer periphery to the upper ends of the head straps 15 through 18. The head engaging pad 19 is disposed substantially parallel with the head band 14 and it is provided with a central circular opening that is bounded by an integral, upwardly extended short flange 21.

The liner 13 is suspended in the crown 10 by a plurality of suspension tabs 22, 24, 26 and 28. The last mentioned suspension tabs are struck out from the liner head band 14 and the straps 15, 16, 17 and 18, with the lower ends of the tabs being integrally attached and hinged to the head band 14, and with the upper free ends thereof swung outward into contact with the inner surface of the crown portion 10. The upper free ends of the suspension tabs 22, 24, 26 and 28 are each fixedly secured to the crown portion 10 by the rivets 23, 25, 27 and 29, respectively.

The liner head band 14 is provided with a head size adjustment means, generally indicated by the numeral 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The head band 14 is provided with one terminal end 31 which carries on its outer face a pair of vertical and laterally spaced apart flanges 32 and 33. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flanges 32 and 33 extend radially outward from the head band 14 to provide a slot for the reception of the neck portion 38 of the other terminal end of the head band 14. The neck portion 38 is reduced in width to permit it to be slid through the opening 35 in the terminal end 31 of the head band 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the reduced neck portion 38 is then slid through the opening 34 and under the first flange 32 and over the outer surface of the terminal end 31 and thence inwardly through the opening 37 behind the flange 33 and against the outer face of the head band 14 as shown by broken lines in FIG. 4. The opening 34 extends to the line 36.

The head band terminal portion 31 carries on its outer face a radially outward extended button or cylindrical stud 40. The button or stud 40 is adapted to be received in one of a plurality of circular holes 39 which are formed through the neck band portion 38. It will be seen that the size of the liner head band 14 may be adjusted by moving the neck portion 38 longitudinally relative to the terminal end 31 and disposing the button or stud 40 in the desired opening 39.

The liner 13 is made as an integral unit, as described hereinbefore, and it is made from a suitable, pliable and nonconducting plastic such as polyethylene or the like. The liner head band 14 thus, because it is soft and flexible, is comfortable to the wearer and it conforms to the shape of the head of the wearer. The flexible plastic is also relatively resistant to soiling.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a helmet having a crown portion, a head engaging liner comprising:

a. an annular head band having a head size adjustment means;

b. a plurality of head straps integrally attached at their lower ends to the annular head band at circumferentially spaced apart positions;

c. a head engaging pad integrally attached to the upper ends of the plurality of head straps;

d. said annular head band, plurality of head straps and head engaging pad being integrally formed from a pliable, flexible material so that the head band and the head straps will conform to the head shape of a user;

e. a suspension tab struck from the lower end of each head strap and the upper portion of the head band, and having a lower end integrally hinged to the head band, with an upper free end swung outward into contact with the inner surface of the crown portion at a position above the head band; and,

f. means for attaching each of the upper free ends of the suspension tabs to the crown portion to suspend the liner in the crown portion.

2. A helmet liner as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said means for attaching each of the suspension tabs to the crown comprises rivet means.

3. A helmet liner as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said head band is provided with a first terminal end and a second terminal end; and,

b. said head size adjustment comprises,

1. a reduced neck portion on said second terminal end;

2. means on said first terminal end for releasably holding said reduced neck portion in a selective adjusted position for adjusting the head size of the head band.