Hockey helmet comprising an inflatable bladder

Abstract

A hockey helmet for receiving a head of a wearer, the head having a crown region, left and right temple regions, left and right side regions and an occipital region. The hockey helmet comprises a front portion facing the crown region and the left and right temple regions of the head and a rear portion facing the left and right side regions and the occipital region of the head. The hockey helmet also comprises an inflatable bladder mounted on the rear portion and adjacent to the occipital region of the head. The inflatable bladder is capable of applying pressure on the occipital region of the head for urging the front portion of the hockey helmet towards the crown region of the head when the helmet is placed on the head.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A hockey helmet for receiving a head of a wearer, the head having a crown region, left and right temple regions, left and right side regions and an occipital region, said helmet comprising: 
 (a) a front portion for facing the crown region and the left and right temple regions of the head;    (b) a rear portion for facing the left and right side regions and the occipital region of the head; and    (c) an inflatable bladder on said rear portion and adjacent to the occipital region of the head when said hockey helmet is placed on the head, said inflatable bladder being capable of applying pressure upon the occipital region of the head for urging said front portion towards the crown region of the head.    
     
     
         2 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a pump in fluid communication with said inflatable bladder, said pump being operable by the wearer for inflating said inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         3 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said inflatable bladder comprises an occipital chamber and left and right side chambers, said occipital chamber facing the occipital region of the head and said left and right side chambers facing the left and side regions of the head respectively when said helmet is placed on the head.  
     
     
         4 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said occipital chamber is in fluid communication with said left and right side chambers.  
     
     
         5 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said pump includes a manually compressible bellows for pumping air in said inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         6 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said pump includes a one way valve to prevent air in said inflatable bladder to escape via said pump.  
     
     
         7 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said front portion and said rear portion comprise respective front and rear shells.  
     
     
         8 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a front inner pad on said front shell and a rear inner pad on said rear shell.  
     
     
         9 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 8  further comprising a rear comfort liner on said rear inner pad.  
     
     
         10 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said inflatable bladder is mounted between said rear comfort liner and said rear inner pad.  
     
     
         11 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said inflatable bladder comprises a release valve for discharging air from said inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         12 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said release valve is mounted on said occipital chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 11  further comprising a cover covering said pump and said release valve.  
     
     
         14 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said cover is flexible for allowing the wearer to operate either one of said pump and said release valve through said cover.  
     
     
         15 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 8  further comprising a front comfort liner on said front inner pad.  
     
     
         16 . A hockey helmet as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said front portion is movable relative to said rear portion for allowing size adjustment of said helmet.