Protective helmet for children in automobiles

Abstract

A children's protective helmet for use by children riding in automobiles, includes an impact absorbing structure having a soft outer wall surface which a child may wear while in an automobile to diminish the amount of force applied to the head of the child when an impact force is applied to the impact absorbing structure of the protective helmet.

1 . A protective helmet adapted to be worn by a child upon the head of the child while the child is inside an automobile containing air, and adapted to protect the child's head from an impact force, comprising: 
 an impact absorbing structure having a soft outer surface, adapted to cover at least a portion of the head of the child and adapted to receive the impact force, wherein the impact absorbing structure diminishes the amount of force applied to the head of the child when the impact force is applied to the impact absorbing structure of the protective helmet; and    at least one aperture passing through the impact absorbing structure, wherein the air is in fluid communication with the head of the child though the at least one aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the impact absorbing structure includes: 
 an inner impact absorbing structure having an outer surface, and an inner surface adapted to cover at least a portion of the head of the child, and the inner impact absorbing structure diminishes the amount of force applied to the head of the child when the impact force is applied to the protective helmet;    an outer impact absorbing structure having a soft outer surface adapted to receive the impact force, wherein the outer impact absorbing structure substantially surrounds the outer surface of the inner impact absorbing structure, and the outer impact absorbing structure diminishes the amount of force applied to the head of the child when the impact force is applied to the outer impact absorbing structure of the protective helmet; and    the at least one aperture passes through the inner impact absorbing structure and the outer impact absorbing structure.    
   
   
       3 . The protective helmet of  claim 2 , wherein a reinforcement is disposed between the inner and outer impact absorbing structures.  
   
   
       4 . The protective helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer impact absorbing structure are formed integral with each other.  
   
   
       5 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the impact absorbing structure, includes a lower band member having a front and a back portion, and side portions, and the lower band member fits circumferentially around the head of the child.  
   
   
       6 . The protective helmet of  claim 5 , wherein at least one strap member is attached to the lower band member and the at least one strap member extends over at least a portion of the child's head.  
   
   
       7 . The protective helmet of clan  6 , wherein the at least one strap member includes: 
 at least one crown strap disposed between the front portion of the lower band member and the back portion of the lower band member, the at least one crown strap extending over the top of the child's head.    
   
   
       8 . The protective helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one strap member includes at least two straps, each lateral strap being disposed between a side portion of the lower band member and the at least one crown strap.  
   
   
       9 . The protective helmet of  claim 5 , wherein each side portion of the lower band member has an ear cover which extends below the lower band member and is adapted to cover an ear of the child.  
   
   
       10 . The protective helmet of  claim 9 , wherein at least one ear cover contains an audio device.  
   
   
       11 . The protective helmet of  claim 5 , wherein a side and rear neck flap extends downwardly from the back and side portion of the lower band member.