Protective helmet cap with improved ventilation

Abstract

A protective helmet cap having improved ventilation and a method of using the cap, wherein the cap includes a cap piece, a cap bill, and a plurality of apertures designed to increase ventilation of the wearer's head under the cap piece. The helmet cap offers impact protection to the wearer's head while also being more comfortable to wear due to the increased ventilation. The helmet cap may also include structure that helps secure the helmet cap to the wearer's head. The helmet cap may be constructed from a variety of different materials, and may also include additional additives designed to enhance selected characteristics of the helmet cap. The helmet cap may be used in a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as water sports and golf.

1 . A method of preventing injuries while participating in an outdoor activity comprising: 
 wearing a protective helmet cap having improved ventilation;    wherein the protective helmet cap having improved ventilation comprises: 
 a cap piece, wherein said cap piece covers a top portion of a wearer's head; and  
 a bill connected to the cap piece;  
   wherein the cap piece includes a plurality of apertures in the cap piece,    wherein the apertures occupy at least about 20% of a surface area of the cap piece and less than about 70% of the surface area of the cap piece, and    wherein the cap piece is constructed of a material capable of providing impact protection to a wearer's head.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap piece is comprised of a high impact plastic selected from polypropelene, impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic resin, polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap piece is comprised of polycarbonate.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap piece is comprised of at least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and metal.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap piece and bill are comprised of the same material.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cap piece and bill are comprised of a high impact plastic selected from polypropelene, impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic resin, polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cap piece and bill are comprised of polycarbonate.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cap piece and bill are comprised of at least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and metal.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a chin strap.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable head band attached to an inner surface of the cap piece.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the removable head band is connected to the inner surface of the cap piece using a hook-and-loop fastener.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a removable head band that is separate from the cap piece.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bill includes a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from an ultraviolet stabilizer, an impact modifier polymer, an antioxidant, a plasticizer, a lubricant, an emulsifier, a pigment, a rheology additive, a catalyst, a flow-control agent, an optical brightener, a flameproofing agent, an antistatic agent, a blowing agent, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the additive comprises an ultraviolet stabilizer, an impact modifier polymer, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor activity is selected from surfing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, golf, softball, river rafting, or baseball.