Protective batting helmet with reinforced bill

Abstract

A protective batting helmet with a reinforced bill includes a rigid shell for protecting the head of a wearer, a reinforced bill extending from the rigid shell, and a lower face guard extending across the lower portion of the rigid shell. The non-deflectable, reinforced bill and lower face guard provide protection to a wearer's face without impeding their vision.

1 . A protective batting helmet comprising: 
 a rigid shell having crown, front, back, left and right portions shaped to protect the respective crown, front, back, left and right portions of a wearer's head, said shell defining a bottom opening and an internal cavity for receiving said wearer's head;    a reinforced bill extending outwardly from said front of said shell in an area corresponding to said wearer's forehead, said bill having sufficient strength and stiffness to prevent the bill from deflecting under the force of a ball; and    a face guard affixed to said shell such that an uppermost portion of said face guard and a bottom edge of said bill define an unobstructed viewing area.    
   
   
       2 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforced bill comprises a reinforcing member configured to conform to a contour of said bill.  
   
   
       3 . The batting helmet of  claim 2 , wherein said bill comprises a recessed area configured to receive said reinforcing member.  
   
   
       4 . The batting helmet of  claim 2 , wherein said reinforcing member comprises a non-deflectable material.  
   
   
       5 . The batting helmet of  claim 4 , wherein said reinforcing component comprises metal.  
   
   
       6 . The batting helmet of  claim 5 , wherein said reinforcing component comprises aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       7 . The batting helmet of  claim 2 , wherein said reinforcing member comprises an upper component affixed to said upper surface of said bill and a lower component affixed to said lower surface of said bill.  
   
   
       8 . The batting helmet of  claim 7 , wherein said bill comprises recesses in said upper and lower surfaces configured to receive said upper and lower components, respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a suspension system attached within said inner cavity, said suspension system comprising a strap extending around a rear portion of said inner cavity in the area of a back portion of said wearer's head.    
   
   
       10 . The batting helmet of  claim 9 , wherein said suspension system comprises an adjustment mechanism operable to tighten said strap against a wearer's head.  
   
   
       11 . The batting helmet of  claim 10 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a knob extending through said back portion of said rigid shell.  
   
   
       12 . The batting helmet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said face guard and said bill is less than 2.5 inches.  
   
   
       13 . The batting helmet of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between said face guard and said bill is approximately 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       14 . A protective batting helmet comprising: 
 a shell configured to protect the head of a wearer;    a bill extending outwardly from said shell; and    a reinforcing member attached to said bill to prevent deflection of the bill.    
   
   
       15 . The batting helmet of  claim 14 , wherein said reinforcing member is configured to conform to a contour of said bill.  
   
   
       16 . The batting helmet of  claim 15 , wherein said bill comprises a recessed area configured to receive said reinforcing component.  
   
   
       17 . The batting helmet of  claim 16 , wherein said reinforcing member comprises a non-deflectable material.  
   
   
       18 . The batting helmet of  claim 14 , wherein said reinforcing member comprises an upper component affixed to said upper surface of said bill and a lower component affixed to said lower surface of said bill.  
   
   
       19 . The batting helmet of  claim 18 , wherein said bill comprises recesses in said upper and lower surfaces configured to receive said upper and lower components, respectively.  
   
   
       20 . A protective batting helmet comprising: 
 a shell configured to protect the head of a wearer; and    a reinforced bill extending outwardly from said shell, said bill having an impact strength that is greater than an impact strength of said rigid shell.    
   
   
       21 . The helmet of  claim 20 , further comprising a face guard affixed to said shell.  
   
   
       22 . The helmet of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means for securing said shell to the head of a wearer.    
   
   
       23 . The helmet of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means for reinforcing said bill.