Protective Headgear System

Abstract

A protective headgear may include a rigid outer shell including a bottom opening and an internal cavity, a suspension attached to the outer shell and positioned at least partially within the internal cavity, and a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell. The rim may include an edge. At least a portion of the edge may include a groove. The rim may include at least one projection. A flexible cover may be retained on the protective headgear.

1 . A protective headgear, comprising:
 a rigid outer shell comprising a bottom opening and an internal cavity,   a suspension attached to the outer shell and positioned at least partially within the internal cavity, and   a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell;   where the rim comprises an edge, and at least a portion of the edge comprises a groove.   
   
   
       2 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where a portion of the edge at the front of the headgear comprises a front groove, and a portion of the edge at the rear of the headgear comprises a rear groove. 
   
   
       3 . The protective headgear of  claim 2 , where portions of the edge at the sides of the headgear each comprise a side groove. 
   
   
       4 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where the entire edge comprises the groove. 
   
   
       5 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where the groove has a width of from 0.5 to 3 mm. 
   
   
       6 . The protective headgear of  claim 5 , where the groove has a depth of from 1 to 5 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where the groove is integral with the rim. 
   
   
       8 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where the edge comprises a separate material attached to the rim, the separate material comprising the groove. 
   
   
       9 . The protective headgear of  claim 1 , where
 the groove is integral with the rim,   the entire edge comprises the groove,   the groove has a width of from 1 to 2.5 mm, and   the groove has a depth of from 1.5 to 4 mm.   
   
   
       10 . The protective headgear of  claim 9 , where
 the groove has a width of from 1.5 to 2 mm, and   the groove has a depth of from 2 to 3 mm.   
   
   
       11 . A protective headgear, comprising:
 a rigid outer shell comprising a bottom opening and an internal cavity,   a suspension attached to the outer shell and positioned at least partially within the internal cavity, and   a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell;   where the rim comprises an edge and at least one projection.   
   
   
       12 . The protective headgear of  claim 11 , where the at least one projection comprises a front projection at the front of the rim. 
   
   
       13 . The protective headgear of  claim 12 , where the at least one projection further comprises a rear projection at the rear of the rim. 
   
   
       14 . The protective headgear of  claim 13 , where at least one projection further comprises a side projection at a side of the rim. 
   
   
       15 . The protective headgear of  claim 11 , where the at least one projection circumscribes the bottom opening. 
   
   
       16 . The protective headgear of  claim 11 , where the at least one projection comprises at least one of a tab, a hook, or a panel. 
   
   
       17 . The protective headgear of  claim 11 , where the at least one projection is integral with the rim. 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A protective headgear, comprising:
 a rigid outer shell comprising a bottom opening and an internal cavity,   a suspension attached to the outer shell and positioned at least partially within the internal cavity, and   a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell;   where the rim comprises a means for retaining an edge of a flexible cover for the protective headgear.   
   
   
       20 .- 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . In a protective headgear, comprising a rigid outer shell comprising a bottom opening and an internal cavity, and a suspension attached to the outer shell and positioned at least partially within the internal cavity;
 the improvement comprising:   a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell, the rim comprising an edge, and at least one of
 a groove in at least a portion of the edge, and 
 at least one projection. 
   
   
   
       24 . A rigid outer shell for a protective headgear, comprising:
 a bottom opening,   an internal cavity, and   a rim circumscribing at least a portion of the bottom opening and extending laterally from the outer shell;   where the rim comprises an edge, and at least one of
 a groove in at least a portion of the edge, and 
 at least one projection.