Protective head gear

Abstract

A head gear apparatus has a padded member shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head. The padded member includes a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along a lower margin. A second side portion has a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin. A middle portion is positioned between and connects the first side portion and the second side portion. The lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge. The padded member has at least one strap guide. A rear closure assembly connects the first distal end to the second distal end.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A head gear apparatus comprising:
 a padded member with a lower margin and shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head and comprising:
 a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along the lower margin; 
 a second side portion having a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin; and 
 a middle portion positioned between and connecting the first side portion and the second side portion; 
 wherein the lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge; 
   at least one strap guide on the padded member; and   a rear closure assembly connecting the first distal end to the second distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper portion with a distal end and extending transversely from the middle portion to substantially define a T-shape of the padded member. 
     
     
         3 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap guide is movable between an open position and a closed position and wherein the at least one strap guide in the closed position defines a conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one strap guide comprises at least one flexible flap secured along a first edge to the padded member. 
     
     
         5 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a top strap extending between and connecting the rear closure assembly and the distal end of the upper portion. 
     
     
         6 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rear closure assembly comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a strap, a lace, a cord, and respective complementary fastener portions on the first distal end and on the second distal end of the padded member. 
     
     
         7 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rear closure assembly further comprises a rear strap guide. 
     
     
         8 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one goggle retaining strap having a first end connected proximate the lower margin of the padded member and having a second end configured to releasably connect to the padded member with the at least one goggle retaining strap defining a loop. 
     
     
         9 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pad on the rear closure assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The head gear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the padded member further comprises a goggle frame. 
     
     
         11 . A head gear kit comprising:
 a padded member shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head and comprising:
 a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along the lower margin; 
 a second side portion having a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin; 
 a middle portion positioned between and connecting the first side portion and the second side portion; and 
 at least one strap guide on the padded member; 
 wherein the lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge; and 
   a rear closure assembly configured to connect the first distal end to the second distal end and maintain the padded member in a substantially cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the padded member further comprises an upper portion with a distal end and extending transversely from the middle portion to substantially define a T-shape of the padded member. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising a top strap configured to extend between and connect the rear closure assembly and the distal end of the upper portion. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one strap guide is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the at least one strap guide in the closed position defines a conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one strap guide comprises at least one flexible flap secured along a first edge to the padded member. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the rear closure assembly comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a strap, a lace, a cord, and respective complementary fastener portions on the first distal end and on the second distal end of the padded member. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the rear closure assembly further comprises a rear strap guide. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one goggle retaining strap having a first end connected proximate the lower margin of the padded member and having a second end configured to releasably connect to the padded member with the at least one goggle retaining strap defining a loop. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one pad on the rear closure assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising goggles having a goggle frame and a goggle strap.