Protection apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for protecting a user's face, neck and/or ears. The protection apparatus includes a pliable draping material coupleable to a helmet. The pliable draping material includes a helmet engaging portion and a protection portion coupled to the helmet engaging portion. The protection portion protects at least one of a user's mouth, neck, and ears. The protection apparatus also includes a coupling element that couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to a band. The band is engageable with at least one clip on an outer surface of the helmet to removeably couple the protection apparatus to the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protection apparatus coupleable to a helmet, the protection apparatus comprising:
 a draping material coupleable to a helmet, the draping material comprising:
 a helmet engaging portion; and 
 a protection portion, the protection portion disposed opposite the helmet engaging portion, the helmet engaging portion and the protection portion comprising a pliable fabric, wherein the helmet engaging portion is positionable about an outer circumference of a helmet and wherein the protection portion protects at least one of a user's mouth, neck, and ears when the draping material is coupled to the helmet and the helmet is worn by the user; 
   a coupling element that couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to a band, wherein the band is positionable about the outer circumference of the helmet and is engageable with at least one clip on an outer surface of the helmet, wherein engagement of the band with the at least one clip maintains a coupling between the draping material and the helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a band positionable about the circumference of the helmet and engageable with the at least one clip on the outer surface of the helmet, the band maintaining the coupling between the draping material and the helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an adjusting member engageable with the band, the adjusting member adjusting a tension between the band and the outer circumference of the helmet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the band comprises an accessory band for coupling an accessory to the helmet, wherein the coupling element couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to the accessory band without interfering with an engagement between the accessory band and the at least one clip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises at least one loop of fabric coupled to the helmet engaging portion of the draping material, wherein the band is positionable through the at least one loop of fabric and engageable with the at least one clip on the outer surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet engaging portion of the draping material comprises at least one extension of fabric extending from an end of the helmet engaging portion opposite the protection portion of the draping material, the at least one extension of fabric positionable around the band. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the coupling element comprises an attachment, wherein the attachment couples the at least one extension to the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to form a loop around the band. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a facemask removably coupleable to the protection portion of the draping material, the facemask protecting a user's nose when the facemask is coupled to the draping material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet engaging portion of the draping material comprises a first type of fabric and wherein the protection portion of the draping material comprises a second type of material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first type of material comprises an elastic material that resiliently conforms to a shape of the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the draping material is insulated. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the draping material is water resistant. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the draping material is fire retardant. 
     
     
         14 . A protection apparatus coupleable to a helmet, the protection apparatus comprising:
 a pliable draping material coupleable to a helmet, the pliable draping material comprising:
 a helmet engaging portion; and 
 a protection portion coupled to the helmet engaging portion, wherein the protection portion protects at least one of a user's mouth, neck, and ears; 
   a coupling element that couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to a band, wherein the band is engageable with at least one clip on an outer surface of the helmet.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein engagement between the band and the at least one clip removeably couples the pliable draping material to the helmet. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an adjusting member engageable with the band, the adjusting member adjusting a tension between the band and an outer circumference of the helmet. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the band comprises an accessory band for coupling an accessory to the helmet, wherein the coupling element couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to the accessory band without interfering with an engagement between the accessory band and the at least one clip. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling element comprises at least one loop of fabric coupled to the helmet engaging portion of the draping material, wherein the band is positionable through the at least one loop of fabric and engageable with the at least one clip on the outer surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . A pliable draping material coupleable to a helmet, the pliable draping material comprising:
 a helmet engaging portion; and   a protection portion coupled to the helmet engaging portion, wherein the protection portion protects at least one of a user's mouth, neck, and ears;   a band positionable about a circumference of the helmet; and   a coupling element that couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to a band, wherein the band is engageable with at least one clip on an outer surface of the helmet.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the band comprises an accessory band for coupling an accessory to the helmet, wherein the coupling element couples the helmet engaging portion of the draping material to the accessory band without interfering with an engagement between the accessory band and the at least one clip.