Energy absorbing helmet underwear

Abstract

Secondary energy absorbing helmet underwear is to be worn by a user under a primary rigid hard hat, sports helmet or military helmet. The helmet underwear includes an integral self elasticized stretchable material that includes a three-dimensional structure that is generally of semi-spherical shape to fit about the users head and that includes an optional peripheral stretchable stretch band that provides a means for retaining the helmet underwear in place on the users head. The stretchable material and core includes front and rear layers that are each formed as a knitted layer and interconnecting yarns that interconnect between the front and rear layers and define a predetermined spacing between the front and rear layers. The interconnecting yarns, in combination with the layers provide a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Energy absorbing helmet underwear that is adapted to be worn by a user under a rigid hard hat or the like and comprising:
 a stretchable fabric that is provided in separate fabric layers that define therebetween a pocket;   a shock absorbing insert that is disposed in said pocket; and   a stretch band attached to the fabric layers to enable the headpiece to be fitted over the user's head while the shock absorbing insert provides a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head;   said shock comprising an energy absorbing core layer with multiple monofilament yarns that extend orthogonal to and between the respective stretchable fabric layers;   and said stretchable fabric layers each comprised of an open mesh knit that is porous so as to provide air circulation.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the open mesh knit is one of a warp knit and a circular knit. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet underwear of  claim 2  wherein the insert has a thickness on the order of 3/16 inch. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the monofilament yarns are of the bi component or multi component fiber type. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the open knit mesh is of polyester yarns. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the monofilament yarns have density of from 1,000 to 3,000 threads per square inch. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the stretch band is a continuous band that is adapted to fit about the wearer's head and the monofilament yarns have a stiffness in a range of 30-90 based on a Shore “A” scale. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet underwear of  claim 1  wherein the helmet underwear is wearable under any of a hard hat, a sports helmet or a military helmet and the monofilament yarns have a fineness in a range of 70-200 denier. 
     
     
         9 . Energy absorbing helmet underwear that is adapted to be worn by a user under a rigid hard hat or the like and comprising:
 a pair stretchable fabric shells;   a shock absorbing core material that is disposed between said shells; and   a stretch band attached to the fabric shells to enable the headpiece to be fitted over the user's head while the shock absorbing core material provides a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head;   said shock absorbing core material comprising an energy absorbing core layer with multiple monofilament yarns that extend orthogonal to and between the respective stretchable fabric shells;   and said stretchable fabric shells each comprised of an open mesh knit that is porous so as to provide air circulation.   
     
     
         10 . The helmet underwear of  claim 9  wherein the open mesh knit is one of a warp knit and a circular knit. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet underwear of  claim 9  wherein the energy absorbing core layer is disposed in a pocket defined between the stretchable fabric layers and is free-floating therein without any stitching through the stretchable fabric layers or through the energy absorbing core layer. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet underwear of  claim 11  wherein, when the energy absorbing underwear is off the head of the user, the energy absorbing core layer substantially fills the entire pocket between the stretchable fabric layers; wherein, when the energy absorbing underwear is applied to the head of the user, then the stretchable fabric layers stretch relative to the energy absorbing core layer leaving a slight gap on either end of the energy absorbing core layer; and wherein the stretch band is a continuous annular-shaped band that is adapted to fir about the head of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet underwear of  claim 9  wherein the stretch band is a continuous band that is adapted to fit about the wearer's head. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet underwear of  claim 9  wherein the core material comprises monofilament yarns that interconnect between said shells and define a predetermined spacing between said shells, and said monofilament yarns are of bi component or multi component fiber type. 
     
     
         15 . Energy absorbing helmet underwear that is adapted to be worn by a user under a rigid hard hat, sports helmet or military helmet, said helmet underwear comprising, an integral stretchable material that includes a three-dimensional structure that is generally of semi-spherical shape to fit about the users head and that includes a peripheral stretchable stretch band that provides a means for retaining the helmet underwear in place on the users head, said stretchable material including front and rear layers that are each formed as a knitted layer and interconnecting yarns that interconnect between said front and rear layers and define a predetermined spacing between said front and rear layers, said interconnecting yarns, in combination with said layers providing a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet underwear of  claim 15  wherein the yarns define a spacing between the layers of 12-30 millimeters. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet underwear of  claim 15  wherein the yarns are monofilament yarns that extend orthogonal to and between the respective front and rear knitted layers. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet underwear of  claim 17  wherein the yarns are bi component or a multi component yarns, and the knitted layers are each an open mesh knit that is porous so as to provide air circulation. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet underwear of  claim 18  wherein the yarns have a fineness of 70-200 denier. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet underwear of  claim 19  wherein the yarn has a density in a range of 1,000-3,000 threads per square inch. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the integral stretchable material comprises an interconnecting yarns that interconnect between said front and rear layers and defines a predetermined spacing between said front and rear layers, said interconnecting yarns, in combination with said layers providing a safety barrier between the rigid hat and the user's head.