Soft helmet incorporating rigid panels

Abstract

A soft helmet for wear under a hat is described. The soft helmet may have a plurality of inserts configured to fit into pockets on the interior of the soft helmet. The inserts may be placed so as to cover a majority of a wearer's head. To provide protection, the inserts have a top portion that may be a rigid material and a bottom portion that may be an elastomeric material. The soft helmet may not be readably noticeable to viewers of a wearer using the soft helmet. In another embodiment, the soft helmet may be utilized as a standalone hat. The hat may appear to be a normal beanie or baseball cap.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A soft helmet for wear under a hat, said soft helmet comprising:
 a fabric shell, said fabric shell having an interior layer and an exterior layer;   a plurality of pockets segmented in said interior layer of said fabric shell; and   a plurality of inserts configured to fit in said plurality of pockets, said plurality of inserts having a first layer and a second layer, said first layer being a compressible material and said second layer being a rigid material.   
     
     
         2 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , at least one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate triangular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , at least one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate rectangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The soft helmet of  claim 3 , another one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate triangular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said first layer being mechanically coupled to said second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said second layer being molded over said first layer. 
     
     
         7 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said interior layer and said exterior layer of said fabric shell is spandex. 
     
     
         8 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said compressible material being an energy absorbing foam. 
     
     
         9 . The soft helmet of  claim 8 , said energy absorbing foam is expanded polystyrene. 
     
     
         10 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said rigid material being a nylon resin. 
     
     
         11 . The soft helmet of  claim 10 , said nylon resin being reinforced with aramid fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The soft helmet of  claim 1 , said plurality of inserts being removable from said plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         13 . The soft helmet of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a chin strap coupled to said fabric shell. 
 
     
     
         14 . A soft helmet for use while participating in recreational activities, said soft helmet comprising:
 a hat, said hat having an interior layer and an exterior layer;   a chin strap coupled to said hat;   a plurality of pockets segmented in said interior layer of said hat; and   a plurality of inserts configured to fit in said plurality of pockets, said plurality of inserts having a first layer and a second layer, said first layer being an elastomeric material and said second layer being a rigid material.   
     
     
         15 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said chin strap being configured to be stored in said interior layer of said hat. 
     
     
         16 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said exterior layer of said hat being a baseball cap. 
     
     
         17 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said exterior layer of said hat being a beanie. 
     
     
         18 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said elastomeric material is expanded styrene. 
     
     
         19 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said rigid material is a nylon resin reinforced with aramid fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said plurality of inserts being removable from said plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         21 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , at least one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate rectangular shape. 
     
     
         22 . The soft helmet of  claim 21 , another one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate triangular shape. 
     
     
         23 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said chin strap comprising:
 a left strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said left strap being attached to said hat;   a right strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said right strap being attached to said hat, said second end of said left strap being removably attached to said second end of said right strap.   
     
     
         24 . The soft helmet of  claim 23 , said second end of said right strap and said second end of said left strap forming a hook and loop closure. 
     
     
         25 . The soft helmet of  claim 23 , said second end of said right strap and said second end of said left strap having a quick release closure. 
     
     
         26 . The soft helmet of  claim 23 , said second end of said right strap and said second end of said left strap having a belt buckle closure. 
     
     
         27 . The soft helmet of  claim 23 , said first end of said left strap and said first end of said right strap each having two attachment points to said hat. 
     
     
         28 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said chin strap being adjustable in length. 
     
     
         29 . The soft helmet of  claim 14 , said external layer of said hat being fire retardant. 
     
     
         30 . A soft helmet comprising:
 a hat, said hat having an interior layer that is spandex and an exterior layer that is knit fabric;   a nylon chin strap attached to said hat, said chin strap having an elastic portion;   a plurality of pockets segmented in said interior layer of said hat; and   a plurality of inserts configured to fit in said plurality of pockets, said plurality of inserts having a first layer that comprises expanded polystyrene and a second layer that comprises nylon resin, at least one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate triangular shape and at least one of said plurality of inserts having an arcuate rectangular shape.   
     
     
         31 . A soft helmet comprising:
 a spandex shell configured to be worn under a hat;   a nylon chin strap attached to said spandex shell, said chin strap having an elastic section;   a plurality of pockets segmented in an interior of said spandex shell; and   a plurality of inserts configured to fit in said plurality of pockets, said plurality of inserts having a first layer and a second layer, said first layer and said second layer having different hardnesses.   
     
     
         32 . The soft helmet of  claim 31 , said first layer being rigid and said second layer being semi-rigid. 
     
     
         33 . The soft helmet of  claim 31 , said nylon chin strap being configured to be stored in said interior of said spandex shell. 
     
     
         34 . A soft helmet comprising:
 a shell having an interior layer and an exterior layer, said interior layer being spandex and said exterior layer being a knit fabric; a nylon chin strap attached to said shell, said chin strap having an elastic section;   a plurality of pockets segmented in said interior of said shell, each of said plurality of pockets having an open end that folds over proximate said open end to form an enclosure; and   a plurality of inserts configured to (i) fit in said open end of said plurality of pockets and (ii) be secured by said enclosure, two or more of said plurality of inserts having a substantially rectangular shape and two or more of said plurality of inserts having a substantially triangular shape, each of said plurality of inserts having a first layer comprising a rigid material and a second layer comprising an elastomeric material.   
     
     
         35 . The soft helmet of  claim 34 , said second layer being molded over said first layer. 
     
     
         36 . The soft helmet of  claim 34 , said knit fabric is fire retardant. 
     
     
         37 . A soft helmet comprising:
 a shell having an interior layer and an exterior layer, said interior layer being spandex and said exterior layer being a knit fabric;   a nylon chin strap attached to said shell, said chin strap having an elastic section; and   a plurality of pockets segmented in said interior of said shell, at least six of said plurality of pockets configured to receive a triangular insert and at least fifteen of said plurality of pockets configured to receive a rectangular insert, each of said inserts comprising:   a first layer comprising a rigid material; and   a second layer comprising an elastomeric material.   
     
     
         38 . The soft helmet of  claim 37 , said second layer being molded over said first layer. 
     
     
         39 . The soft helmet of  claim 38 , said rigid material is an eighth of an inch thick. 
     
     
         40 . The soft helmet of  claim 39 , said elastomeric material is three sixteenths of an inch thick.