Protective headgear apparatus

Abstract

A protective headgear includes an impact absorbing primary shell having an upper edge defining an upper crown opening for exposing a crown portion of a wearer's head, and a front edge defining a front facial opening for exposing the wearer's face. An impact absorbing face mask section can be releasably attached to the front edge of the primary shell and positioned for protecting the wearer's face, such that the face mask section does not contact the wearer's face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective headgear comprising:
 (a) an impact absorbing primary shell having an upper edge defining an upper crown opening for exposing a crown portion of a wearer's head, and a front edge defining a front facial opening for exposing the wearer's face; and   (b) an impact absorbing face mask section releasably attached to the front edge of the primary shell and positioned for protecting the wearer's face, wherein the face mask section does not contact the wearer's face.   
     
     
         2 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , wherein the face mask is releasably attached to the primary shell by a plurality of impact absorbing clips positioned on the front edge of the primary shell. 
     
     
         3 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an impact absorbing chin piece, and removably attached at a lower edge of the primary shell, the chin piece and the front edge of the primary shell defining the front facial opening. 
     
     
         4 . The protective headgear according to  claim 3 , wherein the face mask is releasably attached to the primary shell by a plurality of impact absorbing clips positioned on the front edge of the primary shell and the chin piece. 
     
     
         5 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell is comprised of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic, 
     
     
         6 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , wherein the face mask section is comprised of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         7 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of impact absorbing elongate members attached to the upper edge of the primary shell and extending arcuately over the upper crown opening to protect the crown portion of the wearer's head. 
     
     
         8 . The protective headgear according to  claim 7 , wherein the impact absorbing members are comprised of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         9 . The protective headgear according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of impact absorbing members comprise a pair of substantially parallel impact absorbing bars extending substantially longitudinally over the crown opening. 
     
     
         10 . The protective headgear according to  claim 9 , further comprising an adjustable strap attached to the upper edge of the primary shell, and extending substantially perpendicular to the pair of impact absorbing bars. 
     
     
         11 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell includes a rear edge having an upwardly extending substantially semi-circular region positioned proximate the center of the rear edge. 
     
     
         12 . The protective headgear according to  claim 11 , further comprising an impact absorbing back shell attached to the rear edge of the primary shell, and having a downwardly extending semi-circular region complementary to the upwardly extending substantially semi-circular region of the primary shell, wherein the upwardly extending semi-circular region of the primary shell and the downwardly extending semi-circular region of the back shell together define a substantially circular opening through which hair of the wearer can be inserted therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The protective headgear according to  claim 12 , wherein the back shell is attached to the primary shell by a plurality of straps. 
     
     
         14 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , further comprising resilient padding attached to an interior surface of the primary shell. 
     
     
         15 . The protective headgear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an identifying cover member releasably attached to the primary shell and having a distinguishing visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of a color, name and logo. 
     
     
         16 . A protective headgear comprising:
 (a) an impact absorbing primary shell having an upper edge defining an upper crown opening for exposing a crown portion of a wearer's head, a front edge defining a front facial opening for exposing the wearer's face, and a rear edge opposed to the front edge having an upwardly extending substantially semi-circular region proximate the center of the rear edge; and   (b) an impact absorbing back shell attached to the rear edge of the primary shell, and having a downwardly extending semi-circular region complementary to the upwardly extending substantially semi-circular region of the primary shell, wherein the upwardly extending semi-circular region of the primary shell and the downwardly extending semi-circular region of the back shell together define a substantially circular opening through which hair of the wearer can be inserted therethrough.   
     
     
         17 . The protective headgear according to  claim 16 , further comprising an impact absorbing face mask section releasably attached to the front edge of the primary shell and positioned for protecting the wearer's face, wherein the face mask section does not contact the wearer's face. 
     
     
         18 . The protective headgear according to  claim 17 , wherein the face mask is releasably attached to the primary shell by a plurality of impact absorbing clips positioned on the front edge of the primary shell. 
     
     
         19 . A protective headgear kit comprising:
 (a) a protective headgear comprising an impact absorbing primary shell having an upper edge defining an upper crown opening for exposing a crown portion of a wearer's head, and a front edge defining a front facial opening for exposing the wearer's face; and   (b) a plurality of identifying cover members, wherein each of the plurality of identifying cover members can be releasably attached to the primary shell and have a distinguishing visual characteristic distinct from the other cover members.   
     
     
         20 . The protective headgear according to  claim 19 , wherein the distinguishing visual characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a color, name and logo.