Shock attenuating sport headgear

Abstract

An apparatus for protective headgear is disclosed together with a headgear assembly. The headgear is designed to attenuate shocks, blows and impacts delivered to the front, sides, and back of the head by dissipating the force through deflection, shock absorption, and movement of the structural materials. Reduction and attenuation of head impacts reduces head accelerations and forces that may result in concussions. Methods of using the headgear apparatus and assembly are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for headgear comprising:
 a base having an inner surface with an inner surface area and an outer surface with a recess; and   a shell in contact with the recess,   wherein the base includes at least one setoff with a contact area, the setoff disposed on the inner surface, and   wherein the contact area of the setoff is configured to contact a user's head.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes more than one recess and more than one shell, and wherein each shell is in contact with a recess. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the base includes at least one dowel extending outward from the outer surface, and   wherein the shell includes at least one opening configured to accept the at least one dowel.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the recess of the outer surface includes a floor and at least one wall, and   wherein the shell is configured to contact at least a portion of the floor and a portion of the at least one wall.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 50% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 40% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 30% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 20% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 10% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact area is less than 5% of the inner surface area. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus covers at least a portion of the forehead, a portion of the sides of the head, and a portion of the back of the head. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus does not cover the top of the head. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the base is hollow. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a space between the base and the shell when the shell is seated in the recess. 
     
     
         15 . An headgear assembly comprising:
 one or more segments, each segment having
 a base having an inner surface with an inner surface area and an outer surface with a recess, and 
 a shell in contact with the recess, 
 wherein the base includes at least one setoff with a contact area, the setoff disposed on the inner surface, and 
 wherein the contact area of the setoff is configured to contact a user's head; and 
   at least one strap connecting the one or more segments.   
     
     
         16 . The headgear assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the strap passes through a slot in the shell. 
     
     
         17 . The headgear assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the strap passes through a slot in the base and the shell. 
     
     
         18 . The headgear assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the headgear assembly covers at least a portion of the forehead, a portion of the sides of the head, and a portion of the back of the head. 
     
     
         19 . The headgear assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the headgear assembly attenuates an impact aimed at the user's head. 
     
     
         20 . A method of attenuating an impact aimed at a user's head comprising:
 placing a headgear assembly onto a user's head, wherein the headgear assembly includes
 one or more segments, each segment having
 a base having an inner surface with an inner surface area and an outer surface with a recess, and 
 a shell in contact with the recess, 
 wherein the base includes at least one setoff with a contact area, the setoff disposed on the inner surface, and 
 wherein the contact area of the set off is configured to contact a user's head, and 
 
 at least one strap connecting the one or more segments; 
   adjusting the headgear assembly to cover at least a portion of the forehead, a portion of the sides of the head, and a portion of the back of the head; and   adjusting the strap connecting the one or more segments so that the contact areas are in contact with the head.