Protective sports helmet

Abstract

A football helmet includes a one-piece outer shell defining an exterior and an interior. The one-piece outer shell includes a crown portion, defining an upper region of the shell. The shell further includes a front portion, extending generally forward and downward from crown portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion. The left side portion and the right side portion extend generally downward and laterally from the crown portion sufficiently to cover a respective left or right ear of a football player wearing the helmet. The outer shell further includes a rear portion, extending generally rearward and downward from the crown portion. The helmet includes a plurality of bumps defined on the exterior of the outer shell. Each of the bumps are a dome shaped protrusion that absorb, deflect, and distribute energy upon impact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell comprising:
 an exterior and an interior; 
 a crown portion, a front portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a rear portion; and 
 a plurality of bumps defined on the exterior, wherein each of the plurality of bumps is a dome shaped protrusion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bumps define a concave recess on the interior. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumps are evenly dispersed about the outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bumps are contiguous with adjacent bumps. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumps are defined on the crown portion, the front portion, the left side portion, the right side portion, and the rear portion. 
     
     
         6 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell comprising:
 an exterior and an interior; 
 a crown portion, a front portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a rear portion; and 
 a plurality of bumps defined on the exterior, wherein each of the plurality of bumps is a dome shaped protrusion and each of the plurality of bumps define a concave recess on the interior. 
   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of bumps are evenly dispersed about the outer shell. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of bumps are contiguous with adjacent bumps. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of bumps are defined on the crown portion, the front portion, the left side portion, the right side portion, and the rear portion.