Safer football helmet

Abstract

A safer football helmet including a soft shell not covering an underlying rigid shell, and thereby tending to minimize otherwise-injurious radial forces acting upon the head on contact. Preferably, the soft shell is a fabric-covered, padded material. The soft shell includes a portion that extends substantially over the forehead, and also includes opposing portions lapping over the jaw area to edges of the mouth.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A safer football helmet, comprising:
 a soft shell including foam padding not covering an underlying hard shell, the soft shell thereby tending to minimize otherwise-injurious radial forces acting upon the head on contact, wherein the soft shell includes a portion providing extended facial protection that does not include a face mask.   
     
     
         2 . The safer football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the facial protection of the soft shell extends substantially over the forehead, and also includes opposing portions lapping over the jaw area to edges of the mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The safer football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the foam padding of the soft shell is fabric-covered. 
     
     
         4 . The safer football helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the foam padding comprises a grid-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The safer football helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the foam padding comprises foam rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The safer football helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the foam padding comprises one or more of the following: rebound foam; closed-cell foam; neoprene foam; viscoelastic polymer gel; memory foam. 
     
     
         7 . The safer football helmet of  claim 2 , further comprising a Velcro clasp for protection of the mouth area.