Headband with impact protection

Abstract

A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective headband, comprising:
 a fabric covering;   at least one force absorbing member being positioned about the protective headband and covered by the fabric covering; and   a tensioner attached to the at least one force absorbing member such that opposing end portions of the at least one force absorbing member are secured next to one another and configured to be biased towards one another by the tensioner, the tensioner being attached to an inner surface or an outer surface of the at least one force absorbing member,   wherein the tensioner is covered by the fabric covering and unattached to the fabric covering, and   wherein the at least one force absorbing member comprises urethane foam and has a thickness of approximately 1 to 5 mm.   
     
     
         2 . A protective headband having a circular configuration, comprising:
 a fabric covering having a hollow interior;   a first force absorbing member being positioned about the protective headband such that the first one force absorbing member extends around the circular configuration with opposing end portions of the first force absorbing member being next to one another and separated by a gap;   a second force absorbing member being positioned to cover the gap and to also overlap with a portion of each of the opposing end portions of the first force absorbing member; and   an elastic member secured to the opposing end portions of the first force absorbing member such that the opposing end portions of the first one force absorbing member are biased towards one another, the elastic member being attached to an inner surface or an outer surface of the first force absorbing member,   wherein the first force absorbing member, second force absorbing member, and elastic member are enclosed by the hollow interior of the fabric covering,   wherein the elastic member is unattached to the fabric covering, and   wherein each of the first and second force absorbing members comprises urethane foam and has a thickness of approximately 1 to 5 mm.   
     
     
         3 . A protective headband, comprising
 a continuous fabric member having a first portion, a second portion, a center line between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having an upper end and a lower end;   a first thin force absorbing member positioned in the upper end; and   a second thin force absorbing member positioned in the lower end,   wherein the first thin force absorbing member and the second thin force absorbing members are enclosed by the continuous fabric member when the continuous fabric member is folded along the center line such that the first portion and the second portion overlap.