Adjustable helmet shell

Abstract

A helmet with an adjustable helmet shell is provided for use in sports including baseball and softball. The helmet shell is expandable and contractable to fit a variety of head shapes and sizes, and hairstyles. The helmet shell may be a single, molded piece or it may include a base member and a flap member. Gaps or slots may be located between flexible side portions and a flexible rear portion of the helmet shell. The slots facilitate outward deflection of the side portions and the rear portion when the helmet is donned. The helmet shell may be biased toward a smaller size such that once the helmet shell is expanded by the force of a wearer's head, it contracts to fit snugly and securely.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a one-piece helmet shell including a front portion, a top portion, side portions, and a rear portion, wherein the side portions comprise a left-side portion and a right-side portion, and wherein the rear portion is integral with the top portion;   means for facilitating outward deflection of the side portions and the rear portion when the helmet is donned;   a first limiting strap connecting the left-side portion to the rear portion, wherein an entirety of the first limiting strap is positioned lower than a lower edge of the front portion, and wherein the first limiting strap is configured to limit deflection of the left-side portion away from the rear portion; and   a second limiting strap connecting the right-side portion to the rear portion, wherein an entirety of the second limiting strap is positioned lower than the lower edge of the front portion.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1  wherein the helmet shell is biased to a resting position that is smaller than a smallest-sized head for which the helmet is configured. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the means for facilitating outward deflection comprises a plurality of slots in the helmet shell. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 3 , wherein each of the slots extends from an outer surface of the helmet through an entire thickness of the helmet. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner positioned within an interior of the helmet shell. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first slot between the left-side portion and the rear portion, the first slot extending to a bottom of the helmet shell such that the left-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the first slot; and   a second slot between the right-side portion and the rear portion, the second slot extending to the bottom of the helmet shell such that the right-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the second slot.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first limiting strap and the second limiting strap is positioned entirely within a perimeter formed by an outer surface of the helmet shell. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable helmet, comprising:
 a helmet shell including a front portion, a top portion, side portions, and a rear portion, wherein the side portions comprise a left-side portion and a right-side portion;   a liner positioned in an interior of the helmet;   means for facilitating outward deflection of the side portions and the rear portion when the helmet is donned; and   one or more limiting straps connecting the left-side portion to the rear portion and connecting the right-side portion to the rear portion;   wherein each limiting strap of the one or more limiting straps is positioned entirely within a perimeter formed by an outer surface of the helmet shell.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 8 , wherein the helmet shell is a single piece, and wherein the rear portion is integral with the top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 8 , wherein the rear portion is removable from the helmet shell. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more limiting straps comprises a first limiting strap and a second limiting strap;   an entirety of the first limiting strap is positioned lower than a lower edge of the front portion; and   an entirety of the second limiting strap is positioned lower than the lower edge of the front portion.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first slot between the left-side portion and the rear portion, the first slot extending to a bottom of the helmet shell such that the left-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the first slot; and   a second slot between the right-side portion and the rear portion, the second slot extending to the bottom of the helmet shell such that the right-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the second slot.   
     
     
         13 . An adjustable helmet, comprising a helmet shell including a front portion, a top portion, side portions, and a rear portion, wherein the side portions comprise a left-side portion and a right-side portion, wherein:
 the rear portion is outwardly deflectable relative to the side portions between a resting position and an expanded position;   the expanded position comprises at least part of the rear portion being deflected away from the front portion and the side portions;   the helmet shell comprises a material forming at least the top portion and the rear portion; and   the material biases the rear portion to the resting position.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the side portions are outwardly deflectable relative to the rear portion;   at least one of the side portions comprises a resting position and a deflected position; and   the expanded position of the at least one of the side portions comprises part of the at least one of the side portions being deflected away from the rear portion.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more limiting straps connecting the left-side portion to the rear portion and connecting the right-side portion to the rear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the one or more limiting straps comprises an inelastic material. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 15 , wherein each limiting strap of the one or more limiting straps is positioned entirely within a perimeter formed by an outer surface of the helmet shell. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 13 , further comprising a liner positioned in an interior of the helmet shell. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first slot between the left-side portion and the rear portion, the first slot extending to a bottom of the helmet shell such that the left-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the first slot; and   a second slot between the right-side portion and the rear portion, the second slot extending to the bottom of the helmet shell such that the right-side portion and the rear portion are separated from each other along the second slot.   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the front portion, the top portion, the side portions, and the rear portion together form a single integrated structure.