Configurable helmet

Abstract

At least one embodiment relates to a configurable helmet comprising a shell, a padding portion coupled to the shell and comprising a first portion and a second portion, and a gap section disposed between these two portions. A spring is coupled at a first end to the first portion and at a second end to the second portion allowing for movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion to allowing size adjustment to fit a person's head. There can be an occipital pad coupled to the padding section, the occipital pad having an expanded portion for extending below an occipital bone on a person when they are wearing the helmet. There can be a visor adapter which is configured to secure a visor to a helmet, and having a clip configured to secure the visor adapter to said shell of the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         11 . A configurable helmet comprising:
 a shell;   a padding portion disposed inside of said shell and being secured to said shell, wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion; and   at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for a movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head.   
     
     
         2 . The configurable helmet as in claim  1 , wherein said at least one spring comprises at least two springs with a first spring being disposed on a first side of said padding portion and a second spring being disposed on a second side of said padding portion. 
     
     
         3 . The configurable helmet as in claim  1 , wherein said at least one spring comprises a first body section, and a second body section and an elastic spring section comprising an elastomer, wherein said first body section is coupled to said first portion of said padding portion and said second body section is coupled to said second portion of said padding portion, and wherein said elastomer is configured to pull said first body section and said second body section together. 
     
     
         4 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 3 , wherein said first body section of said spring comprises a plurality of locking blocks, and said second body section comprises at least one locking block, wherein said elastomer is configured to be adjustable in tension based upon its placement on said locking blocks on said first body section and said second body section. 
     
     
         5 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 4 , wherein said first body section comprises at least one wing, and said second body section comprises at least one wing, wherein said at least one wing on said first body section is for securing said first body section to said first portion of said padding portion, and said at least one wing on said second body section is for securing said second body section to said second portion on said padding portion. 
     
     
         6 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 3 , further comprising at least one shaft wherein said first body section and said second body section are slidable on said shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The configurable helmet as in claim  1 , further comprising an occipital pad coupled to said padding portion, wherein said occipital pad is configured to sit below an occipital bone on a person's head when the person places the helmet on their head, and wherein said occipital pad comprises a wider bottom section to secure the pad below the occipital bone on a person's skull. 
     
     
         8 . The configurable helmet as in claim  1 , further comprising a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to be secured to a helmet and configured to couple a visor to said visor adapter and to said helmet, wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 8 , wherein said visor adapter further comprises at least one adhesive, said at least one adhesive configured to said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 9 , wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one tab, said at least one tab configured to interact with at least one tab slot on a visor to secure the visor against rotation with respect to a helmet. 
     
     
         11 . A configurable helmet comprising:
 a shell;   a padding portion disposed inside of said shell; and   at least one occipital pad coupled to said padding portion, said at least one occipital pad having an expanded portion for extending below an occipital bone on a person when the person is wearing the helmet.   
     
     
         12 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one occipital pad further comprises a fastener for coupling said occipital pad to said padding portion on said helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 11 , wherein said expanded portion is thicker than an adjacent portion on the occipital pad, and wherein said expanded portion sits below the adjacent portion when a person is positioned upright and wearing the helmet. 
     
     
         14 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 11 , wherein said padding portion is disposed inside of said shell and being coupled to said shell, wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion, and wherein the helmet further comprises at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for the movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head. 
     
     
         15 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 14 , further comprising a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to be secured to a helmet and configured to couple a visor to said visor adapter and to said helmet, wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet. 
     
     
         16 . A configurable helmet comprising:
 a shell;   a padding portion; and   a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to secure a visor to a helmet, said visor adapter comprising at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet.   
     
     
         17 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 16 , wherein said visor adapter further comprises at least one additional clip, wherein said clip and said at least one additional clip are substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 16 , wherein said visor adapter
 comprises:   at least one visor band;   at least one additional clip;   at least one adhesive; and   at least one tab;   wherein said at least one clip and said at least one additional clip are coupled to said at least one visor band and are configured to couple said at least one visor band to said shell of said helmet, and wherein said at least one adhesive is configured to couple said at least one visor band to said shell of said helmet, and wherein said at least one tab is configured to slide through at least one tab slot on a visor to secure the visor against rotation with respect to the helmet.   
     
     
         19 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 16 , further comprising an occipital pad, wherein said occipital pad is coupled to said padding portion on the helmet and wherein said occipital pad is configured to sit below an occipital bone on a person when the person is wearing the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable helmet as in  claim 16 , wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion;
 and wherein the helmet further comprises at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for the movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head.