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This article is about the type of headgear. For other uses, see Helmet (disambiguation).
A woman wearing a cycling helmet
A woman wearing a cycling helmet

A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries. Personal protective equipment (PPE refers to protective Clothing, Helmets, Goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or In Anatomy, the head of an Animal is the Rostral part (from Anatomical position that usually comprises the Brain, Eyes The oldest use of helmets was by Ancient Greek soldiers, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from sword blows and arrows. An arrow is a pointed Projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most Cultures. In the 2000s, soldiers still wear helmets, now often made from Kevlar rather than metal, to protect the head from bullets and shell fragments. Kevlar is the registered Trademark for a light strong para-aramid Synthetic fiber, related to other Aramids such as Nomex and

In civilian life, helmets are used for recreational activities and sports (e. g. , American football, ice hockey, cricket, and rock climbing); dangerous work activities (e. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Rock climbing is a Sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the g. , construction, mining, police riot duty); and transportation (e. In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body g. , Motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets). A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by Motorcycle riders A bicycle helmet is a Helmet intended to be worn while riding a Bicycle. Since the 1990s, most helmets are made from resin or plastic, which may be reinforced with fibers such as aramids. Resin, not to be confused with Rosin, is a Hydrocarbon Secretion of many Plants particularly coniferous trees. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong Synthetic fibers They are used in aerospace and military applications for ballistic rated body armor

Contents

Military origins

Main article: Combat helmet
A "Brodie helmet" used by British and US forces in both world wars
A "Brodie helmet" used by British and US forces in both world wars

Helmets were among the oldest forms of combat protection, and are known to have been worn by ancient Greeks, Romans, throughout the Middle Ages, and up to the end of the 1600s by many combatants. A combat helmet is a Helmet designed specifically for use during Combat. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC At that time, they were purely military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with swords, flying arrows, and low-velocity musketry. An arrow is a pointed Projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most Cultures. A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder Some helmets, in order to protect the neck as well, have a sort of extension made of leather strips called pteruges, particularly common in the Middle East. Pteruges (also spelled pteryges, from Greek, meaning feathers) refers to the decorative skirt of leather or fabric worn around the waists of Roman

They were initially constructed from leather, and then bronze and iron during the Bronze and Iron Ages, but soon came to be made entirely from forged steel in many societies after about 950A. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 D. Military use of helmets declined after 1670, and rifled firearms ended their use by foot soldiers after 1700. A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion By the 18th century, cavalry units often wore steel body cuirasses, and frequently metal skull protectors under their hats, called "secrets". Cuirass ( French cuirasse, Latin coriaceus, made of leather from corium, the original breastplate being of Leather) the

The Napoleonic era saw ornate cavalry helmets reintroduced for cuirassiers and dragoons in some armies; they continued to be used by French forces during World War I as late as 1915, when they were replaced by the new French Adrian helmet. Cuirassiers were mounted Cavalry Soldiers equipped with Armour and Firearms first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. A dragoon is a soldier intended primarily to fight on foot but trained also in Horse riding and cavalry combat especially World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The M15 Adrian helmet (Casque Adrian was a Combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was soon followed by the adoption of similar steel helmets by the other warring nations.

The Prussian spiked helmet, or Pickelhaube, offered almost no protection from the increased use of heavy artillery during World War I, and in 1916 was replaced by the German steel helmet, or Stahlhelm, and afterwards it was worn merely for tradition. The Pickelhaube (plural Pickelhauben; from the German Pickel = "point" or "pickaxe" (modern German "pimple" World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Stahlhelm (plural Stahlhelme) is German for "steel helmet" World War I and its increased use of heavy artillery had renewed the need for steel helmets, which were quickly introduced by all the combatant nations for their foot soldiers. In the 20th century, such helmets offered protection for the head from shrapnel and spent, or glancing, bullets.

Today's militaries often use high-quality helmets made of ballistic materials such as Kevlar, which have excellent bullet and fragmentation stopping power. Kevlar is the registered Trademark for a light strong para-aramid Synthetic fiber, related to other Aramids such as Nomex and Some helmets also have good non-ballistic protective qualities, to protect the wearer from non-ballistic injuries, such as concussive shockwaves from explosions, motor vehicle accidents, or falls. For the music album by Converter see Shock Front For the 1977 horror film see Shock Waves A shock wave (also called An explosion is a sudden increase in Volume and release of Energy in an extreme manner usually with the generation of high Temperatures and the release Military helmets can be worn with radio earmuffs, and other equipment such as night vision goggles, can be added. Military helmets are often worn with a removable cotton-polyester helmet cover, which allows the user to change the pattern of the camouflage (e. g. , from dark green forest camouflage to tan-coloured desert camouflage).

Design

A protective helmet worn during rock climbing
A protective helmet worn during rock climbing

Despite various designs and requirements, all helmets attempt to protect the user's head through a mechanical energy-absorption process. Therefore, their structure and protective capacity are altered in high-energy impacts. Beside their energy-absorption capability, their volume and weight are also important issues, since higher volume and weight increase the injury risk for the user's head and neck. Anatomical helmets adapted to the inner head structure were invented by neurosurgeons at the end of the 20th century. Neurosurgery is the surgical discipline focused on treating those central, Peripheral nervous system and spinal column diseases amenable to surgical

Helmets used for different purposes have different designs. For example, a bicycle helmet would chiefly need to protect against blunt impact forces from the wearer's head striking the road or a car hood. A bicycle helmet is a Helmet intended to be worn while riding a Bicycle. A helmet designed for rock climbing, however, would need to protect against objects (e. g. small rocks and climbing equipment) such as an ice axe falling from above. A wide range of equipment is used during Rock climbing. The most popular types of climbing equipment are briefly described in this article Practical concerns also dictate helmet design: a bicycling helmet would preferably be aerodynamic in shape and probably well ventilated, while a rock climbing helmet would be lightweight and with a minimum of bulk so that it would not interfere with climbing.

Some helmets have other protective elements attached to them, such as face visors, goggles, and ear plugs are other forms of protective headgear. Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates water or chemicals from An earplug is a device that is meant to be inserted in the Ear canal to protect the wearer's hearing from loud noises or the intrusion of water foreign bodies dust or excessive Personal protective equipment (PPE refers to protective Clothing, Helmets, Goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or Football, hockey and lacrosse helmets usually have an integrated face protector made from metal. Baseball batting helmets have an expanded protection over the ear, which protects the jaw from injury. Motorcycle helmets often have flip-down face screens for rain and wind protection, and they may also have projecting visors to protect the eyes from glare.

Rendering of an American football helmet
Rendering of an American football helmet

Hard hats for construction workers are worn mainly to protect the wearer from falling objects such as tools. College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies A hard hat is a type of Helmet predominantly used in workplace environments such as Construction sites to protect the head from injury by falling objects Helmets for riot police often have flip-down clear visors and thick padding to protect the back of the neck. Riot control refers to the measures used by police military or other forces to control, disperse and arrest civilians that are involved in a Riot, demonstration Modern firefighter's helmets protect the face and back of the head against impact, fires and and electricity, and they include masks, communication systems and other accessories. Welding helmets protect the eyes , face and neck from flash burn, ultraviolet light, sparks and heat. They have a small window, called a lens shade, through which the welder looks at the weld.

In rare cases, people with some medical conditions must wear a helmet to protect the brain, due to a gap in the braincase, e. g. because of cleidocranial dysostosis or in separated craniopagus twins. Cleidocranial dysostosis, also called Cleidocranial dysplasia, is a Hereditary Congenital disorder due to Haploinsufficiency caused by mutations Conjoined twins are whose bodies are joined in utero A rare phenomenon the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50000 births to 1 in 200000 births with a somewhat higher incidence

Materials

Types of synthetic fiber used to make some helmets:

Types of helmet

Military

See Combat helmet for a list of helmets worn in (ancient and modern) battle combat

Sporting activities

Helmets for work

Protective and Emergency services

Other helmets

Images

1500s helmet in forged steel (compatible Anachrome 3D)

Pith helmet

Vietnam War Era Marine Squadron VMA-311 Flight Helmet

PASGT helmet

Hockey Helmet - Goalie

baseball batting helmet

full face and open face motorcycle helmet

Leatherhead Fire Helmet

Heraldry

Shield
Field
Supporter
Crest
Wreath
Mantling
Helm
Compartment
Charge
Motto
Coat of Arms
Coat of arms elements

As the coat of arms was originally designed to distinguish combatants on the battlefield or in a tournament, even while covered in armour, it is not surprising that heraldic elements were often also used for the decoration of knightly helmets, while it was also possible to use different elements than on the shield, but equally standardized. The ski helmet is an optional protection measure in Skiing that is built and designed for multiple impacts Association football headgear is worn by Association football (soccer players to protect the head from Injury. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Bobsleigh, bobsled or bobsledge is a Winter sport invented by Englishmen in the late 1860s in which teams make timed runs down narrow twisting banked Diving helmets are worn by mainly by professional divers engaged in Surface supplied diving. A hard hat is a type of Helmet predominantly used in workplace environments such as Construction sites to protect the head from injury by falling objects A space suit is a complex system of Garments equipment and environmental systems designed to keep a person alive and comfortable in the harsh environment of outer space Welding helmets are headgear used when performing certain types of Welding to protect the eyes face and neck from flash burn Ultraviolet light, sparks and heat Custodian helmet or centurion helmet is the correct name for the style of Helmet worn by many British police officers It is the traditional headgear SWAT ( Special Weapons And Tactics) is an elite special operations tactical unit in American Police departments similar to the Taiwan Thunder Squad Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops, sometimes abbreviated to PASGT, is a Combat helmet and ballistic vest used by the American military from the late 1980s The F1 helmet is a modern Firefighter 's Helmet made by the French company Gallet, who also produce the SPECTRA military helmet. The leatherhead, is a term used for an old style leather helmet used by some Firefighters in the US and Canada. The leatherhead, is a term used for an old style leather helmet used by some Firefighters in the US and Canada. Modern structural Helmet are head gear worn by Firefighters in the United States and Canada, as well as Britain and Hong Kong Merryweather helmets were a type of helmet used by British fire brigades from the Victorian era. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities The pith helmet (also known as the sun helmet, topee, sola topee, salacot or topi) is a lightweight Helmet made of The Winged helmet is a fictional helmet created by Scandinavian nationalists in the 1800s Tarnhelm is the name of a magic Helmet in Richard Wagner 's Der Ring des Nibelungen. The pith helmet (also known as the sun helmet, topee, sola topee, salacot or topi) is a lightweight Helmet made of The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia A squadron is a small unit or formation of Cavalry, armour, Aircraft (including Balloons) or Warships Army A Flight helmet, sometimes nicknamed a "bone dome" is a special type of Helmet worn by some sorts of Aircraft pilots particularly military pilots Escutcheon (ɪ'skʌtʃən (also called scutcheon) is the term used in Heraldry for the Shield displayed In Heraldry, the background of the Shield is called the field. In Heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a Coat of arms. In Heraldry, the torse is a twisted roll of fabric wound around the top of the helm and crest to hold the mantle in place In Heraldry, mantling or lambrequin is drapery tied to the helmet above the shield A helmet is a form of Protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries a variation of the hat In Heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks a grassy mount or some sort of other landscape upon which the Supporters In Heraldry and Vexillology, a charge is an image occupying the field on an escutcheon (or shield A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.

Furthermore, it became common to use a helmet (and/or some other headgear, e. g. a crown or coronet) as part of the coat of arms, above the shield, a practice maintained long after its use in reality was ended by military technology and the demise of jousting. In some systems, the rank of the bearer was reflected in the model of the emblematic helmet, e. g. the metal and the number of bars in the visor, as in France. A visor is a surface that protects the eyes, such as shading them from the sun or other bright light or protecting them from objects Either way, the rank can be reflected by a coronet or wreath placed on the helmet (often instead of directly above the shield). A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring A wreath is a ring made of Flowers leaves and sometimes Fruits that can be used as an ornament hanging on a wall or door or resting

The heraldic convention in the United Kingdom is as follows:

External links

Dictionary

helmet

-noun

  1. A protective head covering.
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