Energy absorbing sports helmet

Abstract

Slow recovery viscoelastic polyurethane foam with a surface impregnation of silicone, coupled with a rigid helmet shell, is used for athletic headgear. The helmet shell should have a rigid construct to provide dispersion of impact energy, absorbing at least thirty percent of the impact energy delivered to the helmet shell. The slow recovery viscoelastic polyurethane foam has unique characteristics making it suitable for use as an energy absorbing liner for athletic headgear. The energy absorbing liner can be made with varying thickness and size, so retail establishments can custom fit a helmet to a particular customer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), claiming benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 119-120 of the filing dates of the following Provisional Applications: [0002] Ser. No. 60 / 401,758 filed on Aug. 8, 2002; [0003] Ser. No. 60 / 429,064 filed on Nov. 26, 2002; and [0004] Ser. No. 60 / 474,924 filed on Jun. 3, 2003. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 401,758, 60 / 429,064 and 60 / 474,924 are incorporated herein by reference for all they disclose.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] 1. Technical Field of the Invention [0006] The present invention is directed to headgear comprising slow recovery viscoelastic polyurethane foam with a surface impregnation of silicone, and more specifically, to headgear comprising a shell to dissipate a portion of a force impacting on the headgear and a slow recovery viscoelastic polyurethane foam that absorbs the remainder of the impact force [0007] 2. Description of the Related Art [0008] H...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] A third aspect of the present invention provides a helmet for cushioning a head during a sudden impact, and the helmet comprises a helmet shell having a humanoid head shape, with lateral members at least partially disposed around a circumference of the helmet shell. The helmet further includes an energy absorbing protective liner fitted to an interior surface of the helmet shell, comprising a slow recovery viscoelastic material with surface impregnation of a waterproofing material. The energy absorbing protective liner can be formed from slow recovery viscoelastic polyurethane foam with silicone as the waterproofing material. The helmet shell has a thickness of at least 2 millimeters, and the lateral members are ticker than other portions of the helmet shell. The lateral members disperse an impact force from a point of contact to other portions of the helmet shell. Each of the lateral members is comprised of an upper lateral member and a lower lateral member, and the upper lateral member and the lower lateral member are separated by a lateral channel. The helmet shell also includes a strap attachment member, and the lower lateral member is angled towards the location where the strip attachment member is disposed on the helmet shell. The helmet shell can be manufactured from injection molded plastic, or from pressure molded thermoset resin reinforced with glass fiber, KEVLAR fiber or carbon fiber. The helmet shell disperses at least thirty percent of an impact force applied to the helmet shell.

Problems solved by technology

Head injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States.

Teenagers that suffered two or more “big hits” to the head can suffer long-term damage to their thinking abilities.

The damage from concussions can vary from mild, which is completely reversible, to severe which can lead to coma or death.

If an egg were dropped onto an energy absorbing liner, it would either crack or stay whole, based on the amount of energy absorbed by the energy absorbing liner.

While EPS attenuates impact force well and is considered the “gold standard” in the helmet market, impacts produce permanent damage to the EPS material.

Minor impacts to the helmet shell cause microscopic cracks in the EPS.

Which can seriously destroy its impact attenuation performance.

These pressure hot spots can restrict blood circulation to portions of the body.

Ice hockey helmet shells made of plastic are most vulnerable in this region.

Typical hockey helmets do not meet the same standard of protection that football or lacrosse helmets meet.

The current construction fails to keep the helmet secured on the head.

Critically, hockey helmets typically do not fit humanoid head forms very well, and poor fit can dangerously compromise the function of the helmet.

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