Protective helmet

Abstract

A protective helmet having an inner shell and an outer shell assembly. Internal padding contacts an inner surface of the inner shell and an energy absorbing layer is positioned between the inner shell and the outer shell assembly. The outer shell assembly includes a plurality of rigid, outer shell segments with at least one of the outer shell segments designed and arranged to move relative to the other outer shell segments upon receiving an impact force. The external energy absorbing layer and the outer shell assembly dampens impact energy before it reaches the inner shell.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61 / 494,522, filed Jun. 8, 2011, 61 / 376,818, filed Aug. 25, 2010 and 61 / 366,703, filed Jul. 22, 2010. Applicant incorporates by reference herein U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61 / 494,522, 61 / 376,818 and 61 / 366,703 in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to a protective helmet, and more particularly a helmet for use in contact sports such as American football, lacrosse or hockey.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Helmets and other protective headgear are commonly utilized to protect a wearer's head from injury. Typically, helmets are designed specifically for the particular sport or activity. Numerous sports, such as American football, hockey, and lacrosse, require players to wear helmets.[0006]American football helmets have evolved since the inception of football. In the earl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The protective helmet of the present invention better protects a wearer of the helmet from an impact force striking the helmet by reducing the g-forces. The protective helmet reduces g-forces through its unique design by having shock absorption on the outside of a single hard shell. The protective helmet comprises an inner shell having internal padding, an energy absorbing layer external of the inner shell, and an outer shell assembly.

[0011]The helmet of the present invention has two layers outside the inner shell for added energy absorption—the energy absorbing layer and the outer shell assembly. Unlike the jarring effect that occurs at the point of impact with a single hard shell helmet with interior padding, the outer layers of the present invention dampen the impact energy before reaching the hard inner shell.

[0012]With the protective helmet of the present invention, the external energy absorbing layer may comprise a “softer” padding layer. This allows the impacted outer shell assembly to deflect, deform or move relative to the inner shell; thus taking a longer time to impart its force and thereby reducing the rate of acceleration of (or g-force on) the head. A conventional helmet cannot do this for a couple reasons: 1) it must have padding stiff enough to prevent the helmet from coming loose from the head; and 2) because the shell moves as a unit and spreads the impact over the entire surface of the head, its padding deflects less.

[0013]The protective helmet of the preferred embodiment of the present invention absorbs impacts with the outer shell assembly and external energy absorbing layer while gradually increasing the load to the inner shell and internal padding and then finally the wearer's head.

[0014]One embodiment of the present invention includes a hard outer shell assembly having multiple outer panels allowed to move relative to each other upon impact to dampen the impact energy transmitted to the inner shell.

Problems solved by technology

In contact sports such as football, helmets provide players a substantial degree of protection against injury to their heads due to impact forces that may be sustained; however, a large number of head injuries, particularly g-force injuries, continue to occur.

As the entire helmet and head move away from contact, the padding begins to rebound and places increasing force on the head.

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