Energy dissipating breakaway assembly for protective helmet

Abstract

A protective helmet, which includes a motion restrictor device, is disclosed. The device includes a strut having a pair of relatively moveable strut members. One of the strut members is associated with the helmet, and the other strut member is associated a harness assembly. The device also includes a brake assembly, with the assembly providing a plurality of arrest rates. Each of the arrests rates corresponds with a rate of relative motion (or acceleration) and a corresponding force experienced between the pair of strut members.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 596,964, filed Feb. 9, 2012, entitled ENERGY DISSIPATING BREAKAWAY ASSEMBLY FOR PROTECTIVE HELMET, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to a protective helmet and a motion restrictor device adapted for use with a protective helmet.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Various activities, such as snowmobile riding, lacrosse, hockey, motocross, supercross, motorcycle riding, automobile racing, go-cart riding, automobile racing, snowboarding, snowskiing, aircraft flying, bicycle riding, pole vaulting and contact sports and in particular the sport of football, require the use of helmets to attempt to protect participants from injury to their heads due to impact forces that may be sustained during such activities. Various types of helmets have bee...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a protective helmet that offers protection against injuries during sports activities and restricts motion of the helmet. The helmet includes a motion restrictor device that is not bulky or limits movement in normal activity. The device is not locked until a predetermined force or acceleration is reached, but will lock to prevent further motion. The helmet does not require a full facial helmet and restricts movement by locking the motion restrictor device to the wearer of the helmet. An abutment may also limit the range of motion of the helmet when not in the locked configuration.

Problems solved by technology

In general, most of the previously proposed football helmets suffer from various disadvantages resulting from: the bulkiness and / or unwieldy nature of the components utilized with the helmet; inadequate support of the helmet with respect to the shoulder pads; and not having the ability to substantially restrict, or prevent, relative motion between the helmet and the player's shoulders.

Those rule changes have reduced the number of cervical spine injuries in the sport of football, but every year there are still a number of these types of injuries, which may have a catastrophic impact upon the player suffering such an injury.

These former players may endure a life of limited mobility, potentially limited experiences, recurrent infections, and a potentially shortened life span.

Millions of dollars in health care related costs are expended in treatment and care of these individuals, and in addition each affected family suffers an emotional and psychological toll resulting from such injury.

While the intentional offensive use of a football helmet to butt or spear the player's opponent is many times the cause of a cervical spine injury, many of these injuries resulting from an axial load upon the player's spine, occur when a player is tackling an opponent with his head unintentionally lowered.

It is believed that when the lordotic curve is straightened, as may occur when a football player's head is lowered, this potential protective mechanism may be lost.

These injuries may result in severe injury of the very fragile nerve tissue of the spinal cord, and paralysis may often result from the injury.

It should be further noted that no protective equipment can completely prevent injuries to a player, if the football player uses his football helmet in an improper manner, such as to butt, ram, or spear an opposing player, which is in violation of the rules of football.

Improper use of a helmet to butt, ram, or spear an opposing player can result in severe head and / or neck injuries, paralysis, or death to the football player, as well as possible injury to the football player's opponent.

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