Helmet with external protective scales

Abstract

A protective covering for a helmet. The protective covering includes a cushioning layer with a plurality of scales disposed on an exterior surface thereof. The covering overlies an outer surface of a substantially rigid shell of a helmet and provides additional padding via the cushioning layer to absorb impact forces received by the helmet. The scales are deflectable relative to one another to compress the cushioning layer when an impact force is received and are configured to reduce the coefficient of friction between the covering and an impacting body to thereby increase deflection of the impacting force and the impacting body. The protective covering can be applied to existing helmets or can be integrated into helmets during manufacture thereof.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14 / 107,319 filed Dec. 16, 2013.BACKGROUND[0002]For centuries, people engaged in sporting events, combat, and other physical endeavors have used helmets and other protective head coverings to protect against head injuries. Such injuries might result from contact with sharp or blunt objects, weapons, projectiles, or the heads or bodies of other participants or combatants. The potential injuries range from external cuts and bruises to internal injuries to the brain as found in concussion-related injuries.[0003]Concussions and related head injuries and their effects on the injured person, especially those associated with players of American football and related sports, have received close scrutiny in recent times. Many attempts have been made to produce improved helmets that absorb and / or disperse forces associated with collisions between a player's helmet with other players' helmets and bodies and with the ground ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The cushioning layer of the covering comprises one or more resilient foam-like or similar padding materials. The cushioning is configured to absorb at least a portion of the impact forces encountered by the wearer of the helmet. The cushioning can be of uniform thickness throughout the covering or might be sculpted to provide additional thickness and protection in desired areas.

[0010]The scales applied to the exterior of the covering may be configured similarly to scales found in nature in, for example, fish scales which are generally overlapping or reptile scales which are tightly configured but not overlapping. The shape may vary from scales found in nature, but the result should provide a nearly continuous armor plating that will deflect impacts. The form and nature of the scales aid to disperse and deflect the impact forces into the cushioning layer by moving or pivoting relative to one another. The scales also aid deflection of contact between the covering and the impacting object. The scales are constructed from a rigid or resilient material having a low coefficient of friction, which more readily enables sliding of the impacting object along the covering. The form of each of the scales may also be configured to increase the energy absorption thereof and to aid sliding of the impacting object relative to the covering.

Problems solved by technology

Such injuries might result from contact with sharp or blunt objects, weapons, projectiles, or the heads or bodies of other participants or combatants.

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