Brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method

Abstract

A brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method providing pad liners made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis, where, in use, the viscoelastic material will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet, but upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]This invention provides a brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method that provides a close fit to the user's head to prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet, and provides protection from the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, protecting the head and brain of the user.[0002]When playing football or being placed in other high-contact situations, a user may choose to wear a helmet to protect him- or herself from potential impacts or blunt-force trauma. In football particularly, players wear a helmet to protect from the constant hits that may be taken to the head. The current helmet used by many players is lined with materials designed to protect the wearer from a fracture to the skull. However, the present designs do not provide adequate protection from energy transmission to the brain. Such energy transmission, which takes place upon an impact to the head, may cause severe long-term brain damage or...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]This invention provides a brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method that provides a circumferential pad liner, a longitudinal pad liner, and two transverse pad liners made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis, where, in use, the viscoelastic material will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet, but upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user.

Problems solved by technology

Referring to FIG. 2, representing PRIOR ART, presently-available helmet-lining materials are elastic materials which will deform and recoil in a linear, elastic fashion, which presents the three problems of transmitting too much force to the head, creating too much space for the head to move about without support, and causing an unwanted additional secondary movement of the head during the immediate elastic recoil.

The transmission of force to the head, and the secondary, bouncing movements of the head, lead to coup-contrecoup injuries to the brain because the brain slams into the skull both at the site of the blow and on the opposite side.

But some materials deform in a time-dependent and nonlinear way that resembles a combination of elastic and viscous deformation and flow.

Depending on the specific viscoelastic material or materials used, there might be a tendency for hair to become embedded and therefore stuck in the material, and direct contact of even a shaved head is likely to be overly hot, clammy, or sticky.

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