Helmet insert

Abstract

An insert for a helmet comprises a plurality of layers, each layer being of a Miura-Ori fold geometry.

Description

[0001]The present invention relates to a shock absorbing insert for a helmet.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Helmets are used to protect a wearer's head from potential impacts to prevent head injury, particularly damage to the brain. Helmets are worn for this purpose in a variety of situations: in sports, such as horse riding or climbing, military operations, work in construction or industry or riding motorcycles. A typical helmet for use in such applications may comprise a hard outer shell made of a lightweight high-strength material, typically a plastics material, possibly including Kevlar, and at least one shock absorbing insert inside the outer shell.[0003]In the event of an impact, the outer shell serves to spread the impact force over a larger area, protecting against penetrating impacts. The shock absorbing insert deforms and absorbs kinetic energy, reducing the acceleration of the wearer's head to minimise the chance of damaging the wearer's brain. It is desirable to maximi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The Miura-Ori fold geometry provides a strong and lightweight structure with good energy absorption characteristics. The Miura-Ori fold geometry also provides several parameters that can be varied, allowing its properties to be tuned to a particular application. For example, different helmet inserts could be provided for wearers who play different positions in an American football team. It will be appreciated that the layers need not be identical, and it may be advantageous to provide certain layers with different geometries. Further layers may be provided which do not have a Miura-Ori fold geometry.

[0033]This allows different structures to be trialled in the manufacturing process, varying according to parameters such as fold angles, wall thickness, the relative orientations of the layers and the orientation of the stacking direction of the layers within the helmet. The configuration that minimises the acceleration of the head of the wearer in a given impact situation may thus be determined. The combination of finite element analysis and additive manufacturing allows the parameter space to be explored more rapidly and cost-effectively than was possible with previous design and manufacturing techniques.

Problems solved by technology

The available deformation distance is limited by the thickness of the insert, which is ideally small as thicker inserts make the helmet unwieldly, and may in some cases increase the risk of head injury.

Thicker inserts may also increase the propensity for overheating, or require additional air vents to be provided.

It is also desirable to minimise the weight of the insert, as heavier helmets also increase the risk of head injury and may fatigue the wearer after extended use.

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