Device for absorbing impacts on helmets, structural component of a helmet and corresponding helmet

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (10) for absorbing impacts on helmets (30), comprising a hermetically sealed container (20) containing a shock absorber material (F), as well as a structural component (31, 32) for a helmet and a helmet (30).

Description

[0001] “DEVICE FOR ABSORBING IMPACTS ON HELMETS, STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF A HELMET AND CORRESPONDING HELMET”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns a device for absorbing impacts on helmets, a structural component of a helmet, and a helmet equipped with the device and the structural component.

[0004] The device for absorbing impacts and the structural component are intended to be inserted inside the helmet’s structure, the latter being of any type whatsoever, for example a motorcycle helmet, a helmet for sports activities, a construction site helmet, or suchlike.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is known that the most dangerous impacts for the head of a motorcyclist, for example, are tangential ones, because they cause a rotational acceleration which in turn can cause several damage to the head or brain.

[0007] To better protect against this type of impact, devices for absorbing impacts have been developed configured to have a part that moves with the head, associated with a second part that is connected to the helmet itself.

[0008] For example, EP2896308A1 discloses such a device, comprising two concentric caps of which one integral with the head and one integral with the helmet’s external shell, so as to exploit the free rotation of the two caps. This system neither absorbs nor dissipates energy, because the two caps are held together by thin elastomeric materials that are only able to postpone the moment in which the acceleration reaches the brain, but not absorb significant amounts of energy.

[0009] In order to improve the shock absorption provided by these devices, devices have been developed that use non-Newtonian fluids mixed with polymeric foams, with the aim of dissipating the energy of the impacts. Thanks to their behavior, which depends on the speed of the stress, these materials are able to allow for an effective action of absorption of impacts of different types and entities, particularly those with perpendicular compression.

[0010] US7381460B2 discloses an example of a foam containing non-Newtonian materials, in particular a borated silicone. However, this material is not effective in dissipating shear stresses because the cells of the expanded foams work effectively in compression, but not in traction or shear.

[0011] More recently, helmets consist of an internal part, or liner, intended to be rested on the head, and an external part, or liner, that envelops the internal part, between which a sliding element (sliding liner) is placed. Several helmet manufacturers have developed polymeric foam-based devices, configured to connect the internal and external parts of the helmets together in order to reduce rotational accelerations.

[0012] For example, US6658671B1 discloses a helmet equipped with a sliding layer interposed between the internal part and the external part which allows to prevent friction on asphalt in the event of a fall, but also the free rotation of the two parts relative to each other, thanks also to the presence of deformable connectors that absorb energy.

[0013] US2021076769 Al discloses an impact dissipation system for a construction helmet in which the impacts are dissipated through a fluid that moves between watertight chambers, located between a support for the head and an external shell, through predefined passages. The fluid is designated as polydimethylsiloxane or water.

[0014] US2020281299A1 discloses a helmet whose internal part, in contact with the head, consists of a multitude of interconnected flexible cells that in the event of an impact compress and transfer an unspecified fluid to each other.

[0015] US2019029352A1 and US2020221807A1 each disclose an American football helmet which uses a layer of non-Newtonian fluid encapsulated and positioned between a rigid shell and an internal layer.

[0016] US2020187582A1 concerns a helmet for sports activities such as American football, lacrosse, hockey or suchlike, containing a shock absorption system consisting of two internal liners engaged with each other through protrusions and corresponding recesses. However, this system is effective in absorbing rotational impacts.

[0017] A disadvantage of known devices is that they are unable to absorb and dissipate the energy of the impact, in particular caused by tangential impacts (but not only). This may be due, for example, to the flat and thin conformation of the layer of liquid present in the helmet, as disclosed in US2019029352 Al and US2020221807A1. WO2023017552A1 discloses a device for absorbing impacts to be installed in a helmet, the device providing an interference member partly immersed in a shock absorber fluid.

[0018] There is therefore the need to perfect a device for absorbing impacts on helmets, a structural component of a helmet and a helmet which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0019] In order to do this, it is necessary to resolve the technical problem of effectively preventing any rotational accelerations to the head following an impact. Specifically, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for absorbing impacts on helmets and a structural component for helmets which are capable of effectively absorbing impacts in any direction whatsoever, especially tangential impacts.

[0020] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for absorbing impacts on helmets and a structural component for helmets which are simple to manufacture and can be adapted to any type of helmet whatsoever.

[0021] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0022] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0024] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem described above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a device according to the present invention for absorbing impacts comprises a hermetically sealed container containing in turn a shock absorber material.

[0025] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the container comprises an elastically deformable wall in which there is created a portion recessed inside the container, and therefore into the shock absorber material, which acts as a seating for an external interference element. In particular, the portion recessed into the shock absorber material is at least laterally surrounded by the shock absorber material. Doing so achieves at least the advantage of having a device for absorbing impacts that is capable of absorbing shocks or impacts in any direction whatsoever, especially tangential to the helmet. This is made possible thanks to the shock absorber material and to the recessed portion of the elastically deformable wall, which is inserted or immersed into the shock absorber material and is configured to house a pin in a stable and watertight manner, the pin acting as an interference element. In this way, when inserted in the seating, the pin interferes with the shock absorber material without being immersed therein or being in direct contact therewith.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the entire elastically deformable wall is hermetically sealed and preferably made in a single piece. That is, it does not comprise any aperture, possibly closed by an external element coupled or assembled thereto.

[0027] In accordance with some embodiments, the recessed portion is hermetically sealed. For example, it can comprise a bottom and at least one lateral wall that joins the bottom to the rest of the elastically deformable wall. Preferably, the bottom, the at least one lateral wall and the rest of the elastically deformable wall are made in a single piece. Preferably, both the bottom as well as the at least one lateral wall are immersed in, or in any case in direct contact with, the shock absorber material placed inside the container. More preferably, the container is completely filled with the shock absorber material.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the recessed portion is able to be displaced laterally, that is, parallel or longitudinally to a base plane of the elastically deformable wall, or parallel or longitudinally to the bottom of the container.

[0029] In accordance with some embodiments, the recessed portion has a maximum internal lateral size (that is, a width or a diameter) comprised between 10% and 80% of the container’s maximum lateral size (that is, width or diameter), preferably between 20% and 70%, more preferably between 30% and 60% of the container’s maximum lateral size. For example, the maximum lateral size of the interior of the recessed portion can be comprised between 50% and 55% of the container’s maximum lateral size. In the ranges indicated above, there is a good compromise between the width of the recessed portion (and therefore the strength of the interference element that can be inserted therein) and the volume of shock absorber material present inside the container and around the recessed portion.

[0030] Preferably, the recessed portion has a depth (understood as the distance between its bottom and the base plane of the elastically deformable wall) greater than 50% of the container’s height, preferably greater than 60%, more preferably it is comprised between 70% and 80% of the container’s height. In accordance with some embodiments, the depth of the recessed portion is approximately 75% of the container’s height.

[0031] In accordance with some embodiments, the container comprises a rigid receptacle and, as an elastically deformable wall, a lid assembled to the receptacle in a sealed manner, preferably in a removable manner. In particular, the lid is connected onto an external wall of the receptacle. Preferably, each shock absorber device contains a single seating in its deformable wall.

[0032] In accordance with some embodiments, the shock absorber material is an elastically deformable solid, semi-solid, or a shock absorber fluid. Preferably, the shock absorber material is non-Newtonian. For example, the shock absorber material can be a non-Newtonian fluid, for example of the dilatant or pseudoplastic type, or it can be a non-Newtonian foam material, a non-Newtonian polymeric material, or a foam infused with a non-Newtonian fluid.

[0033] According to some embodiments, the shock absorber device also comprises a sealing ring suitable to guarantee the correct seal of the lid onto the receptacle. In particular, the ring is positioned externally and laterally to the receptacle and the lid, so as to tighten the latter against the receptacle. In this way, the function of the ring is also to protect the lid from rubbing against the helmet’s internal structure.

[0034] Advantageously, the ring can include a disc extending transversely and outward. In particular, the disk is configured to be placed in contact with a structural component of the helmet, at least partly matching its shape. For this purpose, the disk is curved. The disk is advantageously solid and flexible. According to some embodiments, the disk has a circular shape; it can however have any shape whatsoever.

[0035] In accordance with some embodiments, the device also comprises a shell with an external shape corresponding to the internal shape of the recessed portion of the elastically deformable wall, so that it can be coupled thereto, in particular by sameshape coupling. The shell is configured to be coupled both to the recessed portion and also to an external interference element, which will be described below.

[0036] Advantageously, the shell also comprises a disc extending transversely and outward. This disk is also configured to be placed in contact with a structural component of the helmet, at least partly displacing the shape thereof. For this purpose, the disk is curved, or it has a substantially truncated conical shape. Its function is to unload the pin from the shear stress deriving from a tangential impact. In some embodiments, the disc has a circular shape, but it can have any shape whatsoever.

[0037] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem described above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a structural component for a helmet according to the present invention comprises a curved body configured to internally line the helmet and to partly envelop the head of a user.

[0038] According to the invention, the structural component comprises at least one pin extending transversely from the body and having shapes and sizes such that the pin can be inserted into the recessed portion of the elastically deformable wall of the device for absorbing impacts disclosed above. Preferably, the shape and sizes of the at least one pin correspond to the shape and sizes of the recessed portion, that is, the pin is configured to be coupled to the recessed portion.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the structural component is an internal liner of a helmet, the at least one pin extending outward, that is, toward an external liner of the helmet.

[0040] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a helmet comprising at least one device for absorbing impacts as disclosed above, as well as a structural component as disclosed above.

[0041] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0043] - fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a device for absorbing impacts according to the present invention;

[0044] - fig. 2 is a three-dimensional, exploded section view of the device for absorbing impacts of fig. 1; - fig. 3 is a longitudinal section view of a helmet equipped with a plurality of devices for absorbing impacts of fig. 1, in the absence of external stresses;

[0045] - fig. 3A is an enlarged view of one of the shock absorber devices in section of fig. 3;

[0046] - fig. 4 is a longitudinal section view of the helmet of fig. 3, following an impact, therefore with the shock absorber devices in an impact absorbing phase;

[0047] - fig. 4A is an enlarged view of one of the shock absorber devices in section of fig.

[0048] 4, during impact absorption;

[0049] - fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a variant of the shock absorber device of fig. 1;

[0050] - fig. 6 is a three-dimensional, exploded section view of the shock absorber device of fig. 5;

[0051] - fig. 7 is a longitudinal section view of a shock absorber device of fig. 5 installed in a helmet, in the absence of external stresses;

[0052] - fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a structural component of a helmet according to the present invention;

[0053] - fig. 9 is a three-dimensional and partly sectional view of a helmet equipped with a plurality of shock absorber devices of fig. 5 and with a structural component of fig. 8; and

[0054] - figs. 10A and 10B show the results of shock absorption tests performed on shock absorber devices according to the present invention; and

[0055] - figs. 11 A and 1 IB show helmets equipped with at least one shock absorber device according to the present invention.

[0056] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0057] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0058] DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With reference to figs. 1 and 2, a device 10 for absorbing shocks or impacts according to the present invention comprises a receptacle 11 and a lid 12 which, when assembled, together form a hermetically sealed container 20. The device 10 also comprises a shock absorber material F placed inside the container 20.

[0059] The shock absorber material is preferably non-Newtonian, and may be a fluid, either of the dilatant (also called shear thickening) or pseudoplastic (also called shear thinning) type. The fluid can be inserted directly into the container 20. Alternatively, other types of shock absorber material can also be provided, such as a foam material, a polymeric material, or a fluid- impregnated foam.

[0060] The receptacle 11 is formed by a bottom 110 from which at least one lateral wall 111 extends perpendicularly. Preferably, the at least one lateral wall 111 extends from the bottom 110 in correspondence with a peripheral edge 1 12 thereof. In the example of fig. 2, the bottom 110 has a circular shape, the receptacle 11 therefore has only one lateral wall 111 with a cylindrical shape. Obviously, the receptacle 11 is fully open in correspondence with the free edge 113 of the lateral wall 111. The receptacle 11 can be made of various thermosetting or thermoplastic polymeric materials.

[0061] As will be explained in more detail below, the device 10 is intended to be inserted into the structure of a helmet 30, in particular between two structural components 31, 32 having curved surfaces, in order to be able to envelop a user’s head. The bottom 110 is also curved, that is, concave or convex, to follow the curvature of the surfaces of the structural components 31 , 32 of the helmet 30.

[0062] The lid 12 is instead made of elastically deformable material, so as to close the receptacle 11 hermetically. In this sense, the lid 12 constitutes an elastically deformable wall 12A of the container 20. The elastically deformable material can be silicone, a thermoplastic or thermosetting elastomeric polymer, for example thermoplastic polyurethane TPU or thermoplastic polyethylene TPE, a chemically crosslinked elastomer (for example a vulcanized rubber) or a physically crosslinked elastomer (for example a styrene-butadiene-styrene SBS or styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene SBES copolymer).

[0063] The lid 12 has a base plane 120 with an annular shape and a lateral wall 121 extending transversely from the base plane 120, in particular from a peripheral edge 122 thereof. The base plane 120 is intended to be parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom 110 of the receptacle 11 when they are reciprocally assembled. The shape and sizes of the lid 12 substantially correspond to those of the receptacle 11, so as to guarantee a reciprocally sealed assembly thereof. In particular, the lateral wall 121 of the lid 12 has to be inserted externally to the lateral wall 111 of the receptacle, as seen in figs. 1 and 3 A.

[0064] The lid 12 also comprises a recessed portion 123 located internally to the base plane and recessed inside the receptacle 11 when the container 20 is assembled (figs. 2, 3 and 3 A). The recessed portion 123 is delimited by a bottom 124 and by an intermediate lateral wall 125, since it extends transversely from the base plane 120 in correspondence with an internal edge 126 thereof. The intermediate lateral wall 125 faces the peripheral wall 122 and is substantially parallel thereto (fig. 3 A). In the example shown, the bottom 124 is circular and the lateral wall is substantially cylindrical. Other shapes can be provided, depending on requirements.

[0065] We must clarify that the lid 12, that is, the gasket, is shaped specifically, so as to have the recessed portion 123 even if it is not affected by an external element, that is, the recessed portion 123 is not the result of a deformation of the gasket.

[0066] The recessed portion 123 is centered or substantially centered relative to the lid 12, so as to allow a displacement thereof (as will be explained below) in any direction whatsoever parallel to the base plane 120. The recessed portion 123 is therefore inserted or immersed in the shock absorber material F when the device 10 is assembled (fig. 3 A). In particular, the intermediate lateral wall 125 is surrounded by, and in direct contact with, the shock absorber material F.

[0067] Fig. 3 shows a helmet 30 equipped, in a known manner, with an internal liner 310 as a first structural component 31 and an external liner 320 as a second structural component 32, the external liner 320 being located externally to the internal liner 310 and enveloping it. An external body 33 is provided externally to the external liner 320.

[0068] The two liners 310, 320 are made of material commonly used in the sector, that is, foam or honeycomb material, capable of absorbing shocks or impacts.

[0069] The helmet 30 shown here contains multiple devices 10 for absorbing impacts so as to maximize cushioning. Each device 10 is positioned at the interface between the first liner 310 and the second liner 320. More precisely, the receptacle 11 of each device 10 is inserted into the external liner 320, in corresponding specially made seatings 321.

[0070] The internal liner 310 is equipped with several pins 311 with shape and sizes corresponding to the shape and sizes of the recessed portion 123 of the lid 12 of the shock absorber device 10 (figs. 3, 3A and 8). Thus each pin 311 is configured to be inserted into a respective recessed portion 123 and to act as an interference element external to the shock absorber device 10.

[0071] In the example shown, the pins 311 are made in a single piece with the rest of the internal liner 310, but it is possible to provide that they are distinct and reciprocally assembled elements.

[0072] As shown in figs. 4 and 4A, the cushioning of an impact will be achieved through the displacement of the pins 311 in the shock absorber material F of each shock absorber device 10. In fact, because it is inserted all the way to the bottom of a respective recessed portion 123, each pin 311 is also surrounded, laterally and frontally, by the shock absorber material. An impact, in particular tangential, that affects the helmet 30 causes a relative displacement between the internal liner 310 and the external liner 320, and determines a displacement of the pins 311 in the shock absorber material F, and therefore the absorption of the impact.

[0073] The receptacle 11 of the shock absorber device 10 is inserted into the external liner 320 and the lid 12 receives a pin 311 of the internal liner 310. The opposite can also be provided, that is, that the receptacle 11 is inserted in the internal liner 310 and that the lid receives a pin of the external liner 320, or a hybrid solution can be provided with one or more devices 10 with the receptacle 11 inserted in the external liner 320 and the lid 12 affected by a pin 311 of the internal liner 310, and one or more devices 10 with the receptacle 11 inserted in the internal liner 310 and the lid 12 affected by a pin of the external liner 320.

[0074] With reference to figs. 5 and 6, in a variant of the shock absorber device 10, this also contains, in addition to the receptacle 11, the lid 12 and the shock absorber material F, a sealing ring 13 to guarantee the seal between the lid 12 and the receptacle 11, and / or a shell 14 to line a pin 311, and therefore to be inserted inside the recessed portion 123.

[0075] The sealing ring 13 comprises a cylindrical wall 130 configured to externally surround the lateral wall 121 of the lid and tighten it against the lateral wall 111 of the receptacle 11 (figs. 5 and 7). A disc 132 extends transversely and outward at one end 131 of the cylindrical wall 130. Generally, the disc 132 has a shape that follows the shape of the cylindrical wall’s 130 section.

[0076] The shell 14 contains a seating 140 equipped with a bottom 141 and a lateral wall 142. Similarly to what described for the sealing ring 13, a disc 144 extends, transversely and outward, from the edge 143 of the lateral wall 142, opposite with respect to the bottom 141, the disk 144 also having a shape that follows the shape of the seating’s 140 section, that is, discoidal in this case. The disc 144 also has a discoidal shape. It is to be understood that the discs 132, 144 can have different external shapes, for example polygonal, star or other compatible shapes.

[0077] The discs 132, 144 are intended to be in contact with the surface of the respective liner 310, 320 in the helmet 30 and are made of flexible material, so as to adapt to the shape of the liner’s surface.

[0078] One function of the shell 14 is to protect the pin 311 and prevent it from breaking and thus detaching from the rest of the internal liner 310. In this sense, the presence of the disc 144 around the seating 140 allows to strengthen the pin 311.

[0079] Preferably, the sizes of the discs 132, 144 and the distance between two pins 311 of the internal liner 310 are processed so as to prevent the discs 132, 144 of one shock absorber device 10 from overlapping with the discs 132, 144 of another shock absorber device 10 (fig. 9).

[0080] In order to assess the effectiveness of the operating logic which the device 10 is based on, similar to what disclosed in patent application IT 102021000021623 in the name of the Applicant, in particular the ability to dissipate energy, impact tests were carried out on a test system of the “drop weight” type, which simulates the behavior of only the shear component of the device 10. This test system provides to drop the impacting mass on an anvil equipped with a discoidal impactor with a diameter of 12.7 mm and a thickness of 2.6 mm. The other end of the anvil is conformed like the recessed portion 123, or at least in such a way as to have the same contact surface with the shock absorber material, and is inserted into a closed chamber configured so that the end of the anvil has a stroke of 12.5 mm.

[0081] The impactor is provided with a load cell to measure the force of the impact with the mass, the velocity of which is measured using a laser device known per se. The tests were performed using an impacting mass of 1.3 kg, dropped from two different heights of 100 mm and 200 mm, resulting in energies of 1.275 J and 2.550 J, respectively, and final mass speeds of 1.31 m / s and 1.98 m / s. The tests were performed in three different configurations: with the chamber empty (without shock absorber material), with the chamber filled with a non-Newtonian dilatant (shear thickening) liquid, and with the chamber filled with a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic (shear thinning) liquid. The shear thickening liquid used is a polyborondimethylsiloxane PBDMS, while the shear thinning liquid is a silicone elastomer generally used in shock dissipation systems for the transport sector.

[0082] Fig. 10A shows the forces measured by the load cell as a function of time in the test in which the impacting mass is dropped from a height of 100 mm. It can be seen that without any material in the chamber, a peak force is perceived immediately, that is, in less than 5 ms, with a force equal to about 1.60 kN. In the presence of the dilatant fluid, on the other hand, the perceived peak force amounts to approximately 0.25 kN and occurs between 10 and 15 ms.

[0083] Fig. 10B shows the same forces, but measured in the test in which the impacting mass is dropped from a height of 200 mm, thus determining an impact with greater force.

[0084] Similarly to what was observed in the first test, in the absence of any fluid in the chamber, the force of the impact is felt immediately (after approximately 1.80 ms), the peak being measured at almost 2.5 kN, which corresponds practically to all the energy acquired by the impacting mass. With the dilatant fluid, a trend similar to that observed in the first test is observed, up to 7.65 ms after which a peak force occurs that rises to approximately 1.1 kN. This behavior is explained by the fact that the time of 7.65 ms is the amount of time required for the anvil to travel the 12.5 mm stroke in the shock absorber fluid, during which the energy of the impact is absorbed. The “peak” observed immediately afterward corresponds to the energy of the impact that was not absorbed during the anvil’s stroke. With the shear thinning fluid, on the other hand, a lower peak force is observed compared to the empty chamber (1.5 kN) in a longer amount of time (10.80 ms).

[0085] It can be observed that in the case of the shear thinning fluid the amount of energy absorbed is lower and causes a significantly higher peak value compared to the shear thickening fluid, while demonstrating a similar behavior. In addition to the tests described above, functional prototypes of a helmet as described above were built, including seven shock absorber devices 10, disposed as per fig. 9, and comparative impact tests were carried out, following the ECE 22.06 standard. The results of the tests are shown in figs. 11 A and 1 IB, which show respectively the absorption of a shock by the prototype without any devices 10 and by the prototype with the devices 10, with an angle of 45° and at a speed of 8.2 m / s, as well as in table 1 below.

[0086] The test results show a significant reduction in Brain Injury Criteria (BrIC) parameters and in the time of exposure to rotational accelerations.

[0087] From the above results it can be concluded that the shear thickening fluid allows for a better absorption of the rotational energy of impacts compared to the shear thinning fluid, which in turn also allows part of the energy to be absorbed. The non-Newtonian shear thickening fluid is therefore the preferred shock absorber fluid for the present invention.

[0088] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the shock absorber device 10, to the structural component 31, 32 and to the helmet 30 as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0089] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of devices for absorbing impacts on helmets, structural components of a helmet and corresponding helmet having the characteristics as set forth in the claims, all coming within the field of protection thereof.

[0090] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device (10) for absorbing impacts on helmets (30), comprising a hermetically sealed container (20) containing a shock absorber material (F), characterized in that said container (20) comprises an elastically deformable wall in which there is created a portion (123) recessed inside said container (20) which acts as a seating for an external interference element (311).

2. Device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said recessed portion (123) is surrounded at least laterally by said shock absorber material (F).

3. Device ( 10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said recessed portion (123) is hermetically sealed.

4. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said recessed portion (123) comprises a bottom (124) and at least one lateral wall (125) that joins said bottom (124) to the rest of said elastically deformable wall (12A).

5. Device (10) as in claim 4, characterized in that said bottom (124), said at least one lateral wall (125) and said elastically deformable wall (12A) are made in a single piece.

6. Device (10) as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said bottom (124) and said at least one lateral wall (125) are directly in contact with said shock absorber material (F).

7. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said recessed portion (123) is able to be displaced parallel or longitudinally to a base plane (120) of said elastically deformable wall (12A).

8. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the interior of said recessed portion (123) has a maximum lateral size comprised between 10% and 80% of the maximum lateral size of said container (20).

9. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said recessed portion (123) has a depth 50% greater than the height of said container (20).

10. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said container (20) comprises a rigid receptacle (11) and, as an elastically deformable wall (12 A), a lid (12) assembled to said receptacle (11) in a sealed manner.

11. Device (10) as in claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a sealing ring (13) suitable to ensure the seal of said lid (12) onto said receptacle (11) and which, being positioned externally and laterally to said receptacle (11) and said lid (12),tightens said lid (12) against said receptacle (11).

12. Device (10) as in claim 11, characterized in that said sealing ring (13) comprises a disc (132) extending transversely and outward, configured to be placed in contact with a structural component (31 , 32) of a helmet (30).

13. Device (10) as in any claim from 10 to 12, characterized in that it also comprises a shell ( 14) having an external shape corresponding to the internal shape of said recessed portion (123) and configured to be coupled to both said recessed portion (123) and also to said external interference element (311).

14. Device (10) as in claim 13, characterized in that said shell (14) comprises a disc (144) extending transversely and outward, configured to be placed in contact with a structural component (31, 32) of a helmet (30).

15. Device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said shock absorber material (F) is a non-Newtonian material.

16. Device (10) as in claim 15, characterized in that said shock absorber material (F) is a non-Newtonian fluid.

17. Structural component (31, 32) for a helmet (30), comprising a curved body configured to internally line said helmet (30) and to partly envelop the head of a user, characterized in that it comprises at least one pin (311) extending transversely from said body and configured to couple to a recessed portion (123) of a device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore.

18. Structural component (31, 32) as in claim 17, characterized in that it is an internal liner (310), said at least one pin (311) extending toward the outside of said internal liner (310).

19. Helmet (30) comprising a structural component (31) as in either claim 17 or 18 and at least one device ( 10) for absorbing impacts as in any claim from 1 to 16.

20. Helmet (30) as in claim 19, characterized in that it also comprises a second structural component (32) and in that said at least one device (10) for absorbing impacts is disposed at an interface between said structural component (31) and said second structural component (32).

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