Patents by Inventor Michael W. Lowe

Michael W. Lowe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190350299
    Abstract: A protective helmet to be worn by a player engaged in a sport comprises a flexible outer shell and a multi-layer liner assembly disposed within the outer shell. The multi-layer liner assembly includes an inner-layer, a middle-layer and an outer-layer, and permits relative rotational movement between said layers when the helmet is worn by the player and receives an impact. The inner-layer is made from a first material with a first density and is mechanically coupled to the outer-layer without adhesive. The outer-layer is made from a second material with a second density that is greater than the first density of the inner-layer. The middle-layer is made from a third material that has a third density that is greater than the first density. The outer-layer also has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner-layer and varies between a front region of the outer-layer and a crown region of the outer-layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20190269194
    Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 10362829
    Abstract: A protective helmet can include an outer shell and a multi-layer liner disposed within the outer shell and sized for receiving a wearer's head. The multi-layer liner can include and inner-layer, a middle-layer, and an outer-layer. The inner-layer can include an inner surface oriented towards an inner area of a helmet for receiving a wearer's head. The inner-layer can comprise a mid-energy management material with a density in a range of 40-70 g/L. The middle-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the inner-layer, wherein the middle-layer comprises a low-energy management material with a density in a range of 10-20 g/L. The outer-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the middle-layer, the outer-layer comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer shell, wherein the outer-layer comprises a high-energy management material with a density in a range of 20-50 grams g/L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 10159296
    Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 9795180
    Abstract: A helmet an include a shell, a liner disposed within the shell, a flexible band disposed between the shell and a portion of the liner to releasably couple the liner to the shell without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps. The helmet can also include an energy-absorbing layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) including a groove. The comfort liner can be attached to the energy-absorbing layer without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, and a flexible band can be releasably disposed between the energy-absorbing layer and the comfort liner. The helmet can also include a groove on an inner surface of an outer shell. An energy-absorbing liner can include expanded polypropylene (EPP), and a flexible band can be disposed between the outer shell and the energy-absorbing liner to provide additional energy management, to releasably couple the energy-absorbing liner to the outer shell, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Lowe, Eamon Briggs
  • Publication number: 20160113346
    Abstract: A protective helmet having a protective shell, a low friction layer, and a comfort liner is disclosed. The protective shell includes an energy absorbing material and an inner surface. The low friction layer is coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell. The low friction layer may be plastic having a thickness of less than approximately 3 mm. The comfort liner is removably coupled to the low friction layer opposite the protective shell, and includes a low friction material, such as brushed nylon, adjacent the low friction liner. The comfort liner may be removeably coupled protective shell with either clips that removably couple to receivers embedded in the brow of the helmet, with elastically deformable couplings that extend from the comfort liner to the protective shell, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20150320135
    Abstract: A full-face motorcycle helmet can include a faceport opening that includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and an A-pillar extending between the upper edge of the faceport and the lower edge of the faceport. The chinbar can include a recess that begins immediately adjacent the A-pillar and includes a chinbar height Hc1 within the recess that is greater than or equal to 60 millimeters (mm) and a chin bar height Hc2 outside and immediately adjacent the recess that is greater than or equal to 70 mm. The recess can include a height Hr that is greater than or equal to 5 mm for a distance in a range of 15-60 mm. The recess can further include a stair-step between the bottom of the recess and the top of the recess comprising a length that is less than or equal to 35 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20150157083
    Abstract: A protective helmet can include an outer shell and a multi-layer liner disposed within the outer shell and sized for receiving a wearer's head. The multi-layer liner can include and inner-layer, a middle-layer, and an outer-layer. The inner-layer can include an inner surface oriented towards an inner area of a helmet for receiving a wearer's head. The inner-layer can comprise a mid-energy management material with a density in a range of 40-70 g/L. The middle-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the inner-layer, wherein the middle-layer comprises a low-energy management material with a density in a range of 10-20 g/L. The outer-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the middle-layer, the outer-layer comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer shell, wherein the outer-layer comprises a high-energy management material with a density in a range of 20-50 grams g/L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20150089725
    Abstract: A helmet an include a shell, a liner disposed within the shell, a flexible band disposed between the shell and a portion of the liner to releasably couple the liner to the shell without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps. The helmet can also include an energy-absorbing layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) including a groove. The comfort liner can be attached to the energy-absorbing layer without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, and a flexible band can be releasably disposed between the energy-absorbing layer and the comfort liner. The helmet can also include a groove on an inner surface of an outer shell. An energy-absorbing liner can include expanded polypropylene (EPP), and a flexible band can be disposed between the outer shell and the energy-absorbing liner to provide additional energy management, to releasably couple the energy-absorbing liner to the outer shell, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Michael W. Lowe, Eamon Briggs
  • Publication number: 20140201889
    Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 6159158
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and marking regions of tissue obstruction in the upper airway of a patient. The invention provides a greatly improved method for use during a sleep apnea study to particularize the location of a region of obstruction. The precise location of the obstruction may be marked for surgical removal or reduction. Broadly speaking, the apparatus includes a multiluminate catheter having an outer wall circumscribed by multiple discrete perforate regions. The proximal portion of each lumen opens into a selected perforate region and the distal portion is coupled with a pressure transducer. Each lumen is equipped with a syringe port for injecting a tissue marking dye into the obstructing tissue region. The catheter outer wall may include a radiopaque marker in order to facilitate location of the catheter within the airway of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe