Patents by Inventor Paul Kele

Paul Kele 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: 20240164467
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Publication number: 20240122285
    Abstract: A helmet with an inner liner and an outer liner that slidably move in relation to each other. At least one flexible connector is positioned at the ovoid surface between the inner and outer liner that directly connects at least three of a plurality of liner ribs of the first liner segment to the second liner segment across a gap at a center portion of a second liner segment and at left and right sides of the second liner segment. The at least one flexible connector is in-molded with the first and second liner segments so that they move relative to each other when the inner liner slidably moves in relation to the outer liner by flexing the at least one flexible connector. Elastomeric anchors coupled to the outer liner and to the at least one flexible connector may be included, and a fit system may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Paul A. KELE, David T. DEBUS
  • Patent number: 11882893
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 11849793
    Abstract: A helmet with an inner liner and an outer liner that slidably move in relation to each other. At least one flexible connector is positioned at the ovoid surface between the inner and outer liner that directly connects at least three of a plurality of liner ribs of the first liner segment to the second liner segment across a gap at a center portion of a second liner segment and at left and right sides of the second liner segment. The at least one flexible connector is in-molded with the first and second liner segments so that they move relative to each other when the inner liner slidably moves in relation to the outer liner by flexing the at least one flexible connector. Elastomeric anchors coupled to the outer liner and to the at least one flexible connector may be included, and a fit system may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Publication number: 20230135209
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 11540583
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Publication number: 20220240616
    Abstract: A helmet having an outer liner with an inward-facing surface, an inner liner with an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, and a flexible tether coupling the outer liner to the inner. The inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner via a plurality of return springs, the plurality of return springs biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 11304470
    Abstract: A helmet having an outer liner and an inner liner is disclosed. The inner liner is positioned at least partially inside the outer liner. The helmet includes at least one chin strap anchored to the outer liner and passing through an opening in the inner liner. The helmet further includes a plurality of return springs, each having a first end coupled to the outer liner, and a second end distal to the first end and coupled to the inner liner. The return springs bias the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner. The inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner through the plurality of return springs and slidably movable relative to the outer liner between the first position and a second position where the inner liner and outer liner are rotated away from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 10918153
    Abstract: A helmet can include a protective shell and a layer of energy management material coupled to an inner surface of the protective shell to form a cavity for receiving a head of a user. An earpad can be coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell that comprises an inner surface that further defines a space for an ear of a user. The earpad can further include a leading edge at a front of the helmet, the leading edge extending between the outer surface of the protective shell and the inner surface of the earpad. An air intake opening can be formed at the leading edge of the earpad. An air exhaust opening can be formed at a trailing edge of the earpad. An airflow channel can extend through the earpad between the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Kele
  • Publication number: 20200323299
    Abstract: An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Publication number: 20200305536
    Abstract: A helmet with an inner liner and an outer liner that slidably move in relation to each other. At least one flexible connector is positioned at the ovoid surface between the inner and outer liner that directly connects at least three of a plurality of liner ribs of the first liner segment to the second liner segment across a gap at a center portion of a second liner segment and at left and right sides of the second liner segment. The at least one flexible connector is in-molded with the first and second liner segments so that they move relative to each other when the inner liner slidably moves in relation to the outer liner by flexing the at least one flexible connector. Elastomeric anchors coupled to the outer liner and to the at least one flexible connector may be included, and a fit system may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Publication number: 20200029644
    Abstract: A helmet having an outer liner and an inner liner is disclosed. The inner liner is positioned at least partially inside the outer liner. The helmet includes at least one chin strap anchored to the outer liner and passing through an opening in the inner liner. The helmet further includes a plurality of return springs, each having a first end coupled to the outer liner, and a second end distal to the first end and coupled to the inner liner. The return springs bias the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner. The inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner through the plurality of return springs and slidably movable relative to the outer liner between the first position and a second position where the inner liner and outer liner are rotated away from the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 10492559
    Abstract: A helmet comprising a helmet body and a chin bar is disclosed. The helmet body comprises an opening and two attachment anchors located opposite each other proximate a leading edge of the opening. Each attachment anchor comprises a pivot socket and a lock support. The chin bar comprises two opposing ends, each releasably coupled to a different attachment anchor. Each end of the chin bar comprises a locking mechanism engaged with a lock support of a different attachment anchor, and a pivot arm releasably and pivotally coupled to the pivot socket of the different attachment anchor. The chin bar is pivotable between a first angle and a second angle with respect to the helmet body, and the pivot arms are releasable from the pivot sockets of the helmet body while the locking mechanisms of the chin bar are disengaged from the lock supports of the helmet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David M. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20190045874
    Abstract: A helmet can include a protective shell and a layer of energy management material coupled to an inner surface of the protective shell to form a cavity for receiving a head of a user. An earpad can be coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell that comprises an inner surface that further defines a space for an ear of a user. The earpad can further include a leading edge at a front of the helmet, the leading edge extending between the outer surface of the protective shell and the inner surface of the earpad. An air intake opening can be formed at the leading edge of the earpad. An air exhaust opening can be formed at a trailing edge of the earpad. An airflow channel can extend through the earpad between the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventor: Paul Kele
  • Patent number: 10098407
    Abstract: A helmet can include a protective shell and a layer of energy management material coupled to an inner surface of the protective shell to form a cavity for receiving a head of a user. An earpad can be coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell that comprises an inner surface that further defines a space for an ear of a user. The earpad can further include a leading edge at a front of the helmet, the leading edge extending between the outer surface of the protective shell and the inner surface of the earpad. An air intake opening can be formed at the leading edge of the earpad. An air exhaust opening can be formed at a trailing edge of the earpad. An airflow channel can extend through the earpad between the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Kele
  • Publication number: 20160198787
    Abstract: A helmet can include a protective shell and a layer of energy management material coupled to an inner surface of the protective shell to form a cavity for receiving a head of a user. An earpad can be coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell that comprises an inner surface that further defines a space for an ear of a user. The earpad can further include a leading edge at a front of the helmet, the leading edge extending between the outer surface of the protective shell and the inner surface of the earpad. An air intake opening can be formed at the leading edge of the earpad. An air exhaust opening can be formed at a trailing edge of the earpad. An airflow channel can extend through the earpad between the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Paul Kele
  • Patent number: D897046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Kele
  • Patent number: D902493
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Paul A. Kele
  • Patent number: D938657
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, Gregory J. Marting
  • Patent number: D994986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, Gregory J. Marting