Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-step method with a number of processes and sub-processes that interact to allow for the selection, design and/or manufacture of a protective sports helmet for a specific player, or a recreational sports helmet for a specific person wearing the helmet. Once the desired protective sports helmet or recreational sports helmet is selected, information is collected from the individual player or wearer regarding the shape of his/her head and information about the impacts he/she has received while participating in the sport or activity. The collected information is processed to develop a bespoke energy attenuation assembly for use in the protective helmet. The energy attenuation assembly includes at least one energy attenuation member with a unique structural makeup and/or chemical composition. The energy attenuation assembly is purposely engineered to improve comfort and fit, as well as how the helmet responds when an impact or series of impacts are received by the helmet.

Abstract: A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-step method with a number of processes and sub-processes that interact to allow for the selection, design and/or manufacture of a recreational sports helmet for a specific person wearing the helmet. Once the desired recreational sports helmet is selected, information is collected from the individual wearer regarding the shape of his/her head and information about the impacts he/she has received while participating in the activity. The collected information is processed to develop a bespoke energy attenuation assembly for use in the recreational sports helmet. The energy attenuation assembly includes at least one energy attenuation member with a unique structural makeup and/or chemical composition. The energy attenuation assembly is purposely engineered to improve comfort and fit, as well as how the helmet responds when an impact or series of impacts are received by the recreational sports helmet.

Abstract: A bespoke protective sports helmet to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke helmet includes i) systems and methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the player's anatomical features, where that player is to wear a protective sports helmet, (ii) for systems and methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture a protective sports helmet with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data, and (iii) a protective sports helmet designed using the acquired and processed unique player's data and including the custom formed internal padding assembly that provides improved fit and comfort for the player. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of a bespoke protective sports helmet that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the player's anatomical specifications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective sports helmet including a helmet shell, a face guard and an internal padding assembly positioned within the helmet shell. The internal padding assembly includes a brow pad having a first peripheral connection portion and a second peripheral connection portion. The internal padding assembly also includes a first jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the first connection portion of the brow pad, and a second jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the second connection portion of the brow pad. The internal padding assembly also includes a crown assembly with pad elements that include an internal separation layer that partitions the element into a first inflatable section and a second un-inflatable section. The connection portion of the jaw pads also mates with frontal pad elements of the crown assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for monitoring a physiological parameter of players engaged in a sporting activity. The system includes a plurality of reporting units, a controller, and a signaling device. The reporting unit has an arrangement of sensing devices that measure the physiological parameter of an individual player and generate parameter data. The controller receives the parameter data transmitted from each reporting unit and then processes the parameter data to calculate a parameter result. When the parameter result exceeds a predetermined value, the controller communicates with a signaling device that provides an alert to sideline personnel to monitor the player(s) in question. The system also includes a remote storage device for holding historical data collected by the system which permits subsequent analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring a physiological parameter of a player(s) from a larger group of players engaged in a contact sport. The system includes a helmet having a protective outer shell and an internal padding assembly, a portable signaling device, and a reporting unit positioned within the helmet. The reporting unit includes a sensor, a wireless transmitter and a control unit. The reporting unit has a flexible configuration to enable removable positioning within the helmet's internal padding assembly while maintaining overall comfort and fit of the helmet. The method involves monitoring impacts sustained by the specific player; computing impact results and comparing impact results to at least one impact-related threshold; defining an alert event when an impact result surpasses a predetermined threshold value; sending an alert from the reporting unit to the signaling device; and providing an impact assessment protocol on the signaling device.

Abstract: A football helmet includes a plastic shell with side regions having an ear flap with a face guard connector, an ear opening, a slot, and a snap connector. The helmet also includes an internal padding assembly removably connected to the plastic shell and including a jaw pad with a force attenuating layer. When the helmet is worn, a front edge of the jaw pad is positioned both in front of a coronal plane and below a basic plane of a head of the helmet wearer. A chin strap assembly releasably secures the helmet to the wearer and includes a lower flexible strap extending outwardly from each side of a central protective member. When the helmet is worn, an extent of the lower flexible strap is received by the slot when said strap is affixed to the snap connector. The shell also includes a raised central band integrally formed as part of the shell and extending across the crown region to the rear region. An arrangement of elongated vent openings flank the raised central band.

Abstract: A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective sports helmet including a helmet shell, a face guard and an internal padding assembly positioned within the helmet shell. The internal padding assembly includes a brow pad having a first peripheral connection portion and a second peripheral connection portion. The internal padding assembly also includes a first jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the first connection portion of the brow pad, and a second jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the second connection portion of the brow pad. The internal padding assembly also includes a crown assembly with pad elements that include an internal separation layer that partitions the element into a first inflatable section and a second un-inflatable section. The connection portion of the jaw pads also mates with frontal pad elements of the crown assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position, wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position.

Abstract: A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

Abstract: A pad assembly is provided for use with a protective sports helmet in a contact sport, the helmet having an opening. The pad assembly includes a pad member within a pad housing, and a retainer having a projection that fits within the helmet opening. The pad assembly also includes a cap detachably coupled to the retainer, the cap including a base portion that fits within the helmet opening and a flange portion that fits within a countersunk recess disposed around the helmet opening, the cap detachably receiving the projection of the retainer. A protective sports helmet having a pad assembly is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-step method with a number of processes and sub-processes that interact to allow for the selection, design and/or manufacture of a protective sports helmet for a specific player, or a recreational sports helmet for a specific person wearing the helmet. Once the desired protective sports helmet or recreational sports helmet is selected, information is collected from the individual player or wearer regarding the shape of his/her head and information about the impacts he/she has received while participating in the sport or activity. The collected information is processed to develop a bespoke energy attenuation assembly for use in the protective helmet. The energy attenuation assembly includes at least one energy attenuation member with a unique structural makeup and/or chemical composition. The energy attenuation assembly is purposely engineered to improve comfort and fit, as well as how the helmet responds when an impact or series of impacts are received by the helmet.

Abstract: A protective football helmet is provided having a one-piece molded shell with an impact attenuation system. This system includes an impact attenuation member formed in an extent of the front shell portion by removing material from the front portion. The impact attenuation member is purposely engineered to change how the front portion responds to an impact force applied substantially normal to the front portion as compared to how other portions of the shell respond to that impact force. In one version, the impact attenuation member is a cantilevered segment formed in the front portion of the shell.

Abstract: A pad assembly is provided for use with a protective sports helmet in a contact sport, the helmet having an opening. The pad assembly includes a pad member within a pad housing, and a retainer having a projection that fits within the helmet opening. The pad assembly also includes a cap detachably coupled to the retainer, the cap including a base portion that fits within the helmet opening and a flange portion that fits within a countersunk recess disposed around the helmet opening, the cap detachably receiving the projection of the retainer. A protective sports helmet having a pad assembly is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective sports helmet purposely designed for a selected group of helmet wearers from amongst a larger population of helmet wearers. A multi-step method for helmet design starts by collecting information from a population of players that may include information about the shape of a player's head and the impacts the player has sustained. This information is then processed to create player population information that is sorted to create categories. Advanced mathematical techniques are utilized to further sort these categories into player groups or data sets based on player attributes. Once the player groups are identified, another multi-step process is utilized to design optimized helmet prototype models for each player group.

Abstract: A protective football helmet is provided having a one-piece molded shell with an impact attenuation system. This system includes an impact attenuation member formed in an extent of the front shell portion by removing material from the front portion. The impact attenuation member is purposely engineered to change how the front portion responds to an impact force applied substantially normal to the front portion as compared to how other portions of the shell respond to that impact force. In one version, the impact attenuation member is a cantilevered segment formed in the front portion of the shell.