HELMET WITH VISUAL SHOCK INDICATOR
A visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet, a facemask secured to the helmet, and a mounting element secured to the helmet. The mounting element has a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region. The retainer assembly includes a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.
Head injuries in contact sports with helmets (e.g. football, lacrosse and hockey) are becoming more prevalent. Part of the reason for head injuries in such contact sports is that helmets can provide a false sense of security while also being used offensively. Using one's head when tackling can be dangerous because when a helmet hits another helmet, another part of a person, or the ground, the impact can be passed on to the wearer's head. The helmet is good at distributing the force around the head and shoulders of the wearer so that the force is not focused entirely at the point of contact, but the bulk of the overall force does impact the head of the wearer, which can cause a concussion. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused from a blow to the head or body that causes translational (linear front-to-back, side-to-side) or rotational (angular) movement of the brain within the skull. When this occurs, there is stretching of the brain that damages the cells and creates chemical changes in the brain. Once these changes occur, the brain is more vulnerable to further injury and is sensitive to any increased stress until it fully recovers. Because one can't visually see the damage to the brain caused by the concussion, and because it is important to prevent future damage to the brain, it is crucially important to be able to diagnose potential head injuries in real time, even in cases where the injury isn't necessarily obvious to the casual observer or a medical professional following a concussion diagnosis protocol.
In some sports leagues, there are concussion protocols and monitoring by doctors that attempt, with mixed success, to detect potential concussions. However, in other sport leagues, there is even less monitoring, and the chances of having undiagnosed concussions and head injuries are even higher. Unfortunately, these undiagnosed head injuries subject the athletes to the possibility of even greater injuries as they continue playing while delaying or foregoing treatment.
BRIEF SUMMARYAccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for a helmet with visual shock indicator is disclosed. A visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet, a facemask secured to the helmet, and a mounting element secured to the helmet. The mounting element has a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region. The retainer assembly includes a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet, a facemask secured to the helmet over a face opening of the helmet via a pair of attachment points, and a mounting region disposed between the attachment points. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region and has a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet having a face opening, and a mounting element located above the face opening and configured to secure a portion of a facemask over the face opening via a pair of spaced-apart attachment points. The mounting element has a mounting region disposed between the attachment points having a plurality of sidewalls forming a wedge-shaped receiving area. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region within the wedge-shaped receiving area where the retainer assembly includes a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event. A forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed below a forward-facing surface of the attachment points.
For a more complete understanding of the present application, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device and technique for a helmet with visual shock indicator. According to one embodiment, a visual shock indicator apparatus includes a helmet, a facemask secured to the helmet, and a mounting element secured to the helmet. The mounting element has a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet. A retainer assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region. The retainer assembly includes a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a passive impact or shock indicator that can be used as part of a helmet. Embodiments of the present invention provide a visual indication of impact or shock receipt of at least a predetermined magnitude and is positioned or located on the helmet in a readily visible location (e.g., readily visible to coaches, referees, other players, medical personnel, etc.) while also being protected and/or shielded from a direct impact, thereby reducing or eliminating damage to the indicator that may otherwise result from normal use of the helmet during a corresponding activity.
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In the illustrated embodiment, attachment points 24 are part of a unitary mounting element 20 having oppositely directed hook elements 44 for gripping and/or otherwise securing crossbar 18. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the elevated attachment points 24 may be separate components (e.g., two U-shaped flexible straps going around crossbar 18) such as found on the SPORTS DNA PRO+ model helmet from Schutt. In this case, the shock indicator 40 can be placed between the two attachment points 24 (e.g., either directly on shell 12 or on an installed extender section 28 extending therebetween).
Because of size, cost and ease of use, it may be desirable to use colored dye shock indicators 40 wherein the colored dye is held within a capillary tube until a sufficient shock has been introduced (e.g. visible colored dye shock indicators such as those available from ShockWatch, Inc. headquartered in Dallas, Tex.). However, in other embodiments, shock indicator 40 can be any of a number of different types of shock indicators (e.g., piezo sensors, gyroscopes, or micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensors such as those used in smart phones and game controllers or other sensors to measure linear acceleration, rotation, etc.) An example of a commercially available shock indicator is the ADXL375 available from Analog Devices Inc.
The placement of shock indicator 40 onto a forward-facing portion of helmet 10 above a wearer's face (e.g., near the facemask 16 above a face opening 42 of the shell 12) enables shock indicator 40 to experience roughly the same level of shock that a person's head in helmet 10 would also be expected to experience while also providing greater viewability of the shock indicator 40. Accordingly, the disclosed system discussed herein may serve as a “continue-to-play” decision data point. If the visible shock indicator 40 on the crown of the player's helmet 10 has turned a bright red, it will be readily apparent that the player has experienced a potentially dangerous shock.
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Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus that provides a passive impact or shock indicator that can be used as part of a helmet. Embodiments of the present invention provide a visual indication of impact or shock receipt of at least a predetermined magnitude and is positioned or located on the outside or exterior of helmet in a readily visible location (e.g., readily visible to coaches, referees, other players, medical personnel, etc.) while also being protected and/or shielded from a direct impact, thereby reducing or eliminating damage to the indicator that may otherwise result from normal use of the helmet during a corresponding activity. For example, the shock indicator is placed and/or positioned on a forward-facing surface of the helmet to provide maximum viewability of the indicator while also positioning the indicator adjacent standard and/or ordinary parts/components of the helmet having elevated surfaces to shield the indicator from direct contact (e.g., from another helmet). The indicator is also readily replaceable. For example, if the indicator indicates that a particular magnitude of a shock event has been experienced, the wearer may undergo a concussion protocol or other type of medical examination. If the results of that analysis indicate that the wearer can continue playing, the indicator can be readily replaced with a new indicator (e.g., by replacing retainer assembly 52) to quickly return the helmet to a “like new” or “sense ready” condition.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
- a helmet;
- a facemask secured to the helmet;
- a mounting element secured to the helmet, the mounting element having a mounting region disposed between a pair of attachment points used to secure the facemask to the helmet; and
- a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting element within the mounting region, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting region comprises a wedge-shaped mounting region configured to receive a complementary wedge-shaped retainer assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is configured to secure at least a portion of the facemask to the helmet.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed at a height less than a forward-facing height of the attachment points.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting region is located above a face opening of the helmet.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
- a transparent carrier; and
- the shock indicator secured to the carrier.
8. A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
- a helmet;
- a facemask secured to the helmet over a face opening of the helmet via a pair of attachment points;
- a mounting region disposed between the attachment points; and
- a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting region is formed in the helmet.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting region is formed in a mounting element secured to the helmet via the attachment points.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed at a height less than a forward-facing height of the attachment points.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting region comprises a wedge-shaped mounting region configured to receive a complementary wedge-shaped retainer assembly.
14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
- a transparent carrier; and
- the shock indicator secured to the carrier such that the shock indicator is disposed between a forward-facing wall of the carrier and the helmet.
15. A visual shock indicator apparatus, comprising:
- a helmet having a face opening;
- a mounting element located above the face opening and configured to secure a portion of a facemask over the face opening via a pair of spaced-apart attachment points, the mounting element having a mounting region disposed between the attachment points, the mounting region including a plurality of sidewalls forming a wedge-shaped receiving area; and
- a retainer assembly configured to be removably coupled to the mounting region within the wedge-shaped receiving area, the retainer assembly including a shock indicator configured to provide a visual indication of receipt of a predetermined level of a shock event, and wherein a forward-facing surface of the retainer assembly is disposed below a forward-facing surface of the attachment points.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical opening for receiving a cylindrically-shaped shock indicator.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retainer assembly comprises:
- a transparent carrier; and
- the shock indicator secured to the carrier such that the shock indicator is disposed between a forward-facing wall of the carrier and the helmet.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retainer assembly comprises a transparent carrier having a plurality of sidewalls configured at an angle complementary to the sidewalls of the receiving area.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the sidewalls includes a notch configured to expose at least a portion of a sidewall of the retainer assembly to facilitate removal of the retainer assembly from the receiving area.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retainer assembly is located above an upper crossbar of the facemask.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2017
Inventor: Clinton A. Branch (Jacksboro, TX)
Application Number: 15/443,425