Patents Assigned to Bell Sports, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12171294
    Abstract: A helmet comprising and outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner is disclosed. The outer liner comprises an interior surface and the inner liner comprises an exterior surface. The inner liner is composed of an elastically deformable material. A majority of the interior surface of the outer liner and a majority of the exterior surface of the inner liner are both substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section that is circular with a first radius and a sagittal cross section that is circular with a second radius different from the first radius. The inner liner is elastically deformable along the interior surface of the outer liner in response to rotation of the outer liner relative to the inner liner caused by an impact to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 12161181
    Abstract: A closed face motorcycle helmet includes a shell with an eyeport and a shield attached for hinged or pivoted motion between a closed or lowered position covering and sealing the eyeport and an open position or raised position displaced above the eyeport. A hinge plate is attached to the shell on each side and includes a moving pivot socket into which a hub of the shield is rotatably disposed for hinged movement and rearward movement of the shield between the raised and lowered positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers
  • Patent number: 12137765
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kele, David T. Debus
  • Patent number: 12089685
    Abstract: A helmet for rotational energy management can include an outer energy management layer comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface can comprise a first slidable finish comprising a first glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm). An inner energy management layer can be disposed within the outer energy management layer and further comprise an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface can comprise a second slidable finish that directly contacts the first slidable finish. The second slidable finish can comprise a second glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm. A space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish can be devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 12036959
    Abstract: A pump head configured to secure various air valve types is disclosed. The pump head may include a housing defining an aperture sized and shaped to receive a valve head therein; a moveable pin disposed within the housing defining a pin notch disposed about an exterior circumference of the moveable pin; a first taper unit disposed in the housing; a second taper unit disposed in the housing and adjacent to the first taper unit, the second taper unit biased away the first taper unit; and an elastic ring disposed between the first and second taper units, wherein the second taper unit is moveable towards the first taper unit, thereby compressing the elastic ring circumferentially in at least one of two positions, the elastic ring compressed about the pin notch in the first position and about the valve head in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Park, Andy Yu Sang Chan
  • Publication number: 20240206583
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pivot mechanism for a shield for a helmet, the pivot mechanism comprising a curved track having a first end and a second end; and a clamp slidingly engaged to the curved track, wherein the clamp is configured to attach to an end of the shield and slide along the track between a first position proximate to the first end of the curved track and a second position proximate to the second end of the curved track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers
  • Patent number: 12011056
    Abstract: A helmet for protection during an impact, wherein an inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 11998079
    Abstract: A helmet can comprise an outer shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the outer shell comprises an integrally formed locking mechanism. The helmet can also comprise a locking liner formed of a foam material and disposed within the outer shell adjacent the inner surface of the outer shell. The locking liner can further comprise at least one side piece sized to fit between a lower edge of the outer shell and top portion of the outer shell, a top piece disposed at the top portion of the outer shell and comprising a central opening, and a rotatable foam locking piece sized to fit within the central opening and comprising a tab that is sized to mateably couple with the integrally formed locking mechanism of the outer shell to releasably couple the locking liner to the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben D. Pritz, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin W. Penner, Brian W. Eisman
  • Patent number: 11889883
    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: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
  • 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: 11871809
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11864614
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pivot mechanism for a shield for a helmet, the pivot mechanism comprising a curved track having a first end and a second end; and a clamp slidingly engaged to the curved track, wherein the clamp is configured to attach to an end of the shield and slide along the track between a first position proximate to the first end of the curved track and a second position proximate to the second end of the curved track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers
  • 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
  • Patent number: D1013963
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Lawrence Broers, Chad B. Hodge
  • Patent number: D1013964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1013967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Doublin
  • Patent number: D1017142
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Ton, Gregg Jacobsen
  • Patent number: D1034702
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Park