Abstract: A helmet detects shear force impacts. Indicator elements in the helmet or protective gear provides a visual indication, an audio indication, or a combination is contained in the surface of the outer shell of the helmet and detects when there is a mechanical force imparted on the helmet. One or more sensors are embedded in the helmet and detect when a shear force is imparted on the helmet. In other embodiments, the sensors can detect that there was a mechanical force on the helmet and also measure the energy of the force. The outer surface of the helmet may have a lining that changes appearance with a shear impact force hits the surface of the helmet.

Abstract: A protective facemask for a helmet includes one or more compression portions. In one aspect, a facemask of a plurality of arcuately curved bars includes a frame portion and lateral bars configured to extend across the frontal opening of the helmet and join to the frame portion at terminal ends. The lateral bars include one or more compression portions which are more compliant to a given force than other portions of the plurality of arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may include a first material that is less rigid than a second material forming the other portions of the arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may further include first and second zones, with the first zone being more compliant to the given force than the second zone. Such compression portions may be positioned within the lateral bars near the point of joining with the frame.

Abstract: Protective gear such as a helmet includes multiple shell layers connected using one or more concertinaed structures. The concertinaed structures allow the shell layers greater flexibility to move relative to each other when mechanical forces are imparted onto the outer shell layer. When energy and impact transformer layers are disposed between the shell layers, the concertinaed structures may also allow improvement function of the energy and impact transformer layers.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. A padding assembly can be provided over the outer shell layer. The padding assembly can include a padding layer configured to absorb forces normal to the outer shell. The padding assembly can be coupled to the outer shell via an interface layer that allows the padding layer to slide over the outer shell layer in response to tangentially applied forces. The interface layer and associated sliding motion can reduce the tangential forces transmitted through the padding layer to the outer shell while still allowing normal forces to be absorbed. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a helmet including customized helmet layers and corresponding methods of construction. In one aspect, a method comprises capturing a 3D image of a head corresponding to the head of an individual, and rendering a 3D headform based on the 3D image. A lining layer is formed, which includes a geometry corresponding to the 3D headform and the inner surface of the shell layer such that an inner surface of the lining layer conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of the 3D headform. An outer surface of the lining layer further conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of an inner surface of a shell layer. Another aspect of the method comprises forming a shell layer such that the shell layer includes a geometry corresponding to the shape of a portion of the 3D headform.

Abstract: Protective gear such as a helmet includes multiple shell layers connected through energy and impact transformer layers. The energy and impact transformer layers may include conical structures used to dissipate mechanical energy applied to an outer shell layer while allowing an outer shell layer the ability to rotate with respect to a middle or inner shell layer. The conical structures may be three dimensional pyramids, three dimensional parabolic structures, and may be outwardly or inwardly oriented.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a helmet including customized helmet layers and corresponding methods of construction. In one aspect, a method comprises capturing a 3D image of a head corresponding to the head of an individual, and rendering a 3D headform based on the 3D image. A lining layer is formed, which includes a geometry corresponding to the 3D headform and the inner surface of the shell layer such that an inner surface of the lining layer conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of the 3D headform. An outer surface of the lining layer further conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of an inner surface of a shell layer. Another aspect of the method comprises forming a shell layer such that the shell layer includes a geometry corresponding to the shape of a portion of the 3D headform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for implementing protective gear testing platforms. Systems may include a support structure and a pendulum coupled to the support structure via a first coupling. The pendulum may be configured to be positioned at a first position, and further configured to swing along a pathway in a first direction when released from the first position. Systems may also include a first headform coupled with the pendulum, where the first headform is configured to measure a plurality of forces associated with an impact on the first headform. The systems may also include a base stage configured to be coupled with a target, and further configured to position the target within the pathway.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for implementing protective gear testing platforms. Systems may include a support structure and a pendulum coupled to the support structure via a first coupling. The pendulum may be configured to be positioned at a first position, and further configured to swing along a pathway in a first direction when released from the first position. Systems may also include a first headform coupled with the pendulum, where the first headform is configured to measure a plurality of forces associated with an impact on the first headform. The systems may also include a base stage configured to be coupled with a target, and further configured to position the target within the pathway.

Abstract: Protective gear such as a helmet includes multiple shell layers connected using one or more shear protection devices. The shear protection devices have a general V-shaped configuration with one vertex point and two endpoints. Elastic bands connect the vertex with each endpoint. The vertex is secured to the inner surface of the outer shell layer and the two endpoints are attached to the outer surface of a middle shell layer. The devices have means for adjusting the tension in the elastic bands. The bands flex downward or contracts when there is an impact on the helmet. The adjustable device is able to absorb energy from the impact by flexing and allowing movement of the outer shell layer relative to the middle shell layer.

Abstract: Software for designing, configuring, and manufacturing a smart, biomechanically aware helmet is described. The software has numerous modules. One module creates instructions on designing and configuring a baseline helmet where number of shell layers, air vents, sensors, lining layer, and other features are provided. Another module is used for creating instructions on the number of energy and impact transformer layers and the mechanical and non-mechanical means used in each to absorb energy from mechanical impacts to the helmet. These dampers can include ball bearings, elastic devices, conical structures, liquids, gels, foams, and other structures that function in the transformer layers which are between the hard shell layers.

Abstract: Protective gear such as a helmet includes multiple shell layers connected using one or more shear protection devices. The shear protection devices have a general V-shaped configuration with one vertex point and two endpoints. Elastic bands connect the vertex with each endpoint. The vertex is secured to the inner surface of the outer shell layer and the two endpoints are attached to the outer surface of a middle shell layer. The devices flex downward or contracts when there is an impact on the helmet, such as a direct, rotational, or shear force. The device is able to absorb energy from the impact by flexing and allowing movement of the outer shell layer relative to the middle shell layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a protective facemask for a helmet including compression portions. In one aspect, a facemask comprises a plurality of arcuately curved bars including a frame portion and lateral bars configured to extend across the frontal opening of the helmet and join to the frame portion at terminal ends. The plurality of curved bars include one or more compression portions which are more compliant to a given force than other portions of the plurality of arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may comprise a first material that is less rigid than a second material comprising the other portions of the plurality of arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may further comprise a first zone which is more compliant to a given force than a second zone. Such compression portions may be positioned within the lateral bars near the point of joining with the frame.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a helmet including customized helmet layers and corresponding methods of construction. In one aspect, a method comprises capturing a 3D image of a head corresponding to the head of an individual, and rendering a 3D headform based on the 3D image. A lining layer is formed, which includes a geometry corresponding to the 3D headform and the inner surface of the shell layer such that an inner surface of the lining layer conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of the 3D headform. An outer surface of the lining layer further conforms to the shape of a corresponding portion of an inner surface of a shell layer. Another aspect of the method comprises forming a shell layer such that the shell layer includes a geometry corresponding to the shape of a portion of the 3D headform.

Abstract: A helmet detects shear force impacts. Indicator elements in the helmet or protective gear provides a visual indication, an audio indication, or a combination is contained in the surface of the outer shell of the helmet and detects when there is a mechanical force imparted on the helmet. One or more sensors are embedded in the helmet and detect when a shear force is imparted on the helmet. In other embodiments, the sensors can detect that there was a mechanical force on the helmet and also measure the energy of the force. The outer surface of the helmet may have a lining that changes appearance with a shear impact force hits the surface of the helmet.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: Protective gear such as a helmet includes multiple layers including an outer ball bearing layer and/or one or more energy and impact transformer layers. The ball bearing layer exposes multiple ball bearings on the outer surface of the protective gear to deflect and diminish shear forces and other rotational forces imparted onto the outer surface. In many examples, the ball bearings on the outer surface prevent the transfer of shear and rotational forces from the surface of a helmet onto a skull. The energy and impact transformer layers may also include various structures and materials used to dissipate mechanical energy applied to an outer layer or outer shell layer.