Patents by Inventor Alexander J. Szela

Alexander J. Szela 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: 20200229528
    Abstract: A helmet with an outer shell, an inner liner, a plurality of vents, and an occipital cliff is disclosed. The outer shell includes an outer surface made up of a first and second surface, the first and second surfaces joined by a drop-off running across the outer surface from a left side of the helmet to a right side of the helmet. A majority of the drop-off is closer to a coronal plane bisecting the helmet than it is to the rear of the helmet. The drop-off is contained within a posterior section of the helmet defined by the coronal plane. The first surface defines a top of the drop-off and the second surface defines a bottom of the drop-off, such that the drop-off has a height. The occipital cliff is located at the rear end of the helmet and is approximately perpendicular to the second surface proximate the drop-off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Alexander J. Szela
  • Publication number: 20200187583
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 10575582
    Abstract: A helmet with an outer shell, an inner liner, a plurality of vents, and an occipital cliff is disclosed. The outer shell includes an outer surface made up of a first and second surface, the first and second surfaces joined by a drop-off running across the outer surface from a left side of the helmet to a right side of the helmet. A majority of the drop-off is closer to a coronal plane bisecting the helmet than it is to the rear of the helmet. The drop-off is contained within a posterior section of the helmet defined by the coronal plane. The first surface defines a top of the drop-off and the second surface defines a bottom of the drop-off, such that the drop-off has a height. The occipital cliff is located at the rear end of the helmet and is approximately perpendicular to the second surface proximate the drop-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Alexander J. Szela
  • Patent number: 10463099
    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: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 10376010
    Abstract: A helmet can include an outer shell including a faceport, a first segment including a longitudinal ridge extending from a front of the helmet to a rear of the helmet, a gap disposed along the edge of the first segment, and a second segment offset from the first segment by the gap. A hinged zone can be formed by an elastomeric material disposed within the gap and coupled to the first segment and the second segment of the outer shell. The hinged zone can elastically flex in a radial direction towards a center of the helmet. An energy absorbing liner can be coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell, and an open space can be formed between an inner surface of the hinged zone and an outer surface of the energy absorbing liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Publication number: 20180317588
    Abstract: A helmet with an outer shell, an inner liner, a plurality of vents, and an occipital cliff is disclosed. The outer shell includes an outer surface made up of a first and second surface, the first and second surfaces joined by a drop-off running across the outer surface from a left side of the helmet to a right side of the helmet. A majority of the drop-off is closer to a coronal plane bisecting the helmet than it is to the rear of the helmet. The drop-off is contained within a posterior section of the helmet defined by the coronal plane. The first surface defines a top of the drop-off and the second surface defines a bottom of the drop-off, such that the drop-off has a height. The occipital cliff is located at the rear end of the helmet and is approximately perpendicular to the second surface proximate the drop-off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Alexander J. Szela
  • Publication number: 20170188649
    Abstract: A protective helmet for rotational energy management may include an outer protective shell including an outer surface and an inner surface, a portion of which may be spherically shaped. An inner protective shell may be disposed within the outer protective shell and include a spherically shaped outer surface oriented towards the inner surface of the outer protective shell. A surface area of the outer surface of the inner protective shell may be less than a surface area of the inner surface of the outer protective shell. A first elastomer member may extend through a first channel through the outer protective shell and the inner protective shell. A boundary nub may include a spherical shape and be integrally formed with the inner protective shell at a front lower edge of the inner protective shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Publication number: 20170164678
    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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Publication number: 20170119080
    Abstract: A helmet can include an outer shell including a faceport, a first segment including a longitudinal ridge extending from a front of the helmet to a rear of the helmet, a gap disposed along the edge of the first segment, and a second segment comprising offset from the first segment by the gap. A hinged zone can be formed by an elastomeric material disposed within the gap and coupled to the first segment and the second segment of the outer shell. The hinged zone can elastically flex in a radial direction towards a center of the helmet. An energy absorbing liner can be coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell, and an open space can be formed between an inner surface of the hinged zone and an outer surface of the energy absorbing liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia, Christopher T. Pietrzak
  • Publication number: 20170112227
    Abstract: A helmet comprising an outer shell and a chin bar collar is disclosed. The outer shell comprises an interior surface and an open front portion. The chin bar collar comprises a chin guard and a collar segment forming a continuous loop. The collar segment is coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell. A majority of the collar segment is positioned within an interior space of the outer shell, and a majority of the chin guard is positioned outside the interior space of the outer shell. The outer shell may include at least two coupling points, at least one on each side of the open front portion, coupling the chin bar collar to the outer shell. The helmet may include at least one bracket coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell. The chin bar collar may be releasably coupled to the interior surface of the outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Scott R. Allen, James R. Penny, Alexander J. Szela, Julio Valencia
  • Patent number: D830639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander J. Szela
  • Patent number: D831277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander J. Szela