Abstract: A helmet features an inner shell, a non-rigid outer shell surrounding the inner shell in outwardly spaced relation therefrom, and a plurality of impact absorbing layers disposed between the shells. Each impact absorbing layer features an envelope, and a plurality of impact absorbing members disposed internally within said envelope. At least one adjacent pair of impact absorbing layers are displaceable relative to one another to enable impact-driven shifting between the adjacent pair, whereby impact energy is absorbed by the impact absorbing members within the impact absorbing layers, and absorbed and/or redirected by the impact-driven shifting between the adjacent absorbing layers. Resiliently stretchable material is attached to the adjacent layers at discrete locations such that, after being stretched by the relative shifting, the material returns to a relaxed state to reset the shifted layers back into a default positional relationship, in which ventilation passages in the absorbing layers are aligned.

Abstract: A helmet features an inner shell, a non-rigid outer shell surrounding the inner shell in outwardly spaced relation therefrom, and a plurality of impact absorbing layers disposed between the shells. Each impact absorbing layer features an envelope, and a plurality of impact absorbing members disposed internally within said envelope. At least one adjacent pair of impact absorbing layers are displaceable relative to one another to enable impact-driven shifting between the adjacent pair, whereby impact energy is absorbed by the impact absorbing members within the impact absorbing layers, and absorbed and/or redirected by the impact-driven shifting between the adjacent absorbing layers. Resiliently stretchable material is attached to the adjacent layers at discrete locations such that, after being stretched by the relative shifting, the material returns to a relaxed state to reset the shifted layers back into a default positional relationship, in which ventilation passages in the absorbing layers are aligned.