Impact Protection System

Abstract

An impact protection system comprising a helmet system and a shoulder pad system that absorbs, repels, and diverts collision forces.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to impact protection systems with enhanced and safer alternatives to the current market's impact systems. This invention also relates to a unitary impact protection system combining both helmet and shoulder pad systems. The invention incorporates innovative safety insulating exterior barrier elements designed to minimize and reduce the occurrence of injuries to the head, including concussions, neck, and shoulders caused by collision forces.

BACKGROUND

Players of impact sports can be subject to a variety of head and neck injuries. Padded impact systems primarily rely on their padding to absorb collision forces. Protective padding is unable to transfer the collision forces past the padding themselves. This may leave a player's head, neck, and shoulders vulnerable to absorbing a significant portion of the collision forces such that significant, devastating, and in some cases, fatal injuries result.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present description discloses a helmet system and a shoulder pad system which both provide impact protection. Also disclosed is the combination of the helmet and shoulder pad system to form a unitary impact protection system. The systems exhibit improved safety features including enhanced safety insulating exterior barrier elements to absorb, repel, and divert collision forces. The systems are designed to significantly minimize and reduce the occurrence of head, concussion, neck, and shoulder injuries. The impact protection system comprising the helmet system and the shoulder pad system also exhibit the safety benefits mentioned above.

The helmet system comprises a shell having an interior comprising padded head gear fitted to cover at least a portion of a human head, a semicircular head mobility arm having an apex attached to the padded head gear and a base movably attached to a neck extension protector. The head mobility arm supports the movement of the human head. The base of the head mobility arm can be connected to the neck extension protector to form a ball and socket joint. The base of the head mobility arm can be a ball and the neck extension protector can contain a socket. The helmet system further comprises a head mobility connector that intersects the head mobility arm connected to a semicircular shell connector affixed to the interior of the shell. The neck extension protector can contact a shoulder pad system. The apex of the head mobility arm can be movably attached to the padded headgear.

The impact protection system comprises a shoulder pad system that comprises an outer impact shell designed to cover a human torso. The outer impact shell has an interior that at least partially comprises an interior impact shell that substantially houses absorption extenders that redirect the force of collisions on the outer impact shell. The absorption extenders have a first portion connected to the outer impact shell and a second portion connected to absorbers that receive the redirected force. The absorbers can be located in an interior impact shell connector. The interior impact shell is connected to the interior impact shell connector and is designed to fit a human torso. The interior impact shell connector can fit substantially around a human torso. The interior impact shell connector can be generally semicircular or generally circular.

The impact protection system absorbs, repels, and diverts collision forces through designed safety insulating exterior barriers, shock absorbers, hard plastic/composite shells, and padding that protect and insulate a player's head, shoulder, and neck. The impact protection system is designed with safety insulating elements to significantly minimize and reduce the occurrence of head, concussion, neck, and shoulder injuries.

The impact protection system comprising the helmet and shoulder pad systems has greatly enhanced safety elements and with the same functionality of most common existing impact systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the shell of the helmet system with a facemask with a shell connector on the interior of the shell.

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the padded headgear with chinstrap.

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a head mobility arm with a ball and socket joint in a neck extension protector with arrows showing the range of movement of the head mobility arm.

FIG. 2c is a perspective view of the head mobility arm attached to the padded headgear and the neck extension protector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the helmet system.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the interior of the helmet system.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the interior of the helmet system being tilted.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the shoulder pad system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the impact protection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the helmet system comprises an exterior shell 2 with facemask 3 with an interior padded headgear 4 with a chinstrap 19. The exterior shell 2 can be generally spherical made of a hard plastic, polycarbonate, or other synthetic composite shell that covers a human head without being in direct contact with the head. The opening in the front has a facemask 3 for the protection of the human's facial area. The interior headgear 4 can be comprised of shock absorbing foam padding. The headgear 4 can also comprise a hard outer shell covering comprised of hard plastic, polycarbonate, or other synthetic composite shell and resting in contact with the human head and secured by a chinstrap 19. The interior headgear 4 has an insert-receiving channel for the apex 25 of the head mobility arm 5.

The headgear 4 is designed to fit onto a human head and cover at least a portion of a head. There is a head mobility arm 5 that has an apex 25 movably attached to the headgear 4 and a base 9 that is movably attached to a neck extension protector 10. The interior headgear 4 can have an insert-receiving channel at its rear for the apex 25 of the head mobility arm 5. The interior headgear 4 connection to the head mobility arm 5 facilitates functional head movement. The exterior shell 2 with facemask 3 can be comprised of hard plastic or polycarbonate that provides a safety insulating exterior barrier to prevent any direct impact to the face and head.

The head mobility arm 5 is semicircular and can be shaped based on the dimensions of a human head wearing the impact protection system. The head mobility arm 5 is preferably curved to approximate the curvature of the human head as shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c. The head mobility arm 5 can be made of any hard suitable material such as metal, polycarbonate, or other form of synthetic material. The head mobility arm 5 is capable of transferring the force of a collision from the helmet system to the neck extension protector 10. The apex 25 attaches to the headgear 4 by snap fit or other suitable attachment means. The base 9 of the head mobility arm 5 in FIGS. 2b, 2c, 3, 4, and 5 is a ball that fits into a socket within the neck extension protector 10. This junction forms a ball and socket and grants the head mobility arm 5 exceptional range of movement and rotation as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 2b, 4 and 5. The base 9 can be housed in the rear of the neck extension protector 10.

A protective boot 8 fits around the head mobility arm 5 and sits in contact with the neck extension protector 10. The head mobility arm protective boot 8 is a rubber coupling that fits over the base 9 to prevent foreign debris, such as sweat, dirt, or water, from entering and causing performance issues for the junction of the base 9 and the socket.

FIG. 5 shows a helmet system with a tilted human head. The edge 50 of the helmet 2 can abut the neck extension protector 10 to prevent an injury resulting from an extreme turn of the head.

The head mobility arm 5 can comprise a plurality of branches that diverge from the arm, with each branch having an apex that can be movably attached to the head gear. In some embodiments, there can be more than one branch. The head mobility arm 5 can comprise two branches with each branch having an apex 25 but with the arm itself still comprising one base 9. The force of a collision is dispersed and transferred through the multiple branches. More than two or three branches can further assist such dispersal and transference.

A head mobility arm connector 7 intersects the head mobility arm 5 and is in contact with the exterior shell connector 6 that is affixed to the interior of the exterior shell 2. The exterior shell connector 6 and the head mobility arm connector 7 can be semicircular. The exterior shell connector 6 can bi-directionally extend from the rear center of the exterior shell 2 towards the front of the exterior shell 2 in the direction of the facemask 3. The connectors 6, 7 can be fitted together using attachment means suitable in the field including snap fit or with notches and grooves. When the connectors 6, 7 are attached as shown in FIG. 3, the exterior shell 2 is capable of moving with the head mobility arm 5. The head mobility arm 5 allows a range of movement of the head 30 and neck 35 in the helmet system 1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The head mobility arm connector 7 can be made of metal or some hard synthetic composite material. The head mobility arm connector 7 can be horizontally attached to the head mobility arm 5 at a predetermined point. The head mobility arm connector 7 can laterally extend from the head mobility arm 5 in a semicircular fashion. The head mobility arm connector 7 connects to the exterior shell connector 6. The head mobility arm connector 7 runs from the center of the rear of the exterior shell 2 with facemask 3 to near the midpoint of the right/left sides of the exterior shell 2 with facemask 3.

The neck extension protector 10 can be a semicircular collar that is formed to fit around a human neck without contacting the neck. The neck extension protector 10 can be attached to a shoulder pad system such as the shoulder pad system 20 shown in FIG. 6. The neck extension protector 10 can have a universal attachment to attach it to shoulder pad systems available in the art.

The impact protection system comprises a shoulder pad system 20 as shown in FIG. 6. The shoulder pad system 20 comprises an outer impact shell 11 designed to cover a human torso. The shell 11 can be positioned over the shoulders 22 of a wearer. The outer impact shell 11 has an interior at least partially comprising an interior impact shell 14 substantially housing absorption extenders 12 that redirect the force of collisions on the outer impact shell 11. The shoulder pad system 20 can further comprise upper arm impact pads 21, shoulder padding 13, absorbers 15, and interior impact shell connectors 16 to protect the upper shoulders, chest, and back. The shoulder pad system 20 can support a neck extension protector 10 which can be connected to the helmet system 1.

The interior impact shell connector 16 can comprise a fit adjustment device 26, such as a cinch, that modifies, such as tightening or loosening, the interior impact shell connector 16 to ensure a proper fit around the human body and thus providing stability for the shoulder pad system 20. The interior impact shell connector 16 can comprise a fit ensuring device that adjusts the fit of the shoulder pad system 20. The interior impact shell connector 16 can contain the absorbers 15. The absorbers 15 can also be in contact with the interior impact shell connector 16.

The outer impact shell 11 can be a hard generally semi-hemispherical shell that is positioned over the shoulders with an opening for a human head and neck. The outer impact shell 11 can be comprised of a hard plastic or polycarbonate material suitable to withstand impacts common in impact sports such as football, hockey, and rodeo, as well as falls related to the infirmities of the physically disabled.

The outer impact shell 11 substantially covers the top of the shoulders 22 and the upper chest and back without any direct contact with the body. The top of the outer impact shell 11 extends laterally on the top of the shoulders 22 to near the start of the shoulder socket and the outer edge of the chest on both sides.

On the right and left ends of the outer impact shell 11 is the upper arm impact pad 21 that is a protective overhanging flap that will extend down approximately half of the outer upper arm. The upper arm impact pad 21 can be padded or comprised of plastic or polycarbonate material suitable to withstand impacts common in impact sports such as football, hockey, and rodeo, as well as falls related to the infirmities of the physically disabled. The outer impact shell 11 can be connected to the absorption extenders 12 on its underside and the neck extension protector 10. The absorption extenders 12 can be rods or panels extending through the cavity within the interior impact shell 14 made of metal, plastic, or polycarbonate material. The absorption extenders 12 in rod or panel form can be spaced apart and extend vertically downward from the top of the outer impact shell 11 to the absorbers 15. The absorption extenders 12 can be spaced such that there are rods or panels on either side, posterior and anterior, of the interior impact shell 14.

The shoulder padding 13 is generally semi-hemispherical and can be padding and have an opening for a human head and neck that fits directly on a human's shoulders and substantially covers the upper chest and back.

The interior impact shell 14 can be a substantially semi-hemispherical plastic or polycarbonate shell with an opening for a human head and neck that is within the interior of the outer impact shell 11 and over the shoulder padding 13 as seen in FIG. 6. The interior impact shell 14 in FIG. 6 extends vertically down to the middle of the abdomen and back. The interior impact shell 14 houses the absorption extenders 12. The absorbers 15 shown in FIG. 6 receive the base of the absorption extenders 12 in the anterior and posterior of the impact shell connector.

The impact protection system can comprise both the helmet system 1 and shoulder pad system 20. The system provides optimal safety to players of impact sports such as football players by implementing designed safety insulating exterior barriers that absorb, repel, and divert football collision forces away from the participants' vulnerable head, neck, and shoulders.

The absorbers 15 can be spring-loaded, comprised of shock absorbers, or other types of absorbers that receive the base of the absorption extenders 12. The absorbers 15 can be metal, plastic, or some polycarbonate material. It receives the diverted impact from the outer impact shell 11 through the absorption extenders 12 and also diminishes the force of the impact felt on or near the top of the exterior shell 2 with facemask 3.

The interior impact shell connector 16 can be a high-tension reinforced elastic band that connects and cinches the anterior and posterior of the interior impact shell 14 to provide a snug fit for a wearer and provide stability for the shoulder pad system 20.

The impact protection system has safety elements that absorb, repel, and divert collision forces through designed safety insulating exterior barriers, shock absorbers, hard shells, and padding to protect and insulate the head, shoulder, and neck. These safety elements should significantly minimize and reduce the occurrence of head, concussion, neck, and shoulder injuries.

The exterior shell 2 with facemask 3 and outer impact shell 11 are designed as the safety insulating exterior barriers in the system. For instance, any football collision force initiated from the head down to the upper abdomen and back of a football player will first engage either the exterior shell 2 with facemask 3 or outer impact shell 11 and be absorbed, repelled, and diverted at the point of engagement. The designed barriers are then significantly minimizing and reducing the occurrence of head, concussion, neck, and shoulder injuries.

The elements of the impact protection system are made of metal, plastic, polycarbonate or some other composite, thread, or fiber materials that are strong and durable. The materials are capable of withstanding the extreme collision forces generated in many impact sports for many years with periodic maintenance or replacement. The system can also compensate for bad tackling and blocking techniques.

The head mobility arm 5 apex 25 can be removed when the wearer is not actively engaged in athletic movement.

The shoulder pad system 20 components can be produced and assembled to specifications for the various neck and shoulder sizes of wearers in conjunction with specifications of its attached helmet system 1. The helmet system 1 and shoulder pad system 20 can be connected at the helmet system 1 neck extension protector 10 and the outer impact shell 11. Screws, bolts/nuts, adhesives, and other bonding materials, compounds, and/or mechanical items are used to connect the helmet system 1 and shoulder pad system 20.

The impact protection system also can substantially decrease the chances of injury resulting from pulling the facemask of a football helmet. The head mobility arm 5 facilitates and follows the natural movement of the human head. The base 9 of the head mobility arm 5 is notched to prevent movement past the limits of the human head. In football, head and neck injuries can occur as a result of a sudden illegal pull of the facemask 3 in a direction lateral to the human spine, often called a “facemask penalty.” This results in violent twisting of the neck and spine. The chances of an injury resulting from a “facemask penalty” are diminished by use of the present impact system because the head mobility arm 5 and base 9 prevent rotation of a human head beyond safe ranges. This prevents the neck and spine from being violently twisted beyond natural human limits because the base 9 has rear flanges on its left and right sides that are designed to contact a stop in the posterior of the neck extension protector 10 socket before any extreme twisting occurs. The occurrence of similar head and neck injuries seen in other impact activities can be decreased by the embodiments described herein.

The presently described impact protection systems also can be used in cycling, motocross, motorcycling, skiing, ski jumping, bob-sleighing, skateboarding, snowboarding, rodeo sports, and equestrian sports. Some embodiments can be used for the severely physically impaired who are prone to falls.

Claims

1. An impact protection system comprising

a helmet system comprising a shell having an interior comprising padded head gear fitted to cover at least a portion of a human head, a semicircular head mobility arm having an apex attached to the padded head gear and a base movably attached to a neck extension protector, a head mobility connector that intersects the head mobility arm and is connected to a semicircular shell connector affixed to the interior of the shell, and wherein the head mobility arm supports the movement of said human head.

2. The impact protection system of claim 1 wherein said base of the head mobility arm is attached to said neck extension protector to form a ball and socket joint.

3. The impact protection system of claim 1 wherein said head mobility arm is movably attached to said padded head gear.

4. The impact protection system of claim 1 wherein said head mobility arm is curved to approximate the curvature of the human head.

5. The impact protection system of claim 1 further comprising a protective boot that prevents debris from entering the junction of said base of the head mobility arm and said neck extension protector with said protective boot fitting around said head mobility arm near said base and sits in contact with said neck extension protector.

6. The impact protection system of claim 1 wherein said head mobility arm further comprises more than one branch that diverge from a point along said head mobility arm, with each branch having an apex movably attached to said head gear.

7. The impact protection system of claim 1 further comprising a shoulder pad system.

8. The impact protection system of claim 7 wherein said shoulder pad system comprises an outer impact shell designed to cover a human torso having an interior at least partially comprising an interior impact shell substantially housing absorption extenders that redirect the force of collisions on the outer impact shell, said absorption extenders having a first portion connected to the outer impact shell and a second portion connected to absorbers that receive the redirected force and are in an interior impact shell connector, wherein the interior impact shell is connected to the interior impact shell connector designed to fit a human torso.

9. The impact protection system of claim 8 wherein said neck extension protector is connected to said shoulder pad system.

10. The impact protection system of claim 1 wherein said shell is suitable for use in football, hockey, cycling, motocross, motorcycling, skiing, ski jumping, bob-sleighing, skateboarding, snowboarding, rodeo sports, and equestrian sports.

11. An impact protection system comprising

a shoulder pad system comprising an outer impact shell designed to cover a human torso having an interior at least partially comprising an interior impact shell substantially housing absorption extenders that redirect the force of collisions on the outer impact shell, said absorption extenders having a first portion connected to the outer impact shell and a second portion connected to absorbers that receive the redirected force and are in an interior impact shell connector, wherein the interior impact shell is connected to the interior impact shell connector designed to fit a human torso.

12. The impact protection system of claim 11 further comprising a fit adjustment device that modifies the fit of said interior impact shell connector around a wearer.

13. The impact protection system of claim 11 wherein said absorption extenders are rods that extend through said interior impact shell.

14. The impact protection system of claim 11 wherein said absorption extenders are spaced apart from one another and extend vertically downward from the top of said outer impact shell to said absorbers.

15. The impact protection system of claim 11 further comprising upper arm impact pads that hang over the upper arm of the wearer.

16. The impact protection system of claim 11 further comprising a helmet system.

17. The impact protection system of claim 16 wherein said helmet system comprises

a shell having an interior comprising padded head gear fitted to cover at least a portion of a human head,

a semicircular head mobility arm having an apex attached to the padded head gear and a base movably attached to a neck extension protector,

a head mobility connector that intersects the head mobility arm and is connected to a semicircular shell connector affixed to the interior of the shell, and

wherein the head mobility arm supports the movement of said human head.

18. The impact protection system of claim 17 wherein said neck extension protector is attached to said shoulder pad system.

19. The impact protection system of claim 17 wherein said neck extension protector is movably attached to said outer impact shell.

20. The impact protection system of claim 11 wherein said system is suitable for use in football, hockey, cycling, motocross, motorcycling, skiing, ski jumping, bob-sleighing, skateboarding, snowboarding, rodeo sports, and equestrian sports.