Protective Helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes five layers; and outer shell, an intermediate foam component, a multi-cell bladder component filled with Ringer's Solution, a suspension rig, and a membrane component filed with a settable composition to conform to the wearer's head.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a utility application of and claims priority to co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/852,559, filed on Mar. 18, 2013, and entitled “RIM Developed Helmet,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to helmets. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to protective helmets having enhanced protective performance characteristics. The helmet disclosed herein has application to football helmets, ice-hockey helmets, baseball helmets, motorcycle helmets, riot helmets, and other similar helmets, although it is not limited thereto.

Head trauma resulting from sports and other activities is a common occurrence. Generally, head trauma occurs when an object impacts the head, thereby transferring energy to the head and more specifically to the brain. The most common head trauma resulting from sports is a concussion, which occurs when the concussive force applied to the skull is transmitted to the brain. The mechanism of a concussion is not fully understood, but what is known is that damping the concussive impact or the transmission of the concussive impact to the brain is essential to prevent or reduce concussions.

To reduce the incidence of concussion, it is common practice to wear a protective helmet. Protective helmets are ostensibly designed to deflect and absorb energy transmitted by impact to the helmet, thereby diminishing the risk of head and brain injury resulting from the impact. Protective athletic helmets have been worn for almost a century, and have evolved from sewn leather, to helmets having molded plastic outer shells with suspension webbing or other head fitting structures such as foam pads, air bladders, or padded molding on their interior. Despite the evolution of the protective helmets, the reported rate of concussions has been increasing amongst student and professional athletes in many sports. While some experts have attributed this increase to better reporting and diagnosis, other experts have attributed the increase to increased forces generated as competitive athletes continue to increase in size (mass) and increase their ability to accelerate.

What has not been necessarily considered is that the increase in concussions actually may be attributable to the structure of the evolved protective helmets. In particular, the molded hard plastic helmets have not been shown to absorb energy effectively as they tend to transmit pressure waves, and in helmet-to-helmet contact situations may actually add to trauma. In addition, the evolved protective helmets often have a considerable weight that may lead to other injuries, such as to the neck. The additional mass may also contribute to the concussive forces experienced by the skull and brain.

Consequently, there is a continuing and long-felt need for an improved protective helmet that not only provides optimum protection to the brain but also is comfortable to be worn for extended periods.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a protective helmet is provided that includes five layers, starting with an outer shell sized and configured to surround and protect the head of a wearer. An intermediate component is formed of a light weight foam material, and is substantially co-extensive with and affixed to the outer shell. In one aspect of the present invention, a bladder component is affixed to the intermediate component, in which the bladder component is filled with Ringer's Solution. The bladder component may be a multi-celled bladder in which each cell is filled with Ringer's Solution. The fourth layer is a suspension rig engaged within the bladder component, and sized and configured to be substantially co-extensive with the bladder component to provide support for therefore.

The final layer is a membrane component supported by the suspension rig that is configured to contact the head of the wearer. In a further feature, the membrane component is filled with a settable composition that allows the membrane component to be comfortably fitted to the head of the wearer. In a further aspect, the membrane component is removably supported on the suspension rig so that the component can be replaced by a membrane component that conforms to the head of a different wearer.

The helmet disclosed herein provides optimum protection for the wearer from concussive events. The helmet further provides features that allow the helmet to be comfortably adapted to the wearer's head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of a helmet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the helmet shown in FIG. 1, illustrating features of the protective helmet.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bladder component of the helmet shown in FIGS. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the invention is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present invention includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the invention as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The present invention relates to protective helmets, such as the football helmet 10 shown in FIG. 1. It is understood that the football helmet provided as an example of the implementation of the features of the protective helmet disclosed herein and that the principles and features may be incorporated into other types of helmets. The helmet 10 includes a shell 12 that is sized and configured to encase the head of the wearer. An ear hole 14 may be defined in the shell in alignment with the ear of the wearer. A face guard 16 may be provided to protect the face of the wearer, as is typical with sports helmets. The face guard 16 is fastened to or integral with an inner shell component of the helmet 10.

The shell 12 of helmet 10 is formed of five components, as shown in FIG. 2, each sized and configured to encase the head of the wearer. The shell includes an outer shell component 20 that is formed of a reaction injection molded (RIM) polyurethane that is resiliently flexible to deform under contact while returning to the predefined shape once the load is removed. The RIM polyurethane shell component 20 thus provides a minimal initial load absorption capability. The polyurethane material can be readily painted as is customary for head gear of this sort. The outer shell preferably has a thickness of no more than 1/16 inch.

Immediately inboard of the outer shell component 20 is a light weight foam intermediate component 22. The intermediate component 22 is sized and shaped to be generally co-extensive with the outer shell component 20. The intermediate component is preferably bonded to the outer shell component by a suitable epoxy or adhesive composition. The intermediate component is preferably a closed-cell polystyrene foam, such as STYROFOAM® provided by the Dow Company. The intermediate component is preferably no thicker than ⅛ inch.

Inboard of the intermediate component 22 is a multi-cell bladder component 24. The bladder component 24 includes a plurality of individual cells 25 separated by walls 26. In one aspect of the present invention, the bladder component is filled with Ringer's Solution which has the fluid properties and resilience of the fluid that surrounds the human brain. The bladder component 24 is formed of a flexible material, such as a rubber material, so that the bladder component can readily deform under load. Deformation of the bladder is absorbed by the Ringer's Solution within the bladder component. The plurality of cells 25 may be discrete, meaning that they are each self-contained so that if any individual cell may rupture without destroying the integrity of the helmet 10. Alternatively, the walls 26 separating the individual cells 25 may permit some fluid communication between cells so that load at one location on the helmet can be transmitted to all of the fluid within the bladder component, such as in the form of a pressure wave through the bladder. The bladder component can have a thickness of about ¼ inch and may be suitably attached to the intermediate component 20, such as by an adhesive or a mechanical fastener.

The next intermediate layer is a suspension rig 28 that may be configured as in conventional helmets to provide structural stability for the helmet. In some embodiments the suspension rig 28 provides an attachment point for other components of the helmet, such as the face guard 16. The suspension rig may be a hard plastic shell that is coextensive with the multi-cell bladder component 24 to provide structural support for the bladder and to provide a reaction surface for deformation of the bladder component on impact to the helmet. The suspension rig 28 may incorporate mounting bosses (not shown) that extend through the intermediate component 22 and bladder component 24 to be mechanically fastened to the outer shell 20 in a conventional manner.

The final layer of the helmet 10 is an inner membrane component 30 that is configured for comfort to the wearer. The inner membrane component 30 is similar to the bladder component 24 in that the membrane component is initially a hollow bladder. The membrane component 30 is removably attached to the helmet 10, and more specifically to the suspension rig 28, so that it can be replaced. When the membrane component is attached in position within the helmet it is filled with a settable composition, such as a two-component foam. The composition is readily compressible once set so that the membrane component 30 provides a comfortable interface between the wearer and the helmet.

In one embodiment, the membrane component 30 is not co-extensive with the other components of the shell 12. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the membrane component may be configured with multiple lobes 32, 33, 34 that are arranged to contact the head of the wearer as predetermined positions. The central lobes 33, 34 are arranged to seat on the top of the wearer's head, while the side lobes 32 are spaced apart to contact the head above the wearer's ears. The configuration shown in FIG. 3 provides open spaces 37 that can provide for ventilation within the helmet.

The membrane component 30 includes a fill valve 35 at the back of the component that is adapted to mate with a dispenser for injecting the settable composition into the bladder of the membrane component. In use, the wearer places the helmet 10 on his/her head with the membrane component 30 empty. The settable composition is then injected through the valve 35 into the bladder to fill the membrane component. Pressure can be applied to the outside of the helmet as the membrane component is filled so that the component will gradually conform to the contour of the wearer's head. Once the composition sets the membrane component 30 will have adapted to the contour of the wearer's head, thereby providing a comfortable custom fit.

The membrane component 30 is configured to be removably disposed within the shell 12. In one embodiment, the component 30 may include a plurality of removable fastening elements 38, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, that removably engage a comparable element on the suspension rig 28. The membrane component can thus be readily removed and replaced by another membrane component. This aspect of the present helmet allows for ready re-use of an existing helmet by different players

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications and further applications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell sized and configured to surround and protect the head of a wearer;

an intermediate component formed of a light weight foam material, the intermediate component being substantially co-extensive with and affixed to the outer shell;

a bladder component affixed to the intermediate component, the bladder component filled with Ringer's Solution;

a suspension rig engaged within the bladder component, the rig being sized and configured to be substantially co-extensive with the bladder component to provide support for therefore; and

a membrane component supported by the suspension rig, the membrane component configured to contact the head of the wearer.

2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the membrane component includes a settable composition that is configured to conform the membrane component to the wearer's head prior to setting.

3. The helmet of claim 2, wherein the membrane component includes a fill valve configured to engage a device for injecting the settable composition into the membrane component.

4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the membrane component is removably engaged to the suspension rig.

5. The helmet of claim 4, wherein the membrane component is removably engaged to the suspension rig by hook-and-loop fasteners.

64. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the bladder component is a multi-cell bladder, each cell being filled with Ringer's Solution.

7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the membrane component is not co-extensive with the outer shell.

8. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the suspension rig is configured to support a face guard.

9. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is formed of a reaction injection molded polyurethane.

10. The helmet of claim 9, wherein the polyurethane is configured to be painted.