IMPACT HELMET

Abstract

A protective headgear having multiple functional layers or functional cells. The protective headgear may have various layers or cells to prevent penetration, absorb energy, and provide chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The protective headgear may also have a separate outer shell. The protective headgear may further have sensors for detecting impact levels to the headgear. The sensors may be operatively connected to actuating devices within the headgear for actuating the chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The sensor may also be operatively connected to a wireless transmitter device for conveying impact data to a remote monitoring device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to helmets or protective headgear. More particularly, certain embodiments relate to impact helmets having structural combinations configured to prevent or minimize brain injuries.

BACKGROUND

Protective headgear (e.g., helmets) are often worn by persons participating in sporting events (e.g., American football) or other activities (e.g., construction work). However, head injuries (e.g., concussions) are often still encountered in such sporting events or other activities. There can also be penetrating injuries. Such penetrating injuries may prevent the headgear from being removed in the field in certain situations. This suggests that the protective headgear being worn is not totally effective in protecting a person's head during the sporting event or activity. Furthermore, when a head injury does occur, it is important to act quickly to prevent swelling which can cause brain damage. It can often take many minutes for medical personnel to get to an injured person and administer treatment to prevent swelling. By that time, swelling and associated damage may have already occurred. Therefore, there is a need for more effective protective headgear which does a better job of preventing injury and which also helps to prevent swelling when injury does occur.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with the subject matter of the present application as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a protective headgear. The protective headgear includes an outer shell, a penetration prevention layer, a deformable energy absorbent layer, and a chemically-activated cold pack layer. The outer shell may be made of a polymer material. The penetration prevention layer may include a polymer-based fiber material. The deformable energy absorbent layer may include a plurality of energy absorbing springs. The deformable energy absorbent layer may be permanently deformable. Alternatively, the deformable energy absorbent layer may be resilient. The deformable energy absorbent layer may include a plurality of permanently deformable cells interspersed with a plurality of resiliently deformable cells. The chemically-activated cold pack layer is configured to dissolve a solid material in an endothermic reaction in response to the protective headgear experiencing an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level. The penetration prevention layer may line an inner side of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer may line an inner side of the penetration prevention layer, and the chemically-activated cold pack layer may line an inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer. The deformable energy absorbent layer may be configured to disperse energy from a localized non-penetrating blunt impact on the outer shell throughout the deformable energy absorbent layer. The penetration prevention layer may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer, or the chemically-activated cold pack layer. The deformable energy absorbent layer may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the penetration prevention layer, or the chemically-activated cold pack layer. The chemically-activated cold pack layer may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer, or the penetration prevention layer. The protective headgear may also include one or more sensors configured to detect an impact level of an impact to the protective headgear. The protective headgear may further include one or more actuating devices configured to activate the cold-pack layer in response to the one or more sensors detecting an impact equal to or greater than the defined impact level. The protective headgear may also include a wireless transmitter device operatively connected to the one or more sensors and configured to receive impact level data from the one or more sensors and wirelessly transmit the impact level data to a remote monitoring device.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a protective headgear. The protective headgear includes an outer shell and an integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer. The integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer is configured as a plurality of interspersedly distributed cells. The plurality of interspersedly distributed cells includes a plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells, a plurality of resilient deformable energy absorbent cells, and a plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells. The protective headgear may also include a penetration prevention layer positioned between the outer shell and the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer. The penetration prevention layer may include a polymer-based fiber material. The outer shell may be made of a polymer material. The plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells may be configured to dissolve a solid material in an endothermic reaction in response to the protective headgear experiencing an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level. The penetration prevention layer may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell and the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer. The integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the outer shell. The integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process (e.g., a three-dimensional (3D) printing process). The protective headgear may also include one or more sensors configured to detect an impact level of an impact to the protective headgear. The protective headgear may further include one or more actuating devices configured to activate one or more of the cold-pack cells in response to the one or more sensors detecting an impact equal to or greater than the defined impact level. The protective headgear may also include a wireless transmitter device operatively connected to the one or more sensors and configured to receive impact level data from the one or more sensors and wirelessly transmit the impact level data to a remote monitoring device.

These and other novel features of the subject matter of the present application, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear;

FIG. 2 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear;

FIG. 4 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear;

FIG. 6 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear;

FIG. 8 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a fifth exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system having multiple instances of the protective headgear of FIG. 9 in communication with a remote monitoring device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Protective headgear having multiple functional layers or functional cells is disclosed. The protective headgear may have various layers or cells to prevent penetration, absorb energy, and provide chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The protective headgear may also have a separate outer shell. The protective headgear may further have sensors for detecting impact levels to the headgear. The sensors may be operatively connected to actuating devices within the headgear for actuating the chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The sensor may also be operatively connected to a wireless transmitter device for conveying impact data to a remote monitoring device.

The terms “headgear” and “helmet” may be used interchangeably herein. However, the term “headgear” is intended to be more general than the term “helmet”. The term “resilient” is used herein with its normal meaning of “springing back or rebounding after being deformed”. The term “inner side” as used herein refers to the side toward the person's head when wearing the headgear.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear 100. FIG. 2 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear 100 of FIG. 1. The headgear 100 is in the form of a helmet having an outer shell 110. The outer shell 110 may be made of a hard plastic polymer, for example. The outer shell 110 may also be light weight. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, three protective layers are incorporated which include a penetration prevention layer 120, a deformable energy absorbent layer 130, and a chemically-activated cold pack layer 140. The three layers line the inner side of the outer shell. In particular, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the penetration prevention layer lines an inner side of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer lines an inner side of the penetration prevention layer, and the chemically-activated cold pack layer lines an inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer. The layers are shown in a type of cross-section through the headgear herein. However, to be clear, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is intended that the layers 120, 130, and 140 extend the entire surface area of the shell 110.

The penetration prevention layer 120 may be made of a polymer-based fiber material (organic or inorganic) such as Kevlar®, carbon fiber, or some other polymer-based fiber material (silicon-based, glass-based). Such a penetration prevention layer is configured to prevent (or at least greatly reduce the likelihood of) a sharp or pointed object from penetrating through to the head of a person wearing the protective headgear 100. The penetration prevention layer 120 may be permanently attached to the inner side of the outer shell 110 (e.g., via an adhesive) or may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the inner side of the outer shell 110 (e.g., via snaps or Velcro®).

The deformable energy absorbent layer 130 may include a plurality of energy absorbent springs or spring-like elements 131. Such a deformable energy absorbent layer is configured to protect against blunt impacts. In accordance with an embodiment, the plurality of energy absorbent springs 131 are connected to each other to disperse or distribute energy, from a localized non-penetrating blunt impact on the outer shell, laterally around the headgear 100 throughout the deformable energy absorbent layer 130. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the plurality of energy absorbent springs 131 are illustrated as a corrugated material. However, other configurations are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. The corrugated configuration helps to distribute energy from an impact throughout the layer 130.

The plurality of energy absorbent springs may be permanently deformable or may be resilient. By being permanently deformable, the plurality of energy absorbent springs may be able to absorb and distribute more energy from an impact than a purely resilient configuration. However, once permanently deformed, the headgear (or at least the deformable energy absorbent layer) may have to be replaced.

In accordance with an embodiment, the deformable energy absorbent layer 130 may line an inner side of the penetration prevention layer as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The deformable energy absorbent layer 130 may be permanently attached to the inner side of the penetration prevention layer 120 (e.g., via an adhesive) or may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the inner side of the penetration prevention layer 120 (e.g., via snaps or Velcro®).

The chemically-activated cold pack layer 140 may include two compartments separated by a lining, where one compartment contains water and the other compartment contains an active material in solid form such as, for example, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, or urea. The lining keeps the water separated from the active material. When the separating lining breaks due to an impact to the headgear, the water interacts with the active material causing an endothermic reaction. The endothermic reaction causes a drop in temperature (i.e., a cooling effect) to occur.

Such a chemically-activated cold pack layer is configured to prevent (or at least greatly reduce) swelling of the head due to the impact, thus preventing or reducing injury to the brain which can occur due to swelling. In accordance with an embodiment, the chemically-activated cold pack layer 140 is configured to have its lining break when the headgear 100 experiences an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level. In accordance with one embodiment, the lining breaks directly from the force of the impact. In accordance with another embodiment, the lining breaks when one or more sensors in the headgear senses that the impact level is equal to or greater than the defined impact level and activates one or more actuating devices to break the lining in response. Such sensors and actuating devices are discussed later herein in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, the chemically-activated cold pack layer 140 may include a plurality of membraned spheres 141 distributed throughout the layer, each sphere containing an active material in solid form. Within the layer 140, the membraned spheres may be surrounded by water. In such a configuration, only those spheres 141 in the vicinity of the impact may have their spherical membranes break and be activated, causing the cooling effect to be local to the area of impact. In accordance with other embodiments, the active material may be in a non-solid form such as, for example, a liquid form. The chemically-activated cold pack layer 140 may be permanently attached to the inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer 130 (e.g., via an adhesive) or may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer 130 (e.g., via snaps or Velcro®).

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, even though the outer shell and the three layers (penetration prevention layer, deformable energy absorbent layer, and the chemically-activated cold pack layer) are configured in a certain order, other orderings of the shell and layers are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the penetration prevention layer and the deformable energy absorbent layer may be switched. That is, the deformable energy absorbent layer may be closest to the shell. In another embodiment, the penetration prevention layer may be on the outer side of the shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer may line the inner side of the shell, and the chemically-activated cold pack layer may line the inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer. However, in general, positioning the chemically-activated cold pack layer closest to the head of a person wearing the headgear is thought to likely be the optimal position for that layer. Another embodiment may include two penetration prevention layers with a chemically-activated cold pack layer in between. Other configurations are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the penetration prevention layer may be eliminated altogether. Other embodiments may lack the chemically-activated cold pack layer. In yet other embodiments, the various layers may be integrated into a single layer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear 300. FIG. 4 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear 300 of FIG. 3. The protective headgear 300 is similar to the protective headgear 100 of FIG. 1, except that the protective headgear 300 of FIG. 3 includes a deformable energy absorbent layer 330 having both a plurality of permanently deformable springs or spring-like elements 331 and a plurality of resilient springs or spring-like elements 332. The permanently deformable elements 331 are illustrated as being a corrugated material and the plurality of resilient elements 332 are illustrated as being triangular (or pyramidal) in shape. However, other configurations for the deformable and resilient elements of the deformable energy absorbent layer are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. The corrugated configuration helps to distribute energy from an impact throughout the layer 330.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, both the permanently deformable elements 331 and the resilient elements 332 may be used to absorb an initial high energy impact (e.g., when a rider falls off a motorcycle and initially hits his head on the ground). Subsequently, the resilient elements 332 are still available to absorb energy from immediately subsequent lower energy impacts (e.g., when the rider of the motorcycle continues to roll and bounce after the initial high impact hit).

FIG. 5 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear 500. FIG. 6 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear 500 of FIG. 5. The protective headgear 500 is similar to the protective headgear 300 of FIG. 1, except that the protective headgear 500 of FIG. 5 includes a deformable energy absorbent layer 530 having the chemically-activated cold pack layer integrated therein. That is, the protective headgear 500 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 has an outer shell 110, a penetration prevention layer 120, and an integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer 530 configured as a plurality of interspersedly distributed cells.

The plurality of interspersedly distributed cells includes a plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells 531, a plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells 532, and a plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells 533. The plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells 531 may be configured in a corrugated manner as shown in FIG. 6, where each peak and each trough of the corrugated configuration defines a cell 531. The plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells 532 may be triangular or pyramidal in shape. Other configurations and shapes are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments.

The plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells 533 may each be spherical and include a membrane 534 between a first half of the sphere and a second half of the sphere, for example. The first half of the sphere may contain water and the second half of the sphere may contain an active material in solid form such as, for example, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, or urea. The membrane keeps the water separated from the active material. When the separating membrane breaks due to an impact to the headgear, the water interacts with the active material causing an endothermic reaction. The endothermic reaction causes a drop in temperature (i.e., a cooling effect) to occur.

Such chemically-activated cold pack cells 533 are configured to prevent (or at least greatly reduce) swelling of the head due to the impact, thus preventing or reducing injury to the brain which can occur due to swelling. In accordance with an embodiment, the chemically-activated cold pack cells 533 are configured to have their membranes break when the headgear 100 experiences an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level. In accordance with one embodiment, a membrane breaks directly from the force of the impact experienced by the membrane. In accordance with another embodiment, the membranes break when one or more sensors in the headgear senses that the impact level is equal to or greater than the defined impact level and activates one or more actuating devices to break the membranes in response. Such sensors and actuating devices are discussed later herein in more detail.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear 700. FIG. 8 illustrates a magnified view of a portion of the protective headgear 700 of FIG. 7. The protective headgear 700 is similar to the protective headgear 500 of FIG. 5 in that the protective headgear 700 has a hard shell 110, a penetration prevention layer 120, and an integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer 730 configured as a plurality of interspersedly distributed cells.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 5, for the headgear 700 of FIG. 7, the plurality of interspersedly distributed cells includes a plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells 531 and a plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells 532. However, the embodiment of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 includes a plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells 733 which are somewhat different than the cells 533 of FIG. 6, as is discussed later herein.

Again, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells 531 may be configured in a corrugated manner as shown in FIG. 8, where each peak and each trough of the corrugated configuration defines a cell 531. The corrugated configuration helps to distribute energy from an impact throughout the layer 730. The plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells 532 may be triangular or pyramidal in shape. Other configurations and shapes are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments.

The plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells 733 may each be spherical in shape and include a membrane 534 (not shown in FIG. 8 but shown in FIG. 6) between a first half of the sphere and a second half of the sphere, for example. The first half of the sphere may contain water and the second half of the sphere may contain an active material in solid form such as, for example, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, or urea. The membrane keeps the water separated from the active material. When the separating membrane breaks due to an impact to the headgear, the water interacts with the active material causing an endothermic reaction. The endothermic reaction causes a drop in temperature (i.e., a cooling effect) to occur.

However, the headgear 700 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 includes impact detection sensors 710, and the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer 730 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 includes actuators 720 within the cells 733. The actuators 720 are operatively connected to the impact detection sensors 710 (e.g., via conductive wires or traces 721) and are configured to break the membranes 534 of the chemically-activated cold pack cells 733 when one or more impact detection sensors detects and impact level that is equal to or greater than a defined impact level.

In accordance with an embodiment, the impact detection sensors 710 may be configured to detect impact levels in the form of a force level, a velocity level, a momentum level, or an energy level, for example. Such an impact detection sensor may include one or more of an accelerometer, a strain gauge, or a force sensing resistor that changes resistance with applied force. Other types of impact sensing technologies are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. The impact detection sensors 710 include a threshold circuit (not shown) such that, when a detected impact level equals or exceeds a defined impact level, the impact detection sensor outputs a trigger signal to one or more of the actuators 720. The impact detection sensors 710 may be located near the surface of the headgear 700 (e.g., in the shell 110) or in one of the other layers, for example.

In accordance with an embodiment, the actuators 720 employ Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. When a MEMS actuator 720 of a cold pack cell 733 receives a trigger signal from an impact detection sensor 710, the MEMS actuator breaks the membrane 534 within the cold pack cell 733, causing the endothermic reaction (cooling effect) to occur. In this manner, breaking the membrane does not have to rely on the level of the direct impact at the membrane itself.

FIG. 9 illustrates a fifth exemplary embodiment of a protective headgear 900. The headgear 900 is similar to the headgear 100 of FIG. 1 except that the headgear 900 includes a plurality of impact detection sensors 710 (similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7) along with a wireless transmitter device 910. Each impact detection sensor 710 is operatively connected to the wireless transmitter device 910, for example, via conductive wires or traces (not shown). The wireless transmitter device 910 is configured to receive impact level data (e.g., digital data) from the impact detection sensors 710 and wirelessly transmit the impact level data (e.g., as an encoded radio frequency signal) to a remote monitoring device in real time. The impact level data may include an intensity level of an impact along with an identifier which identifies which sensor 710 and/or the location on the headgear associated with the reported impact. Other data may be included in the impact data as well (e.g., a serial number of the headgear 900, the name of a user of the headgear 900, a time and date).

The wireless transmitter device 910 is compatible with a wireless communication protocol such as, for example, a protocol used in radio frequency (RF) technologies such as, for example, Wi-Fi™, Bluetooth™, ZigBee™, or 3G/4G. Alternatively, the wireless technology may be an infrared technology, an ultrasonic technology, or some other type of technology, in accordance with various other embodiments. The wireless transmitter device 910 may be integrated into the headgear 900 in any of a number of different ways (e.g., embedded within the outer shell, or sandwiched between the outer shell and the penetration prevention layer, or residing in a pocket provided on the inner side of the chemically-activated cold pack layer. Even though the embodiment of FIG. 9 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, impact detection sensors and a wireless transmitter device may be integrated into other embodiments as well (e.g., the embodiments of FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7).

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000 having multiple instances of the protective headgear 900 of FIG. 9 in communication with a remote monitoring device 1020. For example, each headgear 900 of the multiple instances may be worn by a football player during a football game. In the system 1000 of FIG. 10, communication between the protective headgear 900 and the remote monitoring device 1020 is accomplished via a communication network 1010. The communication network may include one or more of a local-area-network (LAN), a wide-area-network (WAN), the internet, a cellular telephone network, or a satellite network, for example. Other types of networks are possible as well, in accordance with various other embodiments. In alternative embodiments, communication between the protective headgear 900 and the remote monitoring device 1020 may be direct (i.e., not through a network).

In FIG. 10, each headgear 900 communicates impact level data to the remote monitoring device 1020 over the communication network 1010. The remote monitoring device may be, for example, a desktop computer, a server computer, or one of various types of mobile devices (e.g., a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a “smart” phone). In one embodiment, the remote monitoring device 1020 is a mobile “smart” phone and the communication network 1010 is a 4G cellular telephone network. The mobile “smart” phone 1020 runs an installed software application configured to take the received impact data and display the impact data on a display of the mobile “smart” phone to be viewed by a user of the mobile “smart” phone. The software application may also generate and display statistical data (e.g., the number of impacts above a certain level experienced by each headgear during a current game) to the user of the remote monitoring device 1020.

In this manner, impacts to specific portions of the head of a user wearing the headgear 900 may be monitored by a third party in real time. Such monitoring may allow the third party to make decisions about the user's activity. For example, if the user of the headgear is a football player and the third party is a team doctor, the team doctor may monitor all impacts to the head of the football player during a football game. As a result, the team doctor may be able to make informed recommendations with respect to whether or not the player should be pulled from the game (e.g., due to the player having likely experienced a concussion, or due to the player having taken too many impacts to the head in a defined period of time).

In accordance with an embodiment, the wireless transmitter device 910 includes a recording capability to record and save the detected impact data (e.g., detected impact data being above a defined impact level). The recorded impact data may be transmitted to a remote device at a later time (e.g., days) after the impact data was recorded.

In accordance with certain embodiments, certain portions or layers of the headgear described herein may be manufactured using additive manufacturing technology (e.g., 3D printing technology). For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer 730 may be manufactured using 3D printing technology. In this manner, the various elements of the layer 730 (i.e., the plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells 531, the plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells 532, and the plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells 733 with the actuators 720 and traces 721) may be “built up” in a systematic manner based on a computer-implemented design defined in one or more computer files.

Even though particular headgear embodiments are disclosed herein having various layers or cells in particular orders with respect to each other, it is to be understood that other embodiments may have the layers or cells in other orders and orientations internal to or external to the shell, or layers or cells intermixed with each other, or two or more layers combined into a single layer. Furthermore, in some embodiments, some types of layers or cells may be present and other types of layers or cells may not be present.

In summary, a protective headgear having multiple functional layers or functional cells is disclosed. The protective headgear may have various layers or cells to prevent penetration, absorb energy, and provide chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The protective headgear may also have a separate outer shell. The protective headgear may further have sensors for detecting impact levels to the headgear. The sensors may be operatively connected to actuating devices within the headgear for actuating the chemically-activated cooling in response to an impact. The sensor may also be operatively connected to a wireless transmitter device for conveying impact data to a remote monitoring device.

In the specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Similarly, “free” may be used in combination with a term, and may include an insubstantial number, or trace amounts, while still being considered free of the modified term. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, any use of the terms “first,” “second,” etc., do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.

As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not different from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

While the claimed subject matter of the present application has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the claimed subject matter without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the claimed subject matter will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A protective headgear comprising:

an outer shell;

a penetration prevention layer;

a deformable energy absorbent layer; and

a chemically-activated cold pack layer.

2. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is made of a polymer material.

3. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the penetration prevention layer includes a polymer-based fiber material.

4. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer includes a plurality of energy absorbing springs.

5. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer is permanently deformable.

6. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer is resilient.

7. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer includes a plurality of permanently deformable cells interspersed with a plurality of resiliently deformable cells.

8. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the chemically-activated cold pack layer is configured to dissolve a solid material in an endothermic reaction in response to the protective headgear experiencing an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level.

9. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the penetration prevention layer lines an inner side of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer lines an inner side of the penetration prevention layer, and the chemically-activated cold pack layer lines an inner side of the deformable energy absorbent layer.

10. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer is configured to disperse energy from a localized non-penetrating blunt impact on the outer shell throughout the deformable energy absorbent layer.

11. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the penetration prevention layer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer, or the chemically-activated cold pack layer.

12. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the deformable energy absorbent layer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the penetration prevention layer, or the chemically-activated cold pack layer.

13. The protective headgear of claim 1, wherein the chemically-activated cold pack layer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell, the deformable energy absorbent layer, or the penetration prevention layer.

14. The protective headgear of claim 8, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect an impact level of an impact to the protective headgear.

15. The protective headgear of claim 14, further comprising one or more actuating devices configured to activate the cold-pack layer in response to the one or more sensors detecting an impact equal to or greater than the defined impact level.

16. The protective headgear of claim 14, further comprising a wireless transmitter device operatively connected to the one or more sensors and configured to receive impact level data from the one or more sensors and wirelessly transmit the impact level data to a remote monitoring device.

17. A protective headgear comprising:

an outer shell; and

an integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer configured as a plurality of interspersedly distributed cells, wherein the plurality of interspersedly distributed cells includes a plurality of permanently deformable energy absorbent cells, a plurality of resiliently deformable energy absorbent cells, and a plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells.

18. The protective headgear of claim 17, further including a penetration prevention layer positioned between the outer shell and the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer.

19. The protective headgear of claim 18, wherein the penetration prevention layer includes a polymer-based fiber material.

20. The protective headgear of claim 17, wherein the outer shell is made of a polymer material.

21. The protective headgear of claim 17, wherein the plurality of chemically-activated cold pack cells are configured to dissolve a solid material in an endothermic reaction in response to the protective headgear experiencing an impact equal to or greater than a defined impact level.

22. The protective headgear of claim 18, wherein the penetration prevention layer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from at least one of the outer shell and the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer.

23. The protective headgear of claim 17, wherein the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the outer shell.

24. The protective headgear of claim 17, wherein the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer is manufactured using, at least in part, a three-dimensional (3D) printing process.

25. The protective headgear of claim 17, wherein the integrated energy absorbent and coolant layer is manufactured using, at least in part, an additive manufacturing process.

26. The protective headgear of claim 21, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect an impact level of an impact to the protective headgear.

27. The protective headgear of claim 26, further comprising one or more actuating devices configured to activate one or more of the cold-pack cells in response to the one or more sensors detecting an impact equal to or greater than the defined impact level.

28. The protective headgear of claim 26, further comprising a wireless transmitter device operatively connected to the one or more sensors and configured to receive impact level data from the one or more sensors and wirelessly transmit the impact level data to a remote monitoring device.