Protective Helmet

Abstract

A helmet having an outer shell. Connected to the outer shell and extending from the interior of the outer shell is a flexible outer lining. Attached to the outer lining is at least one compression absorbing layer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/214,009 filed Sep. 3, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a protective helmet that disperses and dampens the force of an impact throughout the entire helmet.

Helmets for protecting one's head are well known in the art. The majority of helmets are designed to prevent skull fractures, but do not sufficiently protect against concussions. The reason is that existing helmets do not adequately reduce the power of an impact and prevent the brain from being forced into the skull, Furthermore, they do not reduce the rotational force of off-center or angular blows to the head.

When one sustains a straight line blow to the head four things happen. First there is the initial contact or impact to the head. Second, the head as a whole moves as a result of the impact. Third, the brain moves due to inertia. Fourth, when there is sufficient force, the brain slams into the inside of the skull which causes an equal but opposite reaction to the initial movement of the head. On rotational acceleration to the head, concussions will occur deep in the brain's white matter as nerve cells and axons are twisted and strained.

There are several consequences when this occurs, many of which are undetectable. For example, brain surface lesions leading to artifact and other complications, tearing of capillaries in various mater that leads to subdural hematoma, and amnesia. Also, vomiting caused by jostling of the inner-ear organs may occur as well as long-term decline of brain function.

Within the human skull, there are several layers of protection in place. First there is a tough and leathery dura mater that is followed by the arachnoid and pia maters. Between the pia mater and the arachnoid is the cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a shock absorber and protects the brain from trauma. All of these layers, which are filled with numerous capillaries carrying oxygen-rich blood, provide cushioning for the brain. What is desired is a helmet that replicates how the brain is protected within the skull in order to substantially reduce concussions, long term complications, and brain injuries.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet that reduces or eliminates concussions.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet similar in structure to the protective structure of the human brain.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet that absorbs, dampens, diffuses, and redirects the force of an impact.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A helmet for reducing or eliminating concussions has a hard outer shell. Connected to and extending inwardly from the outer shell is an outer lining made of a hard yet flexible material.

Removably attached to the outer lining is one or more compression absorbing layers. The outer lining and compression absorbing layers are made of an impact material, spacing material, or liquid material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial side sectional view of a helmet;

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view of a helmet;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a helmet with a face mask; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view of a helmet: and

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view of a helmet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, a protective helmet 10 includes a hard outer shell 12. The helmet is of any type such as a football helmet, a bicycle helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a baseball helmet, or any type of protective helmet for a human head. Attached to, or co-extending, from the interior of the shell 12 is an outer lining 14 that is made of a hard yet flexible material like Kevlar® or a high compression lining like the inside of a golf ball. The outer lining 14 is configured to help withstand a powerful impact, along with the outer shell, and will absorb and disperse the impact throughout the entire helmet 10. This layer works similar to the tough and fibrous outer membrane of the brain, the dura mater. This and other layers could be interchangeable.

Underneath, and removably attached to, the outer lining 14 are a plurality of compression absorbing layers 16 that are arranged and configured, similar to the protective layers of the human brain, to handle high speed compression. The compression absorbing layers 16 are configured to be removed and changed, with layers being added or subtracted depending upon the application and/or conditions of testing. The first configuration underneath the outer lining 14 is a thin web like suspension similar to the achnoid membrane that will encase a liquid lubricant or shock absorber allowing the head to float similar to the brain floating in the cerebrospinal fluid.

The outer lining 14 and absorbing compression layers 16 are made from impact material, spacing material, or a liquid, as well as any combination of the three. Impact material includes, but is not limited to, Conform® foam, Kevlarg, Croslite®, molded gel, molded liquid, solid or synthetic rubber, halata, surlyn, and/or granta materials such as polystyrene foam closed cell, cork, and/or ultra-low density balsa wood. Spacing material may have a uniform shape and diameter or may taper outwardly form one end to the other. The liquid material includes water, gel, or any material in liquid form at ambient temperatures that will not freeze or boil.

While the material used for the outer lining 14 and the absorbing compression layers 16 are of any type, preferred is that the outer lining'14 at least partially include spacing material not only to create space, but to better disperse the force of the impact through the entire helmet 10. Also, preferred, is that the inner most layer 24, which comes into contact with a user's head, is flexible and absorbing such as padding for comfort.

As an example of one embodiment, a helmet 10 has an outer shell 12 molded to a layer of urethane material 20 such as the material of the exterior of a golf ball or the like. The outer shell 12 and urethane layer 20 are molded at their edges 22 so as to create a space 23 for a spacing or liquid material, such as fluid, gel and/or shock absorber liquid material that replicates the cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain. Preferably, the space is approximately ⅜ inches wide.

Connected to the layer of urethane material 20 is an outer lining 14 such as Kevlar® or the like that is attached to the urethane layer 20 to create a space 25 to house spacing material such as shock absorbers or coils that absorb and redirect energy forces throughout the helmet 10, Connected to the outer lining 14 is at least one compression absorbing layer 16 preferably made of Conform® or Croslite® material or the like. The final inner most layer 24 is a padding made of a comfortable and ventilated material that engages a user's scalp.

When the football helmet 10 receives a powerful high speed impact, the shell redirects as much kinetic energy from the impact as is possible and the remaining force is transferred to the outer lining 14. Because of the material used and the spacing created, the outer lining dispenses the force from the impact point throughout the helmet 10. As the straight line force is dispersed and transferred to the absorbing compression layers 16, the force is dampened and/or reversed such that any force that reaches the head of a user is insufficient to cause the brain to engage the skull. On a rotational force, the suspension and the cushioning of the liquid isolates the wearer's head from the movement of the outer casing, thereby softening the blow.

With some helmets 10, a facemask 26 needs to work in conjunction with the helmet 10. Current facemasks 26 are made of rigid steel with a rubber coated guard to protect the face of the user. A facemask is often hit directly, inadvertently hit, or pulled on, etc. This rotation of the head causes many concussions. To reduce and/or prevent concussions, the facemask 26 is connected to the outer shell 12 using a spacing material 16 having shock absorbers, coils, or some type of spring action that absorbs impact and disperses energy throughout the helmet. As an example, the outer shell 12 of the helmet 10 has a plurality of connecting points 28 that include a bore 30 that receives a spacing material 16. The facemask 26 is then connected to the spacing material.

In conjunction with the facemask 26, a mouthpiece is provided. The mouthpiece has a first section that is configured to cover one's teeth and gums. A second section of the mouthpiece extends outwardly to cover the upper pallet of the mouth and engage the roof of one's mouth which reduces stress on nerves that lead directly to the brain.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the helmet 10 has a hard and/or rigid outer shell 12. On the interior of the outer shell 12 is an outer lining 14 that is made of a non-neutonian shock absorbing material. To the interior of the outer lining 12 is a layer of soft flexible absorbing cushioning having a high tech absorbing foam 16. Attached to layer 18 is an inner layer 24 made of ventilated absorbing padding. Attached to inner layer 24 is a rotational non-neutonian shock absorbing layer of mater 32.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. The embodiment of FIG. 5 differs in several ways. First, the outer lining 14 includes non-neutonian fluids that dampen the force of an impact. Second, the soft flexible absorbing cushioning having high tech foam 16 extends to cover at least on edge 34 of the helmet 10. Finally, a plurality of sensors 36 and/or accelerometers 38 are positioned within and/or between lining 14, layer 16, layer 24, and layer 32. Preferably sensors 36 are positioned within the outer lining 14. The sensors 36 and/or accelerometers 38 are connected to a micro-computer having a processor 42 and software 44. The micro-computer is disposed within or between the layers of the helmet or alternative is at a remote location in relation to the helmet 10.

In operation, the sensors 36 and/or accelerometer 38 continuously monitor and take readings from various parts of the helmet. These readings are transmitted to the micro-computer 40 and processed to detect acceleration and/or force. Based upon the detected acceleration and/or force, the computer transmits voltage to one or more areas 46 of the helmet 10 having electrorheological and/or magnetorheological elements 48. The elements 48 and/or layers have dynamic properties that respond to the voltage applied such as by expansion, contraction, hardening, softening and the like. Also, in conjunction with the elements 48, a viscoelastic system is applied.

Thus, a helmet has been disclosed that at the very least meets the stated objectives.

Claims

1. A helmet, comprising

an outer shell;

a flexible outer lining extending from an interior of the outer shell; and

a plurality of compression absorbing layers removably attached to the flexible outer lining.

2. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the flexible outer lining is a spacing material.

3. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of compression absorbing layers provide a thin web like suspension that encases a liquid lubricant.

4. The helmet of claim 1 wherein an innermost layer of the plurality of compression layers is made of a flexible, absorbing, padding.

5. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of compression absorbing layers are made of a material selected from a group consisting of impact material, spacing material, and liquid.

6. The helmet of claim 1 further comprising, a face mask connected to the outer shell with a spacing material between the outer shell and the face mask.

7. A helmet, comprising:

an outer shell molded to a layer of urethane material;

an outer lining connected to the layer of urethane material; and

at least one compression absorbing layer connected to the outer lining.

8. The helmet of claim 7 wherein the layer of urethane material is molded to the outer shell at the edges to create a space for a spacing or liquid material.

9. The helmet of claim 7 wherein the outer lining is connected to the layer of urethane material to create a space for spacing material.