Helmet Apparatus

The present invention is a helmet apparatus configured to accommodate multiple impact hits thereafter retaining usability, with the helmet including an outer shell that is divided into a posterior and an anterior portion, further the outer shell is divided into a left and a right portion, the shell is rigid except for a first relatively less rigid portion that is disposed within the posterior portion straddling the left and right portions, and a second relatively less rigid portion disposed within the anterior portion straddling the left and right portions. Further a flexible channel is disposed along a shell major and minor axes, also a series of fluid bladder layers slidably engaged to one another are disposed on the inside of the shell, wherein the first, second, and channel less rigid portions along with the slidable bladders absorb kinetic energy impacts to the shell reducing energy transfer to the user's head.

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Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/502,717 filed on May 7, 2017 by Toribio Robert Mestas of Highlands Ranch, CO, U.S.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a helmet apparatus to be used where there is risk of head injury due to an individual's activities. More particularly, the present invention is a helmet for use in football that has some unique features such as rapid impact recovery for multiple sequential impacts on a single helmet, reducing skull rotational moment torsion from impact, along with progressive kinetic energy absorption and progressive dampening all to mimic a skulls flexibility and a brain's fluid suspension in the skull to help lessen the helmet external impact upon the brain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Helmet protection of the skull and brain is a well established field being around for many decades, as helmets are used in a multitude of activities such as skiing, snowboarding, skate boarding, rollerblading/roller skating, bicycling, motorcycling, horse racing, kayaking, skydiving, football, baseball, hockey, plus by construction workers, police, and so on, in addition helmets give a convenient place to mount goggles, glasses, eye shields, cameras, and the like for the helmet user.

However, as common as helmets are in everyday life, very little specific study and modeling has been done to optimize helmet design based upon the unique type of impacts that a helmet may receive in all the different various helmet uses, wherein typical helmet design includes a rigid outer shell, a layer of foam padding inside of the shell (or one-time collapsible Styrofoam type material), and a retention strap to secure the helmet to the head. Most helmets are designed for a single hard impact use-i.e. once the helmet is impacted-the shell may fracture and the Styrofoam type material will permanently compress rendering the helmet disposable, the exception to this is the football helmet that in use will take repeated impacts during the course of a game and further be used in subsequent games and practices thus potentially experiencing thousands of impacts upon a single helmet, thus football helmets do not use one-time collapsible Styrofoam type materials.

Looking specifically at football helmet design, a first challenge is that it cannot be one-time impact disposable which would allow for materials that absorb impact energy while destroying themselves as the multiple impact use of the football helmet requires that the impact energy absorbing materials must regenerate themselves in a relatively short amount of time-say 30 seconds or so to be ready for a subsequent impact-thus this is a major factor in the design of the football helmet that distinguishes the football helmet from most other helmet designs that are one time crash disposable.

Further challenges in football helmet design relate to the omni-directional nature of the impact and the elliptical type shape of the helmet that causes the impact that comes from any direction to have an almost arbitrarily high coefficient of restitution effect on the forces that the helmet experiences, being a multitude of forces in different directions in addition to rotationally twisting or torsional moments that are initially experienced by the shell that then translate to the helmet liner and further to the skull and then to the brain. Also, unfortunately higher coefficients of restitution exist in helmet to helmet contact being the primary impact, wherein lower coefficients of restitution exist in helmet to ground contacts or helmet to shoulder, arm, leg, torso, or foot contacts. In addition, there are other complications with rebound inertia effects from the original impact and the fact that the original impact can be followed by a quick sequence (within a fraction of a second) of additional impacts from other directions, i.e. a player getting hit by 3-4 other players in a single play in the helmet area. So in summary, on the impact side we can have impacts from any direction that can be multiple in rapid sequence occurring on a non-symmetric helmet shell that can result in a multitude of multi-directional forces, rotations, and inertia rebounds that make up the kinetic energy factors that the helmet is trying to reduce as it translates to the brain, thus making the kinetic energy factors difficult to predict.

On the potential brain damage side, the medical profession has a hard time precisely defining the mechanics of what causes brain damage or what is commonly termed a concussion other than the symptoms or effects of the concussion in the behavior of the person who is experienced a concussion, i.e. the typical dizziness, confusion, double vision, unconsciousness, headache, nausea, and the like, attributes of a concussion. As the brain is buoyantly suspended in a plasma type fluid (Cerebrospinal Fluid) disposed within the skull, further wherein the brain itself has a Jell-O like consistency, it is difficult to be precise about how brain damage from kinetic energy actually occurs, recent thinking is that instead of the brain bruising itself as against the inside of the skull, the brain actually has deep internal stresses (being compression, tension, and shear), that act to damage the delicate nerve cells and their connections being the axons, from the kinetic energy, however, there is currently no technical way to detect this deep brain damage in a living subject, as only when the brain is dissected post mortem can damaged brain tissue be discovered. The reason for the difficulty in brain damage detection is that the brain damage is non-structural and does not cause bleeding-thus being invisible to CT and MRI testing, however, there is promise in detecting tau protein that binds to a tracer that can be indicative of brain damage, thus allowing testing in vivo, currently this in vivo testing is not considered reliable enough being still in the trial phase.

From observation of longer term football players and retired football players it is known that that the kinetic energy caused deep brain nerve cell damage is cumulative over time-resulting in ever increasing brain nerve damage amounts stemming from potentially thousands of kinetic energy episodes in the brain being termed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE for short, thus obviously the goal of the helmet is to help reduce the occurrence of CTE. It is noted that what is termed sub-concussive episodes, i.e. the ones that typically don't show the typical dizziness, confusion, double vision, unconsciousness, headache, nausea, and the like, attributes of a concussion can still have a deep brain nerve cell damaging effect from potentially thousands of sub-concussive episodes also resulting in CTE. However, it cannot be definitively defined how many kinetic energy dissipating episodes the brain needs to experience or the severity (kinetic energy level) of each episode to cause CTE, all that is known is that the kinetic energy episodes are additive in their brain nerve cell damaging effect.

Current football helmets are basically good at preventing skull fracture, being defined as when a area concentrated impact hits the helmet shell, the shell is operative to increase the concentration area of the impact to lower the unit loading of the impact-being similar to a shoulder pad, knee pad, hip, pad, and the like, thus diffusing the impact over an increased area to lessen the damage, as a hip pad for instance has a rigid outer layer with a foam inner layer. However, it is now known that brain damage can occur without skull fracture, so the helmet protection must extend beyond preventing skull fracture, especially in the rotational factor of the kinetic energy where it is suspected that the most brain nerve cell damage occurs, possibly because this puts the brain damage mostly from shear as opposed to compression and tension being in conjunction with most ductile materials that have less strength in shear as opposed to compression and tension.

So the key in a better helmet design is in energy absorption, not just energy diffusion, as energy absorption can be thought of as energy dampening, that needs to be accomplished substantially within the current physical helmet silhouette due to desiring to minimize helmet weight and neck stress, wherein a much thicker and heavier helmet could easily absorb more energy, it would not be practical as the current helmet thickness and weight would be desirably kept, although helmet weight reduction would always be welcomed.

Brain Damage from football injuries is at a critical level. Severe injuries occur daily and the numbers of children playing this sport have diminished significantly in the past several years. The traditional helmet liner and shell are ripe for improvement innovation. Helmet improvement can include shell and facemask being one continuous component. The improved helmet will be lighter than a traditional helmet thus not putting so much stain and pressure on the neck and related physical structure in young children who choose to play football.

Testing must be done on the shell and liner to ascertain improved impact reduction to address this very serious health concern that needs to be addressed in more depth. The benefits in preventing/reducing brain injury are important to both children and adults in addition to being durable for many years (liner replacement and sizing). This will replace the traditional helmet with new look helmet that is functional, practical, inexpensive and most importantly, safe.

In looking at the prior art in the helmet arts, starting with U.S. Patent Application No. 2017/0042271 to Tuttle, et al. disclosed is a helmet configured to protect a human head against mild traumatic brain injury upon impact comprising: an outer shell; a liner inside the outer shell, the liner comprising pairs of oppositely positioned fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers fluidly connected to each other by fluid connections therebetween. Each of the pairs of fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers in Tuttle being spaced on opposite sides of the helmet and configured to fill a space between the head and the outer shell when the helmet is positioned on the head, see FIG. 1.

Further in Tuttle; impact resistant flexible pads inside and spaced around an inner circumference of the outer shell adjacent to each of the fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers; and a flexible inner shell inside the liner, configured to fit closely on the head; and the flexible fluid chambers being configured to compress in response to impacting of the helmet on an impact side, and force liquid through the fluid connections to inflate fluid chambers on an opposite side of the helmet, thereby cushioning the head against a rebound impact on the opposite side. Tuttle does recognize the problem of inertia rebound impact on the head, however, has no teaching as to the recovering of the chambers for quick succession subsequent impacts, nor is there any addressing of the torsional rotational impact effects.

Next in the helmet prior arts in U.S. Patent Application No. 2016/0366969 to Suddaby disclosed is a protective helmet, comprising: an outer shell including at least one aperture; an elastomeric diaphragm connected to an inner surface of the outer shell and covering the at least one aperture; an inner shell slidingly connected to the outer shell where the inner shell is spaced apart from the outer shell; and, at least one expandable bladder positioned between the outer shell and the inner shell and operatively arranged to displace the elastomeric diaphragm in the at least one aperture of the outer shell. Suddaby does recognize the problem of torsional rotation translating from the impact on the outer shell to the skull via having diaphragms disposed as between the helmet inner and outer shell that allows the inner and outer shells to move relative to one another being cushioned and controlled via the diaphragms, further inertia rebound energy is recognized also that requires the diaphragm to expand outward from the outer shell, however, potentially causing outer shell impact adherence issue with other objects that are impacted.

Continuing in the helmet prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 9,034,441 to Anderson, disclosed is a protective element for an article of apparel, the protective element comprising: a first material layer having a first side and an opposite second side; a second material layer associated with the first material layer; a pad component located between the first material layer and the second material layer; and a plate component positioned adjacent to the first material layer. Wherein in Anderson, the plate component is disposed adjacent the first side of the first material layer and the pad component is located adjacent the second side of the first material layer so that the first material layer is disposed between the plate component and the pad component, wherein the plate component has a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness.

In addition, in Anderson the first thickness is greater than the second thickness; an attachment area formed on an outer perimeter of the plate component, wherein the attachment area corresponds to the second portion so that the attachment area has the second thickness; and an attachment element that attaches the plate component to the first material layer, wherein the attachment element extends entirely through the second thickness of the attachment area. Anderson does not recognize the need for compressive material to regenerate itself quickly nor the Anderson teach anything related to rotational torsional impact effects translating through the helmet to the skull.

Moving onward in the helmet prior art, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,955,169 to Weber, et al. disclosed is an apparatus, comprising: a head guard: a multi-layered sidewall, the multi-layered sidewall comprising: a stretchable fabric layer, the stretchable fabric layer comprising an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer, the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer cooperating to define a pocket; and a side padding layer non-removably positioned within the pocket, the side padding layer being disconnected from each of the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer, the side padding layer comprising a padding material. Further, in Weber the multi-layered sidewall and the side padding layer form a substantially cylindrical shape, and wherein the substantially cylindrical shape defines a circular opening for a head of a wearer; and wherein the side padding layer is substantially rectangular and extends circumferentially about the head guard, the side padding layer comprising a first end surface, a second end surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface.

As Weber has the first end surface and the second end surface being connected by the top surface and the bottom surface, and wherein the first end surface is circumferentially spaced from the second end surface to define a padding gap therebetween in a rear portion of the head guard, the padding material extending continuously and circumferentially within the pocket about the head guard, between the first end surface and the second end surface, such that the entirety of the padding gap defined by the first end surface and the second end surface is devoid of the padding material. Weber definitely recognizes the rotational torsional impact effects on the skull with the slidability of the outer and inner shells to one another, like Suddaby, with Weber having different structure in the form of elastic links as between the inner and outer shells, which also does teach recovering of the inner and outer shell sliding movement for subsequent impacts, however, rebound inertia of the impact is not addressed in Weber.

Next, in the helmet prior art in U.S. Patent Application No. 2017/0042272 to Ferguson, disclosed is a protective impact-absorbing headgear liner and impact sensing system for use with various types of helmets and protective gear or clothing. The lining material in Ferguson has unique impact absorbing properties to additionally protect a wearer from impact related injuries. The headgear liner in Ferguson has a band and crown which are variously shaped and positioned to receive impact-absorbing pads, wherein the position of the pockets depends on the helmet style. In one example for Ferguson the liner is a stretchable material. Impact absorbing pads in Ferguson are as described herein may be used in a variety of clothing and protective gear to protect from impact injury, wherein examples are football shoulder pads, thigh pads, bicycle helmets, and the like.

The liner in Ferguson may also be an expanded foam, with a preferred pad material being a gel containing a thermoplastic elastomer. The impact sensing system in Ferguson utilizes an impact sensor assembly to sense the force of impact received and transmit the data to a personal electronics device running an application program to process and display sensor data, in addition other data such as temperature, or the like provided by other ancillary sensors may also be processed by the application program. Ferguson being a helmet liner only does not address the rotational torsional impact issue to the skull nor the rebound inertia issue from the impact to the shell effect on the skull.

What is needed is a helmet that basically fits substantially within the current helmet silhouette of total helmet wall thickness and to be no heavier than current helmets and even preferably lighter in weight than current helmets. Further a helmet that accommodates rotational torsional impact effects to lessen the rotational torsional factors from the helmet outer shell to the skull plus in addition to a combination of helmet liner structure that absorbs rebound inertia thus truly helping to reduce the kinetic energy from the outer shell impact. Also the helmet needs to re-form and re-center itself quickly after the impact to be able to take additional subsequent impacts.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a helmet apparatus configured to accommodate multiple impact hits thereafter retaining usability, with the helmet including an outer shell having a major axis and a substantially perpendicularly oriented minor axis, wherein the outer shell forms a substantially elliptically shaped concave structure having an exterior surface and an oppositely disposed interior surface. The outer shell is divided into a posterior portion and an opposing anterior portion that are about the minor axis, further the outer shell is divided into a left portion and an opposing right portion that are about the major axis. The outer shell is constructed of a substantially rigid material except for a first relatively less rigid portion that is disposed within the posterior portion straddling the left and right portions, and a second relatively less rigid portion disposed within the anterior portion straddling the left and right portions. Further a flexible channel is disposed along the major axis and along the minor axis, wherein operationally the outer shell substantially mimics a human skull rigid and soft construction to help reduce skull stress from impact hits to the outer shell.

Also included in the helmet apparatus is a first low fiction liner sheet having a first convex affixment surface and an opposing first concave low friction surface, wherein the first convex affixment surface is affixed to the interior surface.

Further included in the helmet apparatus is a flexible primary bladder constructed of a primary sidewall having a primary sidewall outside surface and an opposing primary sidewall inside surface that defines a primary bladder interior, wherein the primary sidewall is substantially parallel to itself with the primary bladder interior formed from the parallel primary sidewall primary parallel relationship. Wherein the primary sidewall inside surface is a primary default state distance apart from the primary parallel relationship, the primary sidewall is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed adjacent to the first low friction surface specifically having a portion of the primary outside surface in contact with the first low friction surface. The primary bladder interior further including a plurality of primary elastomeric elements that each span across the primary bladder interior being attached to opposing portions of the primary inside surface, wherein the primary elastomeric elements urge the primary bladder interior to the primary default state distance apart to have a substantially constant opposing primary distance as between the primary inside surfaces that are opposite of one another. The primary bladder interior is filled with a low viscosity primary fluid such that the primary default state distance is maintained, wherein the primary bladder primary sidewall outside surface and the first concave low friction liner have a slidable engagement to one another. Wherein operationally if the primary bladder sustains a local compression pushing the primary sidewalls toward one another thus locally reducing the primary default state distance, the primary fluid is moved to temporarily increase the primary default state distance everywhere else to a primary extended state distance within the primary bladder interior to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression, wherein the plurality of primary elastomeric elements are operational to urge the primary extended state distance back to the default state distance.

In addition, the helmet apparatus includes a second low friction liner sheet having a second convex low friction surface and an opposing second concave low friction surface, wherein the second convex low friction surface is in contact with the flexible primary bladder sidewall outside surface oppositely positioned from the first low friction liner sheet in relation to the flexible primary bladder.

Further, the helmet apparatus includes a flexible secondary bladder constructed of a secondary sidewall having a secondary sidewall outside surface and an opposing secondary sidewall inside surface that defines a secondary bladder interior. Wherein the secondary sidewall is substantially parallel to itself with the secondary bladder interior formed from the parallel secondary sidewall parallel relationship wherein the secondary sidewall inside surface is a secondary default state distance apart from the secondary parallel relationship. The secondary sidewall is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed adjacent to the second concave low friction surface specifically having a portion of the secondary outside surface in contact with the second concave low friction surface. The secondary bladder interior further including a plurality of secondary elastomeric elements that each span across the secondary bladder interior being attached to opposing portions of the secondary inside surface, wherein the secondary elastomeric elements urge the secondary bladder interior to the secondary default state distance apart to have a substantially constant opposing secondary distance as between the secondary inside surfaces that are opposite of one another. The secondary bladder interior is filled with a high viscosity secondary fluid such that the secondary default state distance is maintained, wherein the secondary bladder and the second low friction liner sheet have a slidable engagement to one another, thus the primary and secondary bladders have a slidable engagement to one another. Wherein operationally if the secondary bladder sustains a local compression pushing the secondary sidewalls toward one another thus locally reducing the secondary default state distance, the secondary fluid is moved to temporarily increase the secondary default state distance everywhere else to a secondary extended state distance within the secondary bladder interior to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression, wherein the plurality of secondary elastomeric elements are operational to urge the secondary extended state distance to the secondary default state distance.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevated perspective view of the helmet apparatus, showing the anterior and posterior shell portions, the helmet shell, plus the position of the multiple impact hits and rotational torsional impact hits, note with the mask and retention strap removed for pictorial clarity;

FIG. 2 shows an action shot of a football player using the helmet apparatus with the retention strap and the mask, further noting that for all the other Figures the mask and retention strap removed for pictorial clarity, further for all the other Figures the helmet apparatus is shown not being on the player also for pictorial clarity, however, all reference to centroids and moments are all assumed that the player has the helmet apparatus on their head and the players head and the helmet are kinetically acting as a single mass from the multiple impact hits and the rotational or torsional impact hits;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the helmet shell showing the major and minor axes, the typical positions of the multiple impact hits and the rotational or torsional impact hits, the offset moment arms, the centroid, and the moment as experienced by the helmet shell;

FIG. 4 also shows a side elevation view of the helmet shell being specifically cross section cut 4-4 from FIG. 7, wherein FIG. 4 shows the anterior and posterior portion of the shell, plus the major and minor axes, the centroid, and the exterior and interior surfaces of the helmet shell;

FIG. 5 also shows a front elevation view of the helmet shell being specifically view 5-5 from FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 5 shows the left and right portions of the anterior portion of the shell, plus the major and minor axes, the centroid, and the exterior and interior surfaces of the helmet shell in addition to the first and second relatively less rigid portions, plus the typical positions of the multiple impact hits and the rotational or torsional impact hits, the offset moment arms, the centroid, and the moment as experienced by the helmet shell;

FIG. 6 also shows a front elevation view of the helmet shell being specifically cross section cut 6-6 from FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 6 shows the left and right portions of the shell, plus the major and minor axes, the centroid, and the exterior and interior surfaces of the helmet shell;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the helmet shell showing the anterior and posterior portions of the shell, the left and right portions of the shell, plus the major and minor axes, the centroid, the moment arms, the moment, the typical positions of the multiple impact hits, and the rotational or torsional impact hits, plus the exterior surface of the helmet shell;

FIG. 8 shows an upper inside view of the helmet shell as denoted by cross section 8-8 from FIG. 3, herein FIG. 8 shows the major and minor axes, plus inner and exterior surfaces of the helmet shell, the substantially rigid portion of the shell, in addition to the substantially elliptically shaped concave structure of the shell, and the flexible channel portions that run along the major and minor axes;

FIG. 9 shows cross section cut 9-9 from FIG. 3 showing the posterior portion of the helmet apparatus plus the left and right portions of the helmet apparatus, also shown are the interior and outer surfaces of the shell, along with the first low friction liner sheet that is affixed to the interior surface of the shell having an outer primary slidable engagement with the flexible primary bladder with its primary sidewall having an outside and inside surface along with the primary bladder interior and primary elastomeric elements disposed within the primary bladder interior, wherein the primary default state distance is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid disposed within the primary bladder interior, further along with the second low friction liner sheet that is in an inner primary slidable engagement to the outside surface of the primary bladder, wherein the second low friction liner sheet also having a secondary slidable engagement with the flexible secondary bladder on its secondary sidewall outside surface, the secondary bladder sidewall further having an inside surface along with the secondary bladder interior and secondary elastomeric elements disposed within the secondary bladder interior wherein the secondary default state distance is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid disposed within the secondary bladder interior;

FIG. 10 shows cross section cut 10-10 from FIG. 3, being the same as FIG. 9, except that FIG. 9 shows the flexible primary and secondary bladders each in their default state distance to span the primary and secondary interiors and FIG. 10 shows the flexible primary and secondary bladders each in their non-default states of being reduced and extended distances that span the primary and secondary interiors from the multiple impact hits and the rotational or torsional impact hits on the exterior surface of the helmet shell;

FIG. 11 shows a front side perspective view of the helmet apparatus with the added chin and lower face guard element also including the posterior and anterior portions of the outer shell with the flexible channel portion also in the outer shell;

FIG. 12 shows a side elevation view of the helmet apparatus with the added chin and lower face guard element also including the posterior and anterior portions of the outer shell with the flexible channel portion also in the outer shell;

FIG. 13 shows a top front perspective view of the helmet apparatus with the added chin and lower face guard element also including the anterior portion of the outer shell with the flexible channel portion also in the outer shell;

FIG. 14 shows a rear elevation view of the helmet apparatus with the added chin and lower face guard element also including the posterior portion of the outer shell with the flexible channel portion also in the outer shell;

FIG. 15 shows a bottom plan view of the helmet apparatus with the added chin and lower face guard element including the posterior and anterior portions of the outer shell;

FIG. 16 shows cross section cut 16-16 from FIG. 13 showing the anterior and posterior portions of the helmet apparatus that includes the chin and lower face guard element, also shown are the interior and outer surfaces of the shell, along with the first low friction liner sheet that is affixed to the interior surface of the shell having an outer primary slidable engagement with the flexible primary bladder with its primary sidewall having an outside and inside surface along with the primary bladder interior and primary elastomeric elements disposed within the primary bladder interior, wherein the primary default state distance is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid disposed within the primary bladder interior, further along with the second low friction liner sheet that is in an inner primary slidable engagement to the outside surface of the primary bladder, wherein the second low friction liner sheet also having a secondary slidable engagement with the flexible secondary bladder on its secondary sidewall outside surface, the secondary bladder sidewall further having an inside surface along with the secondary bladder interior and secondary elastomeric elements disposed within the secondary bladder interior wherein the secondary default state distance is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid disposed within the secondary bladder interior;

FIG. 17 shows cross section cut 17-17 from FIG. 12 showing the anterior and posterior portions of the helmet apparatus that includes the chin and lower face guard element, also shown are the interior and outer surfaces of the shell, along with the first low friction liner sheet that is affixed to the interior surface of the shell having an outer primary slidable engagement with the flexible primary bladder with its primary sidewall having an outside and inside surface along with the primary bladder interior and primary elastomeric elements disposed within the primary bladder interior, wherein the primary default state distance is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid disposed within the primary bladder interior, further along with the second low friction liner sheet that is in an inner primary slidable engagement to the outside surface of the primary bladder, wherein the second low friction liner sheet also having a secondary slidable engagement with the flexible secondary bladder on its secondary sidewall outside surface, the secondary bladder sidewall further having an inside surface along with the secondary bladder interior and secondary elastomeric elements disposed within the secondary bladder interior, wherein the secondary default state distance is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid disposed within the secondary bladder interior;

FIG. 18 shows an upper perspective view of the test stand assembly that shows the vertically sliding structure all the way down and in contact with the base, also shown are the vertical frame and the vertical guide rods, and the sensor module; and

FIG. 19 shows an upper perspective view of the test stand assembly in use that shows the vertically sliding structure part way down the vertical guide rods headed toward the helmet apparatus that is mounted to the base, wherein the vertically sliding structure is ready to impact the helmet apparatus for testing purposes, also shown are the vertical frame and the vertical guide rods, and the sensor module.

 REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

  • 50 Helmet apparatus
  • 55 Multiple impact hits on the outer shell 85 exterior surface 105
  • 60 Rotational torsional impact hits on the outer shell 85 exterior surface 105
  • 65 Centroid of the helmet apparatus 50
  • 70 Offset moment arm as between the rotational torsional impact hit 60 and the centroid 65 of the helmet apparatus 50
  • 75 Moment imparted to the helmet apparatus 50 from the rotational torsional impact hit 60 acting through the offset moment arm 70 to the centroid 65 of the helmet apparatus 50
  • 80 Inertia rebound hits from the multiple impact hits 55 or rotational torsional impact hits 60
  • 85 Outer shell
  • 90 Major axis of the outer shell 85
  • 95 Minor axis of the outer shell 85
  • 100 Substantially elliptically shaped concave structure of the outer shell 85
  • 105 Exterior surface of the outer shell 85
  • 110 Interior surface of the outer shell 85
  • 115 Posterior portion of the outer shell 85
  • 120 Anterior portion of the outer shell 85
  • 125 Left portion of the outer shell 85
  • 130 Right portion of the outer shell 85
  • 135 Substantially rigid material portion of the shell 85
  • 140 First relatively less rigid portion of the shell 85 in comparison the substantially rigid material portion 135
  • 145 Second relatively less rigid portion of the shell 85 in comparison the substantially rigid material portion 135
  • 150 Flexible channel portion in comparison the substantially rigid material portion 135
  • 155 First low friction liner sheet
  • 160 First convex affixment surface of the first low friction liner sheet 155
  • 165 Opposing first concave low friction surface of the first low friction liner sheet 155
  • 170 Affixed structure of first convex affixment surface 160 to the interior surface 110
  • 180 Flexible primary bladder
  • 185 Primary sidewall of the flexible primary bladder 180
  • 190 Primary outside surface of the primary sidewall 185
  • 195 Primary inside surface on the primary sidewall 185
  • 200 Interior of the primary bladder 180
  • 205 Primary sidewall 185 being substantially parallel to itself
  • 210 Primary default state distance apart from the primary parallel relationship 205
  • 215 Primary sidewall has a portion of the outside surface 190 that is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed in adjacent contact to the first low friction surface 165
  • 220 Plurality of primary elastomeric elements
  • 225 Span on the primary elastomeric element across the primary bladder interior 200
  • 230 Attached structure of the primary elastomeric elements 225 attached to opposing portions of the primary inside surface 195
  • 235 Urge bias of the primary elastomeric elements 220 to push the primary sidewalls 185 toward the primary default state 210
  • 240 Primary low viscosity fluid
  • 241 Movement of the primary low viscosity fluid 240 from impacts 55 and 60
  • 245 Outer primary slidable engagement of the first concave low friction liner sheet 165 and the primary sidewall 185 outside surface 190 of the primary bladder 180
  • 250 Local compression from multiple impacts 55 or rotational torsional impact hits 60
  • 255 Pushing the primary sidewalls 185 toward one another from the local compression 250
  • 260 Reduced primary default sate distance
  • 264 Pushing the primary sidewalls 185 away from one another from the primary fluid 240 local volume increase from fluid movement 241
  • 265 Increased or extended primary default state distance
  • 270 Second low friction liner sheet
  • 275 Second convex low friction surface of the second low friction liner sheet 270
  • 280 Opposing second concave low friction surface of the second low friction liner sheet 270
  • 285 Inner primary slidable engagement contact of the second convex low friction surface 275 with the primary bladder 180 sidewall 185 outside surface 190 opposite of the first low friction liner sheet 155 in relation to the flexible primary bladder 180
  • 290 Flexible secondary bladder
  • 295 Secondary sidewall of the flexible secondary bladder 290
  • 300 Secondary outside surface of the secondary sidewall 295
  • 305 Secondary inside surface on the secondary sidewall 295
  • 310 Interior of the secondary bladder 290
  • 315 Secondary sidewall 295 being substantially parallel to itself
  • 320 Secondary default state distance apart from the secondary parallel relationship 315
  • 325 Secondary sidewall 295 has a portion of the secondary outside surface 300 that is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed in adjacent contact to the second concave low friction surface 280
  • 330 Plurality of secondary elastomeric elements
  • 335 Span on the secondary elastomeric element 330 across the secondary bladder interior 310
  • 340 Attached structure of the secondary elastomeric elements 330 attached to opposing portions of the secondary inside surface 305
  • 345 Urge bias of the secondary elastomeric elements 330 to push the secondary sidewalls 295 toward the secondary default state 320
  • 350 Secondary high viscosity fluid
  • 351 Movement of the secondary high viscosity fluid 350 from impacts 55 and 60
  • 355 Secondary slidable engagement of the second concave low friction liner sheet 280 and the secondary sidewall outside surface 300 of the secondary bladder 290
  • 360 Pushing the secondary sidewalls 295 toward one another from the local compression 250
  • 365 Reduced secondary default sate distance
  • 369 Pushing the secondary sidewalls 295 away from one another from the secondary fluid 350 local volume increase from fluid movement 351
  • 370 Increased or extended secondary default state distance
  • 375 Football player
  • 380 Helmet retention strap
  • 385 Helmet face mask
  • 390 Player's head
  • 500 First lower cantilever terminating extension of the outer shell 85
  • 505 Second lower cantilever terminating extension of the outer shell 85
  • 510 Chin and lower face guard element of the outer shell 85
  • 515 Outer surface of the chin and lower face guard element 510
  • 520 Inner surface of the chin and lower face guard element 510
  • 525 Affixment of the low friction liner sheet 155 to the inner surface 520
  • 530 Inner low friction surface of the inner surface 520
  • 535 Contact of the flexible primary bladder 180 to the chin and lower face guard element 510 inner low friction surface 530
  • 540 Chin and lower face guard element 510 primary bladder 180 inner surface 195
  • 545 Chin and lower face guard element 510 second low friction liner 270 inner surface 280
  • 550 Contact of the flexible secondary bladder 290 to the chin and lower face guard element 510 second low friction liner 270 inner surface 545
  • 555 Test stand assembly
  • 560 Base of the test stand assembly 555
  • 565 Vertical frame support extending from the base 560
  • 570 Vertical guide rods affixed to the base 560 and vertical frame 565
  • 575 Vertically sliding structure that is slidably engaged to the rods 570
  • 580 Sensor module mounted on the vertical frame support 565
  • 585 Weight disposed on the sliding structure 575
  • 590 Movement of the sliding structure 575

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1, shown is an elevated perspective view of the helmet apparatus 50, showing the anterior 120 and posterior 115 shell 85 portions, the helmet shell 85, plus the position of the multiple impact hits 55 and rotational torsional impact hits 60, note with the mask 385 and retention strap 380 removed for pictorial clarity.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an action shot of a football player 375 using the helmet apparatus 50 with the retention strap 380 shown and the mask 385 shown, further noting that for all the other Figures the mask 385 and retention strap 380 are removed for pictorial clarity, further for all the other Figures the helmet apparatus 50 is shown not being on the player 375 also for pictorial clarity, however, all reference to centroids 65, moment arms 70, and moments 75 are all assumed that the player 375 has the helmet apparatus 50 on their head 390 and the players 375 head 390 and the helmet 50 are kinetically acting as a single mass from the multiple impact hits 55 and the rotational or torsional impact hits 60.

Continuing, FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the helmet shell 85 showing the major 90 and minor 95 axes, the typical positions of the multiple impact hits 55 and the rotational or torsional impact hits 60, the offset moment arms 70, the centroid 65, and the moment 75 as experienced by the helmet shell 85 translating into the helmet apparatus 50 and to the players 375 head 390.

Moving ahead, FIG. 4 also shows a side elevation view of the helmet shell 85 being specifically cross section cut 4-4 from FIG. 7, wherein FIG. 4 shows the anterior 120 and posterior 115 portions of the shell 85, plus the major 90 and minor 95 axes, the centroid 65, and the exterior 105 and interior 110 surfaces of the helmet shell 85.

Further, FIG. 5 also shows a front elevation view of the helmet shell 85 being specifically view 5-5 from FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 5 shows the left 125 and right 130 portions of the anterior portion 120 of the shell 85, plus the major 90 and minor 95 axes, the centroid 65, and the exterior 105 and interior 110 surfaces of the helmet shell 85 in addition to the first 140 and second 145 relatively less rigid portions, plus the typical positions of the multiple impact hits 55 and the rotational or torsional impact hits 60, the offset moment arms 70, the centroid 65, and the moment 75 as experienced by the helmet shell 85 translating into the helmet apparatus 50 and to the players 375 head 390.

Yet further, FIG. 6 also shows a front elevation view of the helmet shell 85 being specifically cross section cut 6-6 from FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 6 shows the left 125 and right 130 portions of the shell 85, plus the major 90 and minor 95 axes, the centroid 65, and the exterior 105 and interior 110 surfaces of the helmet shell 85.

Continuing, FIG. 7 shows a top view of the helmet shell 85 showing the anterior 120 and posterior 115 portions of the shell 85, the left 125 and right 130 portions of the shell 85, plus the major 90 and minor 95 axes, the centroid 65, the moment arms 70, the moment 75, the typical positions of the multiple impact hits 55 and the rotational or torsional impact hits 60, and the exterior surface 105 of the helmet shell 85.

Next, FIG. 8 an upper inside view of the helmet shell 85 as denoted by cross section 8-8 from FIG. 3, herein FIG. 8 shows the major 90 and minor 95 axes, plus interior surface 110 and exterior surfaces 105 of the helmet shell 85, the substantially rigid portion 135 of the shell 85, in addition to the substantially elliptically shaped concave structure 100 of the shell 85, and the flexible channel portions 150 that run along the major 90 and minor 95 axes.

Moving onward, FIG. 9 shows cross section cut 9-9 from FIG. 3 showing the posterior portion 115 of the helmet apparatus 50 plus the left 125 and right 130 portions of the helmet apparatus 50, also shown in the interior 110 and outer 105 surfaces of the shell 85, along with the first low friction liner sheet 155 that is affixed 160, 170 to the interior surface 110 of the shell 85 having an outer primary slidable engagement 245 with the flexible primary bladder 180 with its primary sidewall 185 having an outside 190 and inside surface 195. Also FIG. 9 shows the flexible primary bladder 180 along with the primary bladder interior 200 and primary elastomeric elements 220 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200 wherein the primary default state distance 210 is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid 240 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows the second low friction liner sheet 270 that is in an inner primary slidable engagement 285 to the outside surface 190 of the primary bladder 180, wherein the second low friction liner sheet 270 also having a secondary slidable engagement 355 with the flexible secondary bladder 290 on its secondary sidewall 295 outside surface 300. Wherein FIG. 9 shows the secondary bladder 290 sidewall 295 further having an inside surface 305 along with the secondary bladder interior 310 and secondary elastomeric elements 330 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310 wherein the secondary default state distance 320 is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid 350 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310.

Further, FIG. 10 shows cross section cut 10-10 from FIG. 3, being the same as FIG. 9, except that FIG. 9 shows the flexible primary 180 and secondary 290 bladders each in their default state distance 210, 320 to span the primary 200 and secondary 310 interiors. Wherein FIG. 10 shows the flexible primary 180 and secondary 290 bladders each in their non-default states of being reduced 255, 260, 360, 365 and extended distances 264, 265, 369, 370 that span the primary 200 and secondary 310 interiors from the multiple impact hits 55 and the rotational or torsional impact hits 60 on the exterior surface 105 of the helmet shell 85. Thus in FIG. 10 the simultaneous reduced 260 and extended 265 distances show the accommodating of the inertia rebound hit 80 from the impact hits 55 and rotational hits 60.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a front side perspective view of the helmet apparatus 50 with the added chin and lower face guard element 510 also including the posterior 115 and anterior 120 portions of the outer shell 85 with the flexible channel portion 150 also in the outer shell 85.

Continuing, FIG. 12 shows a side elevation view of the helmet apparatus 50 with the added chin and lower face guard element 510 also including the posterior 115 and anterior 120 portions of the outer shell 85 with the flexible channel portion 150 also in the outer shell 85.

Further, FIG. 13 shows a top front perspective view of the helmet apparatus 50 with the added chin and lower face guard element 510 also including the anterior portion 120 of the outer shell 85 with the flexible channel portion 150 also in the outer shell 85.

Moving onward, FIG. 14 shows a rear elevation view of the helmet apparatus 50 with the added chin and lower face guard element 510 also including the posterior 115 portion of the outer shell 85 with the flexible channel portion 510 also in the outer shell 85.

Yet further, FIG. 15 shows a bottom plan view of the helmet apparatus 50 with the added chin and lower face guard element 510 including the posterior 115 and anterior 120 portions of the outer shell 85.

Next, FIG. 16 shows cross section cut 16-16 from FIG. 13 showing the anterior 120 and posterior 115 portions of the helmet apparatus 50 that includes the chin and lower face guard element 510, also shown are the interior 110 and outer 105 surfaces of the shell 85, along with the first low friction liner sheet 155 that is affixed 160 to the interior surface 110 of the shell 85 having an outer primary slidable engagement 245 with the flexible primary bladder 180 with its primary sidewall 185 having an outside 190 and inside surface 195. Also FIG. 16 shows the primary bladder 180 interior 200 and primary elastomeric elements 220 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200, wherein the primary default state distance 210 is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid 240 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200.

In addition FIG. 16 shows the second low friction liner sheet 270 that is in an inner primary slidable engagement 285 to the outside surface 190 of the primary bladder 180, wherein the second low friction liner sheet 270 also having a secondary slidable engagement 355 with the flexible secondary bladder 290 on its secondary sidewall 295 outside surface 300. Wherein FIG. 16 shows the secondary bladder 290 sidewall 295 further having an inside surface 305 along with the secondary bladder interior 310 and secondary elastomeric elements 330 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310 wherein the secondary default state distance 320 is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid 350 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310.

Continuing, FIG. 17 shows cross section cut 17-17 from FIG. 12 showing the anterior 120 and posterior 115 portions of the helmet apparatus 50 that includes the chin and lower face guard element 510, also shown are the interior 110 and outer 105 surfaces of the shell 85, along with the first low friction liner sheet 155 that is affixed 160 to the interior surface 110 of the shell 85 having an outer primary slidable engagement 245 with the flexible primary bladder 180 with its primary sidewall 185 having an outside 190 and inside surface 195. Further FIG. 17 shows the primary bladder 180 interior 200 and primary elastomeric elements 220 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200, wherein the primary default state distance 210 is shown with the primary low viscosity fluid 240 disposed within the primary bladder interior 200.

In addition FIG. 17 shows the second low friction liner sheet 270 that is in an inner primary slidable engagement 285 to the outside surface 190 of the primary bladder 180, wherein the second low friction liner sheet 270 also having a secondary slidable engagement 355 with the flexible secondary bladder 290 on its secondary sidewall 295 outside surface 300. Wherein FIG. 17 shows the secondary bladder 290 sidewall 295 further having an inside surface 305 along with the secondary bladder interior 310 and secondary elastomeric elements 330 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310 wherein the secondary default state distance 320 is shown with the secondary high viscosity fluid 350 disposed within the secondary bladder interior 310.

Next, FIG. 18 shows an upper perspective view of the test stand assembly 555 that shows the vertically sliding structure 575 all the way down and in contact with the base 560, also shown are the vertical frame 565 and the vertical guide rods 570, and the sensor module 580. Continuing, FIG. 19 shows an upper perspective view of the test stand assembly 555 in use that shows the vertically sliding structure 575 with a weight 585 part way down the vertical guide rods 570 headed toward the helmet apparatus 50 that is mounted to the base 560, wherein the vertically sliding movement 590 structure 575 is ready to impact the helmet apparatus 50 for testing purposes, also shown are the vertical frame 565 and the vertical guide rods 570, and the sensor module 580.

Broadly, the present invention is a helmet apparatus 50 configured to accommodate multiple impact hits 55, 60 thereafter retaining usability, with the helmet 50 including an outer shell 85 having the major axis 90 and the substantially perpendicularly oriented minor axis 95, wherein the outer shell 85 forms a substantially elliptically shaped concave structure 100 having an exterior surface 105 and an oppositely disposed interior surface 110, see FIGS. 1 and 3 to 8. The outer shell 85 is divided into the posterior portion 115 and the opposing anterior portion 120 that are about the minor axis 95, wherein the anterior portion 120 partially terminates in the first lower cantilever terminating extension 500 and the opposing second lower cantilever terminating extension 505, see FIG. 1, further the outer shell 85 is divided into the left portion 125 and the opposing right portion 130 that are about the major axis 90, as best shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.

The outer shell 85 is constructed of a substantially rigid material 135 except for a first relatively less rigid portion 140 that is disposed within the posterior portion 115 straddling the left 125 and right 130 portions, and a second relatively less rigid portion 145 disposed within the anterior portion 120 straddling the left 125 and right 130 portions, see in particular FIG. 5, but also FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6 to 8. Further a flexible channel 150 is disposed along the major axis 90 and along the minor axis 95, see in particular FIG. 8 and also FIGS. 3 to 7. Wherein operationally the outer shell 85 substantially mimics a human skull rigid and soft construction to help reduce skull stress from impact hits 55, 60 to the outer shell 85, see FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 7.

Also included in the helmet apparatus 50 is a first low fiction liner sheet 155 having a first convex affixment surface 160 and an opposing first concave low friction surface 165, wherein the first convex affixment surface 160 is affixed 170 to the interior surface 110, see in particular FIGS. 9 and 10.

Further included in the helmet apparatus 50 is a flexible primary bladder 180 constructed of the primary sidewall 185 having the primary sidewall outside surface 190 and the opposing primary sidewall inside surface 195 that defines the primary bladder interior 200, wherein the primary sidewall 185 is substantially parallel 205 to itself with the primary bladder interior 200 formed from the parallel primary sidewall 185 primary parallel relationship 205, see FIGS. 9 and 10. Wherein the primary sidewall inside surface 195 is the primary default state distance apart 210 from the primary parallel relationship 205, the primary sidewall 185 is sized and configured 215 to conform to and be disposed adjacent to the first low friction surface 165, specifically having a portion of the primary outside surface in contact with the first low friction surface 215, as best shown in FIG. 9.

The primary bladder interior 200 further including a plurality of primary elastomeric elements 220 that each span 225 across the primary bladder interior 200 being attached 230 to opposing portions of the primary inside surface 195, wherein the primary elastomeric elements 220 urge 235 the primary bladder interior 200 to the primary default state distance apart 210 to have a substantially constant opposing primary distance 225 as between the primary inside surfaces 195 that are opposite of one another, as best shown in FIG. 9. The primary bladder interior 200 is filled with a low viscosity primary fluid 240 such that the primary default state distance 210 is maintained, wherein the primary bladder primary sidewall outside surface 190 and the first concave low friction liner 165 have an outer primary slidable engagement 245 to one another.

Wherein operationally if the primary bladder 180 sustains a local compression 255, 260 pushing the primary sidewalls 185 toward one another thus locally reducing the primary default state distance 260, the primary fluid 240 is moved 241 to temporarily increase the primary default state distance 264, 265 everywhere else to a primary extended state distance 265 within the primary bladder interior 200 to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression 250, wherein the plurality of primary elastomeric elements 220 are operational to urge the primary extended state distance 265 back to the default state distance 210, see in going from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 and back to FIG. 9.

In addition, the helmet apparatus 50 includes a second low friction liner sheet 270 having a second convex low friction surface 275 and an opposing second concave low friction surface 280, wherein the second convex low friction surface 275 is in contact 285 with the flexible primary bladder sidewall outside surface 190 oppositely positioned from the first low friction liner sheet 155 in relation to the flexible primary bladder 180, again see FIGS. 9 and 10.

Further, the helmet apparatus 50 includes the flexible secondary bladder 290 constructed of the secondary sidewall 295 having the secondary sidewall outside surface 300 and the opposing secondary sidewall inside surface 305 that defines the secondary bladder interior 310, again see FIGS. 9 and 10. Wherein the secondary sidewall 295 is substantially parallel 315 to itself with the secondary bladder interior 310 formed from the parallel secondary sidewall parallel relationship 315 wherein the secondary sidewall inside surface 305 is a secondary default state distance apart 320 from the secondary parallel relationship 315, see FIGS. 9 and 10. The secondary sidewall 295 is sized and configured 325 to conform to and be disposed adjacent to the second concave low friction surface 280 specifically having a portion of the secondary outside surface 300 in contact with the second concave low friction surface 280, see FIGS. 9 and 10.

The secondary bladder interior 310 further including a plurality of secondary elastomeric elements 330 that each span 335 across the secondary bladder interior 310 being attached 340 to opposing portions of the secondary inside surface 305, wherein the secondary elastomeric elements 330 urge 345 the secondary bladder interior 310 to the secondary default state distance 320 apart to have a substantially constant opposing secondary distance 320 as between the secondary inside surfaces 305 that are opposite of one another, see FIG. 9. The secondary bladder interior 310 is filled with a high viscosity secondary fluid 350 such that the secondary default state distance 320 is maintained, wherein the secondary bladder 290 and the second low friction liner sheet 270 have a secondary slidable engagement 355 to one another, thus the primary 180 and secondary 290 bladders have a slidable engagement 285, 355 to one another, see FIG. 9.

Wherein operationally if the secondary bladder 290 sustains a local compression 250 pushing the secondary sidewalls 295 toward one another 360 thus locally reducing the secondary default state distance 365, the secondary fluid 350 is moved 351 to temporarily increase the secondary default state distance 369 everywhere else to a secondary extended state distance 370 within the secondary bladder interior 310 to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression 250, wherein the plurality of secondary elastomeric elements 330 are operational to urge 345 the secondary extended state distance 370 to the secondary default state distance 320, see in going from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 and back to FIG. 9 again. Thus with the primary 180 and secondary 290 bladders operating in a series manner allow for a “progressive” reduction of impact hit 55, 60 kinetic energy due to the primary bladder 180 having more deflection 210 to 260 than the secondary bladder 290 having less deflection 320 to 365.

Looking at FIGS. 11 to 17 in particular for the helmet apparatus 50 can further comprise the chin and lower face guard element 510 that extends from the anterior portion 120 of the outer shell 85, wherein structurally the chin and lower face guard element 510 extends from and joins the first 500 and second 505 lower cantilever terminating extensions of the outer shell 85, wherein the major axis 90 extends therethrough the chin and lower face guard element 510 including the flexible channel 150, all as best shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIGS. 15 to 17.

Also looking at FIGS. 11 to 13, and 15, plus in particular FIGS. 16 and 17 to further detail for the chin and lower face guard element 510 can further comprise an outer surface 515 and the oppositely disposed inner surface 520, wherein the first low friction liner sheet 155 is extended to affix 525 to the inner surface 520 resulting in an inner low friction surface 530 for the inner surface 520 of the chin and lower face guard element 510. Further the flexible primary bladder 180 is also extended to be in contact 535 with the inner low friction surface 530 forming a chin and lower face guard element 510 primary bladder inner surface 540, further the second low friction liner sheet 270 is extended to be in contact with the chin and lower face guard element 510 primary bladder 180 inner surface 195 forming a chin and lower face guard element 510 second low friction inner liner 270 surface 545, and the flexible secondary bladder 290 is extended to be in contact 550 with the chin and lower face guard element 510 second low friction inner liner 270, as best shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Focusing on FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 for the helmet apparatus 50 wherein the flexible channel 150 that is disposed within the chin and lower face guard element 510 has a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of said outer shell 85 outside of the flexible channel 150 and the first 140 and second 145 relatively less rigid portions, wherein the flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

Looking in particular at FIG. 8 for the helmet apparatus 50 wherein the flexible channel 150 that is disposed along the major 90 and minor 95 axes within the outer shell 85 has a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of the outer shell 85 outside of the flexible channel 150 and the first 140 and second 145 relatively less rigid portions, wherein the flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

As best shown in FIG. 5 in particular for the helmet apparatus 50 wherein the first 140 and second 145 relatively less rigid portions have a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of the outer shell 85 outside of the first 140 and second 145 relatively less rigid portions and the flexible channel 150, wherein the flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

In looking at FIGS. 18 and 19 in particular the test stand assembly 555 is disclosed wherein baseline data is determined from dropping the vertically sliding structure 575 that is slidably engaged to the rods 570 down along the vertical frame support 565 towards the base 560 and measuring through accelerometers mounted on the vertically sliding structure 575 the impact upon the base 560 as monitored by the sensor module 580, essentially in going from FIG. 18 to FIG. 19 without the helmet apparatus 50 in place for the baseline test, wherein the vertically sliding structure 575 directly contacts the base 560. The initial goal is to generate about a one-hundred G initial base line impact, wherein a G is defined as a perception of weight force being actually a resistance to an objects (vertically sliding structure 575 in this case) freedom to move, thus the G′s are really surface contact forces (as between the vertically sliding structure 575 and the base 560) wherein these surface contact forces result in stresses and strains upon the vertically sliding structure 575 and the base 560, wherein future testing will be concerned with the stresses and strains upon the helmet apparatus 50 emanating from the vertically sliding structure 575 g′s impact upon the helmet apparatus 50.

So a baseline of one G is the resistance that the earth ground surface places upon an object to keep that object from falling toward the center of the earth, i.e. commonly known as the weight (force in pounds) of the object on earth, wherein a particular “weight” of an object is only valid upon the earth's surface and would of course change on another planet or in outer space. Units of G′s are distance per time squared, i.e. feet per second squared-which is really an acceleration, thus when G′s are used synonymous with a particular force-that is only valid on earth wherein a constant gravitational acceleration is experienced.

In so far as human tolerance for G′s, (ultimately being of interest here for increasing head 390 protection from the helmet apparatus 50 experiencing G forces) can be highly variable as the human body is flexible which causes the amount of G′s tolerated to be highly variable, whereas G magnitude, timing, and location all play a factor in human G tolerance, i.e. a local very short duration hit on an arm or leg may produce over a hundred G′s with no real damage, wherein a lower G′s hit for a sustained period of time can be deadly.

The settings for the initial base line data were to use a two hundred G sensor size set at five hundred micro seconds data intervals (about 5 ten-thousandths of a second per data read), with the two hundred G sensor mounted on the vertically sliding structure 575. Wherein the initial impact of the vertically sliding structure 575 to the base 560 accounted for about four data points equaling about 2 one-thousandths of a second total at a peak of about 115 G′s with a rebound peak of about negative 38 G′s with the curve showing resonance as between the vertically sliding structure 575 to the base 560 between the 115 G peak to the negative 38 G point as evidenced by somewhat even G-force oscillations (in time and amplitude) between the 115 G peak to the negative 38 G point with around four data points equaling about 2 one-thousandths of a second between the 115 G peak to the negative 38 G point. Noting that the zero to 115 G peak time and the 115 G peak to the negative 38 G time are about equal indicates that the modulus of elasticity (stress-strain relationship) of the vertically sliding structure 575 to the base 560 are about equal-which would be expected. Wherein subsequent (time wise) to the negative 38 G, the positive and negative G forces significantly subside being attributable to the hysteresis (internal dampening friction) of the materials of the vertically sliding structure 575 and the base 560.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the present invention of the helmet apparatus has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claim construed in light of the prior art so modifications of the changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.

Claims

1. A helmet apparatus configured to accommodate multiple impact hits thereafter retaining usability, said helmet comprising:

(a) an outer shell having a major axis and a substantially perpendicularly oriented minor axis, wherein said outer shell forms a substantially elliptically shaped concave structure having an exterior surface and an oppositely disposed interior surface, said outer shell is divided into a posterior portion and an opposing anterior portion that are about said minor axis, said anterior portion partially terminates in a first lower cantilever terminating extension and an opposing second lower cantilever terminating extension, further said outer shell is divided into a left portion and an opposing right portion that are about said major axis, said outer shell is constructed of a substantially rigid material except for a first relatively less rigid portion that is disposed within said posterior portion straddling said left and right portions, and a second relatively less rigid portion disposed within said anterior portion straddling said left and right portions, further a flexible channel is disposed along said major axis and along said minor axis, wherein operationally said outer shell substantially mimics a human skull rigid and soft construction to help reduce skull stress from impact hits to the outer shell;
(b) a first low fiction liner sheet having a first convex affixment surface and an opposing first concave low friction surface, wherein said first convex affixment surface is affixed to said interior surface;
(c) a flexible primary bladder constructed of a primary sidewall having a primary sidewall outside surface and an opposing primary sidewall inside surface that defines a primary bladder interior, wherein said primary sidewall is substantially parallel to itself with said primary bladder interior formed from said parallel primary sidewall primary parallel relationship wherein said primary sidewall inside surface is a primary default state distance apart from said primary parallel relationship, said primary sidewall is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed adjacent to said first low friction surface specifically having a portion of said primary outside surface in contact with said first low friction surface, said primary bladder interior further including a plurality of primary elastomeric elements that each span across said primary bladder interior being attached to opposing portions of said primary inside surface, wherein said primary elastomeric elements urge said primary bladder interior to said primary default state distance apart to have a substantially constant opposing primary distance as between said primary inside surfaces that are opposite of one another, said primary bladder interior is filled with a low viscosity primary fluid such that said primary default state distance is maintained, wherein said primary bladder primary sidewall outside surface and said first concave low friction liner have an outer primary slidable engagement to one another, wherein operationally if said primary bladder sustains a local compression pushing said primary sidewalls toward one another thus locally reducing said primary default state distance, the primary fluid is moved to temporarily increase said primary default state distance everywhere else to a primary extended state distance within said primary bladder interior to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression, wherein said plurality of primary elastomeric elements are operational to urge said primary extended state distance back to said default state distance;
(d) a second low friction liner sheet having a second convex low friction surface and an opposing second concave low friction surface, wherein said second convex low friction surface is in contact with said flexible primary bladder sidewall outside surface oppositely positioned from said first low friction liner sheet in relation to said flexible primary bladder; and
(e) a flexible secondary bladder constructed of a secondary sidewall having a secondary sidewall outside surface and an opposing secondary sidewall inside surface that defines a secondary bladder interior, wherein said secondary sidewall is substantially parallel to itself with said secondary bladder interior formed from said parallel secondary sidewall parallel relationship wherein said secondary sidewall inside surface is a secondary default state distance apart from said secondary parallel relationship, said secondary sidewall is sized and configured to conform to and be disposed adjacent to said second concave low friction surface specifically having a portion of said secondary outside surface in contact with said second concave low friction surface, said secondary bladder interior further including a plurality of secondary elastomeric elements that each span across said secondary bladder interior being attached to opposing portions of said secondary inside surface, wherein said secondary elastomeric elements urge said secondary bladder interior to said secondary default state distance apart to have a substantially constant opposing secondary distance as between said secondary inside surfaces that are opposite of one another, said secondary bladder interior is filled with a high viscosity secondary fluid such that said secondary default state distance is maintained, wherein said secondary bladder and said second low friction liner sheet have a secondary slidable engagement to one another, thus said primary and secondary bladders have a slidable engagement to one another, wherein operationally if said secondary bladder sustains a local compression pushing said secondary sidewalls toward one another thus locally reducing said secondary default state distance, the secondary fluid is moved to temporarily increase said secondary default state distance everywhere else to a secondary extended state distance within said secondary bladder interior to help absorb kinetic energy from the local compression, wherein said plurality of secondary elastomeric elements are operational to urge said secondary extended state distance to said secondary default state distance.

2. A helmet apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a chin and lower face guard element that extends from said anterior portion of said outer shell, wherein structurally said chin and lower face guard element extends from and joins said first and second lower cantilever terminating extensions, wherein said major axis extends therethrough said chin and lower face guard element including said flexible channel.

3. A helmet apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said chin and lower face guard element further comprises an outer surface and an oppositely disposed inner surface, wherein said first low friction liner sheet is extended to affix to said inner surface resulting in an inner low friction surface for said inner surface of said chin and lower face guard element, further said flexible primary bladder is also extended to be in contact with said inner low friction surface forming a chin and lower face guard element primary bladder inner surface, further said second low friction liner sheet is extended to be in contact with said chin and lower face guard element primary bladder inner surface forming a chin and lower face guard element second low friction inner liner surface, and said flexible secondary bladder is extended to be in contact with said chin and lower face guard element second low friction inner liner.

4. A helmet apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flexible channel that is disposed within said chin and lower face guard element has a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of said outer shell outside of said flexible channel and said first and second relatively less rigid portions, wherein said flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

5. A helmet apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible channel that is disposed along said major and minor axes within said outer shell has a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of said outer shell outside of said flexible channel and said first and second relatively less rigid portions, wherein said flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

6. A helmet apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second relatively less rigid portions have a flexibility that is less than one-half a flexibility of said outer shell outside of said first and second relatively less rigid portions and said outer shell outside of said flexible channel, wherein said flexibility is in units of pounds force per inch of deflection.

Patent History
Publication number: 20180317589
Type: Application
Filed: May 6, 2018
Publication Date: Nov 8, 2018
Inventor: Toribio Robert Mestas (Highlands Ranch, CO)
Application Number: 15/972,160
Classifications
International Classification: A42B 3/12 (20060101); A42B 3/06 (20060101); A42B 3/20 (20060101);