SPORTS HELMET WITH INTEGRATED LINER AIR PUMP

Abstract

A sports helmet (for example a football helmet, lacrosse helmet, hockey helmet, or baseball helmet), has an inflatable liner which includes an integrated, finger-operable air pump. The liner further includes an integrated, finger-operable deflation valve that is separate from the air pump. The pump and deflation valve are operable by respective features which protrude through holes in the helmet shell, which enables the wearer of the helmet to conveniently operate the liner by inflating or deflating it as desired, without any external assistance or accessories.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY

The subject technology relates to sports helmets, for example, football helmets, lacrosse helmets, hockey helmets, and baseball helmets.

Sports helmets generally comprise a plastic shell, usually a one-piece shell made of ABS or polycarbonate plastic; internal padding inside the shell, attached directly or indirectly to the inner surface of the shell by, for example, T-nuts or hook-and-loop tape; and a face guard (i.e. a facemask) attached to the shell. A helmet shell has a front region, a crown region, a rear region, a left side region, a right side region, an inner surface and an outer surface.

Internal padding for a sports helmet may include helmet liners, for example, foam elements encapsulated within cells formed between polymer (e.g. vinyl or TPU) layers. Some helmet liners are “air liners,” in which some or all the cells are inflatable through a valve, for adjusting the fit of a helmet to suit a wearer.

Air liners, typically, require an external hand-operated pump, for example a needle valve pump, for inflation and deflation of the liner. The need for an external pump is an inconvenience which limits the opportunity to made adjustments to the fit of the helmet on the field.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY

According to the subject technology, an inflatable liner for a sports helmet (for example a football helmet, lacrosse helmet, hockey helmet, or baseball helmet), includes an integrated, finger-operable air pump. The liner further includes an integrated, finger-operable deflation valve that is separate from the air pump. The pump and deflation valve are operable by features which protrude through holes in the helmet shell, which enables the wearer of the helmet to conveniently operate the liner by inflating or deflating it as desired, without any external assistance or accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the liner of FIG. 1 along the line A-A, showing the exhaust valve assembly.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the valve seat of FIG. 7 along the line B-B, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a valve stem for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a valve stem for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 13 is a left elevational view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view into a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, and face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 17 is a left, rear detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 18 is a right, rear detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 19 is a detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, showing the rear lateral padding disposed over the liner, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 20 is a detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, showing the liner installed on the inner surface of the shell, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 21 is a view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, with the top and bottom sheets cut through to show the interior of the pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the liner of FIG. 21, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 23 is a view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, with the top sheet cut partially away to show the one-way valve exiting the pump chamber, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 24 is a bottom detail view of lacrosse helmet showing the face guard clip and attachment of the face guard via the clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY

According to an aspect of the subject technology, a sports helmet (for example a football helmet, lacrosse helmet, hockey helmet, or baseball helmet), has an inflatable liner 11 (i.e., an “air liner”) disposed within its shell 10. Liner 11 has an integrated, finger-operable air pump 30 and a deflation valve 50 that is separate from the air pump 15, so that the liner 11 may be inflated and deflated by a user without any additional devices such as a hand pump or needle pump.

In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this aspect of the subject technology, as best seen in FIGS. 1-3, an inflatable liner 11 comprises two flexible sheets 12, 13 of nonporous polymer material, for example, polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), consisting of a top sheet 12 and a bottom sheet 13. The top and bottom sheets 12, 13 are bonded or fused together around the edges thereof and in certain intermediate places to form therebetween a plurality of linked, inflatable chambers 14, 15, 16. The inflatable chambers are connected in fluid communication by passages 17, 18 therebetween. Some or all of the chambers 15 may include pads of foam or other shock absorbing material, for example, pads of Poron or D3O foam. In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, none of the chambers 15 contain foam pads.

As shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the chambers 14, 15, 16 are arranged in a single row from left-to-right. One of the chambers, pump chamber 14, is provided with an upstanding, flexible, resilient, finger-operable pump button 31, which is molded as an integral part of the top sheet 12. The pump button 31 is hollow and is formed with a small hole 32 at the top to admit air from the environment. In use, the user presses on the pump button 31 with a finger to compress the pump button 31 and expel the contained air into pump chamber 14, through passage 17 and into the row of chambers and passages 15, 16, 18. The user's finger covers the small hole 32 so that the air contained in button 31 is expelled as described. When the user removes his or her finger from button 31 and thereby uncovers hole 32, pump button 31 resiliently returns to its original shape and fills with environmental air through the hole 32. The pump 31 may be repeatedly operated until the desired degree of inflation is reached.

As seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, cylindrical insert 33 made of open-cell or closed-cell foam may be provided in the pump button 31 to support the button 31 in its upstanding shape and ensure it maintains its shape when not being pressed by a user. The insert 33 may be bonded to a flat, rigid base plate 34, made for example of metal or hard plastic, positioned at the base of the pump button 31. Base plate 34 has a cutout section 35 aligned with the exit of the pump chamber 14 to insure the insert 33 stays in place and does not block the flow of air.

As seen in FIG. 23, passage 17 from pump chamber 14 is preferably provided with a one-way valve 36, such as a duckbill valve or check valve, which permits passage of air in only one direction, from the pump chamber 14. The other passages 18 do not require valves, because the series of passages 18 and chambers 15, 16 onward is sealed air-tight by the one-way valve 36 on one end and the normally-closed deflation valve 50 as hereinafter described. However, valves such as check valves may be included in the passages 18 if desired. In a non-limiting example, as seen in FIG. 23 the check valve may be formed very simply by bonding together on opposite edges two flat, rectangular, flexible sheets of nonporous polymer material, for example, polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), to form a flat tube therebetween having a mouth or opening on each end; the valve is positioned with one mouth at or within the exit of the pump chamber 14 and the opposite end extending into the immediate neighbor of the pump chamber 14.

To provide for deflation of the air liner 11, as best seen in FIG. 4-11, a deflation valve or exhaust valve 50 is provided in one of the chambers 16 downstream from the pump chamber 14, preferably (in a non-limiting embodiment) the chamber at the end of the row. The deflation or exhaust valve 50 is normally closed, and when opened by a finger press by the user, provides a path for air contained in the chambers 14, 15, 16 of the air liner 11 to exhaust out, thereby deflating liner 11.

In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the exhaust chamber 16 is provided with a small exhaust hole 51 in the bottom sheet 13, and the exhaust valve 50 is superimposed over the hole 51 to gate the passage of air through the hole 51. A valve seat 52, which may be made of the same polymer material as the liner but formed as a separate part, has a hollow generally cylindrical body 53 with a flange 54 at one end. Flange 54 is bonded to the bottom sheet 13 over the exhaust hole 51 to form an airtight seal around the exhaust hole 51. A valve stem 55, which may be made of metal such as aluminum or a hard plastic, is inserted through a spring 56, which may be a coil spring or a wave spring, and into the valve seat 52, as shown. The valve stem 55 has a head 57 having a face 58 which contacts an integrally formed face 59 of the valve seat 53, to close the valve 50. The spring 56 biases the valve stem 55 in the closed position, keeping the faces of the stem and seat 58, 59 in airtight contact with each other. On an end of the valve stem opposite the head, a button 60 is formed. Spring 56 exerts a force on button 60 to keep the faces of the stem and seat 58, 59 normally in contact and the valve normally closed.

The exhaust chamber 16 is enclosed by a valve cap 19, which is superimposed over the valve 50 and may be integrally formed as part of the top sheet 12 or may be a separate part, as in the preferred non-limiting embodiment. If made as a separate part, the cap 19 may be formed of the same polymer material as the top sheet 12 and should be bonded to the top sheet 12 to form an airtight seal. Preferably the valve cap 19 is made of a thicker, stiffer material than the top sheet, to prevent accidental operation of the valve. In use, when deflation of the air liner 11 is desired by the user, the valve cap 19 is pressed down, and contact of the valve cap 19 with the button 60 further compresses the spring 56 and moves the face 58 of the valve stem 55 out of contact with the face 59 of the valve seat 52, providing a path for air contained in the chambers 14, 15, 16 of the air liner 11 to exhaust out of the exhaust hole 51. When finger pressure is removed from the valve cap, the spring 56 moves the valve stem 55 back into the closed position and the liner 11 may be inflated again by operation of the pump 30.

According to a further non-limiting aspect of the subject technology, as shown for example in FIGS. 16-20, an air liner 11 with self-contained pump and exhaust mechanism as described is disposed on the inner surface of the shell 10 of a sports helmet 1, which in the non-limiting embodiment of the Figures is a lacrosse helmet 1. The helmet 1 is provided with a first through-going hole to accommodate the pump button 31 and a second through-going hole to accommodate the exhaust valve cap 19. Bushings 62, 63 may be inserted through the respective holes for the pump button 31 and exhaust valve cap 19, which are inserted through openings in the bushings. The liner may be secured with respect to the shell holes by hook-and-loop fastener material 20 disposed about pump button 31 and valve cap 19. Additional shock-absorbing padding 65 is installed over the air liner 11. In this non-limiting embodiment, the air liner 11 is disposed in the rear of the helmet 1, just above the lower edge of the shell 10, corresponding generally to the occipital area of the wearer's head. However, it could be installed in any area of the shell 10. When inflated, the air liner 11 applies pressure to the shock-absorbing padding 65, pushing it away from the inner surface of shell 10 and variably filling the space between padding 65 and shell 10, thereby adjusting the fit and ride of the sports helmet 1. The pump button 31 and exhaust valve cap 19 are easily operable by the wearer, simply by reaching behind to the rear of the helmet. Thus, the subject technology enables the wearer of the helmet to conveniently adjust fitment by inflating or deflating the air liner as desired, without any external assistance or accessories.

According to a further aspect of the subject technology, sports helmet 1 has a face guard 70 composed of a cage of wire members, including members 78 and 29, removably attached to shell 10. The means provided for removable attachment of face guard 70 to shell 10 include clip 71 and may include additional means such as conventional loop straps. Clip 71 is attached to one surface (i.e. the inner or outer surface) of shell 10.

As best seen in FIGS. 12-15, clip 71 comprises a T-nut body 72 with first retention arm 73 and second retention arm 75 extending outwardly therefrom, co-planar with body 72 and parallel to each other. Arms 73, 74 terminate in retention curves 75, 76, which curve in opposite directions to define a channel 77. Retention curves 75, 76 engage a wire member 78 of face guard 70 and locate the wire member 78 in channel 77. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, helmet 1 is a lacrosse helmet and clip 71 is attached under the bill of shell 10, in the central plane of shell 10. The structure of clip 71 permits attachment of face guard 70 at this central location, without interfering with perpendicular wire member 79 attached to wire member 78.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. It will also be understood that the present invention includes any combination of the features and elements disclosed herein and any combination of equivalent features. The exemplary embodiments shown herein are presented for the purposes of illustration only and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sports helmet comprising:

a shell;

an inflatable liner disposed within the shell, the inflatable liner comprising a top sheet of flexible polymer material bonded to a bottom sheet of flexible polymer material to form a series of compartments therein;

the compartments comprising a pump chamber, at least one intermediate chamber, and an exhaust chamber;

the pump chamber in fluid communication through a first passage with the at least one intermediate chamber, the first passage having a one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the pump chamber into the at least one intermediate chamber, and preventing air from passing from the at least one intermediate chamber into the pump chamber;

the at least one intermediate chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust chamber through a second passage;

the pump chamber provided with a finger-operable pump comprising a pump button and having an inlet therein for the admission of environmental air;

the exhaust chamber provided with a normally-closed valve having a valve cap, the valve gating the passage of air through an exhaust hole formed in the liner, the valve cap being finger-operable to open the valve to allow air within the liner to escape the liner through the exhaust hole;

the pump button situated in a first hole formed in the shell and the valve cap situated in a second hole formed in the shell, such that the pump button and valve cap extend through the shell; and

shock-absorbing padding disposed over the liner.

2. The sports helmet of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve seat, a valve stem, and a spring, the spring contacting the valve stem and biasing the valve stem against the valve seat so that a face of the valve stem is normally in airtight contact with a face of the valve seat, the valve cap disposed so that finger pressure on the valve cap moves the valve stem against the force of the spring, such that the face of the valve stem moves out of contact with the face of the valve seat while finger pressure is applied, thereby opening the valve.

3. The sports helmet of claim 1 wherein the pump button is formed in the top sheet and the inlet hole is formed in the pump button.

4. The sports helmet of claim 1 wherein the pump further comprises a foam insert within the pump button;

5. The sports helmet of claim 1 wherein the first hole and second hole are situated in the rear area of the shell.

6. The sports helmet of claim 1 wherein the liner is inflatable without use of an external pump.

7. The sports helmet of claim 1 further comprising:

a face guard removably attached to the shell by a retaining clip;

the retaining clip comprising a T-nut body attached to one surface of the shell, a first retention arm extending outwardly from the body and terminating in a first retention curve, and a second retention arm extending outwardly from the body parallel to the first retention arm and terminating in a second retention curve, the first and second retention curves curving in opposite directions to define a channel for receiving and holding a wire member of the face guard.

8. A sports helmet comprising:

a shell having a rear area, a first side and a second side;

an inflatable liner disposed within the shell, the inflatable liner comprising an integrated pump for inflating the liner and an exhaust valve for deflating the liner, the pump being separate from the valve;

the pump operable through a first hole formed in the shell in the rear area of the shell on the first side; and

the valve operable through a second hole formed in the shell in the rear area on the second side.

9. The sports helmet of claim 8 wherein the liner comprises a top sheet of flexible polymer material bonded to a bottom sheet of flexible polymer material to form a series of compartments therein;

the compartments comprising a pump chamber, at least one intermediate chamber, and an exhaust chamber;

the pump chamber in fluid communication through a first passage with the at least one intermediate chamber;

the at least one intermediate chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust chamber through a second passage;

the pump chamber provided with a finger-operable pump comprising a pump button and having an inlet therein for the admission of environmental air;

the exhaust chamber provided with a normally-closed valve having a valve cap, the valve gating the passage of air through an exhaust hole formed in the liner, the valve cap being finger-operable to open the valve to allow air within the liner to escape the liner through the exhaust hole;

the pump button situated in the first hole and the valve cap situated in the second hole.

10. The sports helmet of claim 9 wherein the first passage has a one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the pump chamber into the at least one intermediate chamber, and preventing air from passing from the at least one intermediate chamber into the pump chamber.

11. The sports helmet of claim 9 wherein the valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve seat, a valve stem, and a spring, the spring contacting the valve stem and biasing the valve stem against the valve seat so that a face of the valve stem is normally in airtight contact with a face of the valve seat, the valve cap disposed so that finger pressure on the valve cap moves the valve stem against the force of the spring, such that the face of the valve stem moves out of contact with the face of the valve seat while finger pressure is applied, thereby opening the valve.

12. The sports helmet of claim 9 further comprising:

a face guard removably attached to the shell by a retaining clip;

the retaining clip comprising a T-nut body attached to one surface of the shell, a first retention arm extending outwardly from the body and terminating in a first retention curve, and a second retention arm extending outwardly from the body parallel to the first retention arm and terminating in a second retention curve, the first and second retention curves curving in opposite directions to define a channel for receiving and holding a wire member of the face guard.