Energy Dissipating Helmet
An energy dissipating helmet, such as a protective football helmet, includes a structural component, such as a hard plastic outer shell, adapted to receive an anticipatory impact having energy, and configured to be caused to resistively collapse by the impact, such that the component dissipates at least a portion of the energy, wherein the component may further include an active material element for further energy dissipation during and/or to facilitate repair after receiving the impact.
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This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application claims priority to and the benefit of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/894,423, filed on May 14, 2013, and U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/646,596, filed on May 14, 2012, the disclosures of which being incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the InventionThe present disclosure relates to protective helmets offering energy dissipating functionality, and to protective helmets that utilize active material activation to dissipate the energy during and/or restore the helmet after an impact.
2. Discussion of Prior ArtA variety of protective helmets have been developed to protect a user (e.g., an athlete) against injury resulting from an impact to the head, as often required. For example, in the sports of football, hockey, and baseball, players typically don helmets during play to protect their head, neck, face, and spine from catastrophic injury, which may result from an impact by another player or the ground during a tackle, by a baseball pitch or hockey puck gone awry, etc. Construction of these helmets typically include a rigid outer shell formed of an injected molded hard plastic, interior padding typically formed of vinyl, foam, polypropelene, or similar material that absorb energy mechanically, and a metal alloy facemask.
Conventional helmets have been shown to effectively protect against some injuries, such as skull fractures, but present various concerns in other areas even when used properly. For example, concussions and spinal injury remain problematic, especially in football, due, in part, to the transfer of energy to the player. More particularly, it has been reported that at least 43,000 high-school football players in the United States suffer concussions each year; and despite special rules that prevent “spearing,” spinal cord injuries remain a concern, especially in secondary school and younger aged players who often do not possess the necessary skill to execute a proper form tackle. Moreover, conventional helmets do not offer indication or an alert that such an impact has occurred.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for an improved protective helmet that, among other things, reduces the likelihood of concussions and spinal injury, and offer indication that such an impact has occurred.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe present invention concerns a protective helmet adapted for use by a user, and to receive an anticipatory impact having energy. The helmet is operable to absorb (i.e., dissipate) at least a portion of the energy, so as to not transfer said portion of the energy to the user, and/or to facilitate repair after receiving the impact. The helmet comprises a structural component presenting an original shape and configured to receive and be elastically or inelastically deformed (i.e., resistively collapsed) by the impact, so as to absorb said portion of the energy. In some embodiments, wherein energy dissipation is provided only within a predetermined area of the helmet (e.g., the dorsal portion of a football helmet shell), the invention is useful for providing a dually functional helmet that provides energy dissipation where desired, while maintaining conventional (e.g., deflective) capabilities in other areas (e.g. the side portions of a football helmet shell). In further embodiments, the helmet employs a stress activated active material element to further dissipate energy during an impact. Thus, the invention is useful for reducing the amount of energy that is transferred to the head, neck, and/or spine of a user, and therefore, for reducing the likelihood of injuries, including concussions and spinal injury that may occur from an impact to the head of an athlete. Whereas conventional helmets temporarily absorb energy through compression of various foams or padding materials and subsequently release the stored energy (to the user) through decompression and equilibration once the impact subsides, the present invention provides a novel method of dissipating energy (i.e., removing at least a portion of the energy from the transfer all together).
More particularly, where shape memory allow is employed, the hysteresis loop of the material as it goes from Austenite to Martensite and then back to Austenite defines the amount of energy dissipated (the higher above Af the more energy required to transform), another benefit of the invention is in concussion prevention. In a preferred embodiment, transformation to the more malleable state will occur at some point during head travel/padding compression, thereby making it easier to continue to travel/compress. This is contrary and advantageous to conventional helmet padding materials that apply increasingly greater resistance as they are compressed even though the user is decelerating, which accelerates the stop. In the present invention, transformation results in greater resistance at the beginning (when acceleration is greatest), and reduced resistance at a subsequent point, where acceleration has lessened. Moreover, greater travel is enabled, where the inventive interior padding is able to achieve a thinner collapsed profile in its Martensitic form than a resistively equivalent conventional pad. Thus, by reducing the resistance offered by the pad during impact, and increasing the available travel distance, concussions are deterred.
As a result, the invention is useful for improving the safety of users during activities, such as playing football, baseball, or hockey, conducting military, factory, or construction operations, or operating a bicycle, motorcycle, or all-terrain-vehicle (ATV), and therefore for providing psychological reassurance to the user, family members of the user, and others during such activities. The invention is yet further useful for providing a method of retrofitting or reconditioning existing helmets in a manner that improves upon their original functionality. Finally, in a preferred embodiment, the invention may be used to produce an alert that an impact has occurred, and therefore may be used as a training tool to teach proper tackling technique, or a diagnostic tool to indicate a desire to assess the user.
In general, the invention presents an energy-dissipating helmet adapted for use by a user, to receive an anticipatory impact having energy, and to dissipate at least a portion of the energy, so as to not transfer the portion of energy to the user. The helmet includes a structural component (e.g., shell) configured to receive the impact, undergo a greater amount of deformation so as to dissipate a greater portion of the impact energy, and in some embodiments, further includes an active material element, such as a normally Austenitic shape memory alloy wire, mesh, matrix, or spring, operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to a stress activation signal. The element is communicatively coupled to the component and configured such that it receives the impact, the impact produces the stress activation signal, and the change in fundamental property causes or further causes the dissipation of energy.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention, including embodiments wherein various active material elements compose the shell, interior padding, or facemask may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the various features of the disclosure and the examples included therein.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures of exemplary scale, wherein:
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a protective football helmet is configured to fit upon the head of a user, to receive an anticipatory impact having energy on a predefined area of the helmet (e.g., the shell, facemask etc. (in whole or in part)), and to dissipate a portion of the energy, so as to not transfer said portion of energy to the user, when the impact is received only on said predefined area. For example, the football helmet may comprise an outer shell of durable material defining an exterior surface adapted to receive the impact, and presenting a front elevation and a back elevation opposite the front elevation. The shell includes a left side portion, a right side portion, and a dorsal portion, said portions longitudinally extending preferably from within the front elevation to within the back elevation. The dorsal portion is intermediate the left side portion and the right side portion, and may define an elongated medial strip having parallel sides. The left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion cooperatively define an inverted U-shaped opening operable to receive a facemask, in the front elevation. The opening is defined by opposite vertical edges defined by the left side portion and the right side portion, which extend along the sides of the user's face, and an interconnecting cross-edge cooperatively defined by the left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion that extends across the user's forehead, when donned. The preferred shell defines at least one compliant energy dissipating section disposed within the front elevation and the dorsal portion. The compliant energy dissipating section(s) is configured to resistively collapse towards the head, so as to achieve an impact condition and dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact. In this regard, it is appreciated that “resistively collapse/collapsing” instructs that the dissipating section is configured so as to require said portion of energy to deform, wherein the more resistive to collapse the greater the required energy. The shell further defines a rigid, non-active section in each of the left side portion and the right side portion, wherein the non-active sections are configured so as to not achieve the condition and not dissipate said portion of the energy (i.e., maintain its deflective capability), when each receives the impact. The helmet further comprises interior padding adapted to engage the head when the helmet is donned, and configured to be compressed when the shell receives the anticipatory impact, and a facemask.
The preferred shell may be formed of an injection molded hard plastic. The left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion may be integrally formed, such that the shell presents a unitary and non-modular structure. Where the shell may define an overall width and overall height in the front elevation, the preferred dorsal portion may present a uniform width not more than 70% of the overall width, and the preferred side portions may present a height not less than 90% of the overall height; most preferably, the dorsal portion may present a uniform width not more than 60% of the overall width, and the side portions may present a height not less than 95% of the overall height. The preferred dissipating section(s) may be laterally centered within the dorsal portion; spaced from the opening; be viewable in the front and back elevations; define at least one through-hole configured to facilitate resistive collapsing towards the head; and be configured to inelastically deform, when receiving the impact. Where the dissipating section(s) presents an original shape, achieves an impact condition when receiving the impact, it may include a return element operable to drive the dissipating section(s) towards the original shape when in the impact condition. The dissipating section(s) may present at least one of a through-hole, a geometric configuration, a thin layer of hard plastic, or a fold-line operable to facilitate resistively collapsing towards the head, when receiving the impact, and as such, may be configured to resistively collapse by folding towards the head. For example, both a thinner layer of hard plastic (
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a protective football helmet is configured to fit upon the head of a user, receive an anticipatory impact having energy, and dissipate a portion of the energy when the impact is received. The football helmet comprises a composite shell defining an exterior surface and includes an inner layer and an outer layer at least partially spaced from the inner layer. The outer layer is caused to resistively collapse towards the inner layer by the impact, so as to dissipate said portion of energy. The outer layer defines the exterior surface and an original shape, is adapted to receive the impact, and presents a compliant energy dissipating section configured to resistively collapse towards the head, so as to achieve an impact condition and dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact. The inner layer defines a rigid, non-active section configured so as to not achieve the condition and not dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact. A compressible medium is disposed intermediate the inner layer and outer layer, and operable to drive the outer layer towards the original shape when in the impact condition. Finally, the helmet includes interior padding that is interior to the shell, adapted to engage the head when the helmet is donned, and configured to be compressed when the shell receives the impact, as well as a facemask. More preferably, the compressible medium includes a plurality of tubular elastic members orthogonally inter-connecting the inner and outer layers; and the outer layer presents a first thickness, and the inner layer presents a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
Turning to
As used herein, the term “dorsal portion” generally defines that portion of the shell intermediate the side sections. It may present an elongated medial strip having parallel sides that longitudinally extend from the front elevation (
In some embodiments, the helmet 10 employs stress activated active material actuation to further dissipate energy during an impact. In these embodiments, the helmet 10 comprises a stress-activated active material element 12 configured to receive the impact, convert at least a portion of its energy into a stress activation signal, and dissipate energy by using the signal to reversibly and spontaneously transform the active material as further described below. The dissipating section 22, including the element 12, dissipates a minimum portion, more preferably, at least 10%, and most preferably, at least 25% of the energy, so as to effect a measurable impact upon the impact. Finally, it is appreciated that the advantages and benefits of the present invention may be applied wherever protective helmets are used; for example, the invention may be used in association with football, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, and other contact sports, while operating a bicycle, motorcycle, ATV, or other vehicle, and while working in potentially injurious settings, such as construction, factory, and military/combat applications.
An active material particularly suited for use in the present invention is shape memory alloy in a normally Austenite phase (i.e., having a phase transition temperature less than ambient temperature); however, it is well within the ambit of the invention to utilize any stress-activated active material, as equivalently presented herein, or modified as necessary. As used herein the term “active material” is to be given its ordinary meaning as understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art; and thus includes any material or composite that undergoes a reversible fundamental (e.g., intensive physical, chemical, etc.) property change when activated by an external stimulus or signal.
Shape memory alloys (SMA's) generally refer to a group of metallic active materials that demonstrate the ability to return to some previously defined shape or size when subjected to an appropriate thermal stimulus. Shape memory alloys are capable of undergoing phase transitions in which their yield strength, stiffness, dimension and/or shape are altered as a function of temperature, and therefore, exist in several different temperature-dependent phases. The most commonly utilized of these phases are Martensite and Austenite phases. The Martensite phase generally refers to the more deformable, lower temperature phase whereas the Austenite phase generally refers to the more rigid, higher temperature phase. When the shape memory alloy is in the Martensite phase and is heated, it begins to change into the Austenite phase and recover a “memorized” shape. The temperature at which this phenomenon starts is often referred to as Austenite start temperature (As). The temperature at which this phenomenon is complete is called the Austenite finish temperature (Af).
In the Austenite phase, a stress induced phase change to the Martensite phase exhibits a superelastic (or pseudoelastic) behavior that refers to the ability of SMA to return to its original shape upon unloading after a substantial deformation in a two-way manner. That is to say, application of increasing stress when SMA is in its Austenitic phase will cause the SMA to exhibit elastic Austenitic behavior until a certain point where it is caused to change to its lower modulus Martensitic phase, where it then exhibits elastic Martensitic behavior followed by up to 8% of superelastic deformation. Removal of the applied stress will cause the SMA to switch back to its Austenitic phase in so doing recovering its starting shape and higher modulus, as well as dissipating energy under the hysteretic loading/unloading stress-strain loop. Moreover, it is appreciated that the application of an externally applied stress causes Martensite to form at temperatures higher than Ms. Superelastic SMA can be strained several times more than ordinary metal alloys without being plastically deformed, however, this is only observed over a specific temperature range, with the largest ability to recover occurring close to Af.
Returning to the helmet configuration, the active material element 12 may be communicatively coupled to or compose any structural component (i.e., predetermined area) of the helmet 10 that is anticipated to receive an anticipatory impact. Inventively, the active material element 12, such as an Austenitic (or “superelastic”) shape memory alloy wire, mesh, layer, or spring, is activated by the impact, and more particularly, by stress induced therefrom, so as to dissipate at least a portion of its energy. For example, the structural component may present and the element 12 may compose or be communicatively coupled to a rigid outer shell 14, interior padding 16, and/or facemask/shield 18 composing the helmet 10. The term “interior padding 16” shall include all components of the helmet interior to the shell 14 and generally functional to protect the user during impact. As previously stated with respect to
As best shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the dissipating section 22 may present a variable width as it extends along its longitudinal dimension. The dissipating section 22 may increase in width as it approaches its distal ends in the front and/or back elevations (
As shown in
In another aspect of the invention, the energy dissipating section 22 may be further formed of a material operable to facilitate repair, such as a shape memory polymer (SMP). That is to say, it is certainly within the ambit of the present invention for the energy dissipating section 22 to comprise SMP so as to facilitate repair, whereas energy absorption is accomplished conventionally and the assembly 10 is devoid of a stress-activated active material (e.g., SMA). More particularly, energy dissipation may be provided through the deformation of known mechanical means, such as tapered thin-walled structures, honeycomb structures, recoverable (semi-rigid) foams, and other types of energy absorption mechanisms as further described herein. To that end, it is appreciated that the greater deformation of the shell itself in the dissipating section 22 imparts a quantum of energy dissipation. In this configuration, the SMP constituent material provides the section 22 with the ability to remember and achieve its original shape simply by heating the polymer past its activation temperature (e.g., glass transition temperature range). As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, thermally-activated shape memory polymers (SMP's) generally refer to a group of polymeric active materials that demonstrate the ability to return to a previously defined shape when subjected to an appropriate thermal stimulus. Their elastic modulus changes substantially (usually by one—three orders of magnitude) across a narrow transition temperature range, which can be adjusted to lie within a wide range that includes the interval 0 to 150° C. by varying the composition of the polymer.
Generally, SMP's have two main segments, a hard segment and a soft segment. The previously defined or permanent shape can be set by melting or processing the polymer at a temperature higher than the highest thermal transition followed by cooling below that thermal transition temperature. The highest thermal transition is usually the glass transition temperature (Tg) or melting point of the hard segment. A temporary shape can be set by heating the material to a temperature higher than the Tg or the transition temperature of the soft segment, but lower than the Tg or melting point of the hard segment. The temporary shape is set while processing the material above the transition temperature of the soft segment followed by cooling to fix the shape. The material can be reverted back to the permanent shape by heating the material above the transition temperature of the soft segment.
More particularly, where the rigid outer shell 14 is formed of a thin layer of SMP (having an Austenitic SMA mesh or sheet 12 disposed therein), and caused to be permanently deformed (i.e., inelastically deformed) by the impact as shown in
Though it is appreciated that Austenitic SMA provides a two-way effect when deactivated, a return element 28 may compose the energy dissipating section 22, so as to aid in its return to its original shape and appearance. For example, as shown in
In another embodiment, the dissipating section 22 may be presented by a composite shell 14 that is formed by inner and outer layers 30,32 spaced by a collapsible medium 34 or fluid (e.g., air). Here, the entire outer layer 30 presents the dissipating section 22, while the inner layer presents a hard conventional shell that does not deform or crumple under the impact. The outer layer 30 is preferably formed of a compliant yet durable material, and as such, may be formed of a thinner layer of hard plastic, metal, carbon fiber, composites, or the like, in comparison to the conventional inner layer 32 (
In a preferred embodiment, air (or other fluid) interposed between the layers 30,32 and through-holes 31 (
Where SMA is employed, the spacing is configured to allow the element to achieve up to 8% strain. For example, and as shown in
It is yet further appreciated that the outer layer 30 may be geometrically configured to facilitate crumpling, and more preferably, to control deformation under impact. For example, the dissipating section 22 may present lateral slopes that distend from a general fold in a dorsal application, so as to deter purely dorsal impacts (
In lieu of air, a compressible or viscous medium 34 may be interposed between the layers 30,32 to provide further energy absorption. Where the composite shell further includes a compressible medium 34 interposed between the inner and outer layers 30,32, the medium functions to cause the outer layer to resistively collapse towards the inner layer and provide a return mechanism that drives the outer layer back towards the non-impacted condition. The medium 34 may be formed at least in part by the active material element 12 (
Alternatively, the medium 34 may include a plurality of hollow Austenitic SMA spheres or capsules 12, each collapsible by the impact (
As previously mentioned, the active material element 12 may compose the compressible interior padding 16, so as to provide energy dissipation from within the shell 14. As shown in
The wire(s) 12a are preferably pre-strained so as to eliminate slack and produce a more instantaneous response. That is to say, when an anticipatory impact strikes the helmet 10 and the head of the user is caused to compress the padding 16, the preferred wire(s) 12a will be immediately caused to stretch, thereby invoking a tensile stress operable to trigger transformation to the more malleable Martensite phase. Once transformed, it is appreciated that the Martensite wire 12a will be further able to strain up to 8%. The padding 16 and wire(s) 12a are cooperatively configured such that the wires 12a do not interfere with the function of the padding 16, and the wires 12a are able to completely transform and achieve their maximum strain. More preferably, the cushion material 40 and wires 12a are cooperatively configured such that the impact causes the cushion material 40 to partially compress prior to transforming the wires 12a, and then further compress after the wires 12a have been fully transformed and strained.
In another embodiment, the interior padding 16 may include conventional non-active cushion material 40 and an active material layer 12 disposed intermediate and secured (e.g., fastened, coupled, adhesively bonded, etc.) to the shell 14 and/or cushion material 40 (
In another embodiment, an active compressible layer (e.g., cellular matrix) may co-extend, so as to form supejacent layers with the entire interior surface of the shell 14 (
Once transformation occurs, it is appreciated that the springs 12 will more readily compress under the lower spring modulus afforded by the Martensitic SMA and reduced cross-section of the walls 44 in comparison to conventional cushion material 40. Therefore, the preferred cushion material 40 presents enough volume to further compress after the springs 12 fully compress (
In addition to energy dissipation, the entire assembly 10 is preferably operable to provide structural integrity, and comfort at least on par with those of conventional helmets. Finally, in either configuration, it is appreciated that the inventive helmet 10 may be configured to provide energy dissipation (e.g., undergo an SMA stress-activated phase transformation) when encountering a maximum, mean, or minimum anticipatory impact, wherein the term “maximum” shall define the limit of those impacts deemed safe for the user to endure without the intended benefits of the present invention, so that energy dissipation (e.g., SMA actuation cycle) is triggered only in excessive impact occurrences, and the term “minimum” shall mean any impact within the range of anticipatory impacts, so that energy dissipation is triggered by all anticipatory impacts.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, it is appreciated that piezoelectric ceramics/composites 12, preferably composing the outer shell 14, may be used to convert a change in pressure into electricity that is then dissipated through resistive elements 48 as heat, and/or through luminaries (e.g., LED's) 50 as light, wherein the resistive elements 48 and/or luminaries 50 compose the helmet 10 (
Piezoelectric ceramics include PZN, PLZT, and PNZT. PZN ceramic materials are zinc-modified, lead niobate compositions that exhibit electrostrictive or relaxor behavior when non-linear strain occurs. The relaxor piezoelectric ceramic materials exhibit a high-dielectric constant over a range of temperatures during the transition from the ferroelectric phase to the paraelectric phase. PLZT piezoelectric ceramics were developed for moderate power applications, but can also be used in ultrasonic applications. PLZT materials are formed by adding lanthanum ions to a PZT composition. PNZT ceramic materials are formed by adding niobium ions to a PZT composition. PNZT ceramic materials are applied in high-sensitivity applications such as hydrophones, sounders and loudspeakers.
Piezoelectric ceramics include quartz, which is available in mined-mineral form and man-made fused quartz forms. Fused quartz is a high-purity, crystalline form of silica used in specialized applications such as semiconductor wafer boats, furnace tubes, bell jars or quartzware, silicon melt crucibles, high-performance materials, and high-temperature products. Piezoelectric ceramics such as single-crystal quartz are also available.
The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments and methods of operation, as set forth herein, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any system or method not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Additionally, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The suffix “(s)” as used herein is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the term that it modifies, thereby including one or more of that term. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “an embodiment”, and so forth, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment described herein, and may or may not be present in other embodiments. It is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various embodiments.
Claims
1. A protective football helmet configured to fit upon the head of a user, to receive an anticipatory impact having energy on a predefined area of the helmet, and to dissipate a portion of the energy, so as to not transfer said portion of energy to the user, when the impact is received on said predefined area, said football helmet comprising:
- an outer shell of durable material defining an exterior surface adapted to receive the impact, presenting a front elevation and a back elevation opposite the front elevation, and including a left side portion, a right side portion, and a dorsal portion longitudinally extending from the front elevation and to the back elevation, wherein the dorsal portion is intermediate the left side portion and the right side portion, wherein the left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion cooperatively define an inverted U-shaped opening operable to receive a facemask, in the front elevation, wherein the opening is defined by opposite vertical edges defined by the left side portion and the right side portion respectively, and an interconnecting cross-edge cooperatively defined by the left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion, said shell defining at least one compliant energy dissipating section disposed within the front elevation and the dorsal portion, wherein said at least one compliant energy dissipating section is configured to resistively collapse towards the head, so as to achieve an impact condition and dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact, said shell further defining a rigid, non-active section in each of the left side portion and the right side portion, wherein the non-active sections are configured so as to not achieve the condition and not dissipate said portion of the energy, when each receives the impact; and
- interior padding adapted to engage the head when the helmet is donned, and configured to be compressed when the shell receives the anticipatory impact.
2. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell is formed of an injection molded hard plastic.
3. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the left side portion, the right side portion, and the dorsal portion are integrally formed, such that the shell presents a unitary and non-modular structure.
4. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell defines an overall width and overall height in the front elevation, the dorsal portion presents a uniform width not more than 70% of the overall width, and the side portions present a height not less than 90% of the overall height.
5. The helmet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dorsal portion presents a uniform width not more than 60% of the overall width, and the side portions present a height not less than 95% of the overall height.
6. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section is laterally centered within the dorsal portion.
7. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, said at least one compliant dissipation section is spaced from the opening.
8. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section defines at least one through-hole, said at least one through-hole being configured to facilitate said at least one compliant dissipating section resistively collapsing towards the head, when the helmet is donned and receives the impact.
9. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section is configured to inelastically deform, when receiving the impact.
10. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section presents an original shape, achieves an impact condition when receiving the impact, and includes a return element operable to drive said at least one compliant dissipating section towards the original shape when in the impact condition.
11. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section presents at least one of a through-hole, a geometric configuration, a thinner layer, or a fold-line operable to facilitate said at least one dissipating section resistively collapsing towards the head, when the helmet is donned and receives the impact.
12. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section is configured to resistively collapse by folding towards the head, when receiving the impact.
13. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section and the non-active sections form separate interconnected parts, so as to define a seam therebetween, and said at least one compliant dissipating section and the non-active sections are reversibly disconnectable.
14. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section and the nonactive sections cooperatively define at least one male member and at least one orifice, and are interconnected by inserting said at least one male member into said at least one orifice.
15. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section is viewable in the front and back elevations.
16. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compliant dissipating section composes a composite shell, said composite shell including a rigid inner layer and an outer layer at least partially spaced from the inner layer and resistively collapsible towards the inner layer by the impact.
17. The helmet as claimed in claim 16, wherein the composite shell further includes a compressible medium interposed between the inner and outer layers.
18. A protective football helmet configured to fit upon the head of a user, receive an anticipatory impact having energy, and dissipate a portion of the energy when the impact is received, said football helmet comprising:
- a composite shell defining an exterior surface, and including an inner layer and an outer layer at least partially spaced from the inner layer, wherein the outer layer is caused to resistively collapse towards the inner layer by the impact, so as to dissipate said portion of energy, said outer layer defining the exterior surface and an original shape, adapted to receive the impact, and presenting a compliant energy dissipating section configured to resistively collapse towards the head, so as to achieve an impact condition and dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact, said inner layer defining a rigid, non-active section configured so as to not achieve the condition and not dissipate said portion of the energy, when receiving the impact; a compressible medium intermediate the inner layer and outer layer, and operable to drive the outer layer towards the original shape when in the impact condition; and
- interior padding interior to the shell, adapted to engage the head when the helmet is donned, and configured to be compressed when the shell receives the impact.
19. The helmet as claimed in claim 18, wherein the compressible medium includes a plurality of tubular elastic members orthogonally interconnecting the inner and outer layers.
20. The helmet as claimed in claim 18, wherein the outer layer presents a first thickness, and the inner layer presents a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 29, 2021
Publication Date: May 20, 2021
Applicant: (Kansas City, MO)
Inventor: William A. Jacob
Application Number: 17/162,837