Including Energy-absorbing Means Patents (Class 2/411)
  • Publication number: 20130000018
    Abstract: A helmet for receiving the head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the helmet having an outer shell and an inner lining covering at least partially the inner surface of the outer shell. In one embodiment, the helmet comprises a skeleton at least partially covered by the inner lining, a movable occipital pad and movable temple pads. The inner lining can be made of an absorptive material such as foam, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene and can be overmolded onto the skeleton. The occipital pad and the temple pads may be arranged with an inward bias so as to help the helmet self-adjust to provide an advantageous fit on the player's head. In some embodiments, the outer shell and skeleton, or the outer shell and the inner lining, cooperate to define a ventilation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: David H. RUDD, Thierry Krick
  • Patent number: 8341770
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Sorin Siegler, Mary Milone, Yoganand Ghati
  • Publication number: 20120324634
    Abstract: A natural fiber impact attenuation system capable of protecting a user engaged in a professional, recreational, or competitive activity is disclosed. The system may be constructed partly or entirely of biodegradable natural fiber materials such as cork in an agglomerated or non-agglomerated form. Impact attenuation pads may be installed within the shell of a helmet so that a user's head decelerates during an impact event by causing natural fiber impact attenuation pads to deform into void spaces or empty areas. The natural fiber impact attenuation system may be secured to a helmet by adhesives or other fastening methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Coyle
  • Publication number: 20120317705
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modular helmet comprising a shell, an energy-absorbing layer, and at least one energy-absorbing panel or other modular element, which is removably attached to the helmet. For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved football helmet comprises an outer shell with six apertures, an inner, energy-absorbing layer, a face mask, and six modular panels, each of which sits inside an aperture and is releasably attached to the outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Vyatek Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Alwin Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20120317704
    Abstract: A natural fiber helmet capable of protecting a user engaged in a professional, recreational or competitive activity is disclosed. The protective fiber helmet may be constructed of wood, bamboo, or similar material. The outer shell of the helmet may have a decorative finish that emphasizes the natural beauty of the material from which it is constructed. The entire helmet may be constructed of biodegradable materials that include a cork impact attenuation or impact cushioning system and a hemp, leather or cotton strap system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Coyle
  • Publication number: 20120304366
    Abstract: Shock-absorbing helmet liners may be releasably locked to helmet shells using mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard Daoust
  • Publication number: 20120297526
    Abstract: A protective helmet includes a head cap, which surrounds and moves with a wearer's head, and an outer shell which surrounds the head cap. The outer shell is movable both radially and circumferentially relative to the head cap. An energy absorbing flexible liner is located between the head cap and the outer shell. The liner is attached to the outer shell and the head cap so that neither the head cap nor the head of the wearer is otherwise attached to the outer shell. The liner establishes a preset initial relative position and spacing between the head cap and the outer shell and compliantly absorbs energy imparted to the outer shell during a helmet impact to enable the outer shell to move relative to the head cap during the helmet impact and to be returned to the initial relative position with the head cap following the impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Robert L. LEON
  • Publication number: 20120297525
    Abstract: An improved design for a helmet to reduce injuries caused by helmet-to-helmet collisions. The helmet has a thin layer of padding added onto the hard shell of the helmet. The padding may be textured to add “crumple zones.” A thin, rugged, low-friction exterior cover is affixed to the padding. In one embodiment of the helmet, the cover is separated slightly from the padding to provide air space. The air space, combined with the textured padding, provides a substantial reduction in peak acceleration resulting from a helmet-to-helmet collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Juliana Bain
  • Patent number: 8316512
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a locking device (2) for fixation of the position of an outer layers (4) relatively an inner layer (6) of a protective helmet (3), which protective helmet has a sliding layer (8) arranged between the outer layer and the inner layer, for facilitating displacement of the outer layer relatively the inner layer during an oblique impact towards the protective helmet. The locking device (2) comprises a layer-guiding member (10), that has an upper portion (12), which upper portion (12) is intended to be arranged in an opening (13) in the outer layer (4), and a resilient lower portion (16), extending from the upper portion (12), that in its free end (17) is arranged in connection to the inner layer (6). The present technology also relates to a protective helmet (3) comprising the locking device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventor: Peter Halldin
  • Publication number: 20120291183
    Abstract: A helmet includes an outer shell, a liner and a neck roll. The neck roll is configured to absorb impact between the helmet and a wearer's head/neck when the wearer's head is forced rearward. The neck roll can be positioned adjacent a lower rim of the liner and can include one or more deformable impact absorption compartments to absorb the impact between the helmet and the wearer's head/neck. The impact absorption compartments can be formed by a base, two generally upwardly extending walls and one or more generally upwardly extending support members extending between the upwardly extending walls. The impact absorption characteristics of the compartments can be varied to provide a desired level of impact absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: WARRIOR SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Janisse, Dale W. Kohler
  • Publication number: 20120278963
    Abstract: A protective helmet includes: a rigid shell including a generally domed-shaped section, a force attenuating liner within the dome-shaped section shell and operatively connected to the rigid shell; and a visor mount in operative connection with the force attenuating liner, the visor mount be adapted to have a visor mounted thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: F. Joseph HERSICK, Kevin R. KETTERER, Robert KLOTZ
  • Publication number: 20120272436
    Abstract: An enhanced protective helmet includes in one embodiment an outer shell and a molded lining disposed within the outer shell and contoured to surround a human head. The helmet further includes an elongated antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the antenna being supported by the molded lining. The helmet includes a connection point which can be mounted to the molded lining or otherwise extend away from the proximal end of the antenna, the connection point communicatively connected to the proximal end of the antenna. The connection point receives a connection from a mobile communication device, thereby linking the mobile communication device and the antenna. The antenna is located at helmet location that is along one side of the helmet above a left or right ear of the user for optimizing antenna performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Cardo Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham Glezerman, Avraham Kushnirov, Yossef Twina
  • Publication number: 20120272435
    Abstract: An enhanced protective helmet includes in one embodiment an outer shell and a molded lining disposed within the outer shell and contoured to surround a human head. The helmet further includes an elongated antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the antenna being supported by the molded lining. The helmet includes a connection point which can be mounted to the molded lining or otherwise extend away from the proximal end of the antenna, the connection point communicatively connected to the proximal end of the antenna. The connection point receives a connection from a mobile communication device, thereby linking the mobile communication device and the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Cardo Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham Glezerman, Avraham Kushnirov, Yossef Twina
  • Patent number: 8296863
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter Alec Cripton, Timothy Scott Nelson
  • Patent number: 8296867
    Abstract: A helmet for receiving the head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the helmet having an outer shell and an inner lining covering at least partially the inner surface of the outer shell. In one embodiment, the helmet comprises a skeleton at least partially covered by the inner lining, a movable occipital pad and movable temple pads. The inner lining can be made of an absorptive material such as foam, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene and can be overmolded onto the skeleton. The occipital pad and the temple pads may be arranged with an inward bias so as to help the helmet self-adjust to provide an advantageous fit on the player's head. In some embodiments, the outer shell and skeleton, or the outer shell and the inner lining, cooperate to define a ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bauer Hockey, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Rudd, Thierry Krick
  • Publication number: 20120266365
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a safety helmet is provided that includes an outer shell and at least one layer of a sheet of shock absorbing material located therein, the shock absorbing material having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of ribs extent through the material so as to create a plurality of channels therein, the layers having a plurality of perforations therein that communicate with the plurality of channels and that align with the holes in the helmet, each of the plurality of channels having an opening on an end of the material for air to pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the perforations in the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Eli Cohen
  • Publication number: 20120260406
    Abstract: A protective insert adapted to convert a standard baseball cap into a protective head guard, while maintaining the cap's desired attributes, such as comfort and stability. The protective insert of the present invention in combination with a baseball cap, not only protects a wearer from head injuries caused by impact force, but also has the attributes of stability, light weight and comfort so that it may be worn for extended periods during more intense activity than conventional baseball helmets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Green, Cliff Zatz
  • Publication number: 20120260405
    Abstract: A shield adapted for use with a baseball cap or caps used in other sports is disclosed to protect a pitcher or fielder from a batted or thrown baseball or softball. A panel is shaped to conform with a front side of a ball cap and is secured with straps or other means on the outer side of the ball cap or, alternatively, on the inner side of the ball cap. The shield is formed of a sheet or panel of impact absorbing plastic that protects the user from trauma in the event of a collision with a traveling ball or other object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Charles Shen
  • Patent number: 8256032
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight protective helmet having an improved ventilation system therein. The protective helmet comprises an outer shell and an inner liner that are joined together to form a shell/liner composite. The ventilation system interacts with one or more ventilation ports in the protective helmet to control the flow of ambient air in and out of the interior of the protective helmet. The ventilation system may be integrated or encased within the shell/liner composite, or it may be adapted to be used on the exterior of the helmet. In addition, the ventilation system may include one of several types of interchangeable insert members to allow active or passive control of ambient air into the interior of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: David T. Muskovitz
  • Publication number: 20120216339
    Abstract: A football helmet has a shell with a top portion having a raised central channel at least at one of a front area and a top area of the top portion of the shell, with a plurality of elongated vent openings on each side of the channel, the vent openings being spaced from each other on each side of the channel, from front to back, along the helmet shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Kranos IP Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Nimmons, David Rogers, Duco Noordzij, Eduard Milea, Larry Maddux, Ray Drake
  • Publication number: 20120204328
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protective headpiece for an athlete of a game using a projectile to protect at least a portion of the brow, temple and jaw of the athlete's head against impacts by the projectile. The protective head piece is releasably securable to the athlete's head and includes a mask portion comprising an impact resistant material. The mask portion includes a brow portion adapted to substantially shield the athlete's brow area and having opposed sides. A temple portion is positioned at each side of the brow portion and adapted to substantially shield the athlete's temple areas. The mask portion also includes a jaw portion extending from each of the temple portions and adapted to substantially shield at least the athlete's lower jaw. The jaw portion includes a front portion which defines an opening sized to permit frontal viewing of the athlete's mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan Emrich, John Larkin, Frederick Mariani, William Rempe
  • Publication number: 20120204327
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite structure for deflecting and spreading kinetic energy transmission after various types of impacts utilizing nanocomposites. The structure has a first composite layer including a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder. The first composite layer is an outside layer that comes in contact with an object. The structure has at least one subsequent composite layer that is adjacent to the preceding layer and includes a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder. The discrete reinforcement is made of particles and can have varying sizes and materials. In one embodiment, the particles in layer reinforcements have a progressively smaller size than preceding layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Kinetica Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ira Faden, Thomas E. Twardowski, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120198603
    Abstract: An electronic helmet is provided that includes a helmet body and an integrated electronic system disposed in the helmet body, providing a number of convenient functions. The helmet body has a hard outer shell and a hard inner shell mounted to the outer shell such that a cavity is defined between the outer and the inner shells. The inner shell can include suitable material to provide the wearer effective RF shielding from the electronic system, such as, nickel-plated carbon fiber to provide RF shielding. The helmet body further includes a shock-absorbent structure disposed between the inner shell and the head of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Gertsch, Ronald L. Gertsch, Christopher L. Gehrisch, Matthew B. Gehrisch, Martin D. McCune, William E. Swanson, David L. Williams, Justin K. Mann, Sheldon A. Smilo, Benjamin G. Abad
  • Patent number: 8230527
    Abstract: A lightweight helmet shell includes an inner shell formed from a porous expanded plastic layer, and an outer shell, in which the outer shell is formed from a compressed fiber sheet having an apparent density of 0.15 to 0.7 g/cc and an impact absorbability of less than 300 G. The lightweight helmet shell has excellent breathability, is lightweight, and has improved impact absorbability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Nanotech Ceramics Co., Ltd, Soyo Enterprise Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Ok Jeong, Wan-Ouk Kim, Young-Kyong Lee
  • Publication number: 20120180199
    Abstract: Helmets and methods for manufacturing a helmet are described. An example helmet includes an upper helmet component having a shell and a shock absorbing liner and further having a lower helmet component having a shell and a shock absorbing liner. The shock absorbing liner of the lower helmet component has an angled interface portion to which the upper helmet component is attached. A vent sill is attached to the shock absorbing liner of the upper helmet component and a vent shutter is slidably attached to the vent sill. An example method include forming a first in-mold component having a shell and shock absorbing liner and forming a second in-mold component having a shell and shock absorbing liner, the shock absorbing liner having a seamless headform. After a vent shutter assembly is attached to the first in-mold component the second in-mold component is attached to the first in-mold component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Smith Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Chilson, Hans Lindauer
  • Publication number: 20120180201
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Alec CRIPTON, Timothy Scott NELSON
  • Publication number: 20120180200
    Abstract: A force limiting device comprises a housing defining an axially extending chamber containing a working fluid. A force transmitting member may be mounted for linear reciprocable movement inside the chamber under the action of external loads. An axial array of plates is floatingly disposed in the chamber between the force transmitting member and an end wall of the chamber. At rest, each plate is spaced from an adjacent plate by a gap occupied by the working fluid. When the force transmitting member is displaced towards the array of plates, the fluid in the chamber causes the plates to be successively pushed against each other, thereby causing some of the fluid to be squeezed out from between the plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Martin GAUDET
  • Patent number: 8220078
    Abstract: This specification discloses an integrally formed safety helmet. A pre-cast hard outer shell is directly filled with Styrofoam particles followed by heating and pressing to form a soft inner shell. The two shells are integrally formed and tightly connected with no space in between. The production procedure includes the steps of: putting a pre-cast hard outer shell in an upper mold; combining the upper mold and a lower mold; heating the molds to soften a compound material outer shell; pressing to squeeze out extra resin in the compound material outer shell; cooling down the molds and injecting Styrofoam particles into the cavity in the molds, foaming, pressing, and lowering the temperature; and removing the molds. The soft inner shell is then integrally formed inside the hard outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Tse-Ping Wang
  • Patent number: 8214928
    Abstract: The present claimed invention is directed to a protective headguard, comprising a rear pad to protectively cover at least the occipital lobe on the back of a human head. The rear pad has an eccentric dimple for accommodating the occipital lobe. A front pad is configured and arranged to protectively cover at least the forehead of a human. The front pad is releasably interconnected to the rear pad at separate and distinct upper and lower connection points on the rear pad positioned on opposite sides of the dimple. The fit of the headguard can be adjusted between a first and second configuration by disconnecting the front and rear pads, rotating the rear pad 180° and reconnecting the front and rear pads with the front pad connections to the rear pad exchanged as between the upper and lower connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: FULL90 Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: William K. Cleveland, Russ Boelhauf
  • Publication number: 20120167283
    Abstract: A system with a shock absorbing device shaped to fit onto straps of any size, introducing low amplitude shock absorption into the strap fixation system without compromising the fixation. The present device essentially takes up a small amount of slack in the strap and stores it within a serpentine course through a body made of a deformable material. In the event that increased and potentially damaging loads are experienced, the Strap Shock-Absorber deforms, but the fixation never exceeds the length of the strap itself. With potential applications ranging from chin straps to industrial straps, working in one or two dimensions, this device can reduce damaging force transmission to protect valuable but vulnerable structures. The deformation of the device may be either elastic or plastic, or may be a combination of both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Mark B. Hallett
  • Publication number: 20120167284
    Abstract: A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have at least one thin force absorbing member coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Adrienne Yeung, C. Douglass Thomas
  • Patent number: 8209784
    Abstract: A helmet having a shell configured to fit about a head of a wearer of the helmet. The shell includes a top portion that defines a front edge and a bottom portion adjoining the top portion. The bottom portion defines a first side edge integral with a first end of the front edge and a second side edge integral with a second end of the front edge. The front edge, first side edge, and second side edge define a segment of a circumference of the shell. The helmet includes a faceguard comprising a faceguard assembly formed in a substantially closed loop. A top portion of the faceguard assembly overlies the top portion of the shell and substantially overlies and coincides with an entire shape of the front edge. At least a segment of a top portion of the faceguard assembly makes direct contact with the top portion of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kranos IP Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Nimmons, David Rogers, Duco Noordzij, Eduard Milea, Larry Maddux, Ray Drake
  • Publication number: 20120151663
    Abstract: A sports helmet includes recessed insert surfaces on its exterior to accommodate shock absorbing inserts disposed therein. The helmet may include, for example, five recessed insert surfaces, a front recessed surface, a top recessed surface, a rear recessed surface, and two side recessed surfaces. The inserts may be disposed into the recessed surfaces to create a substantially uniform outer helmet shape. A uniform finish may cover the exterior of the helmet. The shock absorbing inserts, when used on a person receiving a force to the helmet's insert, will absorb at least a portion of the force, limiting the force's impact on the wearer's brain. The helmet may, for example, help prevent concussions and other brain injuries in sport participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Garry Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8196226
    Abstract: A protective helmet (100) comprises a plurality of layers. A fabric layer (200) conforms to a wearer's head, extending around the head from the top of the head to a point above the ears. A first, conforming hard layer (205) follows and is secured to the fabric layer. A second hard layer (210) conforms to and rests on the previous hard layer, but is not attached to it. A fibrous layer (215) is formed over the second hard layer, and a wet settable friable or frangible material layer, e.g., plaster, (220) is applied over the fibrous layer. The friable or frangible material infiltrates the fiber layer and seals it to the second hard layer. While the friable or frangible material is still wet, a mold (222) or tool (not shown) forms a plurality of lines, e.g., hexagonal trenches (225), in the friable material that extend downward toward the fibrous layer. The mold can optionally be left in place or removed after the plaster hardens. Next, a surface layer (230) of resin is applied over the outside of the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Allen John Schuh
  • Patent number: 8191179
    Abstract: The present invention covers a hockey helmet for receiving a head of a player. The helmet comprises an outer shell made of first and second materials having respective first and second flexibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Bauer Hockey, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Durocher, Jean-François Laperrière, Marie-Claude Généreux, Denis Côté, Sébastien Lambert
  • Publication number: 20120131730
    Abstract: A face shield comprising a contoured visor with three-dimensional structures with varying angles along multiple axes for improved protection and user comfort, an adjustable attachment member for easy user adjustment, and head contact area with improved ventilation. Methods of producing optically clear three-dimensional plastic structures with varying angles along multiple axes and tools for said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Gilad Shoham, Philip Joseph Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20120131731
    Abstract: A baseball hat protective insert and a protective baseball hat containing the protective insert are disclosed. The protective insert is a unitary piece of unique shape and construction that is placed in the inside of a baseball hat to reduce, soften, and otherwise deflect and disperse blunt trauma to the head. The protective insert is comfortable to wear, lightweight and virtually unnoticeable to an observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Francis Motroni
  • Patent number: 8182909
    Abstract: A method of producing a viscoelastic polyurethane foam coating in which a polyisocyanate is reacted with a polyol to form a prepolymer. The prepolymer is reacted with a polyol having at least one pendant carboxylic acid group to form a prepolymer with a pendant carboxylic acid group. The prepolymer with a pendant carboxylic acid group is neutralized with a tertiary amine and then reacted with water or an organic or inorganic polyamine. An energy absorbing unit in which the coating produced by the above method is provided on a viscoelastic polyurethane foam layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Walter Wurdack, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc S. Schneider, William Wurdack
  • Publication number: 20120110720
    Abstract: An impact absorbing liner for use as part of a helmet that comprises adjustable means which allow to change the interior size and shape of the liner. The impact absorbing liner can be adjusted by operating on an actuation mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ALPINESTARS RESEARCH SRL
    Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo, David Rogers, Edward Hall, Duco Noordzij
  • Patent number: 8166573
    Abstract: A helmet system comprises a base shell, a set of outer shells, said each outer shell selectively and adjustably geared for placement on and over the base shell in an interchangeable mode and position thereon as desired by the wearer, a connector detachably engaging said each outer shell to the base shell, and a first guide rail slot that includes an upwardly extending portion that the outer shell lies on and in, so that the upwardly extending portion extends between the base and the outer shell to form a buffer there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Kirk Chung, Matthew Chung
  • Publication number: 20120096631
    Abstract: Protective headgear includes an outer shell rotatable relative to an inner shell via a thin layer of elastically and/or plastically yielding material disposed between and secured to the inner and outer shells. The yielding material deforms continuously but non-linearly at least in the tangential or shear direction to mitigate angular acceleration of the head during an impact. The yielding material prevents the inner and outer shells from separating or stopping suddenly to avoid imparting a large angular acceleration to the head. In one embodiment, a protective helmet includes an outer shell secured to an inner shell by a yielding material that elastically deforms continuously but non-linearly when subjected to an angular acceleration below a first threshold and plastically deforms when subjected to an angular acceleration above the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Albert I. King, King Hay Yang, Liying Zhang
  • Patent number: 8156569
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter Alec Cripton, Timothy Scott Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120066820
    Abstract: In one aspect the invention is directed to a protective member (eg. a headwear or bodywear member) including a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible panel connectors to form a selected shape for wearing by a wearer. In one embodiment, the protective member is in the form of a cap-shaped member and may be an insert that fits in a cap. In another embodiment, the protective member is in the form of a protective vest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Bernard Fresco
  • Publication number: 20120066818
    Abstract: A helmet (1, 100, 200) for protecting a user's head (90), comprising a cap (2) for protecting the user's cranium (92) and a chin guard (3) for protecting the user's chin (93), wherein the chin guard (3) is adapted to move between a first protecting position (31) and a second protecting position (32) under the action of a force (50) acting in the direction of the chin (93) of a user wearing on said helmet (1), the chin guard (3) in said second protecting position (32) being nearer to the user's chin (93) with respect to the chin guard (3) in said first protecting position (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Marco Pierini, Niccolò Baldanzini, Antonio Scippa, Francesco Lorenzi, Roberto Parissenti
  • Publication number: 20120060265
    Abstract: An energy absorbing termination post padding for hockey rinks includes energy absorbing foam pads configured to absorb impacts from sports play such as hockey. Energy absorbing foam panels may include a rigid foam alone or in combination with a relatively softer foam or impact layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Chris Guertin
  • Publication number: 20120060251
    Abstract: Disclosed is a protective helmet and a method for mitigating or preventing a head injury, in which a shock-absorbing, or shock-absorbing and comfort-providing, inner wearing unit, which can comprise liners, comfort pads, protective pads, nubbed cages and/or strapped wearing units (for example spider-shaped wearing elements, wearing straps, head bands or the like), is divided into a shell-side insert and a head-side insert, which can be counter-rotated (preferably starting from application of a predetermined force) in at least one direction, wherein a sliding surface is provided that assumes the function of a rotational surface, so that the angular acceleration introduced by a blow is drastically reduced or prevented because the head-side insert and the shell-side insert, and thus the head of the wearer and the outer helmet shell, can be counter-rotated quickly and without impediment, preferably in all directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Oliver Schimpf
  • Patent number: 8127373
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing the concussive effects of impact. The system includes a helmet for protecting the head of a user. The helmet has a surface, an array of strain gauges attached on the surface for detecting an impact, an array of cells attached within the helmet and a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the cells. Each cell is selectively inflatable to redirect impact forces to the shell of the helmet, and selectively deflatable to cushion a users head during impact. The process of inflation and deflation is enabled and optimized through the use of a microprocessor connected in operative communication with the array of strain gauges and with the valves. Accordingly, when the system detects impact, the microprocessor selectively signals at least some of the valves to rapidly change pressure in the cells near the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Troy Allen Fodemski
  • Patent number: 8117676
    Abstract: A hardhat provides ventilation and controlled lighting. A crown of a modified semi-spherical shape terminates downwardly with a generally oval peripheral edge in a horizontal plane, the crown having a plurality of apertures therein arranged in spaced apart sequence, and a flexible venting strip fixed forwardly on the crown and extending over the apertures, the venting strip positionable in each of a plurality of arcs above the crown, wherein each one of the arcs provides a selectable ventilation conductance into the hardhat. A brim is joined integrally to the peripheral edge of the crown extending outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Jefferson Cardoso
  • Publication number: 20120036619
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a helmet with reduced weight but improves energy absorbing possibilities and protection against penetration comprising at least a rigi outer shell and an inner portion of energy absorbing material. At least a portion of the rigid outer shell is thin and has a thickness of 0.01-4 mm, preferably 0.1-1.0 mm in order to collapse at a crash and thus absorb energy and that a coated net, coated woven or coated nonwoven material is at least partially provided between the rigid outer shell and the inner portion of energy absorbing material in order to at least compensate for the penetration protection loss due to the thin rigid outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: POC SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Stefan Ytterborn, Jan Woxing
  • Publication number: 20120017357
    Abstract: There is provided a helmet with an improved cradling function and fitting comfort, while also making the helmet easier to put on or take off. The invention comprises an attaching member and a cushion member. The attaching member has a base member mounted in contact with a shell, and a form-maintaining member disposed at an inner lower section of the base member, there being a space left with respect to the base member. The form-maintaining member, while simultaneously keeping a surface corresponding to the cushion member in a profile following the cheek to the chin portion of a wearer, causes the space to contract as a result of being outwardly displaced in the thickness direction in response to greater-than-normal force applied when a helmet is put on and taken off; and, following the displacement that causes the space to contract, is restored so as to return to an original location under normal circumstances, and kept there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Michio Arai