By Diverse Laminae Patents (Class 2/412)
  • Patent number: 11864610
    Abstract: An article of protective equipment for protecting a body part of a user includes a lattice structure with a plurality of struts forming three dimensional volumetric structures. The lattice structure includes a plurality of internal layers, each internal layer having at least one different physical property from the other internal layers, wherein the plurality of internal layers comprises at least one internal layer having physical properties such that the at least one internal layer is capable of compressing more than at least one other internal layer in response to an impact to the article of protective equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Xenith, LLC
    Inventors: Grant C. Goulet, Connor T. Riegle, Ronald Arthur Jadischke
  • Patent number: 11812811
    Abstract: An energy diverting football helmet is disclosed. The helmet contains the shell having an inside and an outside, padding positioned against the inside of the shell. There is also a face mask attached to the front of the football helmet, and a chin strap. On the outside of the shell there is a plurality of flexible energy divergent baffles (FEDB) attached to the outside of said shell. The flexible energy divergent baffle comprises a base, a flat top, and an offset baffle connecting the flat top with the base. On top of the base is a wafer, upon which resides an energy transferring bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Baker, Leonard Samuel Baker
  • Patent number: 11744302
    Abstract: A headband is provided which has a fabric layer defining pockets, padding layers positioned circumferentially around the headband in the pockets, and an impact panel. The impact panel is positioned to be proximate to the forehead of a wearer of the headband. One of the padding layers is positioned behind the impact panel, such that the padding layer is positioned between the impact panel and the forehead of a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: 2nd Skull, Inc.
    Inventors: Federico Olivares Velasco, Alberto Marana Jurado, Juan Solano Leiva
  • Patent number: 11617405
    Abstract: A compressible liner for a helmet or other apparatus subject to shock loading comprises three substantially co-extensive layers mutually engaged by respective cone-like protuberances and cone-like recesses. The intermediate layer is of a different compressibility and provides for de-coupling of the layers in an oblique impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Strategic Sports Limited
    Inventor: Donald Edward Morgan
  • Patent number: 11589630
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protective device (100) for protecting a head from impact, the device 100 comprising a shell (110) substantially formed in a dome-shape and having a first outer edge (1101); an inner layer (120) substantially formed in the dome-shape disposed within the shell (110), having an second outer edge (1201) and arranged at a gap distance in a direction of in the surface normal of the shell (110), at least one connecting member (130) interconnecting the shell (110) and inner layer (120) by interconnecting the first outer edge (1101) and the second outer edge (1201), an intermediary structure (140) comprising a plurality of deformable elements (1401) arranged in a single layer, wherein each of the deformable elements (1401), in an undeformed state, is arranged in simultaneous contact with the shell (110), the inner layer (120) and at least one other deformable element of the deformable elements (1401).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Svein Kleiven
  • Patent number: 11533961
    Abstract: A multi-functional vehicle helmet, having a helmet assembly with an exterior shell and an interior shell having protective foam in between. The exterior shell has a transceiver for wireless communications embedded therein. Further having an audio video interleave recording device, and a multifunctional knob assembly having first and second multifunctional knobs, skipping buttons, and tracking buttons. Further having a microphone assembly, and a stereo speaker assembly with at least one speaker embedded in the interior shell. Further having a liquid crystal display, at least one secure digital expansion slot, and a battery assembly having a battery, wherein a multi-functional vehicle helmet is able to communicate with at least a second enabled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventor: Dominuse-Cain Dolce
  • Patent number: 11330357
    Abstract: A flat headset is provided, comprising: a flexible belt body (1) configured to be looped around a head, and two headset bodies (4) fixed to the flexible belt body (1). The headset bodies (4) have flat structure, and at least parts of the headset bodies (4) protrude from one edge of the flexible belt body (1), and are provided with sound output holes (2) on a side away from the flexible belt body (1). When the flexible belt body (1) is fixed to the head, the two headset bodies (4) are held on front upper sides of two ears, and the sound output holes (2) are close to ear canals. The flat headset of the present disclosure does not compress the ear canals and ears, is more comfortable to use, and can prevent the headsets from falling off due to vibration and sweat during exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XIWXI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiuhong Deng
  • Patent number: 11291262
    Abstract: A helmet having an energy absorbing layer (2) and a sliding facilitator (5) is provided. The sliding facilitator is provided inside of the energy absorbing (2). A method of manufacturing a helmet having a sliding facilitator is farther provided. The method having the steps of: providing an energy absorbing layer in the mould, and providing a sliding facilitator for contacting the energy absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Halldin
  • Patent number: 11241059
    Abstract: A garment worn by a wearer has an impact absorbing material comprising arrays of various hexagonal or other deformable polygonal-shaped structures positioned between an exterior surface and an interior surface. When force is applied to the exterior surface, the structures of the impact absorbing materials deform (e.g., buckle) in a desired manner, reducing the force received by the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: VICIS IP, LLC
    Inventors: Andre Stone, Anton Perry Alferness, Mike Czerski, Jason Neubauer, Adam Frank
  • Patent number: 11172719
    Abstract: A helmet comprising and outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner is disclosed. The outer liner comprises an interior surface and the inner liner comprises an exterior surface. The inner liner is composed of an elastically deformable material. A majority of the interior surface of the outer liner and a majority of the exterior surface of the inner liner are both substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section that is circular with a first radius and a sagittal cross section that is circular with a second radius different from the first radius. The inner liner is elastically deformable along the interior surface of the outer liner in response to rotation of the outer liner relative to the inner liner caused by an impact to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 11089832
    Abstract: An impact attenuation system comprises an aluminum honeycomb sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface. The aluminum honeycomb sheet defines a plurality of approximately hexagonally shaped cells. The bottom surface defines a single sheet of contiguous cells and the top surface defines two or more islands of contiguous cells separated by one or more slits. At least a portion of one or both of the top surface and bottom surface may be covered by a polymer skin. The polymer skin may comprise carbon fibers and/or fiberglass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leonard P. Frieder, Jr., George D. Hedges, Desmond Walsh, Christopher Kent Barmore
  • Patent number: 10959472
    Abstract: A motorsport helmet includes a shell having a lower edge, a liner extending along an interior of the shell, and a support portion coupled to the shell and extending between the shell and the liner adjacent the lower edge. In some configurations, when the helmet is positioned on a DOT Standard No. 218 test head form, a portion of the lower edge is above the test line and a portion of the lower edge is below the test line, and the support portion extends from the portion of the lower edge that is above the test line to a location below the test line. The helmet may also include a muzzle adapted to cover the mouth and chin area of a wearer, and a magnetic coupling assembly releasably coupling the muzzle to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Cram
  • Patent number: 10918143
    Abstract: One form of the present application is directed to a protective foam face mask which includes a frontal portion structured to cover at least a portion of a face of a user, wherein the frontal portion defines an ocular cavity. The foam face mask further includes two side portions astride the ocular cavity extending rearwardly from the frontal portion, wherein the side portions are structured to cover the ears of a user, and wherein the frontal portion and the side portions are constructed of a foam. The foam face mask further comprises a mesh eye shield extending across the ocular cavity, wherein an outer perimeter of the mesh eye shield is encased in the foam of the frontal portion and the side portions, and wherein the frontal portion, the side portions, and the mesh eye shield form a unitary face mask structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Global Archery, Inc.
    Inventor: John Jackson
  • Patent number: 10874160
    Abstract: A helmet having an energy absorbing layer and a sliding facilitator is provided. The sliding facilitator is provided inside of the energy absorbing layer. A method of manufacturing a helmet having a sliding facilitator is further provided. The method includes the steps of providing an energy absorbing layer in a mold, and providing a sliding facilitator contacting the energy absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Halldin
  • Patent number: 10842216
    Abstract: Protective headgear in one case comprises a main body having a pair of side head parts connected by a forehead part and a crown part extending from the forehead part. The body is shaped to encompass the head of a wearer. The main body comprises an inner sheet of an open cell polyurethane foam material, an outer barrier layer, and an intermediate section comprising portions of an open cell polyurethane foam material between the inner and the outer layers. The open cell polyurethane foam has a density of from 100 to 300 kg/m3 which significantly reduces the G-force energy transferred to a players head during impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Contego Sports Limited
    Inventor: Mark Ganly
  • Patent number: 10779601
    Abstract: A connector (20) for connecting first (14) and second (15) parts of an apparatus (1), comprising: a sliding plate (21); an anchor point (22) on one side of the plate, configured to be connected to the first part; and a deformable material, configured to at least partially cover the side of the plate on which the anchor point is located; wherein a peripheral region (23) of the deformable material is configured to be connected to the second part and an inner region of the deformable material is connected to at least one of the plate and the anchor point; the connector further comprising a layer of material (25, 30) that is located on the opposite side of the plate from the anchor point; wherein a low friction interface is provided between the opposing surfaces of the plate and the layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventors: Daniel Lanner, Marcus Seyffarth, Amy Louise Pomering
  • Patent number: 10780338
    Abstract: A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Bologna, Murphy Gillogly, Andrew Tryner, Thad M. Ide
  • Patent number: 10751212
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for preventing or curing pressure ulcers or chronic wounds. A multilayer dressing comprises a soft silicone jell layer of a suitable thickness which is placed in the multilayer dressing, above an absorbent layer. The matrix of the silicone jell layer is populated with a plurality of silicone beads of suitable size. The beads are connected to each other, and to the silicone jell layer. Breathing of wound and substantial supply of oxygen to the wound is duly insured for all layers of the multiple layer dressing. The beads play a pivotal role in promoting the effectiveness and performance of the multilayer dressing by acting as the plurality of effective cushions, as they absorb and uniformly redistribute a patient's body weight across the entire applied dressing area. The low adhering adhesive coating of about 5 mm in width is applied to the peripheral edges of all the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventors: Maryam Raza, Ahmed Masud Choudri
  • Patent number: 10736373
    Abstract: Helmets and methods for manufacturing a helmet are described. An example helmet includes a shell and a shock absorbing liner attached to the shell. The shock absorbing liner includes a cavity. The helmet a shock absorbing insert formed of a material different than the material of the shock absorbing liner. The cavity is configured to retain the shock absorbing insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Smith Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Chilson, John Lloyd, James Rogers, Piers Storey
  • Patent number: 10716351
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a zero impact head gear is provided including an outer helmet and an inner helmet. The outer helmet has forward and rear retaining stops protruding from the interior of the outer helmet. The inner helmet has a forward and rear retaining stops protruding from the inner helmet to allow movement of the inner helmet within the outer helmet, but capable of limiting a forward displacement the inner helmet with respect to the outer helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Peter G. Meade
  • Patent number: 10701270
    Abstract: A light blocking welding helmet having a helmet body with a shell having a head aperture produces an image from at least one (1) exterior camera within the helmet body. The helmet body includes an interior cavity containing an adjustable headband and an internal power source for powering the viewing screen and camera. The camera is mounted on the helmet body. Electrical circuitry is operatively connected to the power source, to the viewing screen, and to the camera such that the electrical circuitry causes the viewing screen to display the image produced by the camera. The image can be transmitted to a remote receiving unit where a weld can be monitored. Multiple cameras may be used and a control switch then selects which camera that will produce an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas J. LaFlech
  • Patent number: 10687574
    Abstract: A liner (10) for fitting within a headcap to provide a degree of impact protection, said liner comprising a generally concave shell for receiving a wearer's head, in use, and having a top section (16), a front section (12) and a rear section (14), and a pair of side panels extending downward from, and integrally formed with, respective side edges of said top section (16), wherein a first slot (14a) is provided on each side of said rear section (14), extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion (14b) located between said top portion (16) and said rear section (14), and a second slot (12a) is provided on each side of said front section (12) extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion (12b) located between said top portion (16) and said front section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: JSP Limited
    Inventors: Mark Williams, Clive Johnstone
  • Patent number: 10631793
    Abstract: Method for warning a coach in real-time that a team player suffered head injuries why playing on a sports field with other players present, comprising the steps of: having the player wear a headband with one battery powered multi-axial motion sensor mounted on the rear; measuring with the sensor 3-D (X-Y-Z) accelerations out of which 2-D (X-Y) is in essentially horizontal plane when the player is standing facing forward; establishing head bank, roll and yaw angular acceleration thresholds for mild, moderate and severe head injuries; having an applet calculate the angular accelerations form the linear accelerations or measure angular accelerations directly; comparing measured angular accelerations to threshold angular accelerations; warn the coach about the occurrence of threshold exceedances indicating mild, moderate or severe head injuries; log the time of the threshold exceedances along with the measured values of the angular accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Levell Luster
  • Patent number: 10588372
    Abstract: A multilayered floatable universal shock absorption system of safety helmet includes a main shell body, a subsidiary shell body, an elastic structure body floatably enclosed between the main shell body and the subsidiary shell body and a filling body. The upper and lower sections of the elastic structure body are respectively formed with multiple assembling sections and the main and subsidiary shell bodies are formed with multiple pivotal connection sections floatably correspondingly assembled with the assembling sections. An anchor unit is at least locally positioned between the assembling sections (or the main shell body and subsidiary shell body) in adjacency to each other. The filling body is bonded with the subsidiary shell body to form an integrated form. The structural strength of the entire assembly is enhanced to achieve multiple floatable universal cushioning, rotational torque absorption and external impact force transmission effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Chang-Hsien Ho
  • Patent number: 10561189
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protective headgear having a multi-layered shell to sequentially extend time of collision of a blunt trauma to a human head and to differentially release an average impact force of the collision to the human head wearing the protective headgear across a mid layer of the multi-layered shell. The mid layer is configured to separate centripetal mechanical waves of the collision from centrifugal mechanical waves of the collision in phase with the centripetal mechanical waves so as to reduce summation of in-phase bidirectional mechanical waves of bidirectional mechanical forces upon the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Choon Kee Lee
  • Patent number: 10495174
    Abstract: A system for reducing the effect of a force includes a panel having a first side and a second side; a plurality of contact members disposed around a perimeter of the panel first side; and a biasing member positioned around a perimeter of the panel second side. The perimeter of the panel second side generally corresponds to the perimeter of the panel first side. The biasing member biases the contact members toward the panel first side. In a use configuration, a force received by the panel second side is at least partially transferred to the contact members causing at least one of the contact members to temporarily lose contact with the panel first side, whereby the return of the contact member into contact with the panel first side imparts a second force onto the panel first side, the second force being less than the force transferred to the contact members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Newtonoid Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Fielding B. Staton
  • Patent number: 10327496
    Abstract: A helmet including a body, an outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of shock absorbers, the shock absorbers being positioned internal of the outer shell. A first set of shock absorbers has a first shock absorption characteristic and a second set of shock absorbers has a second shock absorption characteristic, the second shock absorption characteristic being different than the first shock absorption characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Rex Medical, L.P.
    Inventor: James F. McGuckin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10297244
    Abstract: Provided are: a carbonaceous acoustic matching layer which exhibits satisfactory mechanical strength, in which losses at a layer interface are suppressed as far as possible and in which the degree of variation in acoustic impedance in the thickness direction can be increased; and a method for producing same. The carbonaceous acoustic matching layer is obtained by dispersing filler particles, which are selected on the basis of the desired acoustic impedance of each layer, in a resin such as a furan resin, a phenol resin or a vinyl chloride resin, curing, laminating, and then carbonizing the resin by heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, amorphous carbon, which is obtained by the resin carbonization, is integrated across all the layers. The blending proportion of the filler particles is decided so that the difference in coefficient of linear contraction caused by the carbonization is at a minimum between adjacent layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI PENCIL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshiki Oono, Atsunori Satake, Takeshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10271603
    Abstract: A helmet comprising and outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner is disclosed. The outer liner comprises an interior surface and the inner liner comprises an exterior surface. The inner liner is composed of an elastically deformable material. A majority of the interior surface of the outer liner and a majority of the exterior surface of the inner liner are both substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section that is circular with a first radius and a sagittal cross section that is circular with a second radius different from the first radius. The inner liner is elastically deformable along the interior surface of the outer liner in response to rotation of the outer liner relative to the inner liner caused by an impact to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 10271604
    Abstract: A comfort padding, configured to be attached at an innermost surface of a helmet, which is facing a wearer's head, for providing a sliding movement in the comfort padding in response to an oblique force applied to the helmet in use is provided. The comfort padding comprises a layer of membrane material provided closer to the helmet than a layer of stretchable fabric or nonwoven material, and between the two layers there is a layer of open cell polymer foam, the membrane layer has a low friction surface allowing for a sliding movement between the layer of open cell polymer foam and the membrane material. A helmet comprising the comfort padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: POC Sweden AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Hallander
  • Patent number: 10212979
    Abstract: A helmet having an energy absorbing layer and a sliding facilitator is provided. The sliding facilitator is provided inside of the energy absorbing layer. A method of manufacturing a helmet having a sliding facilitator is further provided. The method comprising the steps of providing an energy absorbing layer in the mold, and providing a sliding facilitator contacting the energy absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventor: Peter Halldin
  • Patent number: 10212981
    Abstract: A helmet 100 includes a helmet shell 16, an outer liner layer 14 fixed inside the helmet shell 16; and an inner liner layer 12 positioned against the outer liner layer 14; the outer liner layer 14 having a dome-like concave curved internal surface; the inner liner layer 12 having a dome-like convex curved external surface; the said surfaces of the inner and outer liner layers 12, 14 being substantially spherical where they overlap for allowing rotational sliding movement of the inner liner layer against the outer liner layer; a rotation-limiting mechanism being provided for limiting rotation between the inner and outer liner layers; and at least one of the said surfaces of the inner and outer liner layers 12, 14 having recesses 18 therein for weakening the layer and for facilitating crushing of the layer when a sufficiently large radial force is applied, loosening the inner liner layer 12 within the outer liner layer 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Charles Owen & Company (Bow) Limited
    Inventors: Roy O. Burek, Matthew Stewart
  • Patent number: 10178889
    Abstract: A device, system, and elements for providing customizable and regionalized head protection are disclosed. One or more protective elements and/or cushioning elements can be permanently or removably attached to a wearable shell, to provide an increased level of protection for a wearer. The size, shape, and composition of the one or more protective elements and/or cushioning elements can be varied to alter the level and location of protection provided by the head protection device. One or more accessories also can be included in the head protection device, such as light sources and reflectors to enhance the visibility of the head protection device and to provide illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Wacter, Alison Hilda Wacter
  • Patent number: 10143258
    Abstract: A protective helmet includes a shell provided with an outer surface and an inner surface, at least one pad adapted, in use, to abut against the head of a user who wears the protective helmet, including at least one first surface and a second surface that are opposite each other, elements for the connection of at least one pad to the shell associated with the at least one first surface, wherein the at least one pad is shaped as a substantially laminar body and includes at least one layer deformable and configured in a manner such to allow the sliding and/or the relative rotation between the at least one first surface and the second surface following a shear stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ANOMALY ACTION SPORTS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Elena Salmini, Carlo Salmini, Theodore Sharp Ligety, Gianluca Bisol
  • Patent number: 10112366
    Abstract: A composite comprising a first layer formed of a transparent or translucent plastic material; a second layer formed of a semi-rigid or rigid plastic material; and a third layer, securely positioned between the first and second layers, formed of a material having reflective properties on at least a side facing the first layer. A method for forming a composite comprising providing a first transparent or translucent plastic material, a second semi-rigid or rigid plastic material, and a third material having reflective properties on at least one side; positioning the first material adjacent the at least one side of the third material having reflective properties and the second material on an opposing side of the foil material; and heating the first material and the second material to a temperature of between about 110° C. and about 130° C. to form a bond between the first material, the second material, and the third material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Triforce Luggage, LLC
    Inventor: Shibing Yu
  • Patent number: 10104924
    Abstract: A support element including a padding structure constructed of a plurality of interconnected spherical shaped structures together defining a pliable support element. The spherical shaped structures are interconnected to one another with a connection defining flexible interconnectors for enabling the padding structure to be flexibly bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Alfred K. Dassler, Robert M. Schwartz, Albert J. Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 9975032
    Abstract: An improved protective helmet having an outer impact receiving shell, and inner protective shell and an intermediate piston interposed between the outer and inner shells which allows the inner shell to decelerate gradually when the outer shell is subjected to a sudden impact, and which, therefore, permits the brain to decelerate safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Frey
  • Patent number: 9872532
    Abstract: A protective helmet may include an energy management material inside an outer surface, a rim positioned on an outwardly facing surface between an inner surface and the outer surface, a sweat management pad assembly with an absorbent forehead pad positioned in a front portion of the helmet proximate the rim, the assembly including at least one absorbent extension tab extending from the absorbent forehead pad and across a portion of a surface of the rim outward of the inner surface of the energy management material, wherein the absorbent extension tab extends at least half a distance across the rim between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a fastener positioned between the absorbent extension tab and the rim and coupling the absorbent extension tab to the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Hilgard N. Muller
  • Patent number: 9861153
    Abstract: Protective headgear apparatus (such as a helmet used for contact sports) is formed to comprise a non-rigid outer shell in the form of multiple layers of open-cell foam, each layer having a different density. A flexible, lightweight metal frame (i.e., a “cage”) is disposed to contact the inner surface of the outer shell (i.e., bonded in a manner that essentially “locks” the frame to the foam layer), and an open-cell foam cushion layer (in a waffle-like pattern) is bonded to the exposed surface of the metal frame. The various foam layers are preferably impregnated with activated carbon particles that electrostatically absorb (i.e., “capture”) the energy caused by blows to the outer shell. The captured energy is thereafter distributed throughout the volume of the foam layer itself, so as to minimize the amount of energy that reaches the wearer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PRO-TEKT ATHLETIC SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Finisdore
  • Patent number: 9844243
    Abstract: A protective member for a graphic transfer assembly includes an interior portion to receive a sole structure of an article of footwear. The protective member may protect the sole structure from heat applied by a graphic transfer assembly. The protective member can also prevent portions of a sole structure from damaging components of a graphic transfer assembly. The protective member can be contoured to improve the seal between deformable membranes of the graphic transfer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, David P. Jones, Jeremy L. Connell
  • Patent number: 9839251
    Abstract: A composite multi-axial impact protection liner for a helmet is provided that reduces rotational acceleration, rotational strain rate, and rotational strain that cause concussions. In a protective helmet so equipped, one or more layers of fluid polymer, including strain thinning and strain thickening polymers, are positioned between the wearer's head and a hard helmet shell. The liner offers greater injury protection, performance, and personal comfort using the rate dependent and combined effect of strain thinning and strain thickening of fluid polymer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Zymplr LC
    Inventors: Abraham Pannikottu, Abu Abraham
  • Patent number: 9814279
    Abstract: An integrally formed safety helmet structure includes an assembly of a helmet shell or a shell body, a foam filling body enclosed in the shell body and a structure body. Geometrical array texture structures are disposed at the assembling interfaces between the shell body, the structure body and the foam filling body. In manufacturing, by means of a mold or molding module and solid foaming technique, the foam filling body is integrally formed to bond with the shell body and the structure body and the geometrical array texture structures so as to form a compact and rigid multilayer complex reinforcement structure. The complex reinforcement structure not only can enhance the structural strength of the entire safety helmet, but also has the advantages of material-saving, lightweight, high security and easy manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Chang-Hsien Ho
  • Patent number: 9782962
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced resin composite for ballistic protection comprising a plurality of first and second plies wherein the first and second plies further comprise a woven fabric and a polymeric resin. The fabric has a Russell tightness factor of from 0.2 to 0.7 and a cover factor of at least 0.45, The fabric is impregnated with the resin, the resin comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent of the total weight of fabric plus resin. The fabric of each first and second ply comprises regions wherein the fabric is distorted from an orthogonal woven state by a distortion angle of least 30 degrees. The composite may further comprising a third ply having a surface area no greater than 50% of the surface area of a first and second ply. The ratio of the number of first plus second plies to the number of third plies is from 2:1 to 12:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Hanks, Brian Charles West, John Henry McMinn, Bryce Vanarsdalen
  • Patent number: 9603406
    Abstract: A helmet with an energy absorbing layer (2) and a sliding facilitator (5) is provided. The sliding facilitator is provided inside of the energy absorbing layer (2). A method of manufacturing a helmet with a sliding facilitator is further provided. The method has the steps of providing an energy absorbing layer in the mold, and providing a sliding facilitator contacting the energy absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventor: Peter Halldin
  • Patent number: 9585433
    Abstract: A helmet with an outer shell made from a fiber reinforced material, and preferably a fiber reinforced polymer. The helmet preferably has a critical impact area that contains a greater concentration of fibers. Preferably, the helmet has a weight, offset, and dimensions which are comparable to a helmet with an outer shell that is not made from a fiber reinforced material. The helmet is preferably stiffer and more protective than a conventional helmet not having a fiber reinforced outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Wade Heimer, Matthew V. Vacek, Biju Mathew, Scott Jeffrey Sorensen
  • Patent number: 9557144
    Abstract: The helmet appliqué assembly of the present invention permits a helmet wearer to upgrade the ballistic prevention capabilities of a traditional helmet quickly and efficiently. The helmet appliqué can be provided as part of a helmet appliqué system and/or assembly that includes internal-side connection means for attaching to a helmet and external-side connection means for receiving any of various external items such as identification tags, mounts and external equipment or attachments. The appliqué element can comprise various types of material, including, for example, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In one embodiment of the present invention, multiple helmet appliqué elements are employed on the same helmet and include surfaces and portions that are cooperatively engageable for covering multiple areas of the helmet at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Velocity Systems LLC
    Inventor: David B. Strum
  • Patent number: 9554613
    Abstract: Provided is a safety helmet that exhibits more than one color. Methods of manufacturing such safety helmets are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Radians, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike S. Tutor
  • Patent number: 9474318
    Abstract: An alpine helmet for protecting the head of a wearer while the helmet is worn over a broad temperature range includes an outer shell and an energy dissipating internal padding assembly coupled to the outer shell. The padding assembly includes a first pad layer disposed inwardly of a second pad layer which may be adjacent an inner surface of the helmet shell. The first pad layer includes an arrangement of structural alterations that affect the performance of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wesson, Samuel Kass
  • Patent number: 9370215
    Abstract: A helmet cover that has an outer skin, an impact absorbing material and at least one vent comprising an aperture tough the helmet cover is described. A helmet cover vent may be aligned with a vent in a helmet, thereby providing for improved ventilation and cooling, and may be attached to a helmet. A helmet cover vent may be configured as a tapered or flared vent, and may be an air capture vent. The impact absorbing material may be configured over substantially the entire helmet cover surface, or may cover only a portion of the surface. In one embodiment, the impact absorbing material is configured as a discrete pad that is located where impact is most common, such as on the front, sides, or back of the helmet cover. A discrete pad may be interchangeable, allowing for customizing the type and location of impact absorption on the helmet cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Protective Sports Equipment International Inc
    Inventors: Albert E Straus, Frank Lytle
  • Patent number: 9370216
    Abstract: The present invention is for a safety helmet having a hard outer shell having a plurality of protective flexible air bags for protecting a person's head against blows to the helmet outer shell and having a shock absorbing face guard. Each air bag may have a plurality of cushioning air bags enclosure layers mounted to a thin foamed polymer shell lining. Each enclosure layer of each air bag has an interior filled with a resilient multi-cellular sponge like material, such as a shaped foamed polyurethane sponge, and has a plurality of air escapement openings sized to meter the release of air under impact to the helmet hard shell under predetermined pressure with a different air release pressure for each enclosure layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Charles W. Brantley