By Interior Pads Patents (Class 2/414)
  • Patent number: 8239970
    Abstract: In a helmet according to this invention, a recess-projection fitting mechanism to attach a blockish inside pad on a head protecting cap portion side includes a male hook or female hook on the blockish inside pad side, and a female hook or male hook on the head protecting cap portion. When pulling the inside pad outward from inside the head protecting cap portion at least partly, a recess-projection fitting disengaging slant surface causes one hook to relatively levitate from the other hook, thus relatively disengaging the male hook from the female hook. This invention can provide the helmet which, when worn by a head of a helmet wearer, can be removed with a comparatively small force, and the detaching operation of which can be performed easily and reliably with a comparatively simple arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Shoei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20120198605
    Abstract: A protective pad for a sports helmet having a shell for covering at least part of the head of a wearer, the pad including a first resilient shock absorbing member of plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane, the first member having a sheet portion with a plurality of hollow protrusions, tapering side walls of the protrusions extending substantially to an inside surface of the side area of the shell and being compressible for absorbing shocks applied to the shell. The pad includes a second resilient shock absorbing member of a monolithic block of foam fixed to the sheet portion of the first member for engaging the wearer's head. A plastic cover covers the second shock absorbing member and a plurality of fasteners removably connects the pad at to the shell by at least some of the protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Kranos IP Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Maddux, Raymond J. Drake, JR., Louis Anthony VanHoutin, Vincent R. Long, Cortney Warmouth
  • Publication number: 20120198604
    Abstract: An embodiment of a safety helmet for protecting the human head against repetitive impacts, moderate impacts and severe impacts so as to significantly reduce the likelihood of both translational and rotational brain injury and concussions includes a outer shell, an outer liner disposed within and coupled to the outer shell, and an inner liner disposed within and coupled in spaced opposition to the outer liner by a plurality of isolation dampers for omnidirectional movement of the inner liner relative to the outer liner and the outer shell
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Innovation Dynamics LLC
    Inventors: Robert Weber, Robert Daniel Reisinger
  • Patent number: 8235045
    Abstract: The invention is a method for padding CPAP face and full face masks forehead and nose bridge area to prevent skin irritation, discomfort, indentions, allergies and ulcers. The pad is attached to the forehead part of the CPAP face mask by way of pockets sewn into the body of the pad. The pad protects the forehead area of the wearer as well as the nose bridge by way of a flap of material that fits between the seal of the mask and the wearer's nose bridge area distributing the pressure from the mask seal. Persons with sleep apnea rely on CPAP therapy to prevent the obstruction in order to continue to breathe while sleeping. The CPAP masks appear medical and strange, especially to a new user of the device. By making the CPAP mask more comfortable with soft padding and also preventing marks and sores, it is more likely that the person will continue their therapy and improve their health.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Karen Leigh Moore
  • Patent number: 8237627
    Abstract: A head-mounted device for mounting on the head of a user includes a first pressing member for pressing a first portion of the head from a first direction; a second pressing member for pressing a second portion of the head from a second direction that is different from the first direction; a string member that concatenates the first pressing member and the second pressing member; a structure that guides the string member so that the first and the second pressing members move in the first and the second directions, respectively, according to changes in the length of the string member; and an adjusting unit that adjusts the length of the string member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakabayashi, Toshiyuki Yasuda, Toshiki Ishino, Yoshihiro Saito, Toshiyuki Okuma, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroshi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20120192337
    Abstract: Helmets and pad kits for use in helmet shells are provided. The pad kits, when inserted or attached to the inner surface of a helmet shell, provide a user or wearer with enhance blunt force protection relative to padding in prior helmet systems. Pad kits include pads having one or more layers of differing material, typically two or more layers of material; one layer including a rate sensitive, impact absorbing material, and another layer including a comfort or form-fitting material. The impact absorbing material provides enhanced protection to the user's head from impact to the helmet shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Guardian Protective Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John Divine, Scott Alford, David Dennis
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120174294
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a helmet having magnetic coupling is provided. In a particular embodiment, the helmet includes at least one protective layer configured to cover at least a portion of a user's head and a pad coupled to a back plate, a back plate coupled to a protective layer, a back plate comprising a magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher David Sackett
  • 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: 20120167289
    Abstract: An apparatus for protective body armor to protect the head, neck, and spine from impaction, lateral extension, hyperflexion, hyperextension, while allowing for normal physiologic movement and range of head and neck motion is disclosed. In at least one embodiment a protective body armor includes: a shell adapted to couple to at least one upper body plate, to cover the head and neck, to allow normal physiologic movement and range of the head and the neck within the shell, and to prevent movement beyond the normal movement and range, wherein the shell does not move relative to the at least one upper body plate once rigidly coupled and the farthest distance the head can move upon an impact to the user is within a boundary of the shell; and a skull pad for wear by the user directly upon the head within the shell and for coverage of the skull area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Kim
  • Publication number: 20120167285
    Abstract: The present invention is a dry erase helmet with dry erase markers and/or a stencil set. The dome-shaped helmet of the present invention includes adjustable straps and an exterior surface of the helmet cover that is also a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion. The helmet comes with a set of dry erase markers and a stencil kit to help with designs. The invention is a combination of two existing products, a helmet and dry erase markers. The exterior surface of the helmet shell is adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Oppenheim
  • Patent number: 8205272
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: SportsGuard, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Green, Cliff Zatz
  • Patent number: 8201275
    Abstract: A protective goggle assembly includes a protective goggle having two side straps, each side strap comprises a free end and a first surface attachment region adjacent to the free end on at least one surface of each side strap; and a strap assembly that encircles the user's head, on each side of the strap assembly a second surface attachment region is provided that is configured to engage the first surface attachment region of the side straps. Free ends of the base band of the strap assembly are connected to an elastic ring to form a complete encircling band. The base band has a tail for securing the base band in position on a helmet. The complete encircling band is configured to fit around a soldier's helmet and the elastic ring being configured to fit over and around a night vision goggle mount at a front of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Revision Military Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Packard, Kimberly Borsa, Adam North Lazar, James Patrick Radigan
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120124718
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective hat suitable for every day wear by infants, children, senior citizens or physically disabled individuals. Such hat protects at least the sides, top or rear of the wearer's head from injuries due to falls or bumps against bard objects while conducting routine, daily activities. Generally, the head protector of the present invention may comprise: (1) a cap member; and (2) one or more flexible, resilient shock absorbent pads. The cap member may be constructed so as to fully enclose and/or encapsulate the one or more pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Brooke Picotte
  • 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: 8166574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective helmet (10), particularly for motorcyclists or the like, having an exterior casing particularly configured as an exterior shell (11), and a lining element arrangement (12), which is received in the exterior casing and lines the same at least in some regions, wherein the lining element arrangement (12) has at least two lining elements, wherein at least one lining element is configured as a cushion element (14) filled with filling bodies (21), and at least one further lining element is configured as a lining shell element (17), wherein the cushion element (14) is surrounded at least along its contour by at least one lining shell element (17), which at least partially supports a contour surface of the cushion element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: OPED AG
    Inventor: Andreas Hassler
  • Publication number: 20120073034
    Abstract: A protective helmet of the type comprising a shell provided with a chin guard and with an opening for a visor, one or more shock absorbing layers, internally coupled to said shell and to said chin guard, and to one or more paddings within said one o more shock absorbing layers, as well as at least one support mask for one shock absorbing layer of the chin guard, said at least one support mask comprising holding means for said shock absorbing layer of the chin guard, and hooking means to the chin guard and/or the shell, characterized in that said at least one support mask comprises further temporary coupling means of at least said one or more paddings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: OPTICOS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca GAFFORIO, Gabriele TOMASONI, Alberto SALVETTI
  • Publication number: 20120054947
    Abstract: A helmet for receiving a head of a hockey or lacrosse player, the helmet comprising a front shell; a rear shell, the rear shell comprising inner and outer surfaces and an elongated slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the helmet; a rear inner pad for facing the back and left and right side regions of the head, the rear inner pad being mounted to the rear shell; an occipital inner pad located below the rear inner pad for facing the occipital region of the head; a central member extending along the longitudinal axis of the helmet, the central member comprising an upper part hingedly mounted with respect to the rear shell and a lower part mounted to the occipital inner pad; and a single wedging member located between the rear shell and the central member, the single wedging member being movable along the longitudinal axis of the helmet from a first position to a second position wherein, in use, in the first position, the occipital inner pad applies a first pressure upon the occipital region of the head, a
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Jacques DUROCHER
  • Publication number: 20120047635
    Abstract: A safety helmet includes damping elements for example made from expanded polystyrene added onto a shell made from an elastically deformable material. The whole of the surface, facing the shell, of the damping elements arranged along the periphery of the opening is positioned against the shell to form an inner supporting belt completely in contact with the shell. The helmet is arranged in such a way that a position of the head in the cavity of the helmet causes a deformation of the supporting belt by elastic deformation of the shell according to the morphology of the head, generating permanent tightening of the supporting belt against the head in substantially uniform manner along the supporting belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KUJI SPORTS LTD
    Inventors: Rémi Finiel, Shaw Kaake, Ku Cheng-Huei, Xiang Zi Ping, Roger Davis
  • Publication number: 20120036620
    Abstract: Padding systems for use with helmets are described. An example padding system includes a pad body having a substantially unitary base portion. The base portion has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side to face an inner surface of a helmet and the second side to face the head of a person when the helmet is worn by the person. The padding system also includes a first plurality of raised portions distributed on the first side of the base portion, at least some of the first raised portions extending beyond a first surface of the first side to fill first spaces between the inner surface of the helmet and the pad body when the padding system is installed in the helmet and the helmet is worn by the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Kerry Sheldon Harris
  • Publication number: 20120017358
    Abstract: A protective helmet having an inner shell and an outer shell assembly. Internal padding contacts an inner surface of the inner shell and an energy absorbing layer is positioned between the inner shell and the outer shell assembly. The outer shell assembly includes a plurality of rigid, outer shell segments with at least one of the outer shell segments designed and arranged to move relative to the other outer shell segments upon receiving an impact force. The external energy absorbing layer and the outer shell assembly dampens impact energy before it reaches the inner shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Michael M. Princip, James C. Wingo, Jeremy J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20120011639
    Abstract: A helmet has a rigid shell and an adjustable liner connected to the shell. The liner has a plurality of pads located in the shell cavity. The pads are movable with respect to the interior shell surface between a first position near the interior shell surface and a second position further away. In some embodiments, pads are biased towards their second position and the act of the wearer inserting his head into the helmet causes the pads to move towards their first position while remaining biased against the head of the wearer to assist in causing the liner to conform to the head of the wearer. In other embodiments, constriction of the pads moves pads from their second position to their first position, for this same purpose. In other embodiments, pads having both of the aforementioned characteristics are present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SPORT MASKA INC.
    Inventors: Pierre-Luc BEAUCHAMP, Sebastien MORIN, Philippe VALIQUETTE
  • Publication number: 20120000010
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing pad structure includes an energy-absorbing pad that is encapsulated by a polymeric film. The polymeric film is sufficiently air-permeable to permit air to escape during rapid compression of the pad structure, such as from a high-speed dynamic impact, but nonetheless is water resistant under ordinary conditions. It is desirable that the polymeric film is made from an elastic polymer. The air-permeability can be provided from a series of perforations such that the film's elastic quality tends to contract the perforations thereby impeding the progress of water through them under normal conditions. The energy-absorbing pad can be a semi-rigid viscoelastic foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Dan T. Moore, III, Kathleen M. Novak
  • Patent number: 8087099
    Abstract: A cap-like head backing cover includes a plurality of types of cover components. The plurality of types of cover components include cover main body portions, and connecting means capable of separably connecting and combining the cover main body portions of one of the cover components to and with the cover main body portions of another at least one of the cover components. The cover main body portions of the plurality of types of cover components are connected to and combined with each other by the connecting means, to form the cap-like head backing cover which includes the plurality of types of cover components and is independent. With the helmet having this arrangement, even when a helmet wearer whose head shape is different from that of an average human head is to wear the helmet, the helmet can be matched to the head of the helmet wearer substantially optimally. The helmet size can be not only partially decreased but also partially increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Shoei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sawabe
  • Publication number: 20110307997
    Abstract: A protective headgear device including a fabric cap (102) into which a hard shell (120) of reinforced fibers is inserted. A foam liner 140 or foam inserts (1500) are secured to the hard outer shell 120 and serve a shock absorbing function. The foam liner (14) and/or foam inserts (120) include or form grooves and/or channels used to direct hot air towards the top center of the headgear assembly where the hot air can be vented through holes which extend through the cap (102) and hard outer shell (120). The holes may pass through the foam liner 140 or meet up with holes on channels in or between the foam inserts through which air can pass. The hard outer shell maybe thinnest on top and thicker on the left and right sides. The center front and rear may be the same thickness as the top of the hard shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Mary Lynne Blair
  • Publication number: 20110296594
    Abstract: An energy management structure is adapted to absorb a force applied thereto. The structure includes a first component possessing a first compressive response profile, a second component possessing a second compressive response profile different from the first compressive response profile, and a third component connecting the first component to the second component. Upon application of a force, the second compressive response profile of the second component is additive to the first compressive response profile of the first component to result in an overall compressive response profile of the energy management structure that meets a design compressive response profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn THOMAS, Ronald M. SZALKOWSKI, Joseph Vincent PEASE, III
  • Patent number: 8069498
    Abstract: A protective arrangement has a rigid shell to cover a body part and at least one impact absorbing pad removably attached to the inner surface of the rigid shell. The pad has an outer part made of an outer curved sheet and an inner part made of an inner sheet that is parallel to and spaced inwardly from the outer sheet to define a space. The inner and outer sheets have a plurality of spaced apart projecting hollow protrusions extending to the other sheet, the protrusions of one sheet alternating with the protrusions of the other sheet to form an impact absorbing pattern of alternating protrusions in the space between the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kranos IP Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Maddux, Raymond J. Drake, Jr., Louis Anthony VanHoutin, Vincent R. Long, Cortney Warmouth
  • Patent number: 8060951
    Abstract: A low profile protective helmet having an interior surface that is immediately adjacent the top of the wearer's head when the helmet is being worn. The interior surface defines a distal point which represents the furthest distance between the top of the wearer's head and the interior surface when the helmet is being worn. The height of the low profile helmet is approximately 4.7 inches and the distal point is approximately 1.3 inches to the top of the wearer's head which is at least 1 inch closer to the top of the wearer's head than with prior art hard hats. The close fit minimizes the weight of the helmet itself, and provides stability of the helmet on the head. The helmet includes shock absorbing means integral to the outer shell that defines a first extension and a second extension in perpendicular relationship with the first extension such that the outer shell is of a relatively greater depth along the defined extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Hosea Smith
  • Publication number: 20110277221
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protective sports helmet for a wearer engaged in a contact sport, such as football. The helmet includes a shell having a front region, a rear region, two side regions, and an ear flap depending from a side region. A jaw flap extends forwardly from each ear flap, wherein the jaw flap overlies an extent of a mandible of the wearer. The shell also includes a raised central band that extends from the front region across the crown to the rear region. The central band has lower side portions that extend from the rear region towards the side region of the shell and terminate proximate an ear opening in the shell. The central band has a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls that extend transversely from an outer surface of the shell. The shell also includes a first plurality of vent openings aligned along a first side of the raised central band and a second plurality of vent openings aligned along a second side of the band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: RIDDELL, INC.
    Inventors: Thad M. Ide, Ralph J. Infusino, Nelson Kraemer, Christopher R.P. Withnall, Timothy D. Bayne
  • Publication number: 20110271430
    Abstract: A helmet for baseball pitchers and fielders includes features to protect a player's head and face from being struck by a batted ball. The helmet optionally includes side protection, which may include cheek, jaw, temple, or chin protection. The helmet also may optionally include a face mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: EASTON SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mike Lowe, Chris Bullock, Donald Erickson
  • Patent number: 8042198
    Abstract: A protective headguard comprising a front pad, rear pad and left and right, upper and lower bands. The front pad protectively covers at least a portion of a human forehead. The left and right, upper and lower bands extend in opposite lateral directions from opposite sides of the front pad. The upper and lower bands form first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention. The upper bands do not cooperatively interact with the lower pair of bands such that the upper and lower pairs of bands are independently adjustable so as to permit the first and second tensioned circumferential lines of retention to be separately and independently fitted to a human head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Full90 Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: William K. Cleveland
  • Publication number: 20110252545
    Abstract: A cover for a lacrosse helmet made from four elastic fabric panels is disclosed that closely conforms to the shape of a lacrosse helmet and includes a center panel that is cut into the shape of a polygon and has a front side a rear side and two lateral sides, a pair of lateral panels and a rear panel that is cut into the shape of a segment of a circle that includes a straight side and an arcuate side. The rear side of the center panel is attacked to the middle of the arcuate side of the rear panel. The lateral panels are shaped to cover the portion of the helmet that is opposite the ears and include straps that fasten to a chin guard of a conventional lacrosse helmet. The straight side of the rear panel and a front side of the central panel are gathered together and sewn to allow these sections to stretch. The helmet cover further includes openings in the rear panel to allow access to snap-on posts provided on the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Stacey Irrgang, Lisa Hapney, Bennett Cummings
  • Publication number: 20110218756
    Abstract: Sensing a force and/or a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface via a conformal sensing element (e.g., a pressure sensor, an accelerometer) disposed on a flexible substrate and having a sufficient mechanical coupling to the surface. The conformality of the sensing element facilitates intimate proximity to the surface to ensure accurate sensing. Examples of arbitrarily-shaped surfaces include body parts of a person (e.g., a head). A processor receiving one or more signals from the sensing element may provide information relating to possible injury to a body part (e.g., head trauma) resulting from sensed forces and/or changes in motion. Such information may be conveyed by one or more output devices that provide indications of possible degrees of injury/trauma. A conformal sensing apparatus may be integrated with a protective garment or accessory, such as a helmet, wherein the conformality of the sensing apparatus also ensures sufficient comfort for the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Gilman Callsen, Roozbeh Ghaffari, William J. Arora, Bassel de Graff, Benjamin Schlatka, Jeffrey D. Carbeck
  • Patent number: 8001622
    Abstract: A pad (10), a plurality of which can be positioned in a helmet (21) or the like for comfort and protection, includes a first generally rectangular fabric material (11) having truncated corners (25). A first generally rectangular foam material (12) having truncated corners (24) includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces (18), the top surface being attached to the first fabric material (11). A second generally rectangular foam material (14) having truncated corners (22) includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces (19) having a scallop (23), the top surface being attached to the bottom surface of the first foam material (14). A second generally rectangular fabric material (16) having truncated corners (22) and sides having a scallop (23) is attached to the bottom surface of the second foam material (14). The side surfaces (18, 19) of the first and second foam materials (12, 14) are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Remington Products Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Culley, Mickey Smicklevich
  • Patent number: 7966673
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a cap includes a rigid liner that is secured to an interior or exterior of the cap to provide impact protection over a portion of the forehead region, crown and temple area. An absorbent liner is preferably included if the cap does not include an interior liner. The absorbent liner absorbs perspiration from the brow of the wearer. An optional energy attenuating liner can also be included as an inner layer that is disposed adjacent to the rigid liner and intermediate the head of the wearer to more safely distribute kinetic energy. The energy attenuating liner can include a material that provides single-use only or multiple-use capability. The rigid liner and other components are either permanently attached to the cap or they may be detachably-attachable with respect to the cap or with respect to a remainder of the apparatus and replaced, as desired. Any preferred material may be used for any component part of the protective shield for a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Edwin Lowell Gibson
  • Patent number: 7958572
    Abstract: This protective helmet comprises a rigid or semi-rigid external shell comprising a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid flaps joined together and a compressively deformable internal liner acting as a shock absorber, the latter also comprising several elements associated with said flaps. At least some of the flaps that constitute the external shell are capable of moving relative to each other at their respective means of connection and the elements that constitute the internal liner associated with the flaps in question are designed so that they retract inside the volume defined by the helmet during relative displacement of the corresponding flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: PJDO
    Inventors: Paul Loury, Pascal Joubert Des Ouches
  • Patent number: 7958573
    Abstract: A helmet liner that is infinitely adjustable by the user in the field is provided. The helmet liner includes front, center and rear cushioning portions with integrally formed spaces between the front and center portions, and the rear and center portions. The integrally formed spaces provide the liner with the ability to independently flex [in one degree of freedom] and bend [in a second degree of freedom] to collapse the spaces without any overlapping of cushioning portions and thereby conform the liner to the hemi-spherical shape of the wearer's head. The spaces provide ventilation for the wearer's head. The helmet liner may also provide for variable thickness of one or more of cushioning portions as well as antimicrobial treatment of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lewis, Jr., Paul J. Tomazic, Charles G. Rudolf
  • Patent number: 7950073
    Abstract: Headgear of the type having an outer layer and a relatively flexible inner layer includes a belt which extends around the inner layer within the outer layer, and a tensioning device which can tension the belt causing the belt to urge the inner layer inward away from the outer layer and against the helmet wearer's head. Preferably, the tensioning device includes a chinstrap assembly releasably fastened to the front of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Xenith, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent R. Ferrara
  • Patent number: 7937778
    Abstract: A cap (10) is provided with a plurality of pockets (29) formed between a plurality of panels (13-18) and fabric materials (25) attached to each of the panels (13-18). The pockets (29) have an open end which is covered by a headband (23). A protection segment (30) is positioned in each pocket (29) and includes a plastic protective panel (31) and an energy absorbing foam layer (32). The segments (30) are curved in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, but not all of the segments (30) have the same radii of curvature in those directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: No Problem, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Norton
  • Publication number: 20110088147
    Abstract: A cheek pad provided with shape-retaining properties is easily attached or removed, having light weight and effective shock-absorbing performance. A cheek pad includes a shock-absorbing member having shape-retaining properties and shock-absorbing properties and a cushioning member stacked on the shock-absorbing member in the thickness direction. A fixing member is provided on the front side of the inner surface of the right side of the helmet shell facing the cheek pad to removably fix the cheek pad, and an engaging body to be removably engaged with the fixing member is fixed on the shock-absorbing member. The fixing member is opposed to the front edge of the shock-absorbing liner, having a slit to be engaged with or disengaged from the engaging body in a front-back direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Michio Arai
  • Patent number: 7904971
    Abstract: The present invention provides pads and padding systems for use in protective helmets, and particularly ballistic helmets. Generally, the pad includes a first, outer layer which provides substantial impact resistance and a second, inner layer which provides cushioning and comfort. The pad does not require the use of a moisture-proof, non-perforated, encapsulating layer since both layers provide little resistance to fluid flow. The pad may also include a cover made of moisture-wicking material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Inventors: Mason T. Doria, Christopher A. Huber
  • Publication number: 20110047679
    Abstract: A helmet, adjustable longitudinally and laterally to fit a variety of head configurations, includes an outer shell having front and a rear shell parts, which are movably joined with one another, and an adjuster. The rear outer shell and/or the front outer shell can include first and second lateral shell portions separated by a slot. The adjuster can move the first and second lateral shell portions away from one another from a narrowed mode to a widened mode to increase the lateral dimension of the helmet. Simultaneously, the adjuster can move the front and/or rear shell to increase the longitudinal dimension of the helmet as the first and second lateral shell portions move from a narrowed mode to a widened mode. A method is also provided for effecting the longitudinal and lateral adjustments of the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: WARRIOR SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Rogers, Kyle L. Lamson, Neil E. Wensley, Kyle A. Walters
  • Publication number: 20110047680
    Abstract: A batting helmet having localized impact protection comprises a rigid shell with a padded inner core affixed therein. Localized impact protection comprises additional padding attached to the inner core, increased thickness of the rigid shell, increased stiffness of the rigid shell, and additional padding attached to the rigid shell, alone or in combination, positioned in various regions of the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Brian Hoying, Kevin Bowman, Art Chou, Michael A. Lorenz, Kevin J. Vititoe
  • Patent number: 7854023
    Abstract: A helmet that can be removed from the head of a helmet wearer who wears the helmet, with a comparatively small force, and simply and quickly including preliminary operation for removal. A recess-projection fitting mechanism to attach a blockish inside pad to a head protecting cap portion includes a male hook on a blockish inside pad side, and a female hook on a head protecting cap portion side. The interrupt portion of a pad takeout member including a pulling means can interrupt between the male hook and female hook to disengage their recess-projection fitting, and can catch on the male hook, and the male hook can be pulled out to outside the head protecting cap portion at least halfway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Shoei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ando
  • Publication number: 20100306904
    Abstract: A protective headwear having shock absorptive and insulating properties includes a head-receiving shell member adapted to overlie the head of a wearer and an integral padding member disposed between the at least two plies of the shell member. The padding member is formed of a resilient shock absorbent polymeric foam material, wherein the padding member is fully encapsulated between the at least two plies of the shell member. The padding member has a plurality of individual sections, with each individual section adapted to overlie and protect one of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes of the brain and head of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: HatMet.Inc.
    Inventor: Steven K. Neid
  • Publication number: 20100299812
    Abstract: A protective arrangement has a rigid shell to cover a body part and at least one impact absorbing pad removably attached to the inner surface of the rigid shell. The pad has an outer part made of an outer curved sheet and an inner part made of an inner sheet that is parallel to and spaced inwardly from the outer sheet to define a space. The inner and outer sheets have a plurality of spaced apart projecting hollow protrusions extending to the other sheet, the protrusions of one sheet alternating with the protrusions of the other sheet to form an impact absorbing pattern of alternating protrusions in the space between the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Larry E. Maddux, Raymond J. Drake, JR., Louis Anthony VanHoutin, Vincent R. Long, Cortney Warmouth
  • Publication number: 20100299813
    Abstract: An improved helmet padding includes a multi-layered liner including an innermost layer consisting of a comfort liner designed to engage the head of the user, and having an outer surface covered by an inner surface of a relatively low density foam layer. The relatively low density foam layer consists of a first region of relatively uniform thickness with an outer area from which a multiplicity of protuberances extend radially outwardly. The radially outward layer of the inventive padding consists of a layer of relatively high density foam. The outer layer includes a plurality of recesses corresponding to the protuberances of the inner layer and sized to snugly receive the conical protuberances therewithin. The outer surface of the outer foam layer is shaped and configured to engage the outer shell of a helmet in which it is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Don E. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7841025
    Abstract: A jaw pad cover for expandably conforming to a shape of a jaw pad for protectively covering the jaw pad of a headgear is provided. The jaw pad cover comprises a stretchable material blank having a first section and a second section joined together with a stitch. The means for receiving the jaw pad therein the jaw pad cover is therethrough a first aperture and a second aperture therein the first section. The first aperture is larger than the second aperture to allow the jaw pad to freely pass therethrough so that when the jaw pad is positioned therein the jaw pad cover, a fastening means on the jaw pad for receiving the jaw pad and the jaw pad cover on the headgear is accessible therethrough the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua M. Fink, Robbie M. Storey