Impact protection for people and goods involved in athletics, transportation, industrial, and military activities comprises a hybrid crush zone shock absorber apparatus, systems, and methods of using the same. More specifically, the present invention reduces forces transmitted to a person or item exposed to impact. Primary applications are in protective articles such as helmets and body padding, surfaces which people or goods may impact, and shock isolation packaging. In addition to reduction in transmitted impact forces, our invention provides clear, irreversible visual indication of the state of readiness of the protective gear to which it is fitted.

An apparatus for attenuating the transmission of an impact force from a faceguard to a helmet shell includes: at least one lobe configured to constrain at least a portion of the faceguard; a fastener attachment disk extending through recesses in the helmet shell; and a force attenuation protrusion coaxially aligned with the fastener attachment feature

An impact reducing headgear is disclosed which utilizes dynamically responsive materials which undergo physical changes during exposure to impact forces, such that physical changes or phase changes absorb energy. The helmet may be constructed with a dual shell structure and a bladder, where the dynamically responsive materials may be contained.

An impact reducing headgear is disclosed which utilizes dynamically responsive materials which undergo physical changes during exposure to impact forces, such that physical changes or phase changes absorb energy. The helmet may be constructed with a dual shell structure and a bladder, where the dynamically responsive materials may be contained. A embodiment for a comfortable fit which remains tight to the wearer's head is disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a helmet suspension system including a number of levers, wherein a first lever of the number of levers rotates about a fulcrum in response to an impact force of a collision between a helmet shell and a foreign object to obtain a lever response. The system includes a sacrificial assembly including a first deformable member, wherein the sacrificial assembly is in communication with a group of levers of the number of levers. A first strain applied to the first deformable member according to the lever response to obtain a first stress response of the first deformable member based on a first stress-strain relationship including a non-linear response. The first stress response of the first deformable member includes the non-linear response, wherein the first stress response reduces a portion of the impact force transmitted to a body of a user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention provides a head protection helmet comprising an impact resistant shell comprising: a cavity for accommodating a user's head and an array of crushable bodies having a hollow closed configuration, e.g. flutes in corrugated material 14,16, the crushable bodies each having an axis that extends outwardly from the cavity to absorb impact forces exerted along the direction of the axis.

There is disclosed an improved impact absorption padding for a contact sports helmet, for contact sports such as football, hockey and lacrosse, which incorporates a plurality of air pockets formed from a resiliently flexible material, such as plastic or rubber. At least some of the air pockets enclose a coil or spring. The coil or spring is also resiliently flexible over a wide range of temperatures, and oriented to compress in the general direction of impact to absorb a substantial portion of the energy before it is transferred to the head of the player. The coil or spring is also sized and shaped to return the air pocket to a desired thickness and shape after an impact. The air pockets may be arranged to substantially cover the outside of a contact sports helmet shell as a layer of impact absorption padding. A second inner layer of impact absorption padding may also be provided inside the contact sports helmet shell.

A head protection helmet including an impact resistant shell that includes a cavity for accommodating a user's head. The helmet further includes an array of crushable bodies having a hollow closed configuration, e.g. flutes in corrugated material 14, 16, the crushable bodies each having an axis that extends outwardly from the cavity to absorb impact forces exerted along the direction of the axis.

A wearable impact protection system is provided that includes an inner layer of a first shear thickening material that faces a wearer in use, an outer layer of a second shear thickening material and an intermediate deformable layer. In one example the impact protection system is provided in the form of a helmet.

An impact reducing headgear is disclosed which utilizes dynamically responsive materials which undergo physical changes during exposure to impact forces, such that physical changes or phase changes absorb energy. The helmet may be constructed with a dual shell structure and a bladder, where the dynamically responsive materials may be contained.