A helmet assembly includes an upper member, a lower member, and rigid or semi-rigid plates connected between the two members. The helmet may include a series of fluidly connected air compartments beneath the plates is disclosed. Embodiments of the helmet may dissipate impact energy in multiple ways including deformation of the plates, shifting of the plates, cushioning of the plates against a resilient compressible material present in the upper member, compression of air within the air compartments, movement of air within the air compartments, and/or expansion of air in non-impacted sections of the air compartments which causes the shifting of non-impacted plates. Springs with or without resilient, compressible inserts may be positioned between movable plates and a frame member. A spine including compressible material may extend along a top section of the helmet and connect plates on opposite sides of the helmet.

An improved design for a helmet to reduce injuries caused by helmet-to-helmet collisions. Certain embodiments include novel quick release features that permit the detachment of a facemask from a helmet in 30 seconds or less so as to attend to an injured player in a rapid fashion. Other aspects relate to impact energy absorbing constructions employing an inner layer, an outer layer spaced apart from the inner padding layer, at least one layer that includes an array of polygonal structures, and at least one layer having a shock-absorbing elastomer, a visco-elastic polymer, an impact dispersing gel, or shape memory material. Still other embodiments include a wireless device with a sensor module coupled to the football helmet generating sensor data in response to an impact to the football helmet.

An impact diffusing system for protecting a user's head includes a headpiece cage coupled to a thoracic framework. In one aspect, the headpiece cage includes at least two support bars, a plurality of rigid bars surrounding at least a portion of the forehead, top, and sides of the head, and a face mask that encloses at least a portion the user's face. The thoracic framework covers at least a portion of a chest, upper back, and shoulders of the user, and the thoracic framework is attached to the support bars of the headpiece cage in a manner that prevents movement of the headpiece cage relative to the thoracic framework. In another aspect, the system includes a helmet component (formed of e.g., carbon fiber) coupled to a thoracic cage, wherein the helmet component is a solid, unitary piece that surrounds the top, back, and sides of the user's head.

Some embodiments described herein relate to an athletic helmet. The athletic helmet can include a shell, a suspension chassis, and several impact-absorbing pads. The suspension chassis can be disposed within the shell and configured to couple the pads to the shell. Each pad can include a membrane defining an interior volume. A valve can place the interior volume in fluid communication with the exterior of the membrane. In some embodiments, two or more structural members can be disposed within the interior volume. One structural member can be at least partially deformed when the athletic helmet is worn by a user.

A protective helmet liner apparatus for prevention of head injury, concussions, and brain trauma includes a liner body dimensioned such that a bottom edge sits below a user's skull and a front edge extends from behind the user's ears, over the ears, and across the forehead above the user's eyebrows. A shock-absorptive filling is coupled within the liner body between an inside and an outside of the liner body. A plurality of engagement members comprises a plurality of first engagement members coupled to the outside of the liner body and a plurality of second engagement members coupled to an inner side of a helmet. The first engagement members are selectively engageable with the second engagement members to secure the liner body to the helmet.

Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

A protective helmet, including an outer shell including at least one aperture, an inner shell slidingly connected to the outer shell, and at least one expandable bladder positioned between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein, when a force strikes the helmet, the at least one expandable bladder is operatively arranged to displace radially outward in the at least one aperture and protrude beyond an outer surface of the outer shell.

The present invention relates to a helmet comprising a shell; and a force redirection member disposed between the shell and a head when the helmet is worn, the member configured to redirect a force impacting on the shell to a direction different from the original direction of the impact on the shell. The present invention also relates to a method to decrease the risk of injury to a person wearing a helmet, caused by rotational forces when the helmet is impacted by a force characterized by a specific direction having a first vector, the method comprising redirecting the force into a different direction having a second vector, wherein the direction of the second vector is selected to reduce the risk of a specified injury associated with acceleration of the head in the direction of the first vector.

Some embodiments described herein relate to an athletic helmet. The athletic helmet can include a shell, a suspension chassis, and several impact-absorbing pads. The suspension chassis can be disposed within the shell and configured to couple the pads to the shell. Each pad can include a membrane defining an interior volume. A valve can place the interior volume in fluid communication with the exterior of the membrane. In some embodiments, two or more structural members can be disposed within the interior volume. One structural member can be at least partially deformed when the athletic helmet is worn by a user.

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.