An impact attenuating helmet including an outer liner having an inner mating surface, an inner liner positioned under the outer liner and having an outer mating surface configured to be received by the inner mating surface of the outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner being configured to move relative to each other along a slip plane between outer mating surface of the inner liner and the inner mating surface of the outer liner, and one or more securing attachments, each securing attachment being coupled to the outer liner and being configured to secure the outer liner to the inner liner, each securing attachment comprising a slack element configured to permit a range of movement between the outer liner and the inner liner.

A protective helmet includes an upper section and a lower section; each having inner and outer facing surfaces; a gap formed between the upper and lower sections; at least one connection member connecting the upper section to the lower section and maintaining the gap; the upper section being movable with respect to the lower section when an impact force is applied to the outside surface of the upper section; an inner shell securable to the inner facing surface of the lower section; the inner shell being adapted to receive a portion of the helmet user's head, whereby the head of the user will be spaced from the inner facing surface of the upper section when the portion of the user's head is received in the inner shell; and the inner shell substantially preventing the user's head from making contact with the inner facing surface of the upper section.

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.

The present disclosure seeks to reduce the effects of rotational and linear acceleration experienced by the body of a user in response to an impact force. Modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure are generally suitable for coupling to protective equipment to provide a disengaging motion between various layers such that the effects of the impact force to the body of the user are reduced. Generally described, the modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure include layers configured to facilitate relative lateral motion therebetween upon an impact force.

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 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.

A helmet having an energy absorbing layer, an outer layer that is harder than the energy absorbing layer and a plurality of outer plates mounted on the outer surface of the outer layer is provided. The outer plates on the outer layer can slide across the outer layer. A low friction interface between the outer surface of the outer layer and at least a part of the outer surface of the outer plates contacts the outer surface of the outer layer under an impact.

An impact attenuation helmet construction having a rigid outer shell, a rigid inner shell adapted to being worn upon a wearer's head and arranged a spatially separated distance from the outer shell. A plurality of resilient plasticized members, each having circular cross sectional profiles, are provided and extend between the inner and outer shells in a three dimensional array in order to spatially support said outer shell a distance from an outer surface of said inner shell. The resilient members include any of disk or sphere shaped components, each having outer and inner flattened mounting locations securing to opposing locations of the inner and outer shells.

A helmet can include an energy absorbing shell including an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. A fit system member can be coupled to a rear of the energy absorbing shell to adjust a fit of the helmet for a user. A sliding layer can include an outer sliding layer surface oriented towards the inner surface of the energy absorbing shell and an inner sliding layer surface opposite the outer surface. The sliding layer can include at least one attachment member and at least one integrated fit system arm. The at least one integrated fit system arm can be coupled to the fit system member. An elastomeric member can include a first end coupled to the energy absorbing shell and a second end coupled to the attachment member of the sliding layer. Comfort padding can be coupled to the inner surface of the Sliding layer.

A helmet comprises a shell defining a shell ventilation aperture and an inner liner securable within the shell. The inner liner defines an inner liner ventilation aperture and a recessed track. A ventilation control includes a slider plate and a boss disposed on the slider plate. The boss is configured to be frictionally retained within the recessed track while providing for the slider plate to be reversibly displaced along the recessed track from a first position in which the slider plate blocks a flow of air through the inner liner ventilation aperture to a second position in which the slider plate permits the flow of air through the inner liner ventilation aperture. The slider plate is configured to be reversibly displaced between the first and second position by a force applied upon a lower surface of the slider plate from within the helmet.