The present invention is directed to a protective sports helmet including a helmet shell, a face guard and an internal padding assembly positioned within the helmet shell. The internal padding assembly includes a brow pad having a first peripheral connection portion and a second peripheral connection portion. The internal padding assembly also includes a first jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the first connection portion of the brow pad, and a second jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the second connection portion of the brow pad. The internal padding assembly also includes a crown assembly with pad elements that include an internal separation layer that partitions the element into a first inflatable section and a second un-inflatable section. The connection portion of the jaw pads also mates with frontal pad elements of the crown assembly. The internal padding assembly further includes an occipital pad assembly that engages the helmet wearer's head below the occipital bone.

A helmet to be worn on a head having an annular headband shaped area. The headband shaped area positioned near an upper junction of the ears and the wearer's head. A top area is centered about a top of the wearer's head. A middle area defined between the headband area and the top area. The helmet includes a shell having an inner surface. A first type of subliner elements extend from the inner surface at a location such that the first type of subliner elements are aligned with the headband area. A second type of subliner elements extend from the inner surface at a location such that the second type of subliner elements are aligned with the middle area. A third type of subliner element extends from the inner surface at a location such that the third type of subliner element is aligned with the top area.

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.

The present disclosure relates to flexible energy absorbing systems and body armor, helmets and protective garments incorporating flexible energy absorbing systems. A flexible energy absorbing system may comprise a first plurality of cells having a first re-entrant geometry and a second plurality of cells having a second, different geometry. The first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells may comprise an elastomeric material.

Embodiments herein employ a novel strategy based on a floating cellular liner that acts as a torsional suspension system to dampen rotational acceleration, such as head acceleration in a helmet, in response to an oblique impact. Specifically, the torsional suspension consists of an anisotropic cellular liner that is at least partially recessed inside a more rigid adjacent shell, relative to which the cellular liner can simultaneously undergo translation and in-plane compression.

A NOCSAE-certified football helmet having a shell, internal padding attached to an inner surface of the shell, and a face guard attachable to the shell, is configured and designed to have a Predictive Concussion Incidence below 1.90, or 0.75 plus or minus 0.25, or in the range of 0.50 to 1.90, as measured by the 2018 Adult Football STAR Methodology. The face guard is attached to the shell at a plurality of attachment points below a line constructed through the midpoint of the height of the helmet and has an upper portion which contacts the shell above the face opening, without being attached to the shell at that point. The internal padding includes a front pad attached within the shell above the face opening, defining a first zone of a first stiffness and, adjacent to and above the first zone, a second zone of a second stiffness lower than the first stiffness. The internal padding also includes helmet liners which are not inflatable, and which contain slow response microcellular polyurethane pads.

A NOCSAE-certified football helmet having a plastic shell, internal padding attached to an inner surface of the shell, and a face guard attached to the shell, is configured and designed to have a Predictive Concussion Incidence below 1.90, or 0.75 plus or minus 0.25, or in the range of 0.50 to 1.90, as measured by the 2018 Adult Football STAR Methodology. The face guard is attached to the shell at a plurality of attachment points below a line constructed through the midpoint of the height of the helmet and has an upper portion which contacts the shell above the face opening, without being attached to the shell at that point. The internal padding includes a front pad attached within the shell above the face opening, defining a first zone of a first stiffness and, adjacent to and above the first zone, a second zone of a second stiffness lower than the first stiffness. The internal padding also includes helmet liners which are not inflatable, and which contain slow response microcellular polyurethane pads.

A helmet can include a helmet body comprising an energy-absorbing layer and an outer shell disposed over the energy-absorbing layer. An electronic device can be integrated with the helmet body. A first electrical contact can be formed at an exterior of the outer shell and adapted to be in electrical communication with the electronic device. A helmet visor can be coupled to the helmet body with at least one visor arm, the helmet visor comprising controls integrated within the visor. A second electrical contact can be formed at an inner surface of the at least one visor arm and adapted to be in electrical communication with the controls integrated within the visor. The second electrical contact can be adapted to mateably couple with the first electrical contact such that the electronic device and the controls are adapted to be in electrical contact.

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.

A helmet is described, more specifically a helmet comprising a protective shell (10) formed of a flexible expanded polyurethane (EPU) material which defines a cavity for receiving the wearer's head, the shell being foldable, the helmet further comprising a strap (11) arrangement for fastening the shell to the wearer's head.