A head protection device includes a head cradle portion and a force transfer/energy absorbing collar portion. The head cradle portion is spaced from adjacent and out of contact with the collar portion in normal operation and in contact with the collar portion upon impact of predetermined force, transferring the force and associated energy around the head cradle portion and dissipating the energy.

A system and method for a protection helmet which has exterior moveable tiles to move upon impact and then retract to their original placements. The system prolongs the impact time by de-accelerating it and minimizing its damaging effects by spreading out the impact force over a larger surface area. A system and method for a helmet's face mask to absorb impact and return back to its original state whether impacted on its bars, interior/exterior assembly, or any part of the face mask. A system and method for a football helmet's padding to be multi-layered and have multiple ancillary cavities that compress and retract back to their original state.

A helmet that includes a subliner shell comprised of a hard impact resistant material. The shell has inner and outer surfaces. A subliner element having a first foam pad having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is attached to the inner surface of the shell. A second foam pad is constructed of an energy absorbing viscoelastic foam material that is radially partitioned into individual segments. The segments are nested with respect to each other such that the nested segments have side surfaces in slidable direct contacting engagement with side surfaces of adjacent nested segments. The second foam pad has a top surface attached to the bottom surface of the first foam pad. A third foam pad has a top surface and a bottom surface, with the top surface of the third foam pad being attached to the bottom surface of the second foam pad.

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.

The present invention provides an apparatus to dissipate and attenuate mechanical waves which travel through a human brain upon blunt trauma. The apparatus comprises a pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell encasing an inner hard shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell is configured to release a pressurized gas to the atmosphere upon an impact to said pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The apparatus is configured to enhance efficiency in reduction of an amplitude of the mechanical waves of the blunt trauma delivered to the human brain and to disrupt doubling-up of mechanical waves in a pressure zone inside the pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The apparatus is configured to ventilate the pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell and the inner hard shell.

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.

A helmet comprising one or more additively-manufactured components designed to enhance performance and use of the helmet, such as: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the helmet. Methods of additively-manufacturing components for such helmets are also provided, including methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.

A helmet comprising one or more additively-manufactured components designed to enhance performance and use of the helmet, such as: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the helmet. Methods of additively-manufacturing components for such helmets are also provided, including methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.