This safer football helmet is constructed of a two-piece molded shell (rounder helmet). The inner shell is the basic helmet (rounder) as we see today. Two options are available for implementation. Option one: retrofit an exiting helmet by installing a rim or no rim and outer-shell cap, attached by a bolt and assorted washers (steel/rubber) to the inner shell, that serves to deflect, rotate, and disperse the force of impact. Option two: manufacture a helmet with a molded rim or no rim as part of the inner-shell, into which the outer shell will fit. With this design, the outer-shell cap could be interlocked with the helmet inner-shell locking rim with no need for the bolt. This two shell football helmet is designed to reduce all impact forces by deflecting, rotating, and dispersing the outer-shell.

A shock absorbing cap provides shock abortion in the space between the interior of a traditional safety helmet and the head of the wearer. The cap has a first region next to the scalp which is made of 100% knitted cotton for comfort and the absorption of sweat. A second region is made of 100% wool fleece braided fiber bundles that extend alternately in longitudinal and lateral directions sufficiently to nearly fill the space. The outermost region is made of one or more layers of braided 100% carbon fiber bundles, which run the opposite direction of the last wool lock. In an alternative, the first region is used but the second region completely fills the space with woven aramid and carbon fiber squares laid on top of each other and sewn together. The uppermost portion is laser cut for a tight but comfortable fit under the helmet.

A helmet includes interconnected flexing panels and a multi-chamber impact absorption system comprising a bladder including a plurality of adjacent compressible fluid filled chambers.

Protective headgear apparatus (such as a helmet used for contact sports) is formed to comprise a non-rigid outer shell in the form of multiple layers of open-cell foam, each layer having a different density. A flexible, lightweight metal frame (i.e., a “cage”) is disposed to contact the inner surface of the outer shell (i.e., bonded in a manner that essentially “locks” the frame to the foam layer), and an open-cell foam cushion layer (in a waffle-like pattern) is bonded to the exposed surface of the metal frame. The various foam layers are preferably impregnated with activated carbon particles that electrostatically absorb (i.e., “capture”) the energy caused by blows to the outer shell. The captured energy is thereafter distributed throughout the volume of the foam layer itself, so as to minimize the amount of energy that reaches the wearer's head.

The present invention provides an apparatus to disperse and attenuate mechanical waves which travel through a human brain upon direct and indirect blunt head trauma. The apparatus comprises a pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell encasing an inner hard shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell releases a pressurized gas to atmosphere upon an impact to said pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell is configured to compartmentalize an impact region, to reduce amplitudes of incident, reflected and transmitted mechanical waves and to dampen resonance of the mechanical waves delivered to both the apparatus and a human head.

A helmet configured to protect a human head against mild traumatic brain injury upon impact includes an outer shell and a liner consisting of fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers fluidly connected to each other by fluid connections. The fluid chambers being spaced around the circumference of the helmet and configured to fill a space between the head and the outer shell when the helmet is positioned on the head. Impact resistant flexible pads are also in the liner and are spaced around an inner circumference of the outer shell adjacent to each of the fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers. A flexible inner shell inside the liner is configured to fit closely on the head. The flexible fluid chambers are configured to compress in response to impacting of the helmet on an impact side and to force liquids through the fluid connections to inflate other fluid chambers inside the helmet thereby cushioning the head against a rebound impact on the inside of the helmet.

Comprehensive systems of providing shock resistant protection for sports activities and other activities that utilize helmets or other specialized apparel, and related methods. The system functions by employing electromagnetic devices that provide a dampening, anti-impact electromagnetic field to reduce potential impacts.

In one embodiment, a protective helmet includes an outer shell made of a polyethylene material, wherein the shell is locally deformable when impacted with a strong force and an inner liner provided within the outer shell. A protective helmet comprising: an outer shell made of a polyethylene material, wherein the shell is locally deformable when impacted with a strong force; and an inner liner provided within the outer shell.

In one embodiment, a protective helmet includes an outer shell made of a polyethylene material, wherein the shell is locally deformable when impacted with a strong force and an inner liner provided within the outer shell. A protective helmet comprising: an outer shell made of a polyethylene material, wherein the shell is locally deformable when impacted with a strong force; and an inner liner provided within the outer shell.

A protective helmet may include an energy management material inside an outer surface, a rim positioned on an outwardly facing surface between an inner surface and the outer surface, a sweat management pad assembly with an absorbent forehead pad positioned in a front portion of the helmet proximate the rim, the assembly including at least one absorbent extension tab extending from the absorbent forehead pad and across a portion of a surface of the rim outward of the inner surface of the energy management material, wherein the absorbent extension tab extends at least half a distance across the rim between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a fastener positioned between the absorbent extension tab and the rim and coupling the absorbent extension tab to the rim.