Abstract
Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for improving the impact performance of helmets. The disclosed apparatuses and methods allow the head to move within the helmet but dissipate forces upon the head in a plurality of directions using compressible impact-dissipating elements. The compressible impact-dissipating elements are disposed on a base between the head and an outer shell of the helmet. The compressible impact-dissipating elements are attached to the base that is configured to adapt to the interior size/shape of the helmet with which they are used. The compressible impact-dissipating elements are compressible preferably at least 50% of their “short-axis” dimension, and are also preferably capable of movement in a plurality of directions by the use of appropriate attachment elements allowing for such movement.
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing impact performance to a helmet, the apparatus comprising: a base having a first surface configured to be proximal to an interior surface of the helmet, a second surface configured to be proximal a helmet wearer's head, and a plurality of attachment sites; a plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements attached to the attachment sites using fiber attachment mechanisms having a length sufficient to pass through and attach a compressible impact-dissipating element to the base, wherein the first surface of the base is further configured to attach to the interior surface of the helmet, wherein the attachment mechanisms and the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements allow movement of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements in a plurality of directions, wherein the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements are sized and configured to contact a wearer's head when the helmet is worn, and wherein each compressible impact-dissipating element is completely disposed on the second surface of the base; and at least one attachment element for removably attaching the base to the interior surface of the helmet.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is selected from the group consisting of spherical, tubular, oblong, football and any combinations of the foregoing.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is compressible at least 50% of a short axis thereof.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements has a short axis of from ½ inch to 1 inch.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements contacts each adjacent compressible impact-dissipating element when disposed on the base.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the compressible impact-dissipating elements is attached to the base to allow movement thereof along any combination of X, Y and Z directions.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is sized and configured to be minimally compressed when the helmet is placed on a wearer's head.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises two shells, one for the left inside area of the helmet and one for the right inside area of the helmet.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base is removably attached to the interior surface of the helmet using an attachment element selected from the group consisting of hook and loop inter-connectors, snaps, hot melt glues, zippers and any combinations of the foregoing.
10. A method for providing impact performance to a helmet, the method comprising: providing a plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements; providing a base having a plurality of attachment sites configured to accept the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements disposed thereon using fiber attachment mechanisms having a length sufficient to pass through and attach a compressible impact-dissipating element to the base, wherein the base is further configured to be attached to an interior surface of the helmet; attaching the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements to the base, wherein the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is attached to the base to allow movement of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements in a plurality of directions, and wherein the compressible impact-dissipating elements are sized and configured to contact a wearer's head when the helmet is worn; and removably attaching the base to the inside of the helmet with the compressible impact-dissipating elements disposed away from an interior surface of the helmet.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the shape of each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is selected from the group consisting of spherical, tubular, oblong, football and any combinations of the foregoing.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is compressible at least 50% of a short axis thereof.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements has a short axis of from ½ inch to 1 inch.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements contacts each adjacent compressible impact-dissipating element when disposed on the base.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the compressible impact-dissipating elements is attached to the base to allow movement thereof along any combination of X, Y and Z directions.
16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements is sized and configured to be minimally compressed when the helmet is placed on a wearer's head.
17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the base comprises two shells, one for the left inside area of the helmet and one for the right inside area of the helmet.
18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the base is removably attached to the interior surface of the helmet using an attachment element selected from the group consisting of hook and loop interconnectors, snaps, hot melt glues, zippers and any combinations of the foregoing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further features, advantages and details of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the drawings in which like numbers denote like elements and in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematically simplified perspective view of a preferred apparatus protective apparatus according to the present disclosure
(3) FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the protective apparatus of FIG. 1 along line “A”-“A”.
(4) FIGS. 3-5 show alternative embodiments of the protective apparatus of the present disclosure.
(5) FIG. 6 shows an alternative attachment mechanism for attaching compressible impact-dissipating elements to a base.
(6) FIGS. 7A and 7B show compressible impact-dissipating elements having a flat region for adhering to a base, and FIGS. 7C and 7D show corresponding bases having location indicators for the placement of compressible impact-dissipating elements of FIGS. 7A and 7B respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
(7) FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure. Apparatus 100 includes a base 110 and having disposed thereon a plurality of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120. As shown in FIG. 1, compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 are generally spherical in shape. Base 110 includes a plurality of attachment sites 130 sized and configured to receive attachment elements 140. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, attachment elements 140 are fiber-like elements and attachment sites 130 are holes through base 110. Given that compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 are spherical in shape, attachment sites 130 are evenly spaced apart in a “grid” configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, adjacent compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 are attached to base 110 using attachment elements 140 that are disposed through adjacent compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 in a “perpendicular” array. For example, attachment element 140 through compressible impact-dissipating element 121 is disposed perpendicularly to attachment element 140 disposed through compressible impact-dissipating element 122. This type of altering of attachment elements 140 allows for effective movement of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120, e.g. compressible impact-dissipating elements 121, 122 in a plurality of directions. Of course, attachment element 140 could be attached directly to upper surface 111 of base 110 using suitable attachment elements 140 and mating attachments (not shown in FIG. 1) on base 110. In this embodiment, attachment elements 140 and mating attachment elements (not shown) could be a snap-fit attachment, a screw and thread attachment, or similar type of attachment that those of skill in the art would understand. As shown in FIG. 1, base 110 is substantially planar in configuration. This configuration shown in FIG. 1, however, is merely for purposes of providing an understanding of the apparatus of the present disclosure. In practice, base 110 will, of course, be configured to fit in contact with the inside dimension of the helmet into which it is placed such that compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 are disposed toward the interior of the helmet and away from the exterior the helmet so as to contact a user's head. Also in practice, base 110, as mentioned above, will be made of a flexible material such that it can conform to the inside dimension of a helmet. Connection elements (not shown in FIG. 1) will be disposed on the side of base opposite compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 so that base 110 may be removably affixed to the interior surface of the helmet. Also as mentioned above, attachment elements 140 should themselves preferably be flexible or elastic in nature so as to better allow impact dissipation and movement of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 in a plurality of directions.
(8) FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of base 110, compressible impact-dissipating elements 120, attachment sites 130 and attachment elements 140 through line “A”-A″ of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, attachment elements 140 of the adjacent compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 are disposed in an alternating configuration, substantially perpendicular to one another.
(9) FIGS. 3-5 show alternative configurations of base 110, compressible impact-dissipating elements 310, attachment sites 130 and attachment elements 140. In FIG. 3, compressible impact-dissipating elements 310 have a dimension of “long axis” along line “B”-“B” that is approximately 3 times the dimension of “short axis” along line “C”-“C”. For example, if the dimension of long axis “B”-“B” is 1.5 inches, then the dimension of short axis “C”-“C” is approximately 0.5 inches. This allows for a positioning of compressible impact-dissipating elements 310 in a 3×3 configuration, with three compressible impact-dissipating elements 310 placed in a first direction and three compressible impact-dissipating elements 310 placed in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In FIG. 4, compressible impact-dissipating elements 410, similar to compressible impact-dissipating elements 310 in FIG. 3, have a dimension of “long axis” along line “B”-“B” that is approximately 3 times the dimension of “short axis” along line “C”-“C”. Also in FIG. 4, compressible impact-dissipating elements 420 may be, for example, substantially spherical in dimension similar to compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of compressible impact-dissipating elements 410, 420 is such that is such that the “long axis” of compressible impact-dissipating elements 410 is approximately 3 times the cross-sectional dimension of compressible impact-dissipating elements 420. For example, if compressible dissipating elements 410 are 1.5 inches along the “long axis”, and if compressible impact-dissipating elements 420 are spherical in dimension, compressible impact-dissipating elements 420 can have a diameter of a proximately 0.5 inches. This sizing and configuration allows for alternating rows of compressible impact-dissipating elements 410 being adjacent to rows of three compressible impact-dissipating elements 420. In FIG. 5, compressible impact-dissipating elements in 510 are shaped similar in principle to compressible impact-dissipating elements 300 in FIG. 3 and compressible impact-dissipating elements 410 in FIG. 4. For example, compressible impact-dissipating elements 510 have a dimension along “long axis” “B”-“B” that is approximately 2 times the dimension along “short axis” “C”-“C”. Thus, if compressible dissipating impact elements 510 have a dimension of 1.5 inches along “long axis” “B”-“B”, compressible impact-dissipating elements 510 have a dimension of 0.75 inches along “short axis” “C”-“C”. Again, the sizing and configuration of compressible impact-dissipating elements 510 allows for two alternating rows of compressible impact-dissipating elements disposed in approximately 90° orientation to adjacent rows of compressible impact-dissipating elements 510.
(10) FIG. 6 shows alternative attachment elements 610 for the spherical compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, attachment elements 610 comprise a substantially linear portion 620 passing through a diameter of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120. On one end of substantially linear portion 620 is an anchor 630 disposed at the end of substantially linear portion 620 adjacent an outside surface of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120. On another end of substantially linear portion 620 is a lock 640 that is disposed on a side of base 110 opposite compressible impact-dissipating elements 120. In combination, substantially linear portion 620, anchor 630 and lock 640 serve to hold compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 against an inner surface of base 110, but allow for movement of compressible impact-dissipating elements 120 in all directions.
(11) FIGS. 7A and 7B show compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730 having flat regions 720, 740, respectively, that provide another alternative attachment mechanism for compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730. As will be appreciated, the use of flat regions 720, 740 provides an area for attachment of compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730 by, for example, an adhesive. Such an attachment area allows for potentially less expensive and faster attachment of compressible impact-dissipating elements to a base, such as base 110. FIGS. 7C and 7D show a base 750 having attachment indicators 760, 770 for flat regions 720, 740, respectively. It will be understood that attachment indicators 760, 770 may or may not actually be visible on base 750, but may only show placement of compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730 such as by computer-aided fabrication. On the other hand, attachment indicators 760, 770 may be “etched” and be visible on base 750 and, if “etched”, i.e., having a roughened surface may provide a better surface area for placement and attachment of compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730. As will be understood by those of skill in the art of helmet design and manufacture, base 750 will have some degree of curvature to match the interior curvature of a helmet. For this reason, it will be appreciated that the placement of attachment indicators 760, 770 will be modified to account for this curvature so that compressible impact-dissipating elements 710, 730 do not substantially compress against one another due to that curvature when in place on base 750 having some curvature to match the interior curvature of a helmet.
(12) In the above detailed description, the specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described in connection with some of its preferred embodiments. However, to the extent that the above description is specific to a particular embodiment or a particular use of this disclosure, this is intended to be illustrative only and merely provides a concise description of the exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above but, rather, the disclosure includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Various modifications and variations of this disclosure will be obvious to a those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications and variations are to be included within the purview of this application and the spirit and scope of the claims.
(13) All of the patents, patent publications and other references referred to above are incorporated herein by reference for all that they contain as if the contents thereof have been fully set forth verbatim herein.
