Abstract
Body protection padding with non-bursting gas cells preferably includes at least one base shell, an inside gas cell impact layer and an outside gas cell impact layer. The gas is preferably air, but could be any other suitable gas, such as pure nitrogen or argon. Body protection padding includes shoulder-chest pads, knee pads, hip pads, thigh pads and any other type of sports protective padding. The gas cells in the inside and outside gas cell impact layers do not burst upon impact. The at least one base shell is typically used in the body protection padding. Each gas cell layer includes a plurality of gas cells created between two plastic sheets. The inside and outside gas cell impact layers may be permanently or removably attached.
Claims
1. A hip protective pad comprising: a brief for retention on a waist and legs of a user; a left base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a left side of said brief; a left inside padding is retained behind said left base hard shell on an inside surface of said brief; a right base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a right side of said brief; a right inside padding is retained behind said right base hard shell on an inside surface of said brief; an inside surface of at least one left outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said left base hard shell, said at least one left outside gas cell layer includes a left base sheet and a left cell sheet, a plurality of left gas cells are created by joining said left cell sheet to said left base sheet; and an inside surface of at least one right outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said right base hard shell, said at least one right outside gas cell layer includes a right base sheet and a right cell sheet, a plurality of right gas cells are created by joining said right cell sheet to said right base sheet.
2. A hip protective pad comprising: a brief for retention on a waist and legs of a user; a left base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a left side of said brief; a left inside padding is retained behind said left base hard shell, said left inside padding is at least one left inner gas cell layer on an inside surface of said brief; a right base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a right side of said brief; a right inside padding is retained behind said right base hard shell, said right inside padding is at least one right inner gas cell layer on an inside surface of said brief; an inside surface of at least one left outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said left base hard shell, said at least one left outside gas cell layer includes a left base sheet and a left cell sheet, a plurality of left gas cells are created by joining said left cell sheet to said left base sheet; and an inside surface of at least one right outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said right base hard shell, said at least one right outside gas cell layer includes a right base sheet and a right cell sheet, a plurality of right gas cells are created by joining said right cell sheet to said right base sheet.
3. A hip protective pad comprising: a brief for retention on a waist and legs of a user; a left base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a left side of said brief; a left inside padding is retained behind said left base hard shell on an inside surface of said brief; a right base hard shell is attached to an outside surface of a right side of said brief; a right inside padding is retained behind said right base hard shell on an inside surface of said brief; an inside surface of at least one left outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said left base hard shell; an inside surface of at least one left outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said left base hard shell, said at least one left outside gas cell layer includes a left base sheet and a left cell sheet, a plurality of non-bursting left gas cells are created by joining said left cell sheet to said left base sheet; and an inside surface of at least one right outside gas cell layer is attached to an outside surface of said right base hard shell, said at least right outside gas cell layer includes a right base sheet and a right cell sheet, a plurality of non-bursting right gas cells are created by joining said right cell sheet to said right base sheet hard shell, said plurality of non-bursting gas cells do not communicate with each other by means of allowing a flow of gas between adjacent cells of said plurality of non-bursting gas cells.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a user wearing a soft helmet in accordance with the present invention.
(2) FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of a user wearing a soft helmet in accordance with the present invention.
(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of a soft helmet in accordance with the present invention.
(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of a soft helmet in accordance with the present invention.
(5) FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a soft helmet in accordance with the present invention.
(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of a soft helmet in accordance with the present
(7) FIG. 7 is a front cross sectional view cut through FIG. 6 of a second embodiment of a soft helmet in accordance with the present.
(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective cut-away view of a helmet having non-bursting air cells with inside and outside air cell impact layers in accordance with the present invention.
(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective cut-away view of a helmet having non-bursting air cells with an inside air cell inflatable layer and an outside air cell impact layer in accordance with the present invention.
(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of an inside air cell inflatable layer of a helmet having non-bursting air cells in accordance with the present invention.
(11) FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of an inside air cell inflatable layer of a helmet having non-bursting air cells in accordance with the present invention.
(12) FIG. 12 is a front view of shoulder-chest protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(13) FIG. 13 is a side view of shoulder-chest protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(14) FIG. 14 is a rear view of shoulder-chest protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(15) FIG. 15 is a rear view of hip protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(16) FIG. 16 is a side view of hip protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(17) FIG. 17 is a top view of hip protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(18) FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of hip protective padding having non-bursting gas cells cut through FIG. 15 in accordance with the present invention.
(19) FIG. 19 is a front view of knee protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(20) FIG. 20 is a top view of knee protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(21) FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of knee protective padding having non-bursting gas cells cut through FIG. 20 in accordance with the present invention.
(22) FIG. 22 is a front view of thigh protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(23) FIG. 23 is a top view of thigh protective padding having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.
(24) FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of thigh protective padding having non-bursting gas cells cut through FIG. 20 in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(25) With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a user wearing a soft helmet 1. The soft helmet 1 includes a hard shell member 10, at least one air bubble impact layer 12 and a retention strap 14. The hard shell member 10 is shaped or formed to fit on a top of a human head 100. The hard shell member 10 is fabricated from a flexible sheet of synthetic fiber material, such as Kevlar. The at least one air bubble impact layer 12 includes a plurality of air filled bubbles 16, which do not burst upon impact. The plurality of bubbles 16 are created between two flexible sheets of material 18, 20. Each bubble 16 retains the air therein and does not pass it to an adjacent bubble 16. Each bubble 16 preferably includes a substantially elliptical shape in a horizontal plane and a substantially half elliptical shape in a vertical plane for increasing aerodynamics.
(26) The plurality of bubbles 16 may be different sizes to optimize nesting of the bubbles 16 on the impact layer 12. The at least one air bubble impact layer 12 is permanently attached to the hard shell member 10 with adhesive or any other suitable substance or method. With reference to FIG. 3, ventilation openings 22 are preferably formed through the impact layer 12 and the hard shell member 10. The retention strap 14 is preferably secured to opposing sides of a bottom of the hard shell member 10 with sewing or any other suitable method. Retention straps are well known in the art and need not be explained in detail.
(27) A second embodiment of a soft helmet 2 includes the hard shell member 10, at least two air bubble impact layers 24, 26 and the removable retention strap 14. The hard shell member 10 is shaped or formed to fit on the top of the human head 100. The at least two air bubble impact layers 24, 26 include a plurality of small air filled bubbles 28, which do not burst upon impact. The plurality of small bubbles 28 are created between two flexible sheets of material 30, 32. Each small bubble 28 retains the air therein and does not pass it to an adjacent bubble 28. Each small bubble 28 preferably includes a substantially round shape in a horizontal plane. The soft helmet 2 is suitable for cycling. The first impact layer 24 is permanently attached to the hard shell member 10 with adhesive or any other suitable substance or method. The second impact layer 26 is permanently attached to a top of the first impact layer 24 with adhesive or any other suitable method. Ventilation openings 34 are preferably formed through the at least two impact layers 24, 26 and the base member 10. The removable retention strap 14 is preferably secured to opposing sides of the bottom of the hard shell member 10 with sewing or any other suitable method.
(28) With reference to FIG. 8, a helmet having non-bursting air cells 3 preferably includes a hard helmet shell 40, an outside air cell impact layer 42 and an inside air cell impact layer 44. The air cells 50 in the inside and outside air cell impact layers do not burst upon impact. The hard helmet shell 40 is any type of prior art helmet, such as a football helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a bicycle helmet, a baseball helmet, lacrosse helmet or any type of protective helmet for a human head. The outside air cell impact layer 42 preferably includes at least one air cell layer 46 and an outside layer of sheet material 48. Team identification may be printed on the outside layer of sheet material 48. The at least one air cell layer 46 includes a plurality of air cells 50 created by a base sheet 52 and a cell sheet 54. Air is not transferred between the plurality of air cells 50. The plurality of air cells 50 preferably have a hexagon shape, but other shapes may also be used, such as round or square.
(29) The at least one air cell layer 46 may be permanently attached to an outside surface of the hard helmet shell 40 or removably attached with a removable attachment system 56. The removable attachment system 56 is preferably hook and loop fastening pads, but other suitable removable attachment systems may also be used. A second air cell layer 46 may be attached to a top of the air cell layer 46 with adhesive or any other suitable method. The outside layer of sheet material 48 is permanently attached to a top of the air cell layer 46 or the second air cell layer 46 with adhesive or any other suitable method. The inside air cell impact layer 44 includes the at least one air cell layer 46. The at least one air cell layer 46 may be permanently attached to an inside surface of the hard helmet shell 40 or removably attached with the removable attachment system 56.
(30) With reference to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the helmet having non-bursting air cells 4 preferably includes the hard helmet shell 40, the outside air cell impact layer 42 an inside air cell inflatable impact layer 58. The air cells 50 in the inside and outside air cell impact layers do not burst upon impact. The outside air cell impact layer 42 preferably includes the at least one air cell layer 46 and the outside layer of sheet material 48. The outside air cell impact layer 42 may be permanently or removably attached to an outside surface of the hard helmet shell as previously described.
(31) With reference to FIGS. 10-11, the inside air cell inflatable layer 58 preferably includes at least one inflatable air cell layer 60 and a check valve 62. The outer perimeter of the inflatable air cell layer 60 is shaped to fit inside the hard helmet shell 40. A plurality of air cells 66, a plurality of air passages 68 and an air manifold 70 are preferably formed between a base sheet 72 and a cell sheet 74. Pressurized air flows into an entrance of the check valve 62 through the fill nozzle 76. The pressured air flows into the air fill manifold 70 through the check valve 62. The air fill manifold 70 distributes the pressurized air to the plurality of air passages 68 and the plurality of air cells 66. The inside air cell inflatable layer 58 may be permanently or removably attached to an inside surface of the hard helmet shell 40. The fill nozzle 76 of the check valve preferably extends past an outside surface of the helmet 40. Air pressure may be measured with an air pressure gage.
(32) With reference to FIGS. 12-24, body protection padding with non-bursting gas cells (body protection padding) preferably includes at least one base shell, an inside gas cell impact layer and an outside gas cell impact layer. The gas is preferably air, but could be any other suitable gas, such as pure nitrogen or argon. Body protection padding includes shoulder-chest pads 80, hip pads 82, knee pads 84, thigh pads 86 and any other type of sports protective padding. The gas cells in the inside and outside gas cell impact layers do not burst upon impact. The at least one base shell is typically used in the body protection padding. However, the base shell does not have to be hard. The base shell could have some amount of resilience. The outside gas cell impact layer preferably includes at least one gas cell layer and an outside layer of sheet material. Each gas cell layer includes a plurality of gas cells created between two plastic sheets. The gas is not transferred between the plurality of gas cells. The plurality of gas cells preferably have a hexagon shape, but other shapes may also be used, such as round or square. The inside gas cell impact layer includes the at least one gas cell layer. However, the inside gas cell impact layer may be replaced with foam or any other padding known in the art. The outside gas cell impact layer may be permanently or removably attached to an outside surface of the base helmet shell. The inside gas cell impact layer may be permanently or removably attached to an inside surface of the base shell.
(33) With reference to FIGS. 12-14, the shoulder-chest protective padding 80 preferably includes a left chest shell 88, a right chest shell 90, a left shoulder shell 92, a right shoulder shell 94, a left tricep shell 96, a right tricep shell 98, a fabric vest 100, at least one securing strap 102 and a plurality of inner gas cell layers and a plurality of outer gas cell layers. The fabric vest 100 is sized to fit over the shoulder and chest of the user. The fabric vest may be fabricated from any suitable material known in the art. The left chest shell 88 and the right chest shell 90 are attached to a front of the fabric vest 100. The left shoulder shell 92 is attached to a left shoulder portion of the fabric vest 100. The right shoulder shell 94 is attached to a right shoulder portion of the fabric vest 100. The left tricep shell 96 extends from a bottom of the left shoulder shell 92 and the right tricep shell 98 extends from a bottom of the right shoulder shell 94.
(34) At least one inside left chest gas cell layer 104 is retained behind the left chest shell 88 and concentric therewith. At least one outside left chest gas cell layer 106 is attached to an outside surface of the left chest shell 88. At least one inside right chest gas cell layer 108 is retained behind the right chest shell 90 and concentric therewith. However, the at least one inside left and right chest gas cell layers 104, 108 may be replaced with some other type of inside chest padding, such as foam. The at least one outside right chest gas cell layer 110 is attached to an outside surface of the right chest shell 90. At least one inside left tricep gas cell layer 112 is attached to an inside surface of the left tricep shell 96. At least one inside right tricep gas cell layer 114 is attached to an inside surface of the right tricep shell 98. At least one outside left shoulder gas cell layer 116 is attached to an outside surface of the left shoulder shell 92. At least one outside right shoulder gas cell layer 118 is attached to an outside surface of the right shoulder shell 94.
(35) With reference to FIGS. 15-18, the hip protective padding 82 preferably includes a fabric brief 120, a left base shell 122, a right base shell 124, at least one left inside gas cell layer 126, at least one left outside gas cell layer 128, at least one right inside gas cell layer 130 and at least one right outside gas cell layer 132. The fabric brief 120 is sized to fit on a waist and legs of the user. The fabric brief 120 may be fabricated from any suitable material known in the art, such as Spandex. The left base shell 122 is attached to a left side of the fabric brief 120. The at least one left inside gas cell layer 126 is retained behind the left base shell 122 and concentric therewith. The at least one left outside gas cell layer 128 is attached to an outside surface of the left base shell 122. The right base shell 124 is attached to a right side of the fabric brief 120. The at least one right inside gas cell layer 130 is retained behind the right base shell 124 and concentric therewith. The at least one right outside gas cell layer 132 is attached to an outside surface of the right base shell 124. However, the at least one inside left and right gas cell layers 126, 130 may be replaced with some other type of inside chest padding, such as foam.
(36) With reference to FIGS. 19-22, the knee protective padding 84 preferably includes a knee base shell 134, a base material 136, at least one securement strap 138, at least one inside gas cell layer 140 and at least one outside gas cell layer 142. The knee base shell 134 is attached to the base material 136. The base material 136 is retained on a knee and leg. The base material 136 may be any suitable material known in the art of athletic padding. The at least one securement strap 138 is attached to an outside surface of the base material 136. The at least one inside gas cell layer 140 is retained behind the knee base shell 134 and concentric therewith. However, the at least one inside gas cell layer 140 may be replaced with some other type of inside padding, such as foam. The at least one outside gas cell layer 142 is attached to an outside surface of the knee base shell 134. The at least one securement strap 138 is tightened to ensure that the base material 136 stays positioned over a knee.
(37) With reference to FIGS. 22-24, the thigh protective padding 86 preferably includes a base material 144, a thigh base shell 146, at least one securement strap 148, at least one inside gas cell layer 150 and at least one outside gas cell layer 152. The thigh base shell 146 is attached to the base material 144. The base material 136 is retained on a thigh and may be any suitable material known in the art of athletic padding. The at least one inside gas cell layer 150 is retained behind the thigh base shell 146 and concentric therewith. However, the at least one inside gas cell layer 150 may be replaced with some other type of inside padding, such as foam. The at least one outside gas cell layer 152 is attached to an outside surface of the thigh base shell 146. At least one securement strap 148 is attached to the base material 144. The at least one securement strap 148 is tightened to ensure that the thigh protective padding 86 stays positioned on a thigh.
(38) While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
