Helmet having non-bursting gas cells

Abstract

A helmet having non-bursting gas cells preferably includes a hard helmet shell, an outside gas cell impact layer and an inside gas cell impact layer. 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 inside gas cell impact layer includes the at least one gas cell layer. The inside and outside gas cell impact layers may be permanently or removably attached to hard helmet shell. A second embodiment of the helmet having non-bursting gas cells preferably includes the hard helmet shell, the outside gas cell impact layer and an inside gas cell inflatable impact layer. The inside gas cell inflatable impact layer preferably includes at least one inflatable gas cell layer and a check valve.

Claims

1. A helmet having non-bursting gas cells comprising: a helmet having a hard outer shell, said hard outer shell having an inside surface and an outside surface; at least one outside gas cell layer includes an outside base sheet and an outside gas cell sheet, a plurality of outside gas cells are created by joining said outside gas cell sheet to said outside base sheet, said plurality of outside gas cells do not burst upon impact, said at least one outside gas cell layer is retained on said outside surface of said hard outer shell; and at least one inside gas cell layer includes an inside base sheet and an inside gas cell sheet, a plurality of inside gas cells are created by joining said inside gas cell sheet to said inside base sheet, said plurality of inside gas cells do not burst upon impact, said at least one inside gas cell layer is retained in said inside surface of said hard outer shell.

2. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 1, further comprising: an outer layer of sheet material is attached to said at least one outside gas cell layer.

3. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of outside and inside gas cells having a shape of at least one of hexagon and round.

4. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 1 wherein: said helmet is one of a football helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a bicycle helmet, a baseball helmet, a lacrosse helmet, an ice hockey helmet, a horseback riding helmet, a skiing helmet, a lacrosse helmet, a construction and military combat helmet.

5. A helmet having non-bursting gas cells comprising: a helmet having a hard outer shell, said hard outer shell having an inside surface and an outside surface; at least one outside gas cell layer includes an outside base sheet and an outside gas cell sheet, a plurality of outside gas cells are created by joining said outside gas cell sheet to said outside base sheet, said plurality of outside gas cells do not burst upon impact, said at least one outside gas cell layer is retained on said outside surface of said hard outer shell; and an inside gas cell inflatable layer includes at least one inflatable gas cell layer and a check valve, each inflatable gas cell layer includes an inflatable base sheet and an inflatable gas cell sheet, a plurality of inflatable gas cells and a plurality of gas passages are created by joining said inflatable gas cell sheet to said inflatable base sheet, said inside gas cell inflatable layer is retained on said inside surface of said hard outer shell, wherein said plurality of inflatable gas cells are pressurized when a gas flows through said check valve, through said plurality of gas passages, and into said plurality of inflatable gas cells.

6. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 5, further comprising: an outer layer of sheet material is attached to said at least one outside gas cell layer.

7. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 5 wherein: said plurality of outside and inside gas cells having a shape of at least one of hexagon and round.

8. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 5 wherein: said helmet is one of a football helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a bicycle helmet, a baseball helmet, a lacrosse helmet, an ice hockey helmet, a horseback riding helmet, a skiing helmet, a lacrosse helmet, a construction and military combat helmet.

9. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 5, further comprising: a fill nozzle extends from an entrance of said check valve.

10. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 9 wherein: said fill nozzle extends past said outside surface of said hard outer shell.

11. A helmet having non-bursting gas cells comprising: a helmet having a hard outer shell, said hard outer shell having an inside surface and an outside surface; at least one outside gas cell layer includes an outside base sheet and an outside gas cell sheet, a plurality of outside gas cells are created by joining said outside gas cell sheet to said outside base sheet, said plurality of outside gas cells do not burst upon impact, said at least one outside gas cell layer is retained on said outside surface of said hard outer shell; and an inside gas cell inflatable layer includes at least one inflatable gas cell layer and a check valve, each inflatable gas cell layer includes an inflatable base sheet and an inflatable gas cell sheet, a plurality of inflatable gas cells, a plurality of gas passages and a gas manifold are created by joining said inflatable gas cell sheet to said inflatable base sheet, said plurality of inflatable gas cells are connected to each other with said plurality of gas passages, said gas manifold is connected to said plurality of gas cells, said inside gas cell inflatable layer is retained on said inside surface of said hard outer shell, wherein said plurality of inflatable gas cells are pressurized when a gas flows through said check valve, through said plurality of gas passages, and into said plurality of inflatable gas cells.

12. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 11, further comprising: an outer layer of sheet material is attached to said at least one outside gas cell layer.

13. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 11 wherein: said plurality of outside and inside gas cells having a shape of at least one of hexagon and round.

14. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 11 wherein: said helmet is one of a football helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a bicycle helmet, a baseball helmet, a lacrosse helmet, an ice hockey helmet, a horseback riding helmet, a skiing helmet, a lacrosse helmet, a construction and military combat helmet.

15. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 11, further comprising: a fill nozzle extends from an entrance of said check valve.

16. The helmet having non-bursting gas cells of claim 15 wherein: said fill nozzle extends past said outside surface of said hard outer shell.

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 gas cells with inside and outside gas cell impact layers in accordance with the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective cut-away view of a helmet having non-bursting gas cells with an inside gas cell inflatable layer and an outside gas cell impact layer in accordance with the present invention.

(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of an inside gas cell inflatable layer of a helmet having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.

(11) FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of an inside gas cell inflatable layer of a helmet having non-bursting gas cells in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) 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 base shell member 10, at least one gas bubble impact layer 12 and a retention strap 14. The base shell member 10 is shaped or formed to fit on a top of a human head 100. The base shell member 10 is fabricated from a flexible sheet of synthetic fiber material, such as Kevlar. The at least one gas bubble impact layer 12 includes a plurality of gas 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 gas 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. The gas is preferably air, but could be any other suitable gas, such as substantially pure nitrogen or argon.

(13) 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 gas bubble impact layer 12 is permanently attached to the base 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 base shell member 10. The retention strap 14 is preferably secured to opposing sides of a bottom of the base 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.

(14) A second embodiment of a soft helmet 2 includes the base shell member 10, at least two gas bubble impact layers 24, 26 and the removable retention strap 14. The base shell member 10 is shaped or formed to fit on the top of the human head 100. The at least two gas bubble impact layers 24, 26 include a plurality of small gas 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 gas 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 base 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 base shell member 10 with sewing or any other suitable method.

(15) With reference to FIG. 8, a helmet having non-bursting gas cells 3 preferably includes a hard helmet shell 40, an outside gas cell impact layer 42 and an inside gas cell impact layer 44. The gas cells 50 in the inside and outside gas 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 gas cell impact layer 42 preferably includes at least one gas 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 gas cell layer 46 includes a plurality of gas cells 50 created by a base sheet 52 and a cell sheet 54. Gas is not transferred between the plurality of gas cells 50. The plurality of gas cells 50 preferably have a hexagon shape, but other shapes may also be used, such as round or square. The gas is preferably air, but could be any other suitable gas, such as substantially pure nitrogen or argon.

(16) The at least one gas 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 gas cell layer 46 may be attached to a top of the gas 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 gas cell layer 46 or the second gas cell layer 46 with adhesive or any other suitable method. The inside gas cell impact layer 44 includes the at least one gas cell layer 46. The at least one gas 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.

(17) With reference to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the helmet having non-bursting gas cells 4 preferably includes the hard helmet shell 40, the outside gas cell impact layer 42 an inside gas cell inflatable impact layer 58. The gas cells 50 in the inside and outside gas cell impact layers do not burst upon impact. The outside gas cell impact layer 42 preferably includes the at least one gas cell layer 46 and the outside layer of sheet material 48. The outside gas cell impact layer 42 may be permanently or removably attached to an outside surface of the hard helmet shell as previously described.

(18) With reference to FIGS. 10-11, the inside gas cell inflatable layer 58 preferably includes at least one inflatable gas cell layer 60 and a check valve 62. The outer perimeter of the inflatable gas cell layer 60 is shaped to fit inside the hard helmet shell 40. A plurality of gas cells 66, a plurality of gas passages 68 and a gas manifold 70 are preferably formed between a base sheet 72 and a cell sheet 74. Pressurized gas flows into an entrance of the check valve 62 through the fill nozzle 76. The pressured gas flows into the gas fill manifold 70 through the check valve 62. The gas fill manifold 70 distributes the pressurized gas to the plurality of gas passages 68 and the plurality of gas cells 66. The inside gas 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. Gas pressure may be measured with a gas pressure gage.

(19) 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.