HELMET

Abstract

A helmet comprising a frangible layer corresponding to at least a portion of a user's head configured to fail at a predetermined force with a fracture that allows further movement of the user's head during impact.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising a frangible layer corresponding to at least a portion of a user's head, said frangible layer configured to fail at a generally predetermined force with one or more fractures that reduce impact forces.

2. The helmet of claim 1 further comprising a cushioning layer between the user's head and the frangible layer.

3. The helmet of claim 2 wherein the cushioning layer further comprises a comfort layer on an interior surface.

4. The helmet of claim 3 wherein comfort surface comprises a wicking material.

5. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the helmet further comprises an outer layer exterior to the frangible layer.

6. The helmet of claim 5 wherein outer layer is a frangible layer.

7. The helmet of claim 5 wherein the outer layer is a generally non-frangible layer.

8. The helmet of claim 5 comprising a cushioning layer between the frangible layer and the outer layer.

9. The helmet of claim 2 wherein the cushioning layer comprises an open cell material, a closed cell material, a combination open cell and closed cell material, and combinations thereof.

10. The helmet of claim 2 wherein cushioning layer comprises a resilient material, a non-resilient material, and combinations thereof.

11. The helmet of claim 1 further comprising a low friction layer.

12. The helmet of claim 2 wherein the cushioning layer comprises an open air cell.

13. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the frangible layer comprises a tempered or safety glass.

14. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the frangible layer comprises a frangible material taken from the group consisting of fiberglass, plastic, polymer, resin, or combinations thereof.

15. The helmet of claim 14 wherein the frangible material comprises failure lines along which the frangible material is configured to fracture.

16. The helmet of claim 15 wherein the failure lines are one or more of reduced thickness or score lines along which the frangible material is configured to fracture.

17. The helmet of claim 6 wherein the frangible outer layer has a fracture strength that is the same as or greater than a fracture strength of the frangible layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The attached drawings, in which like reference characters represent like parts, are intended to better illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention without limiting the invention in any manner whatsoever.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention comprising a helmet with a frangible layer.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention comprising a helmet with an interior frangible layer.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with multiple frangible layers.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a surface of a frangible layer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention comprising a helmet with a frangible layer and also including a low friction layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] The following description of the preferred embodiment is presented to describe the present invention without limiting the scope of the appended claims in any manner whatsoever.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the present claimed invention is directed to a helmet 2 comprising a frangible layer 4 configured to fail at a predetermined force to diffuse the impact force over a larger area than just the site of the impact and potentially allow further movement of the user's head during impact as the frangible layer 4 fails. The frangible layer 4 can be used as the outer layer of the helmet 2, as shown in FIG. 1, as an intermediate layer between the user's head and a generally non-frangible outer layer 6 of the helmet, as shown in FIG. 2, or as multiple layers in a helmet 2, such as an interior frangible layer 4 and an outer frangible layer 4, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment with multiple frangible layers 4, shown in FIG. 3, the separate frangible layers 4 and 4 may have the same predetermined fracture strength. However, it is preferred that the multiple frangible layers 4 and 4 have different fracture strengths, most preferably, but not necessarily, with the outer frangible layer 4 having a greater fracture strength than the interior frangible layer 4. Moreover, the outer frangible layer 4 may be made of the same or different frangible material than the interior frangible layer 4.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the helmet 2 includes a comfort layer 8 having an interior surface 10 that contacts the user's head or the user's personal clothing, such as a cap. The comfort layer 8 may provide protection of the user's head from deleterious features of a fractured or crumbled frangible layer 4, such as sharp or jagged edges along which the material of the frangible layer 4 fractures. The comfort layer 8 also preferably comprises a wicking material on the interior surface 10 designed to move moisture away from the user's head.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the helmet 2 includes a cushioning layer 10 located between the frangible layer 4 and the user's head. In different embodiments, the cushioning layer 10 may comprise the comfort layer 8 or may be a separate layer that is covered by a comfort layer 8. Moreover, the helmet 2 may comprise additional cushioning layers 12 between a frangible layer 4 and a non-frangible outer layer 6, as shown in FIG. 2, between interior and outer frangible layer 4, or other layers of the helmet 2.

[0032] The cushioning layer 12 is preferably made of a closed or open cell material, and most preferably a resilient or non-resilient closed or open cell material. For example, a resilient padding such as foamed rubber, memory foams or other open or closed-cell elastomeric materials where the cells collapse under impact and then revert to original form when the impact is abated, can be used in the cushioning layer 12.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, a material that permanently deforms upon impact, suitable for single incident use, can be used alone or in combination with a resilient material, a low friction layer, etc., in the cushioning layer 12. An example of a deformable material that can be used is an open or closed cell material where the cells crush upon impact, such as Styrofoam.

[0034] In a most preferred embodiment, the helmet 2 also includes a low friction layer 16 to reduce the forces from rotational impact. Such a low friction layer 16, shown in FIG. 5, may incorporate sliding materials, such as that found in the MIPS Air Node System (see generally, www.mipsprotection.com), an air cell and/or a technologically similar configuration that permits a degree of rotational movement between the user's head and the helmet. Such a low friction layer 16 also potentially limits the bulk and weight found in other cushioning materials used for reducing rotational impact forces.

[0035] Although the low friction layer 16 is shown between the comfort layer 8 and cushioning layer 12 in FIG. 5, it is understood that the low friction layer 16 can be incorporated into other areas of the helmet 2 or in other helmet configurations that incorporate a frangible layer 4 with or without other layers. In different embodiments, the low friction layer 16 may be used alone with a frangible layer 4 or with one or more other cushioning layers 12 and/or frangible layers 4 to provide additional protection against rotational impact forces, complementing the direct impact protection of the frangible layer 4.

[0036] With particular respect to the frangible layer 4, it preferably comprises a frangible material that is configured to fracture with the application of a generally predetermined force. One example of a frangible material that may be used with the present invention is a tempered glass or safety glass, such as used in automobile windshields, that crumbles upon the application of sufficient force. Such tempered or safety glass may comprise two layers of a treated glass with a membrane between the glass layers, the thickness of the glass layers and the material of the membrane affecting the force required to fracture the material.

[0037] Alternative embodiments can utilize other materials designed to fracture upon the application of a predetermined force, such as fiberglass, plastics, polymers, resins, or the like. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the material of the frangible layer 4 may include failure lines 14 along which the material is configured to fracture with the application of sufficient force. Such failure lines 14 can be areas of reduced thickness of the material, including scoring, or areas where different materials with different failure characteristics are incorporated into the frangible layer 4. Variables such as the material used, the depth of the reduced thickness or score lines, the distance between and patterning of the failure lines, etc., can be adjusted to determine the force required to fracture the frangible material for the intended use.

[0038] Variations, modifications and alterations to the above detailed description will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations, modifications and/or alternatives are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention, limited only by the claims. Any cited patents and/or publications are incorporated by reference.