U.S. patent application number 12/039459 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for helmet suspension system.
Invention is credited to JAMES CASTILLO.
Application Number | 20080209617 12/039459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39732035 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080209617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CASTILLO; JAMES |
September 4, 2008 |
HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Abstract
A head protection system is disclosed herein. The system may
comprise a helmet having a rigid exterior shell and a padded
interior. A shoulder cuff may be disposable over left and right
shoulders of the wearer. A plurality of pistons may be attached to
the helmet and the shoulder cuff. Each of the pistons may be
fluidly connected to each other through a tube and ultimately to a
reservoir. The tube may have a small inner diameter to provide
resistance to movement of the pistons during rapid deceleration or
acceleration of the helmet with respect to the wearer's body.
Inventors: |
CASTILLO; JAMES; (Los
Alamos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STETINA BRUNDA GARRED & BRUCKER
75 ENTERPRISE, SUITE 250
ALISO VIEJO
CA
92656
US
|
Family ID: |
39732035 |
Appl. No.: |
12/039459 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60904250 |
Mar 1, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/461 ; 2/413;
2/425; 2/459 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0512 20130101;
A42B 3/0473 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/461 ; 2/413;
2/425; 2/459 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00; A42B 3/00 20060101 A42B003/00; A41D 27/26 20060101
A41D027/26 |
Claims
1. A head protection system comprising: a helmet having a rigid
exterior shell; a shoulder cuff disposable over left and right
shoulders of a wearer; a plurality of pistons, each piston defining
a first end portion pivotally attached to the rigid exterior shell
of the helmet and a second end portion pivotally attached to the
shoulder cuff, each piston having a fluid cavity; a viscous fluid
disposed within the fluid cavities of the pistons; and a tube
fluidly connected to the fluid cavities of the pistons for
transferring fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid
cavity of another piston, the tube having a sufficiently small
inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of a wearer's head
under normal circumstances but limits the fluid exchange rate upon
sudden movement of the wearer's head.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a fluid reservoir
fluidly connected to the tube for receiving excess fluid released
from the pistons or for providing additional fluid to the
pistons.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid reservoir is a
deformable bladder.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the deformable bladder further
includes a removeably attachable fill cap.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a swivel joint attached
to each of the first end portions of the pistons and wherein second
end portions of the pistons are pivotally attached to the shoulder
cuff.
6. The system of claim 1 comprising four pistons, each piston
having three stages.
7. A helmet suspension system attachable to an existing helmet, the
helmet suspension system providing protection from neck and back
injuries due to an impact, the system comprising: a shoulder cuff
disposable over left and right shoulders of a wearer; a plurality
of pistons, each piston defining a first end portion pivotally
disposable adjacent to the exterior of the helmet and a second end
portion pivotally attached to the shoulder cuff, each piston having
a fluid cavity; a viscous fluid disposed within the fluid cavities
of the pistons; a tube fluidly connected to the fluid cavities of
the pistons for transferring fluid from the fluid cavity of one
piston to the fluid cavity of another piston, the tube having a
sufficiently small inner diameter to allow relatively free movement
of a wearer's head under normal circumstances but restricts sudden
movement of the wearer's head due to the viscosity of the fluid and
the small inner diameter; a pad pivotally attached to each of the
first end portions of the pistons; and a net of straps attached to
the helmet and the pads for holding each of the pads in place
adjacent to the exterior of the helmet during impact.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the net of straps includes: a
first set of straps attachable to an inner peripheral edge of an
eye opening of the helmet on the left and right sides of the
helmet, fed through the pads disposed on left and right sides of
the helmet; a second set of straps attachable to the inner
peripheral edge of the eye opening of the helmet on top of the
helmet; a third set of straps attached to the pads and attachable
to a lower edge of the helmet; and an adjuster attached to the
first and second set of straps and operative to tension the net of
straps.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the adjuster is threaded.
10. A method of setting up a helmet suspension system on a wearer
engaged in a physical activity, the method comprising the steps of:
placing the helmet suspension system on the wearer; with the wearer
in a normal position for the physical activity, removing a fill cap
of a deformable fluid reservoir; filling the fluid reservoir or
removing fluid from the fluid reservoir to mitigate bias on pistons
of the helmet suspension system; and attaching the fill cap to the
deformable fluid reservoir.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of bleeding
all air from a hydraulic system of the helmet suspension
system.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of
transferring a viscous fluid through a sufficiently small lumen of
a tube interconnecting the pistons to resist sudden movement of the
wearer's head.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Prov. Pat. App.
Ser. No. 60/904,250, filed Mar. 1, 2007, the entire contents of
which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present invention relates to a suspension system for a
helmet to prevent neck and back injuries associated with a crash or
other violent motion, but yet allow normal movement of the head
during engagement of a physical activity.
[0004] Activities that involve high speed, such as motocross
racing, boating, flying all involve a risk of a high speed crash.
Upon impact, the vehicle may rapidly decelerate to a halt but the
participants may continue to travel at the vehicle's full speed. To
prevent injury to the participants, participant restraint systems
have been incorporated into vehicles. These participant restraint
systems include, but are not limited to, seatbelts and harnesses.
Unfortunately, upon impact, the seatbelts may prevent the body of
the participant from lunging forward. However, the head of the
participant may not be restrained. Accordingly, the head of the
participant may lunge forward while the body of the participant
remains secured to the seatbelt or harness. Such movement of the
head with respect to the body may cause injuries to the person's
neck and back.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention addresses the deficiencies identified
above, discussed below, and those that are known in the art.
[0006] A suspension system may be attached to a helmet which
generally allows unrestricted movement of the head of the wearer.
The head may move at a normal speed when engaged in a physical
activity but the system may provide a counterforce to prevent rapid
head movement occasioned in a crash or other similar violent
misfortune. The suspension system may comprise a plurality of
pistons that are interconnected to each other via a tube with a
small inner diameter. During normal head movement, the fluid is
exchanged between the pistons and/or a reservoir at a low rate via
the tube so that the head can easily move or move with negligible
resistance. However, upon encountering a rapid movement, the
viscosity of the fluid and the small inner diameter tube prevents
rapid exchange of fluid through the tube and thereby also prevents
rapid movement of the head. The reason is that there may be a steep
rise is viscous friction when the fluid is forced through a single
fixed orifice (i.e., the tube).
[0007] A head protection system is provided herein comprising a
helmet having a rigid exterior shell. The system may also comprise
a shoulder cuff, a plurality of pistons, a viscous fluid, and a
tube. The shoulder cuff may be disposable over left and right
shoulders of a wearer. The pistons may each define a first end
portion pivotably attached to the rigid exterior shell of the
helmet and a second end portion pivotably attached to the shoulder
cuff. Each of the pistons may also define a fluid cavity. The
viscous fluid may be disposed within the fluid cavities of the
pistons. The tube may fluidicly connect the fluid cavities allowing
transfer of fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid
cavity of another piston. The tube may have a sufficiently small
inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of the wearer's
head under normal circumstances but restricts sudden movement of
the wearer's head due to the viscosity of the fluid and the small
inner diameter.
[0008] The head protection system may further comprise a fluid
reservoir fluidicly connected to the tube for receiving excess
fluid released from the pistons or for providing additional fluid
to the pistons. It is also contemplated that the fluid reservoir
may be a deformable bladder. To fill or remove fluid from the fluid
reservoir, a fill cap may be removably attachable to the deformable
bladder/fluid reservoir.
[0009] The head protection system may comprise a helmet suspension
system that may be retrofitted to an existing helmet. To this end,
a net of straps (e.g., cords, etc.) may be attached to the helmet
and hold the pistons in place during normal usage of the helmet and
also during sudden impact.
[0010] A method of setting up the helmet suspension system on a
wearer engaged in a particular physical activity is also disclosed
herein. In particular, the method may comprise the steps of placing
the helmet suspension system on the wearer. While the wearer is in
a normal position for the particular physical activity, the fill
cap may be removed from the deformable fluid reservoir. By removing
the fill cap from the deformable fluid reservoir, any bias due to
the deformation of the fluid reservoir may be removed from the
hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system. Additional fluid
may have to be inserted into the deformable fluid reservoir to
eliminate air from within the hydraulic system of the helmet
suspension system or fluid may have to be removed from the
deformable fluid reservoir to bring the deformable fluid reservoir
back to its non-deformed normal state such that deformation of the
fluid reservoir does not bias the pistons in any manner when the
wearer is in the normal position for the particular physical
activity. After the fluid has been filled in the fluid reservoir or
removed from the fluid reservoir, the fill cap may be reattached to
the deformable fluid reservoir to close the hydraulic system. At
this point, the hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system
may be airless. Also, the pistons are not biased when the wearer is
in the normal position for the particular physical activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features and advantages of the various
embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect
to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers
refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a
helmet suspension system;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a tube used in the
helmet suspension system of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of
the helmet suspension system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a rear perspective
view of a first embodiment of the helmet suspension system 10. The
helmet suspension system 10 may incorporate at least one piston or
ram 12. Preferably, the helmet suspension system 10 may include
four pistons 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The first piston 12 may be
located in the front right area of the wearer. The second piston 12
may be located at the rear right area of the wearer. The third
piston 12 may be located at the left rear area of the wearer.
Lastly, the forth piston 12 (not shown) may be located around the
front left area of the wearer. These pistons 12 limit movement of
the helmet 14 upon experiencing extreme high velocity differential
between the head and body of the wearer. However, during normal
usage, the pistons 12 permit the wearer to rotate his/her head to
engage in an activity (e.g., skiing, snowboarding, motocross,
racecar driving, cycling, etc.). By way of example and not
limitation, in motocross racing, the wearer may be in a normal
sitting stance on the motorcycle. While riding the motorcycle, the
wearer may look left, right, up or down to keep track of various
obstacles in front or to track competitors behind him/her. The
pistons 12 permit normal rotation of the wearer's head for the
particular activity with negligible resistance to head rotation. In
the event of a crash, the wearer may be thrown from his/her
motorcycle and possibly hit his/her head on a hard object. The head
of the wearer upon hitting the ground may experience violent forces
on the wearer's neck due to the impact. Fortunately, the pistons 12
react in an opposing manner to prevent the helmet, and thus, the
head of the wearer from sudden movement due to the crash.
Beneficially, injuries to the wearer's neck and back are minimized
or prevented.
[0016] The pistons 12 may be attached to the helmet 14 and to cuff
16 worn about the shoulder area of the wearer. The piston 12 may
define an upper distal end portion 18 and a lower distal end
portion 20. The upper distal end portion 18 may be fixedly attached
to the exterior hard shell of the helmet 14. Moreover, the upper
distal end portion 18 may swivel or pivot in relation to the helmet
14. Likewise, the lower distal end portion 20 may be pivotably
attached to the cuff 16. By way of example and not limitation, the
lower distal end portion 20 may be formed as a ball 22 that may be
received into a socket 24 attached or formed into the cuff 16.
Similarly, the upper distal end portion 18 may be fixedly attached
to a swivel joint 26 to allow multi-axis rotation. The swivel joint
26 may be fixedly attached to the helmet 14. The pistons 12 may
each contain hydraulic fluid which may be non-toxic to the wearer
in the event that the hydraulic fluid is leaked out of the system
10. The pistons 12 may be a two stage or three stage (as shown)
piston that pushes fluid out of the piston 12 or receives fluid
back into the pistons 12. To provide resistance to linear movement
of the pistons 12, the pistons 12 may be fluidly connected to each
other via a tube 28. The tube 28 may have a small inner diameter 30
(see FIG. 2). The viscosity of the fluid and the small size of the
inner diameter 30 of the tube 28 limit the rate of fluid exchange
through the tube 28. Accordingly, upon impact of the helmet 14, the
pistons 12 will attempt to push the fluid through the tube 28.
Since the rate of fluid exchange through the tube 28 is limited by
the viscosity of the fluid and the size of the inner diameter 30 of
the tube 28, rapid movement of the pistons 12 and the helmet 14 are
prevented thereby preventing rapid movement of the head and
injuries to the wearer's neck and back.
[0017] The tube 28 may also be fluidly connected to a reservoir 32.
The reservoir 32 may be protected by a plastic or rigid cover that
may be fixedly attached to or be a part of a back paddle 36. The
reservoir 32 may be a deformable bladder that allows for unequal
displacement of fluid in each of the pistons 12. For example, not
all of the fluid exiting out of one of the pistons 12 may enter a
different piston 12. The excess fluid would then be routed to the
reservoir 32. Since the reservoir 32 is a deformable bladder, the
excess fluid will expand the bladder to allow the wearer's head to
move regardless of unequal fluid displacement. Conversely, the
pistons receiving fluid may receive more fluid compared to the
amount of fluid displaced out of the other pistons. Since the
reservoir 32 is a deformable bladder, the bladder will contract to
provide the additional fluid necessary to the pistons.
[0018] The reservoir 32 may have a fill cap 34. The fill cap 34 may
be removed from the reservoir 32 to remove fluid from the reservoir
32 to prevent the expanded bladder from biasing the pistons 12 when
the wearer is in a normal position for a particular physical
activity. Initially, the wearer may wear the helmet suspension
system 10. The wearer may assume the normal position of the sport
he/she will be engaged in. For example, in motocross racing, the
wearer may be in the generally upright seated position with hands
up front. In this position, the pistons 12 may be lengthened or
shortened thereby displacing fluid from the pistons through the
tube and into the reservoir. At this normal position, the bladder
may be expanded. The expanded bladder may place pressure on the
fluid that is transferred to the pistons so as to bias the pistons
12. To remove the bias, the fill cap 34 may be removed and fluid
removed from the reservoir 32 to bring the bladder back to its
normal size. This prevents a biasing force from being transferred
from the reservoir 32 through the tube 28 to the pistons 12.
[0019] Conversely, if the bladder is contracted when the wearer is
in the normal position for a particular physical activity, then
additional fluid may be required. The fill cap 34 may be removed
and fluid may be injected into the reservoir 32. Other normal
positions other than generally upright are also contemplated. For
example, in cycling, the wearer's head may be slightly tilted
upward. To install the helmet suspension system, the wearer may
assume the normal riding position (i.e., head tilted upward). The
wearer may be hunched forward with his/her head slightly raised to
see the road ahead. The fill cap 34 may then be removed from the
reservoir 32. Fluid may then be inserted into the reservoir or
removed therefrom, as needed, to prevent any biasing force due to
the deformation of the bladder acting on the pistons 12 through the
tube 28 when the wearer is in the normal position.
[0020] The cuff 16 may comprise a back paddle 36 which may begin
approximately 7 in. below the wearer's shoulder. The reservoir 32
may be fixedly engaged to the back paddle 36. The cuff 16 may then
split into left and right paddles 38, 40. The left and right
paddles 38, 40 are disposable upon the left and right shoulders of
the wearer, respectively. The left and right paddles 38, 40 may be
hinged to the back paddle 36 with a hinge 62 to allow the left and
right paddles 38, 40 to move outward such that the wearer may put
on or take off the helmet suspension system 10. In the front of the
left and right paddles 38, 40, a latch 42 may secure the left and
right paddles 38, 40 together. With the latch 42 attaching the left
and right paddles 38, 40 together, the cuff 16 may be comfortably
rested upon the shoulders of the wearer. The latch 42 may be
adjustable such that the left and right paddles 38, 40 may be
spread apart or brought closer together depending on size and body
contour of the wearer.
[0021] The helmet suspension system 10 may be secured to the wearer
by the chin strap of the helmet 14. Alternatively, the chin strap
may be optionally removed from the helmet 10. To maintain the
helmet on the wearer's head without the chin strap, the cuff 16 may
be attached to suspenders attached to a belt worn by the wearer.
Accordingly, the helmet 14 and the helmet suspension system 10 are
secured to the wearer via the suspenders. The suspenders may be
elastic but are preferably rigid and adjustable such that the
wearer can cinch the helmet suspension system 10 down upon the
wearer's shoulder. Alternatively, the cuff 16 may be integrated
into the clothing (e.g., jumpsuit) of the wearer.
[0022] The pistons 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are a three stage
piston. Each of the stages is telescopically insertable into a
lower stage. More particularly, each three stage piston may
comprise a first upper stage, a second middle stage, and a third
lower stage. The first upper stage may be telescopically inserted
or removed from the second middle stage. The second middle stage
may be telescopically inserted or removed from the third lower
stage. When the first upper stage is inserted into the second
middle stage or the second middle stage is inserted into the third
lower stage, fluid may exit the fluid cavity of the piston.
Conversely, when the first upper stage is removed from the second
middle stage or the second middle stage is removed from the third
lower stage, fluid may enter the fluid cavity of the piston. It is
also contemplated that a two stage piston may also be used or
incorporated into the helmet suspension system 10. The size and
number of piston stages may be selected based on the range of
motion required for the particular physical activity. The system 10
may be designed such that the stages are about half way through
their stroke when the user is in the normal position for the
particular physical activity. It is also contemplated that the
system 10 may comprise three pistons, two pistons in the front and
one larger ram in the rear. It is also contemplated that the system
10 may comprise two pistons with tethers.
[0023] In a second embodiment of the helmet suspension system 10,
the same may be incorporated into existing helmets 14, as shown in
FIG. 3. The helmet suspension system 10 may incorporate all the
features described above in relation to the first embodiment except
that the upper distal end portions 18 of the pistons 12 may be
attached to a respective pad 44. The pads 44 are connectable to the
swivel joints 26 that are attached to the upper distal end portions
18 of the pistons 12.
[0024] The pads 44 are held against the helmet 14 via a net of
cords or straps. In particular, a first cord 46 may be hooked onto
an inner peripheral opening 48 of the helmet 14. The cord 46 may be
routed through an opening of each of the pads 44 and connected to
an adjuster 50. The adjuster 50 may also be attached to two cords
52, 54 that hook to the inner peripheral opening 48 of the helmet
14 under the visor 56. A third cord 58 may be attached to the pads
44 and hooked under the bottom edge 60 of the helmet 14. The
adjuster 50 may place tension on the cord 46 to tighten the entire
net of cords and effectively hold the upper distal end portions 18
of the pistons 12 in place.
[0025] In an aspect of the helmet suspension system, the hydraulic
system of the helmet suspension system 10 may be fitted with an
adjustable flow restrictor. One or more adjustable flow restrictors
may be in fluid communication with the tube 28. For example, a flow
restrictor may be placed between two pistons 12 or between the
piston 12 and the reservoir 32. In this situation, the tube 28 does
not require a small inner diameter. The flow restrictor in
conjunction with the viscosity of the fluid may restrict fluid flow
through the tube 28 upon impact or sudden movement of the head due
to a crash or the like.
[0026] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention disclosed herein, including various ways of attaching the
upper distal end portions of the rams or pistons to a helmet for
retrofitting the helmet suspension system to an existing helmet.
Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein
can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and
are not intended to be limited to the specific combination
described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be
limited by the illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *