U.S. patent application number 12/587386 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for helmet liner with improved, seam-position-enhanced, rear-sector load management.
This patent application is currently assigned to MJD Innovations, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Michael R. Dennis, Anthony P. Erickson.
Application Number | 20100083423 12/587386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42074586 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100083423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Erickson; Anthony P. ; et
al. |
April 8, 2010 |
Helmet liner with improved, seam-position-enhanced, rear-sector
load management
Abstract
A cushioning and head-protecting liner insert for the inside of
the shell in a helmet includes fore and aft cushioning elements
each formed of an expanse of a non-springy,
acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic material, with each
element possessing, throughout, a uniform thickness which is the
same as that possessed by the other element, and with the two
elements having edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly
spaced, adjacent one another along a single, continuous, arcuate,
reverse-bend line which sweeps from one lateral side of the rear of
the insert, at a location spaced laterally from the insert's
fore-and-aft extending, laterally central plane, through and over
the crown of the insert, to a mirror-image, spaced location on the
opposite lateral side of the rear of the insert.
Inventors: |
Erickson; Anthony P.;
(Scappoose, OR) ; Dennis; Michael R.; (St. Helens,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. VARITZ, P.C.
4915 SE 33RD PLACE
PORTLAND
OR
97202
US
|
Assignee: |
MJD Innovations, L.L.C.
|
Family ID: |
42074586 |
Appl. No.: |
12/587386 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61195459 |
Oct 6, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/411 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20060101
A42B003/12 |
Claims
1. A cushioning and head-protecting liner insert for the inside of
the shell in a helmet comprising: fore and aft cushioning elements
each formed of an expanse of a non-springy,
acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic material, with each
element possessing, throughout, a uniform thickness which is the
same as that possessed by the other element, and with the two
elements having edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly
spaced, adjacent one another along a single, continuous, arcuate,
reverse-bend line which sweeps from one lateral side of the rear of
the insert, at a location spaced laterally from the insert's
fore-and-aft extending, laterally central plane, through and over
the crown of the insert, to a mirror-image, spaced location on the
opposite lateral side of the rear of the insert.
2. The liner insert of claim 1 wherein the uniform thickness is one
of 1/4-inches, 3/8-inches, 1/2-inches, and 5/8-inches.
3. The liner insert of claim 2 wherein the two elements having
edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly spaced,
adjacent one another are spaced apart by a distance less than that
of said uniform thickness.
4. The liner insert of claim 1 which further includes, extending
co-extensively over the outer surfaces of the two cushioning
elements, a hook-and-pile-compatible fabric.
5. The liner insert of claim 4 which further includes an expanse of
moisture-wicking fabric which extends co-extensively over the inner
surfaces of the two cushioning elements.
6. The liner insert of claim 5 which further includes a continuous,
arcuate, reverse-bend line of stitching which follows the mentioned
reverse-bend line of adjacency associated with the cushioning
elements, and which unites the two, mentioned fabric expanses.
7. A load-cushioning liner insert for a helmet comprising: fore and
aft, non-springy, acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic
cushioning elements edge-juxtaposed, and slightly edge-spaced,
along an arcuate, reverse-bend line which sweeps from one laterally
centrally offset location disposed adjacent the rear of the insert,
thence forwardly over the crown of the insert, and thence
rearwardly to another laterally centrally offset location disposed
adjacent the rear of the insert on the opposite side of the
insert's lateral center relative to the first-mentioned offset
location.
8. The liner insert of claim 7 wherein the cushioning elements are
of uniform thickness.
9. The liner insert of claim 8 wherein the uniform thickness is one
of 1/4-inches, 3/8-inches, 1/2-inches, and 5/8-inches.
10. The liner insert of claim 8 wherein the two elements having
edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly spaced,
adjacent one another are spaced apart by a distance less than that
of said uniform thickness.
11. The liner insert of claim 7 which further includes, extending
co-extensively over the outer surfaces of the two cushioning
elements, a single piece of hook-and-pile-compatible fabric.
12. The liner insert of claim 7 which further includes an expanse
of moisture-wicking fabric which extends co-extensively over the
inner surfaces of the two cushioning elements, wherein said expanse
of moisture-wicking fabric is form of a single piece of fabric.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/195,459 for Helmet Liner with Improved,
Seam-Position-Enhanced, Rear-Sector Load Management, filed Oct. 6,
2008, from which this Application claims priority. The full
contents of that Application are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a specially constructed
load-cushioning and head-protecting liner insert, or liner, for use
inside the shell of a helmet, such as the shell of a military
helmet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A number of styles and configurations of helmet liners are
known. The simplest form is the closed-cell foam used on the inside
surface of motorcycle and bicycle helmets. While suitable for the
intended use, such shock absorbing material is insufficient to
protect a wearer against the shock wave from explosive devices,
such as encountered in military-style helmets.
[0004] One form of military-style helmet liner is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,803,005 B2, for Multi-Layer, Personnel-Protective Helmet
Shell with Spray-Fabricated Inner and Outer Structural Layers,
granted Oct. 12, 2004, to Dennis et al., which describes a spray-on
foam liner having deform characteristics superior to those of
conventional closed-cell foam. Another form of helmet liner is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,066 B2, for Stretchable,
Size-Adaptable Fabric Helmet Insert with Shock-Absorbing Structure,
granted Nov. 15, 2005, which shows movable pads located inside of a
helmet. Another variation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,505
B2, for Helmet Cushioning Pad With Variable, Motion-Reactive
Applied-Load Response, and Associated Methodology, granted Nov. 27,
2008, which shows an improved form of pad cushioning.
[0005] Although the movable pad systems provide superior shock
cushioning to conventional closed-cell foam, the pads may slip
during use. What is desired is to provide a liner system which
incorporates the superior cushioning features of the adjustable pad
systems and which yet provides a comfortable, one-piece liner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A cushioning and head-protecting liner insert for the inside
of the shell in a helmet includes fore and aft cushioning elements
each formed of an expanse of a non-springy,
acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic material, with each
element possessing, throughout, a uniform thickness which is the
same as that possessed by the other element, and with the two
elements having edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly
spaced, adjacent one another along a single, continuous, arcuate,
reverse-bend line which sweeps from one lateral side of the rear of
the insert, at a location spaced laterally from the insert's
fore-and-aft extending, laterally central plane, through and over
the crown of the insert, to a mirror-image, spaced location on the
opposite lateral side of the rear of the insert.
[0007] This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to
enable quick comprehension of the nature of the invention. A more
thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained by
reference to the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the liner of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a rear elevations of the liner, taken along line
2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the liner, taken along line 3-3
of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a section through the liner, taken along the line
4-4 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The particular embodiment of the invention which is
disclosed herein has been designed with an overall configuration
intended for fitting generally within the shell of various makes of
military helmets, though it should be understood, of course, that
the liner insert of this invention may be specifically configured
to fit within various kinds and makes of helmet shells. Referring
now to FIGS. 1-4, the helmet liner insert of this invention, shown
generally at 10, also referred to herein as a cushioning and head
protecting liner insert for the inside of a shell in a helmet,
includes, three main components. Centrally located in helmet insert
10, as one of these three components, is a two-piece
load-cushioning structure 12. This structure is made up of
fore-and-aft cushioning elements, 14, 16, respectively.
[0013] Additionally included in liner insert 10 of the invention,
as second and third components, are, respectively, (a) an outer
covering 18, e.g., over the outer surfaces of the cushioning
elements, formed of a hook-and-pile-compatible fabric expanse, and
(b) an inner covering 20, which is an expanse of a moisture-wicking
fabric extending over the inner surfaces of the cushioning
elements. Coverings 18, 20 are each formed of a single piece of
fabric. With respect to these two fabric expanses, they are united,
at least in part, by stitching along a continuous seam line, e.g.,
reverse-bend the seam line L, which follows the line of contact
adjacency respecting the two cushioning elements, and which is
symmetrical about a central plane P of helmet liner 10. The
stitching along line L, shown at 24 in the drawings, passes between
the two cushioning elements, effectively separating these elements,
as shown in FIG. 4. A short, lateral seam line 22 may be provided
to fix coverings 18, 20 to fore cushioning element 14, the
stitching therein passing through the material of fore cushioning
element 14. Another seam line of stitching, a short fore seam line
23, seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, may be provided to unite coverings 18,
20, and passes through cushioning element 14.
[0014] Cushioning elements 14, 16, each takes the form of a
somewhat sheet-like expanse of a non-springy,
acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic material. While different
specific materials may be used to create these two cushioning
elements, two preferred and very suitable materials usable for this
purpose are sheet-like products made by EAR Specialty Composites in
Indianapolis, Ind., known in the trade as Confor foam CF-40 and
Confor foam CF-42. In a given liner insert, only one of these
materials is used. In other words, a given insert preferably does
not "blend" two, different load-cushioning materials.
[0015] Importantly, these two cushioning elements in a particular
insert possess a common, uniform thickness (an important feature),
which is preferably one of 1/4-inches, 3/8-inches, 1/2-inches, and
5/8-inches. As another important feature, the two elements are
disposed edge-to-edge adjacent one another, but slightly spaced,
e.g., spaced by a distance less than the thickness of the
aforementioned uniform thickness, in order to accommodate stitching
24 in stitched seam line L, along a single, continuous, arcuate,
reverse-bend line L which sweeps from one lateral side of the rear
of the insert, at a location spaced outwardly of the insert's
fore-and-aft extending, laterally central plane P, through and over
the crown of the insert, to a mirror-image, spaced location
disposed on the opposite lateral side of the rear of the insert.
Line L is also referred to herein as a seam line, and as a line of
edge-to-edge adjacency.
[0016] With respect to this cushioning-element arrangement, and in
relation to the insert region which extends rearwardly from its
crown, it has been found to be important that the line of
edge-to-edge adjacency existing between the two cushioning elements
not lie along a line which lies within plane P.
[0017] Thus, and with respect to the cushioning elements, two key
features are: (1) that they be characterized by the mentioned,
common, uniform thickness; and (2) that, possessing the respective
shapes pictured in the drawings, they not meet one another along a
line containing the plane P which passes in a fore-and-aft manner
through the lateral center of the insert.
[0018] Thus, a helmet liner for a head-protecting helmet, having
improved, seam-position-enhanced, rear-sector load management has
been disclosed. It will be appreciated that further variations and
modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *