U.S. patent application number 13/352546 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for sports helmet and replacement pad kit for use therein.
The applicant listed for this patent is Darius J. Preisler. Invention is credited to Darius J. Preisler.
Application Number | 20130180034 13/352546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48778939 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Preisler; Darius J. |
July 18, 2013 |
SPORTS HELMET AND REPLACEMENT PAD KIT FOR USE THEREIN
Abstract
A sports helmet and replacement pad kit for use therein are
provided. The sports helmet includes an outer shell having inner
and outer surfaces. A sports helmet further includes a shock
absorbing liner removably disposed within the shell. The liner
includes at least one replacement pad which has a plurality of
spaced-apart structures which absorb energy of an impact at the
outer surface of the shell by deformably crushing. The number,
spacing, size, shape and material of the structures are
predetermined based on level of play of the sport.
Inventors: |
Preisler; Darius J.;
(Macomb, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Preisler; Darius J. |
Macomb |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48778939 |
Appl. No.: |
13/352546 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/414 ;
2/455 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/414 ;
2/455 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20060101
A42B003/12; A41D 13/015 20060101 A41D013/015 |
Claims
1. A sports helmet comprising: an outer shell having inner and
outer surfaces; and a shock absorbing liner removably disposed
within the shell, the liner including at least one replacement pad
having a plurality of spaced-apart structures which absorb energy
of an impact at the outer surface of the shell by deformably
crushing and wherein the number, spacing, size, shape and material
of the structures are predetermined based on level of play of the
sport.
2. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pad
includes a cellular core and each of the structures is a cell.
3. The helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein each cellular core is
a honeycomb core.
4. The helmet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the honeycomb core is
a thermoplastic honeycomb core.
5. The helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein each core has top and
bottom surfaces and wherein at least one of the top and bottom
surfaces includes a skin layer.
6. The helmet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the skin layer is a
thermoplastic skin layer.
7. The helmet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic skin
layer is a reinforced thermoplastic skin layer.
8. The helmet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic skin
layer is reinforced with fibers.
9. The helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cellular core has
an open-cell structure of the tubular or honeycomb cell type.
10. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the
structure is one of plastic, metal and cardboard.
11. A replacement pad kit from which at least one replacement pad
is selected and arranged in a shock absorbing liner removably
disposed in an outer shell of a sports helmet, the kit comprising:
a plurality of replacement pads, each of the pads having a
plurality of spaced-apart structures which absorb energy of an
impact at an outer surface of the outer shell by deformably
crushing and wherein the number, spacing, size, shape and material
of the structures are predetermined based on level of play of the
sport.
12. The kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the pads
includes a cellular core and each of the structures is a cell.
13. The kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein each cellular core is a
honeycomb core.
14. The kit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the honeycomb core is a
thermoplastic honeycomb core.
15. The kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein each core has top and
bottom surfaces and wherein at least one of the top and bottom
surfaces includes a skin layer.
16. The kit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the skin layer is a
thermoplastic skin layer.
17. The kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic skin
layer is a reinforced thermoplastic skin layer.
18. The kit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic skin
layer is reinforced with fibers.
19. The kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cellular core has
an open-cell structure of the tubular or honeycomb cell type.
20. The kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the material of the
structures is one of plastic, metal and cardboard.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to protective head gear and, in
particular, to sports helmets and replacement pad kits for use
therein.
OVERVIEW
[0002] Professionals and amateurs alike wear protective head gear
to reduce the chance of injury while playing American football. The
sport of football requires the use of helmets to attempt to protect
participants from injury to their heads due to impact forces that
may be sustained during such activities. Various types of helmets
have been in use in the sport of football, ever since individuals
began wearing helmets to attempt to protect their heads many years
ago. Typically, these helmets have included: an outer shell,
generally made of an appropriate plastic material, having the
requisite strength and durability characteristics to enable them to
be used in the sport of football; some type of shock absorbing
liner within the shell; a face guard; and a chin protector, or chin
strap, that fits snugly about the chin of the wearer of the helmet,
in order to secure the helmet to the wearer's head, as are all
known in the art.
[0003] Sources are unsure as to who first designed air bladders for
football helmets but Dr. Richard Schneider of the University of
Michigan Hospital is reported to have believed that air was the
most effective way to protect against blunt force. With this theory
in mind, he invented an inflatable bladder for use inside a
football helmet. The Michigan Wolverines Football team used a
prototype and Schutt Sports hired Schneider and started mass
producing the Air.TM. Helmet in the early 1970s.
[0004] While larger helmets and extra padding may reduce the force
of a blunt impact, lightness and breathability of the helmet are
also important issues at all levels of play. Consequently, there is
a need for a sports helmet which not only reduces the force of a
blunt impact but also is relatively light and breathes. There is
also a need to make such helmets easily adjustable based on the
level of play of the sport.
[0005] The following U.S. patent documents are related to
protective head gear: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,359,387; 3,609,764;
3,713,640; 3,882,547; 4,287,613; 5,035,009; 5,175,889; 5,263,203;
6,240,571; 6,314,586; 6,934,971; 7,240,376; 2008/0120764 and
2009/0222964.
[0006] The following U.S. patents are related to automotive
energy-absorbing structures: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,475,937 and
7,201,434.
[0007] The following U.S. patent documents are related to honeycomb
sandwich composite laminates and methods and systems for making
structures using such laminates: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,050,630;
6,435,577; 6,437,413; 6,655,299; 6,682,675; 6,682,676; 6,748,876;
6,790,026; 6,823,803; 6,843,525; 6,890,023; 6,981,863; 7,909,379;
7,919,031; 2005/0189674 and 2010/0006520.
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0008] In one embodiment, a sports helmet includes an outer shell
which has inner and outer surfaces. The sports helmet includes a
shock absorbing liner removably disposed within the shell. The
liner includes at least one replacement pad which has a plurality
of spaced-apart structures which absorb energy of an impact at the
outer surface of the shell by deformably crushing. The number,
spacing, size, shape and material of the structures are
predetermined based on level of play of the sport.
[0009] The at least one pad may include a cellular core and each of
the structures may be a cell.
[0010] Each cellular core may be a honeycomb core.
[0011] The honeycomb core may be a thermoplastic honeycomb
core.
[0012] Each core may have top and bottom surfaces and at least one
of the top and bottom surfaces may include a skin layer.
[0013] The skin layer may be a thermoplastic skin layer.
[0014] The thermoplastic skin layer may be a reinforced
thermoplastic skin layer.
[0015] The thermoplastic skin layer may be reinforced with
fibers.
[0016] The cellular core may have an open-cell structure of the
tubular or honeycomb cell type.
[0017] The material of the structure may be one of plastic, metal
and cardboard.
[0018] In another embodiment, a replacement pad kit from which at
least one replacement pad is selected and arranged in a shock
absorbing liner removably disposed in an outer shell of a sports
helmet is provided. The kit includes a plurality of replacement
pads. Each of the pads has a plurality of spaced-apart structures
which absorb energy of an impact at an outer surface of the outer
shell by deformably crushing. The number, spacing, size, shape and
material of the structures are predetermined based on level of play
of the sport.
[0019] Each of the pads may include a cellular core and each of the
structures may be a cell.
[0020] Each cellular core may be a honeycomb core.
[0021] The honeycomb core may be a thermoplastic honeycomb
core.
[0022] Each core may have top and bottom surfaces and at least one
of the top and bottom surfaces may include a skin layer.
[0023] The skin layer may be a thermoplastic skin layer.
[0024] The thermoplastic skin layer may be a reinforced
thermoplastic skin layer.
[0025] The thermoplastic skin layer may be reinforced with
fibers.
[0026] The cellular core may have an open-cell structure of the
tubular or honeycomb cell type.
[0027] The material of the structures may be one of plastic, metal
and cardboard.
[0028] Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a football helmet of the
University of Michigan which has been modified to use a replacement
pad kit and shock absorbing liner constructed in accordance with at
least one embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the helmet of FIG. 1 which shows
a unitary inner head support and various replacement pads of a
shock absorbing liner removably disposed within an outer shell of
helmet;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 2 with the
shock absorbing liner and unitary support in FIG. 2 removed for
illustrative purposes;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a replacement lower front
pad of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the front pad taken along
lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a replacement lower back pad
of FIG. 2;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the back pad taken along lines
7-7 of FIG. 6;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the replacement lower
side pads of FIG. 2;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the lower side pad taken along
lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;
[0038] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a replacement
removable upper front padding group of FIG. 2 including a side
replacement pad constructed in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the side replacement pad
taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
invention.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a sports helmet
in the form of a football helmet, generally indicated at 10,
constructed in accordance with the present invention. The helmet 10
includes an outer shell 12 having inner and outer surfaces 14 and
16, respectively. The outer shell 12 is typically made of a plastic
material having the requisite strength and durability
characteristics to enable the shell 12 to be used in the sport
(i.e. football). For breathability, the outer shell includes upper
air holes 15 and ear holes 17 formed completely through the shell
12 between the inner and outer surfaces 14 and 16.
[0042] The helmet 10 also includes at least one shock absorbing
liner or padding, a face guard 18 and a chin protector or snap (not
shown) which is removably attached to the shell 12 at snaps 20.
[0043] The shock absorbing liner or padding preferably includes a
plurality of replaceable pads, some of which may be interconnected
to form padding groups. Some pads typically are removably secured
or fastened to the inner surface 14 of the shell 12 by snap
fasteners or Velcro fasteners. Other pads and padding groups are
removably secured within the shell in an interference fit
fashion.
[0044] Snap fastener parts 22 (FIG. 3) for replaceable lower side
pads, generally indicated at 24 in FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, are secured
at spaced locations on the inner surface 14 of the shell 12
adjacent the ear holes 17. Complementary snap fastener parts 26 are
formed at corresponding spaced locations on a breathable outer
surface layer 28 of the pad 24 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0045] The liner or padding also includes a replaceable lower front
pad, generally indicated at 30 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The front
pad 30 has hook and loop fastener material 32 formed at spaced
locations on a breathable outer surface layer 34 of the pad 30
which releasably fastens the pad 30 to hook and loop fastener
material 36 formed at corresponding spaced locations on the inner
surface 14 of the shell 12.
[0046] The liner or padding also includes a replaceable lower back
pad, generally indicated at 40 in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The back pad 40
also has hook and loop fastener material 42 formed at spaced
locations on an outer surface layer 44 of the pad 40 which
releasably fastens the pad 40 to hook and loop fastener material 46
formed at corresponding spaced locations on the inner surface 14 of
the shell 12.
[0047] The liner or padding further includes a replaceable upper
front padding group, generally indicated at 50 in FIGS. 2, 10 and
11 and a replaceable upper back padding group, generally indicated
at 60 in FIG. 2, which are fit together in mating relationship to
form an upper liner or padding assembly. The assembly is held in
the shell 12 by the pads 24, 30 and 40 and by a removable, unitary
inner plastic head support, generally indicated at 72 in FIG. 2,
which engages and directly supports the wearer's head.
[0048] Referring specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper front
padding group 50 includes a base member 51 having a flexible pad or
flap 52 and flexible side pads or flaps 53 hingedly formed
therewith. Each of the flaps 52 and 53 has a pocket 54 formed
therein to removably receive and retain a replacement pad 55
therein. The front padding group 50 has a breathable outer surface
layer 56 and the replacement pad 55 also has a breathable outer
surface layer 57. Each of the pockets 54 extends into its
respective flap 52 or 53 on one side thereof and forms mounds 58
which extend above the inner surface of its respective flap 52 or
53. The base member 51 includes holes 59 which register with the
holes 15 in the shell 12 for breathability.
[0049] While not shown in detail (but similar to the front padding
group 50), the back padding group 60 also includes flexible pads or
flaps integrally and hingedly formed with a base member. Each of
the flaps has a pocket formed therein to removably receive and
retain a replacement pad similar to the replacement pad 55 therein.
Each of the pockets extends into its respective flap or pad on one
side thereof, and form mounds 68 (FIG. 2) which extend above the
inner surface of their respective flaps of the padding group 60.
The base member also includes holes 69 which register with the
holes 15 of the shell 12 for breathability as also shown in FIG.
2.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 4-11, each of the replacement pads
55, as well as each of the pads 24, 30 and 40 and each of the pads
or flaps 52 and 53, has a plurality of spaced-apart structures 70
which absorb energy of an impact at the outer surface 16 of the
shell 12 by deformably crushing. The number, spacing, size, shape
and material of the structures 70 are predetermined based on level
of play of the sport. For example, the amount of energy that needs
to be absorbed by having the structures 70 deformably crush is much
lower at the grade school and high school levels than the college
and professional levels.
[0051] Preferably, each of the replacement pads 55, the pads 24, 30
and 40 and the pads or flaps 52 and 53 have a cellular core wherein
each of the structures is a cell. The cellular core may be a
honeycomb core and the honeycomb core may be made out of
thermoplastic. The cellular core may have an open cell structure of
the tubular or honeycomb cell type to promote or facilitate
breathability. The material of the structures is typically one of
plastic (such as a polyolefin like polypropylene) metal and
cardboard depending on the level of play of the sport. While not
shown, the top and/or bottom surface of each core may have a skin
layer formed thereon. The skin layer may be a thermoplastic skin
layer. The thermoplastic skin layer may be reinforced by, for
example, fibers.
[0052] Each cellular core may be made as disclosed in the
above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 7,919,031, or the prior art cited
therein. The cells may have the configuration of FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and
10 (i.e. triangular) or the cells may form a honeycomb including
cylindrical, hexagonal, or square cells. Other shapes are also
possible such as waves. The axes of the cells are perpendicular to
the outer surfaces of the core as well as any skin layers of the
core. Cell density (i.e. cell size and wall stock) is adjusted as
needed for expected impact force at the level of play of the sport.
The open cells typically have a diameter in a range of 2 mm to 10
mm and the thicknesses of the cellular core is typically between 5
mm and 30 mm depending on the level of play of the sport.
[0053] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not
intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the
invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of
description rather than limitation, and it is understood that
various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various
implementing embodiments may be combined to form further
embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *