U.S. patent application number 14/478550 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for helmet pads.
The applicant listed for this patent is PHILIP R. HARRIS. Invention is credited to PHILIP R. HARRIS.
Application Number | 20140373256 14/478550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52109709 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140373256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HARRIS; PHILIP R. |
December 25, 2014 |
HELMET PADS
Abstract
A head covering or helmet pads are removably attached to the
outer surface of an existing sport's helmet. The pads are
constructed to conform to the contours of the outer surface of the
helmet. The pads are made from layers of thermoplastic material
structured to absorb both shock and acoustic waves that may cause
concussive type injuries. The thermoplastic may be an open-cell
foam material selected from the group consisting of neoprene,
polyethylene, silicon, urethane, silicon/urethane blend.
Inventors: |
HARRIS; PHILIP R.; (GOSHEN,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HARRIS; PHILIP R. |
GOSHEN |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52109709 |
Appl. No.: |
14/478550 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13854893 |
Apr 1, 2013 |
8826468 |
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14478550 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/10 20130101;
A42B 3/069 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/412 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/10 20060101
A63B071/10; A42B 3/12 20060101 A42B003/12; A42B 3/06 20060101
A42B003/06 |
Claims
1. A protective head covering, comprising: a central core, the
central core including a honeycombed configuration having shock
wave absorbing structure encapsulated therein, the central core
being fabricated from polyvinyl chloride material extruded into a
honeycombed configuration wherein the honeycombed configuration
includes a plurality of alternating inverted V-shaped structures
having vertices in the form of thick fingers extending in opposite
directions and further including thin, angled legs joining each of
the fingers to the next adjacent finger; an inner layer disposed on
one side of the central core, the inner layer being fabricated from
a material for absorbing acoustic waves produced by the impacts on
the helmet , the inner layer being fabricated from polyurethane
foam material; an outer layer disposed on a side of the central
core opposite the inner layer, the central core being sandwiched
between the inner layer and the outer layer, the outer layer being
fabricated from polypropylene material; and a shell encasing the
central core, the inner layer and the outer layer therein, the
shell being fabricated from open-cell foam material and having a
base abutting the inner layer of foam material.
2. The head covering according to claim 1, wherein said honeycombed
configuration is fabricated from high-density polyethylene
material.
3. The head covering according to claim 1, wherein said shell is
fabricated from a silicon/urethane blend of open-cell foam
material.
4. The head covering according to claim 1, wherein said shell is
fabricated from an open-cell urethane foam material.
5. The head covering according to claim 1, wherein said shell is
fabricated from an open-cell foam material selected from the group
consisting of neoprene, polyethylene, silicon, urethane,
silicon/urethane blend.
6. A head covering, comprising: a central core, the central core
including a honeycombed configuration having shock wave absorbing
structure encapsulated therein, wherein the honeycombed
configuration includes a plurality of alternating inverted V-shaped
structures having vertices in the form of fingers extending in
opposite directions and further including angled legs joining each
of the fingers to the next adjacent finger, wherein the thickness
of the fingers is greater than the thickness of the angled legs; an
inner layer disposed on one side of the central core, the inner
layer being fabricated from a material for absorbing acoustic waves
produced by the impacts on the helmet; an outer layer disposed on a
side of the central core opposite the inner layer, the central core
being sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer; and a
shell encasing the central core, the inner layer and the outer
layer therein, the shell being fabricated from open-cell foam
material and having a base abutting the inner layer of
material.
7. The head covering according to claim 6, wherein each of the
central core, inner layer, outer layer, and shell is fabricated
from an open-cell foam material selected from the group consisting
of neoprene, polyethylene, silicon, urethane, silicon/urethane
blend.
8. The head covering according to claim 6, wherein said open-cell
foam material is urethane.
9. The head covering according to claim 6, wherein said open-cell
foam material is a silicon/urethane blend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. utility
application Ser. No. 13/854,893, filed Apr. 1, 2013, now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,826,468, wherein such application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/638,922, filed Apr. 26,
2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to protective
sportswear, and particularly to supplemental external helmet pads
for a sports helmet.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Protecting athletes from disabling injury has long been a
primary focus for practitioners in the field of sports medicine and
manufacturers of protective sportswear. The prevention of
concussion injuries has been especially a target of discussion in
view of recent findings regarding the long-term effects of such
injuries. Athletes participating in sports, such as football,
hockey, cycling, baseball, etc., whether professional or amateur,
typically are required to wear helmets for protection in violent
collisions or blows to the head. Waves (shock and acoustic)
propagated by the aforementioned collisions and blows are thought
to cause stress to the brain that may consequently produce
concussions. Heretofore, helmets have been designed to protect the
athlete from the effects of shock waves. No attention has been
given to the effect of acoustic waves as a causative factor in
concussive injuries. The need for a protective system that could be
applied to existing helmet structure and that would be effective to
absorb both shock and acoustic waves would be accepted eagerly in
the art. Thus, helmet pads solving the aforementioned problem are
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is drawn to helmet pads that are
removably attached to the outer surface of an existing helmet. The
pads are constructed to conform to the contours of the outer
surface of the helmet. The pads are structured to absorb both shock
and acoustic waves. Each pad is constructed of layers of different
thermoplastic foam materials, and includes layers designed to
collapse to help absorb shock waves and acoustic waves that might
otherwise produce head injuries resulting in stress to the
brain.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention presents protective pads that can
be quickly and easily attached to the outer surface of a
conventional sports helmet. The pads provide supplemental
protection against impacts that may cause concussive type injuries.
The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an
arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive,
dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended
purposes.
[0008] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of helmet pads
according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of helmet
pads according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an end view, in section, of a helmet pad according
to the present invention.
[0012] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the helmet pads 10
include a top pad 11 and two side pads 13. The pads are adapted to
be removably attached to the outer surfaces 12 of a conventional
sports helmet 14. This arrangement permits the pads to be instantly
adaptable to existing sport helmets without modification of the
helmet structure. As indicated above, the pads 10 are designed to
conform to the contours of the helmet 14 and may be configured in
various patterns to cover the entire exterior surface of the helmet
14. Although, as illustrated, the helmet 14 is generally of the
type used in football, it should be recognized that the pads 10 may
be designed for any type (lacrosse, skating, cycling, etc.) of
sports helmet. As presently contemplated, the pads will have a
thickness ranging from 0.040 to 0.050 inches depending on the type
of sport for which they are used.
[0014] As best seen in FIG. 3, each pad 10 is encased in a shell or
outer layer 16 having a base 16a. The shell is fabricated from a
suitable material, such as a silicon closed cell sponge, that would
permit the shell to be painted or designed with school or team
logos and/or colors, if desired. Alternatively, the shell or outer
layer 16 may also be fabricated from other suitable materials of
open cell construction, such as neoprene, polyethylene, silicon,
urethane, silicon/urethane blend or the like. An example of a
urethane open cell foam is PORON.RTM. or PORON.RTM. XRD.RTM., an
open cell urethane foam material produced by Rogers Corporation,
Rogers, Conn. 06263. An outer layer of polypropylene or the like 18
is positioned immediately below the shell 16. First and second
crumple zones are defined at 20 and 22. The crumple zones 20 and 22
are fabricated from polyvinyl chloride, or other suitable material
that is extruded into a honeycombed configuration having
alternating inverted V-shaped structures 24 encapsulated therein,
the vertex of the V-shaped structures being formed as thick fingers
24a extending in opposite directions and thin, angled legs 24b,
joining each finger to the next. The thin legs are engineered to
fracture or crumple upon impact exceeding a predetermined threshold
of force. The V-shaped structures 24 are fabricated from
high-density polyethylene or the like, and are aligned against each
other to create a folding zone when impacted. The crumple zones 20
and 22 create a stable platform that will absorb an impact equal to
250 lbs. of kinetic momentum before crumpling. Lesser impacts will
produce no crumpling. A layer of high-density foam material 26,
e.g., polyurethane, is disposed below and adjacent to the crumple
zone 22 to absorb acoustical shock waves and limit exposure thereof
to the helmet. Reference character 28 indicates an adhesive layer
that is disposed along the exterior surface of the base of the pad
10, whereby the pad may be easily attached to the surface of the
helmet 14. The adhesive layer 28 may be covered with conventional,
removable release paper (not shown) when the pad 10 is not in use.
It is further contemplated that the open cell materials, such as
neoprene, polyethylene, silicon, urethane, silicon/urethane blend,
may be used for any or all of the aforementioned polymers; that is,
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene or
closed cell silicon or urethane.
[0015] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *