U.S. patent application number 14/220785 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-24 for video camera housing for football helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRANOS IP CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is KRANOS IP CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jeff J. Musec, Leonard E. Van Houtin, Louis A. Van Houtin.
Application Number | 20150271367 14/220785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54143272 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150271367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Musec; Jeff J. ; et
al. |
September 24, 2015 |
VIDEO CAMERA HOUSING FOR FOOTBALL HELMET
Abstract
Football helmet with video system has a rigid shell with front
and back portions. An impact absorbing pad assembly and underlying
comfort liner assembly are removably attached in the shell. A face
guard of connected bars has a center bar connected to the front
portion of the shell by one or more connectors with a nose bumper
between the center bar and the shell. The nose bumper has a concave
inner surface engaged flat against a convex outer surface of the
front portion and a video optics housing extending forwardly of the
nose bumper and containing an imager. A battery housing is
connected in the shell for a battery, a circuitry housing is
connected to the shell for video camera circuitry and wiring
connects the imager and the battery housing to the video
circuitry.
Inventors: |
Musec; Jeff J.;
(Edwardsville, IL) ; Van Houtin; Leonard E.;
(Salem, IL) ; Van Houtin; Louis A.; (Iuka,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KRANOS IP CORPORATION |
Litchfield |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
KRANOS IP CORPORATION
Litchfield
IL
|
Family ID: |
54143272 |
Appl. No.: |
14/220785 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/376 ;
2/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/20 20130101; H04N
5/2253 20130101; A63B 2243/007 20130101; A42B 3/042 20130101; H04N
5/2257 20130101; H04N 5/2252 20130101; A42B 3/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; A42B 3/12 20060101 A42B003/12; A42B 3/20 20060101
A42B003/20; A42B 3/04 20060101 A42B003/04 |
Claims
1. A football helmet for integrated video system comprising: a
rigid shell adapted to cover the head of a wearer, the rigid shell
having an outer surface and an inner surface, the shell having a
front portion with a convex outer surface, a crown portion, a pair
of opposite side portions, and a back portion with a convex outer
surface; an impact absorbing pad assembly removably attached to the
inner surface of the rigid shell; a comfort liner assembly
removably attached to an inner surface of at least part of the
impact absorbing pad assembly; a face guard comprising a cage of
connected together bars having a pair of side parts connected to
respective side portions of the shell, and an upper part having a
center bar connected to the front portion of the shell; a nose
bumper connected to the front portion of the shell, the nose bumper
having a base portion with a concave inner surface engaged flat
against the convex outer surface of the front portion of the shell,
a video optics housing connected to and extending forwardly of the
base portion of the nose bumper, the video optics housing
containing an imager; at least one face guard connector for
connecting the center bar to the face guard over the nose bumper
and to the front portion of the shell; a battery housing connected
to the inner surface of the shell for supporting a battery; a
circuitry housing connected to the shell, the circuitry housing
containing video camera circuitry; and wiring connecting the imager
and battery housing and to the video circuitry.
2. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the nose bumper includes an imager cover connected
to the video optics housing for covering the imager, the video
optics housing having rounded outer contours and defining a recess
around the imager and cover for at least partly surrounding the
imager and cover for protection from impacts.
3. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the battery housing has a convex outer surface
that is connected to an inside concave surface of the helmet.
4. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion
defining a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a
curved flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an
outer convex surface of the back portion of the shell.
5. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion
defining a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a
curved flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an
outer convex surface of the back portion of the shell, the helmet
including a rear liner attachment inside the shell, a rear gasket
between flange and the shell and a resilient pad pressed into the
void in the central portion of the housing for engaging a circuit
board in the void, the flange, gasket and attachment being
connected to each other.
6. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the nose bumper and video circuitry housing are
one of white, transparent and translucent.
7. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion
defining a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a
curved flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an
outer convex surface of the back portion of the shell, and
including at least one port defined in a bottom or a top of the
central portion of the housing for connecting power or data
cables.
8. The football helmet with integrated video system according to
claim 1, wherein the nose bumper includes an imager cover connected
to the video optics housing for covering the imager, the video
optics housing having rounded outer contours and defining a recess
around the imager and cover for at least partly surrounding the
imager and cover for protection from impacts, the video circuitry
housing having a central portion defining a hollow void for
receiving a video circuit board, and a curved flange portion with a
concave inner surface connected to an outer convex surface of the
back portion of the shell.
9. A football helmet for video system comprising: a rigid shell
with front and back portions; an impact absorbing pad assembly and
underlying comfort liner assembly removably attached in the shell;
a face guard of connected bars having a center bar connected to the
front portion of the shell by at least one connectors; a nose
bumper between the center bar and the shell, the nose bumper having
a concave inner surface engaged flat against a convex outer surface
of the front portion, the nose bumper having a video optics housing
extending forwardly of a remainder of the nose bumper, the video
optics housing containing an imager; a battery housing connected in
the shell for a battery; a circuitry housing connected to the shell
for video camera circuitry; and wiring connecting the imager and
the battery housing to the video circuitry.
10. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the nose bumper includes an imager cover connected to the
video optics housing for covering the imager, the video optics
housing having rounded outer contours and defining a recess around
the imager and cover for at least partly surrounding the imager and
cover for protection from impacts.
11. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the battery housing has a convex outer surface that is
connected to an inside concave surface of the helmet.
12. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion defining
a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a curved
flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an outer
convex surface of the back portion of the shell.
13. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion defining
a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a curved
flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an outer
convex surface of the back portion of the shell, the helmet
including a rear liner attachment inside the shell, a rear gasket
between flange and the shell and a resilient pad pressed into the
void in the central portion of the housing for engaging a circuit
board in the void, the flange, gasket and attachment being
connected to each other.
14. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the video circuitry housing is transparent or translucent
for viewing one or more LEDs on the video circuitry, the circuitry
having a color to match a color of the outer surface of the helmet
shell.
15. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the video circuitry housing has a central portion defining
a hollow void for receiving a video circuit board, and a curved
flange portion with a concave inner surface connected to an outer
convex surface of the back portion of the shell, and ports for
wiring, memory card, and control buttons.
16. The football helmet with video system according to claim 9,
wherein the nose bumper includes an imager cover connected to the
video optics housing for covering the imager, the video optics
housing having rounded outer contours and defining a recess around
the imager and cover for at least partly surrounding the imager and
cover for protection from impacts, the video circuitry housing
having a central portion defining a hollow void for receiving a
video circuit board, and a curved flange portion with a concave
inner surface connected to an outer convex surface of the back
portion of the shell.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
sports helmets, and in particular, to a new and useful video camera
housing and helmet combination for a football helmet that meets
National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment
(NOCSAE) standards and is otherwise specially suited to use on the
football field.
[0002] All professional and scholastic level football helmets must
meet NOCSAE standards. In view of these stringent requirements,
care must be take before adding or removing structures to such
helmets.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,354 to Foster et al., assigned to
Omnivision Technologies, Inc. and entitled Completely integrated
helmet camera, discloses a camera housing mountable to a helmet.
The camera housing contains a single-chip image sensor and includes
an attaching unit that is structured to allow the camera housing to
be attached to an existing structure of the helmet, such as to a
face mask of a helmet. The camera housing extends above the face
guard and forward of the helmet shell.
[0004] GoPro brand video cameras have found favor with various
active people and sports for mounting on head gear, equipment and
garments, to record action videos of the sport or activity. Some
helmet wearers have attach these commercially available video
systems to their helmets. This may endanger the wearer, degrade the
function of the helmet and void the helmet's manufacturer's
warranty.
[0005] In view of the ever growing desire and advantage of video
recording for sports training and action videos, a need exists for
a video camera and football helmet combination that satisfied all
relevant safety requirements and standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a video
camera capacity to a football helmet without impairing the safety
of the helmet and without significantly changing the helmet's
profile from all angle.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a football
helmet with an integrated video system that is ready for
full-contact practice and game play and which can be sold in a
completed condition with the video system installed and the helmet
being NOCSAE compliant.
[0008] Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a
football helmet with integrated video system that comprises: a
rigid shell adapted to cover the head of a wearer, the rigid shell
having an outer surface and an inner surface, the shell having a
front portion with a convex outer surface, a crown portion, a pair
of opposite side portions, and a back portion with a convex outer
surface; an impact absorbing pad assembly removably attached to the
inner surface of the rigid shell; a comfort liner assembly
removably attached to an inner surface of at least part of the
impact absorbing pad assembly; a face guard comprising a cage of
connected together metal bars having a pair of side parts connected
to respective side portions of the shell, and an upper part having
a center bar connected to the front portion of the shell; a nose
bumper connected to the front portion of the shell, the nose bumper
having an inner concave surface engaged flat against the outer
convex surface of the front portion of the shell, a video optics
housing connected to and extending forwardly of the nose bumper,
the video optics housing containing an imager; at least one face
guard connector connecting the center bar to the face guard over
the nose bumper and to the front portion of the shell; a battery
housing connected to the inner surface of the shell for supporting
a battery; a circuitry housing connected to the shell; video camera
circuitry in the housing; and wiring connecting the imager and
battery housing to the video circuitry.
[0009] An still further object of the invention is to provide a
football helmet with integrated video system that is simple in
design, rugged in construction and that satisfies the requirements
for football helmet standards.
[0010] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and
specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front, top, side perspective view of a football
helmet for an integrated video system according to our
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a rear, bottom, side perspective view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom, front perspective view thereof;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front, top, side perspective view of nose bumper
with video optics housing of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is side, exploded view of nose bumper with video
optics housing of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a rear view of nose bumper;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a video circuitry housing and
associated parts of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the video circuitry housing;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the video circuitry housing;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side view of a gasket of the circuitry
housing;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an inside perspective view of a battery housing
of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an outside perspective view of the battery
housing of the invention; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram for electronic parts for the
video system that are housed in the various parts of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference
numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements, FIGS. 1
to 4 show a football helmet with integrated video system that
comprises a rigid shell 12 adapted to cover the head of a wearer.
The rigid shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, and
includes a front portion 14 with a convex outer surface, a crown
portion 16, a pair of opposite side portions 18, and a back portion
20. An impact absorbing pad assembly 30 is removably attached to
the inner surface of the rigid shell and a comfort liner assembly
40 is removably attached to an inner surface of at least part of
the impact absorbing pad assembly.
[0027] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/526,077 filed Jun. 18,
2012, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses
additional details of an embodiment of a impact absorbing pad
assembly and comfort liner assembly that can be used with the
invention.
[0028] The helmet includes a face guard 80 comprising a cage of
connected together metal bars having a pair of side parts 82
connected to respective side portions 18 of the shell 12, and an
upper part 84 having a center bar 86 connected to the front portion
14 of the shell. A nose bumper 90, which is preferably white or
translucent, is connected to the front portion 14 of the shell, the
nose bumper having a base portion 91 with an inner concave surface
engaged flat against the outer convex surface of the front portion
14 of the shell. A video optics housing 92 is connected to and
extends forwardly of the base portion 91 of the nose bumper 90, the
video optics housing containing an imager 94 with foam ring best
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The optics housing 92 may be made as one
piece with, or connected as a separate but connected piece to the
base portion 91 of the nose bumper 90. A clear imager or sensor
cover 93, covers the front and sides of imager 94 and holds it to
housing 92 by screws 99 that are threaded into nuts 95 held in
recesses on the inner surface of base portion 91 of nose bumper
90.
[0029] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, housing 92 has rounded outer
contours and defines a deep recess around the imager 94 and
enclosing imager cover 93. In this way at least the sides, top and
part of the bottom of the imager cover are surrounded, to protect
it and the enclosed imager 94 from impacts. This is done without
overly enlarging the profile of the unit and, importantly, while
still satisfying NOCSAE standards.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 7, nose bumper 90 also includes a circuit
board recess below the location of the imager in housing 92, for an
imager interface circuit board 100 that is part of the overall
electronics package of known design to be used with the invention.
The video imaging and electronics package components to be
integrated with the football helmet of the invention, are known to
those skilled in the art and are not disclosed in detail here.
[0031] Preferably, the base and housing portions 91 and 92 are
injection molded as one piece of white SABIC (a trademark)
polycarbonate EXT1414T and cover 93 is made of clear SABIC
polycarbonate HF1110R.
[0032] At least one, but preferably two face guard connectors 96,
such as standard plastic loop connectors or other forms of
connector, connect the center bar 86 to the face guard 80 over the
nose bumper 90 and to the front portion 14 of the shell 12. For the
preferred case where two connectors 96 are sued, they are on
opposite sides on the video optics housing 92. Each are connected
by screws 98, extending through holes in the loop connectors 96 and
through holes 97 in the nose bumper 90, and are threaded to the nut
portion of a T-nut of known design that is engaged in a
corresponding hole in the front portion 14 of the helmet shell 12.
See U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/526,077 for details of the
loop connector, screw and T-nut structure for connecting face
guards to helmets, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/716,769
filed Mar. 3, 2010 for details of an alternate quick turn connector
for performing the same task, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/716,769 also being incorporated herein by reference.
[0033] A battery housing 70 is connected to the inner surface of
the shell 12, between, under and/or among some of the pads of the
impact absorbing pad assembly 30, for supporting a rectangular
battery 71 in FIG. 14, for the video system. A circuitry housing 60
is connected to the shell, preferable near a lower edge of the back
portion 20 by a pair of screws threaded into T-nuts in the shell as
best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A video camera printed circuitry board
or video PCB 102, is provided in the housing 60 and wiring is
provided for connecting the imager 94 and the battery housing 70
with battery 71, to the video circuitry 102 as shown in FIGS. 8 and
14.
[0034] As best shown in FIGS. 4, 11 and 12, the battery housing 70
is made of ABS plastic and has a convex outer surface that is
connected, for example by hook and loop fastening tabs to the
inside concave surface of the helmet 12, preferably to one side of
the crown 16 and toward the rear of the shell where it is least
likely to interfere with the shock absorbing function of the pad
assembly 30 in the vicinity of the battery housing 70. The battery
71 (in FIG. 14), may be removed for charging to avoid interrupting
use of the helmet by a player.
[0035] As best shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, the video circuitry
housing 60 has a generally rectangular central portion defining a
hollow void for receiving the video PCB 102 to complete the
circuitry needed for video capture and saving. One or more ports 67
are defined either in the bottom or top of the central portion of
housing 60 to allow connection of power (if desired) and data
cables for retrieving data and for charging the battery in housing
70, for allowing insert and removal of memory cards such as an SD
card or the like, and for control buttons. Housing 60 also includes
a curved flange portion 61 with a concave inner surface that
generally conforms to the outer convex surface of the back portion
20 of shell 12. As examples and as shown in FIG. 10, the ports 67
include a port 67a for accessing a record button, e.g. using a pen
point, an SD card slot 67b for an SD card (not shown), a retaining
hole 67c for an SD plug and an power button port 67d. A weather
resistant rubber plug (not shown) plugs into the SD slot and one or
more of the openings and ports in housing 60 to protect the video
circuitry, controls and memory components from the elements.
[0036] A pair of holes in flange 61, on opposite sides of the
central portion, receive rear housing screws 63, that extend
through holes in the helmet shell and through corresponding holes
in a rear liner attachment 66 shown in FIG. 8, and then are
threaded into respective T-nuts 65 inside the helmet. A rear gasket
62 (shown in FIG. 11 but not in FIG. 8) is interposed between
flange 61 and back portion 20 on the shell to help cushion the
circuitry in housing 60 from impacts to the helmet. A resilient
rectangular rear housing pad 64, of 3/8'' polyether polyurethane
foam is pressed into the void in the central portion of the housing
60, between the shell 12 and the circuit board (not shown), to
further secure the circuit board against impacts. Pad 64 extends in
a corresponding rectangular opening in gasket 62 so that the pad
engages directly against the shell surface.
[0037] Housing 60 with its central portion and its flange 61 are
made of clear or translucent SABIC polycarbonate EXL1414T. Gasket
62 is make of black 1/8'' or 1/4'' VN1485 with pressure sensitive
adhesive. Rear liner 66 is made of white, polymeric, non-migrating
PVC 85 Shore A. The video circuitry housing 60 is transparent or
translucent for viewing one or more LEDs on the video circuitry
102, the circuitry having or being painted to have a color to match
a color of the outer surface of the helmet shell so it looks like a
part of the helmet.
[0038] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
* * * * *