U.S. patent application number 14/741133 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pangolin Design, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Pangolin Design, LLC. Invention is credited to Max Alan Probasco, Robert LeMoine Rennaker, II.
Application Number | 20150359285 14/741133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54835071 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150359285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rennaker, II; Robert LeMoine ;
et al. |
December 17, 2015 |
Helmet
Abstract
A helmet having an outer shell and an inner shell placed within
the outer shell. The inner shell attached to the outer shell by a
plurality of elastomeric elements to isolate the inner shell from
impacts and rotational forces applied to the outer shell.
Inventors: |
Rennaker, II; Robert LeMoine;
(Sachse, TX) ; Probasco; Max Alan; (Plano,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pangolin Design, LLC |
Richardson |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Pangolin Design, LLC
Richardson
TX
|
Family ID: |
54835071 |
Appl. No.: |
14/741133 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62012798 |
Jun 16, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/414 ;
2/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/064 20130101;
A42B 3/20 20130101; A42B 3/22 20130101; A42B 3/04 20130101; A42B
3/125 20130101; A42B 3/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/06 20060101
A42B003/06; A42B 3/20 20060101 A42B003/20; A42B 3/08 20060101
A42B003/08 |
Claims
1. A helmet comprising: an outer shell; an inner shell located
within the outer shell; and a plurality of elastomeric elements
attaching the inner shell to the outer shell.
2. The helmet of claim 1 wherein: the outer shell has a plurality
of bore holes; the inner shell has a plurality of bore holes
arranged such that when the inner shell is located within the outer
shell the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell align with the
plurality of bore holes in the outer shell; and the plurality of
elastomeric elements is placed within the plurality of bore holes
in the outer shell and the plurality of bore holes in the inner
shell.
3. The helmet of claim 2 wherein: each of the plurality of
elastomeric bore holes has a recess; and each of the plurality of
elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within the borehole
and a head sized to fit within the recess.
4. The helmet of claim 2 wherein: the plurality of elastomeric
elements have placement strands.
5. The helmet of claim 1 wherein: a chinstrap is secured to the
inner shell; and a facemask is secured to the outer shell.
6. The helmet of claim 1 wherein: a plurality of pads is secured to
the inner shell.
7. The helmet of claim 1 wherein: a visor is secured to the outer
shell.
8. A helmet comprising: an outer shell having a plurality of bore
holes; an inner shell located within the outer shell and having a
plurality of bore holes arranged such that when the inner shell is
located within the outer shell the plurality of bore holes in the
inner shell align with the plurality of bore holes in the outer
shell; and a plurality of elastomeric elements placed within the
plurality of bore holes in the outer shell and the plurality of
bore holes in the inner shell to form an elastic connection between
the outer shell and the inner shell.
9. The helmet of claim 8 wherein: each of the plurality of
elastomeric bore holes has a recess; and each of the plurality of
elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within the borehole
and a head sized to fit within the recess.
10. The helmet of claim 8 wherein: a chinstrap is secured to the
inner shell.
11. The helmet of claim 8 wherein: a plurality of pads is secured
to the inner shell.
12. The helmet of claim 8 wherein: a facemask is secured to the
outer shell.
13. The helmet of claim 8 wherein: a visor is secured to the outer
shell.
14. A helmet comprising: an outer shell; an inner shell located
within the outer shell; and a plurality of elastomeric elements
forming an elastic connection between the outer shell and the inner
shell.
15. The helmet of claim 14 wherein: the outer shell has a plurality
of bore holes; the inner shell has a plurality of bore holes
arranged such that when the inner shell is located within the outer
shell the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell align with the
plurality of bore holes in the outer shell; and the plurality of
elastomeric elements is placed within the plurality of bore holes
in the outer shell and the plurality of bore holes in the inner
shell.
16. The helmet of claim 15 wherein: each of the plurality of
elastomeric bore holes has a recess; and each of the plurality of
elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within the borehole
and a head sized to fit within the recess.
17. The helmet of claim 14 wherein: a chinstrap is secured to the
inner shell.
18. The helmet of claim 14 wherein: a plurality of pads is secured
to the inner shell.
19. The helmet of claim 14 wherein: a facemask is secured to the
outer shell.
20. The helmet of claim 14 wherein: a visor is secured to the outer
shell.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to helmets used as
protective gear.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Helmets are well known in the art to be securely fashioned
to a head and provide padding in an attempt to absorb impact. Most
helmets are designed to prevent skull injury and most testing
systems test for this ability. Recently the concept of brain injury
separate from skull injury has come to light and helmets are not
typically designed to prevent such injuries well. Current helmets
may dampen high crushing forces, but they do nothing to reduce
against rotational forces that can damage the brain and the upper
spine.
[0005] A need exists, therefore, for a helmet that protects the
brain and upper spine as well as the skull.
[0006] All references cited herein are incorporated by reference to
the maximum extent allowable by law. To the extent a reference may
not be fully incorporated herein, it is incorporated by reference
for background purposes and indicative of the knowledge of one of
ordinary skill in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The problems presented in typical helmets are solved by
providing a helmet with two shells connected by a plurality of
discrete elastomeric elements.
[0008] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings and
detailed description that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the helmet of FIG. 1 showing the
sectional line for FIG. 4;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the helmet of FIG. 3; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a close up sectional view of the helmet of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] All references cited herein are incorporated by reference to
the maximum extent allowable by law. To the extent a reference may
not be fully incorporated herein, it is incorporated by reference
for background purposes and indicative of the knowledge of one of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0015] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical mechanical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid
detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, the description may omit certain information known
to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of
the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet 10 having an outer
shell 12 and an inner shell 14 connected to each other by a
plurality of discrete elastomeric elements 16. The elastomeric
elements 16 are only partially viewable in this view as they extend
through the outer shell 12. Outer shell 12 and inner shell 14 are
both made of relatively stiff plastics such as polycarbonates or
other materials with similar stiffness and toughness, including
mixtures of different materials and layers of different materials
combined into a single shell. If a helmet 10 has a chinstrap 18
then chinstrap 18 will be secured to inner shell 14, not outer
shell 12.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet 10 of FIG. 1 showing the
profile of outer shell 12 and a layout of elastomeric elements 16.
If a helmet 10 has a facemask 20 or visor 22 then facemask 20 or
visor 22 will be attached to outer shell 12. Other optional
equipment attached to the helmet will be attached to the outer
shell 12 unless the optional equipment is intended to touch a head,
such as the chinstrap 18 or pads 24, shown in FIG. 3
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front view of the helmet of FIG. 1 showing the
sectional line for FIG. 4. Various optional aspects of the helmet
are shown from this view such as those attached to the inner shell
14 like the pads 24 and chinstrap 18.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the helmet 10 of FIG. 3 more
clearly showing an inside view of helmet 10 and inner shell 14 in
particular. Elastomeric elements 16 are shown extending through
inner shell 14.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a close up sectional view of the helmet 10 of FIG.
4 to show the relationship between elastomeric elements 16 and
inner shell 14 and outer shell 12. Both inner shell 14 and outer
shell 12 have bore holes 26 placed in a pattern such that when
inner shell 14 is placed within outer shell 12 the bore holes
substantially align. Each borehole 26 has a recess 28. For outer
shell 12 the recess 28 is on an outer surface 36 while for inner
shell 14 the recess 28 is on an inner surface 38.
[0021] Elastomeric elements 16 are comprised of a body 30, shanks
32 extending from the body 30, and heads 34 attached to shanks 32.
Body 30 sits between outer shell 12 and inner shell 14, while
shanks 32 extend through boreholes 26 in inner shell 14 and outer
shell 12. Heads 34 are shaped to fit recesses 28 in the outer
surface 36 of outer shell 12 and inner surface 38 of inner shell
14. Elements 16 are made of elastomeric materials such as urethane,
silicone, or other material with similar elastomeric properties,
including mixtures of materials or combinations of materials within
the same elastomeric element. The elements 16 are placed in
aligning boreholes 26 to secure inner shell 14 within outer shell
12 and provide an elastic connection between inner shell 14 and
outer shell 12 that allows outer shell 12 to rotate relative to
inner shell 14 as well as absorb shocks applied to outer shell 12
so that they are not fully transmitted to inner shell 14.
[0022] As shown on one element 16 in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 an
element 16 may have placement strands 40. Placement strands 40 may
be cast into elastomeric element 16 when element 16 is formed.
Placement strands 40 may be made of suitable wire, chord, string or
twine. If the placement strands 40 are cast in the elastomeric
elements 16 when they are formed, the strands 40 should be made of
a material with a higher melting temperature than the material used
in the elastomeric elements 16. Placements strands 40 are used to
align the elastomeric elements 16 with bore holes 26 when locating
the inner shell 14 within the outer shell 12. For example,
elastomeric elements 16 may have one end fitted to bore holes 26 in
the inner shell 14 and then placement strands 40 would be threaded
through the corresponding bore holes 26 in outer shell 12. As inner
shell 14 is moved into place near outer shell 12 the placement
strands 40 may be pulled to align each elastomeric element 16 with
its corresponding bore hole in outer shell 12. Once the elastomeric
elements 16 are aligned with bore holes 26 in outer shell 12 the
placement strands may be used to pull each elastomeric element 16
into engagement with its corresponding bore hole in outer shell 12,
by pulling the heads 34 through the bore hole 26 to rest in the
recess 28. Placement strands may extend from just one end of the
elastomeric elements or from both ends to allow for adjustment if
an elastomeric element 16 is pulled too hard during placement.
After placement the placement strands 40 may be removed from the
elastomeric elements 16, typically by trimming them off with
scissors or a razor blade.
[0023] Other methods for placement may be used for elastomeric
elements 16, but placement strands 40 are one placement method that
can be done by hand.
[0024] Even thought he embodiment shown in this application is in a
sports helmet with several optional features the basic concept is
easily applicable to military helmets, construction helmets, safety
helmets, and other helmet applications. Also, the basic concept may
be used in helmets with less of the optional features, such as a
football helmet with no visor.
[0025] It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention
having significant advantages has been provided. While the
invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just
limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications
without departing from the spirit thereof.
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