U.S. patent application number 17/439108 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-24 for helmet with padding arrangement.
The applicant listed for this patent is SOCOVAR L.P.. Invention is credited to Nicolas BAILLY, Theo CUMILLON, Jean-Michel DESROSIERS, Yvan PETIT, Eric WAGNAC.
Application Number | 20220087355 17/439108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006040713 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220087355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WAGNAC; Eric ; et
al. |
March 24, 2022 |
HELMET WITH PADDING ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
A helmet having an outer shell defining a convex outer surface
and an opposite concave inner surface circumscribing an inner
cavity to receive the wearer's head is provided. The helmet has an
inner liner connected to the outer shell and located in the inner
cavity, where the inner liner contacts the wearer's head when the
helmet is worn. The inner liner includes a padding arrangement
including a plurality of padding substructures disposed at selected
locations in the inner cavity, where at least one of the plurality
of paddings has a shear resistance along a shear direction lower
than a compressive resistance along a compressive direction, where
the compressive direction extends transversally to the shear
direction. The helmet also has an attachment device for securing it
on the wearer's head.
Inventors: |
WAGNAC; Eric; (Laval,
CA) ; PETIT; Yvan; (St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, CA)
; BAILLY; Nicolas; (Montreal, CA) ; DESROSIERS;
Jean-Michel; (Saint-Colomban, CA) ; CUMILLON;
Theo; (Montreal, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SOCOVAR L.P. |
Montreal |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006040713 |
Appl. No.: |
17/439108 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
March 13, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2020/050341 |
371 Date: |
September 14, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62818473 |
Mar 14, 2019 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/124 20130101;
A42B 3/064 20130101; A42B 3/125 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20060101
A42B003/12; A42B 3/06 20060101 A42B003/06 |
Claims
1. A helmet for wearing on a wearer's head, the helmet comprising:
an outer shell defining a convex outer surface and an opposite
concave inner surface circumscribing an inner cavity to receive the
wearer's head; an inner liner connected to the outer shell and
located in the inner cavity, the inner liner contacting the
wearer's head when the helmet is worn, the inner liner including a
padding arrangement including: a plurality of padding substructures
disposed at selected locations in the inner cavity, at least one of
the padding substructures having a shear resistance along a first
shear direction lower than a shear resistance along a second
shearing direction, the second shear direction extending
transversely to the first shear direction, and the first and second
shear directions extending transversely to a thickness of the at
least one of the padding substructures; and an attachment device
for securing the helmet on the wearer's head.
2. The helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a plurality of separate substructure
segments.
3. The helmet defined in claim 2, wherein the separate substructure
segments are interconnected to one another.
4. The helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a frontal substructure located in a
foremost portion of the helmet within the inner cavity, the frontal
substructure extending in a front-to-back direction of the helmet
from adjacent to a front peripheral edge of the helmet towards a
top of the helmet, the frontal substructure configured to face a
frontal zone of the wearer's head such as to cover at least part of
a forehead of the wearer's head.
5. The helmet defined in claim 4, wherein the first shear direction
of the frontal substructure extends in a front-to-back direction,
from a front peripheral edge of the outer shell, along a sagittal
plane of the helmet.
6. The helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes an elevated lateral substructure
located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the inner cavity
to face a side of the wearer's head.
7. The helmet defined in claim 6, wherein the first shear direction
of the elevated lateral substructure extends upwardly towards a top
of the helmet.
8. The helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a posterior lateral substructure
located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the inner cavity
to face a side of the wearer's head within the inner cavity that is
closer to an occipital portion of the helmet than a frontal portion
of the helmet.
9. The helmet defined in claim 8, wherein the first shear direction
of the posterior lateral substructure extends rearwardly with
respect to the helmet, towards an occipital portion of the
helmet.
10. The helmet defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes an occipital substructure located in
an occipital portion of the helmet within the inner cavity, the
occipital substructure is configured to face an occipital zone of
the wearer's head.
11. The helmet defined in claim 10, wherein the first shear
direction of the occipital substructure extends in a back-to-front
direction, from a rear peripheral edge of the helmet and along a
sagittal plane of the helmet.
12. A helmet for wearing on a wearer's head, the helmet comprising:
an outer shell defining a convex outer surface and an opposite
concave inner surface circumscribing an inner cavity to receive the
wearer's head; an inner liner connected to the outer shell and
located in the inner cavity, the inner liner contacting the
wearer's head when the helmet is worn, the inner liner including a
padding arrangement including: a plurality of padding substructures
disposed at selected locations in the inner cavity, at least one of
the padding substructures having a shear resistance along a shear
direction lower than a compressive resistance along a compressive
direction, the compressive direction extending transversally to the
shear direction; and an attachment device for securing the helmet
on the wearer's head.
13. The helmet defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a plurality of separate substructure
segments.
14. The helmet defined in claim 13, wherein the separate
substructure segments are interconnected to one another.
15. The helmet defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a frontal substructure located in a
foremost portion of the helmet within the inner cavity, the frontal
substructure extends in a front-to-back direction of the helmet
from adjacent to a front peripheral edge of the helmet towards a
top of the helmet, the frontal substructure is configured to face a
frontal zone of the wearer's head such as to cover at least part of
a forehead of the wearer's head.
16. The helmet defined in claim 15, wherein the shear direction
extends in a front-to-back direction, from a front peripheral edge
of the outer shell, along a sagittal plane of the helmet.
17. The helmet defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes an elevated lateral substructure
located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the inner cavity
to face a side of the wearer's head.
18. The helmet defined in claim 17, wherein the shear direction
extends upwardly towards a top of the helmet.
19. The helmet defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes a posterior lateral substructure
located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the inner cavity
to face a side of the wearer's head within the inner cavity that is
closer to an occipital portion of the helmet than a frontal portion
of the helmet.
20. (canceled)
21. The helmet defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one of the
padding substructures includes an occipital substructure located in
an occipital portion of the helmet within the inner cavity, the
occipital substructure is configured to face an occipital zone of
the wearer's head.
22. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to protective
equipment, and more particularly to padding arrangements and
protective helmets with such padding arrangements.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0002] Concussions and other traumatic injuries while practicing
sports or doing other activities is a major concern for protective
equipment manufacturers and has gained the attention of the public.
Impact protection technologies such as in the helmet industry or
for other protective equipment in sports (e.g. football, hockey,
bicycling, motorsports, and other sports), and other activities
involving injury risks from single or multiple impacts to the head
have been contemplated to reduce the amount of impact energy
transmitted to the head/brain. In other words, energy absorption
features for helmets and other protective devices have been a
design consideration of protective equipment manufacturers to
prevent or reduce the risks for concussions and/or traumatic
injuries due to single or multiple impacts on the head.
[0003] Despite countless attempts to implement technologies for
reducing the risks for concussion and/or traumatic injuries,
reducing linear and/or angular acceleration to the head/brain
caused by impact energy transmission and/or improving impact energy
absorption of padding arrangements and/or helmets having such
padding arrangements, there is still a need for improvements to
more efficiently reduce impact energy transmitted to the head, such
as impact energy resulting from linear acceleration, rotational
acceleration, and/or a combination of linear and rotational
acceleration.
SUMMARY
[0004] Therefore, it is an aim of the present disclosure to provide
padding arrangements and helmets having such padding arrangements
that address issues associated with the prior art.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure,
there is provided a helmet for wearing on a wearer's head, the
helmet comprising: an outer shell defining a convex outer surface
and an opposite concave inner surface circumscribing an inner
cavity to receive the wearer's head; an inner liner connected to
the outer shell and located in the inner cavity, the inner liner
contacting the wearer's head when the helmet is worn, the inner
liner including a padding arrangement including: a plurality of
padding substructures disposed at selected locations in the inner
cavity, at least one of the padding substructures having a shear
resistance along a first shear direction lower than a shear
resistance along a second shearing direction, the second shear
direction extending transversely to the first shear direction, and
the first and second shear directions extending transversely to a
thickness of the at least one of the padding substructures; and an
attachment device for securing the helmet on the wearer's head.
[0006] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a plurality of
separate substructure segments.
[0007] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
separate substructure segments are interconnected to one
another.
[0008] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a frontal
substructure located in a foremost portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity, the frontal substructure extending in a front-to-back
direction of the helmet from adjacent to a front peripheral edge of
the helmet towards a top of the helmet, the frontal substructure
configured to face a frontal zone of the wearer's head such as to
cover at least part of a forehead of the wearer's head.
[0009] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
first shear direction of the frontal substructure extends in a
front-to-back direction, from a front peripheral edge of the outer
shell, along a sagittal plane of the helmet.
[0010] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes an elevated lateral
substructure located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity to face a side of the wearer's head.
[0011] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
first shear direction of the elevated lateral substructure extends
upwardly towards a top of the helmet.
[0012] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a posterior lateral
substructure located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity to face a side of the wearer's head within the inner
cavity that is closer to an occipital portion of the helmet than a
frontal portion of the helmet.
[0013] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
first shear direction of the posterior lateral substructure extends
rearwardly with respect to the helmet, towards an occipital portion
of the helmet.
[0014] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes an occipital
substructure located in an occipital portion of the helmet within
the inner cavity, the occipital substructure is configured to face
an occipital zone of the wearer's head.
[0015] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
first shear direction of the occipital substructure extends in a
back-to-front direction, from a rear peripheral edge of the helmet
and along a sagittal plane of the helmet.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a
helmet for wearing on a wearer's head, the helmet comprising: an
outer shell defining a convex outer surface and an opposite concave
inner surface circumscribing an inner cavity to receive the
wearer's head; an inner liner connected to the outer shell and
located in the inner cavity, the inner liner contacting the
wearer's head when the helmet is worn, the inner liner including a
padding arrangement including: a plurality of padding substructures
disposed at selected locations in the inner cavity, at least one of
the padding substructures having a shear resistance along a shear
direction lower than a compressive resistance along a compressive
direction, the compressive direction extending transversally to the
shear direction; and an attachment device for securing the helmet
on the wearer's head.
[0017] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a plurality of
separate substructure segments.
[0018] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
separate substructure segments are interconnected to one
another.
[0019] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a frontal
substructure located in a foremost portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity, the frontal substructure extends in a front-to-back
direction of the helmet from adjacent to a front peripheral edge of
the helmet towards a top of the helmet, the frontal substructure is
configured to face a frontal zone of the wearer's head such as to
cover at least part of a forehead of the wearer's head.
[0020] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
shear direction extends in a front-to-back direction, from a front
peripheral edge of the outer shell, along a sagittal plane of the
helmet.
[0021] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes an elevated lateral
substructure located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity to face a side of the wearer's head.
[0022] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
shear direction extends upwardly towards a top of the helmet.
[0023] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes a posterior lateral
substructure located in a lateral portion of the helmet within the
inner cavity to face a side of the wearer's head within the inner
cavity that is closer to an occipital portion of the helmet than a
frontal portion of the helmet.
[0024] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
shear direction extends rearwardly with respect to the helmet,
towards an occipital portion of the helmet.
[0025] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the at
least one of the padding substructures includes an occipital
substructure located in an occipital portion of the helmet within
the inner cavity, the occipital substructure is configured to face
an occipital zone of the wearer's head.
[0026] Further in accordance with the aspect, for instance, the
first direction extends in a back-to-front direction, from a rear
peripheral edge of the helmet and along a sagittal plane of the
helmet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet with a padding
arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 1A is a frontal view of a human skull showing a zone of
a wearer's head corresponding to portions of the padding
arrangement of the helmet of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the human skull shown
in FIG. 1A, showing zones of a wearer's head corresponding to
portions of the padding arrangement of the helmet of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 1C is a posterior view of the human skull shown in FIG.
1A, showing zones of a wearer's head corresponding to a portion of
the padding arrangement of the helmet of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 1D is another side elevational view of the human skull
shown in FIG. 1A, showing another zone of a wearer's head
corresponding to a portion of the padding arrangement of the helmet
of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 1E is another side elevational view of the human skull
shown in FIG. 1A, showing another zone of a wearer's head
corresponding to a portion of the padding arrangement of the helmet
of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIGS. 1F to 1N are other side elevational views of the human
skull shown in FIG. 1A, showing other zones of a wearer's head
corresponding to other contemplated portions of padding
arrangement;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view, partly cutaway, of a
portion of the padding arrangement of the helmet shown in FIG. 1,
according to an embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view, partly cutaway, of the
portion of padding arrangement shown in FIG. 2;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional lateral view of the helmet of
FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a helmet with a
padding arrangement, in accordance with another embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the helmet shown in
FIG. 5;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the helmet shown in
FIGS. 5-6;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of the helmet shown
in FIGS. 5-7;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the sagittal
plane S-S of the helmet shown in FIGS. 5-8;
[0042] FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E are schematic
representations of contemplated deformation directions of adjacent
padding substructures of the padding arrangement of the helmet of
FIGS. 1-9 according to various embodiments.
[0043] FIGS. 11-12 are cross-sectional lateral views of examples of
padding substructure of the padding arrangement of FIG. 1,
according to some embodiments;
[0044] FIGS. 13A-13B are cross-sectional lateral views of examples
of padding substructure of the padding arrangement of FIG. 1,
according to some other embodiments;
[0045] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional lateral view of a padding
substructure of the padding arrangement of FIG. 1, according to an
embodiment;
[0046] FIGS. 15-16 are cross-sectional lateral views of variants of
the padding substructure shown in FIG. 14; and
[0047] FIG. 17-21 are cross-sectional lateral views of other
variants of the padding substructure as shown in FIG. 14;
[0048] FIGS. 22-23 show exemplary cross-sections of channels of the
padding substructures, according to some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1,
there is illustrated a helmet 1 in accordance with the present
disclosure. The helmet 1 has an outer shell 10 and an inner liner
20 including a padding arrangement 30 adapted to reduce the impact
energy transmitted to the head and/or brain of a user wearing the
helmet 1 upon receiving an impact on the helmet 1. The helmet 1 may
optionally have an attachment device 40 to secure the helmet 1 on
the wearer's head. Different embodiments of the outer shell 10, the
inner liner 20, the padding arrangement 30, components forming such
padding arrangement 30 and how the inner liner 20 may reduce the
impact energy transmitted to the head and/or brain are discussed
later below.
[0050] The helmet 1 of FIG. 1 is a generic helmet. However, in some
embodiments, such helmet 1 and inner liner 20, including the
padding arrangement 30, may be suitable for other sports, where
single or frequent impacts to the head may happen while practicing
the sport. For instance, the helmet 1 may be a football helmet, a
hockey helmet, a bicycle helmet (a.k.a., a cycling helmet), a
motorsports helmet (e.g. car racing helmet, motorcycle helmet), a
climbing helmet, a snow sport helmet, or helmets for other sports.
The helmet 1 may also be a safety helmet, such as used by workers
on construction sites, for instance. That is, the helmet 1 and
inner liner 20 may be adapted for other specific types of
activities involving risks of single or multiple impacts to the
head without departing from the present disclosure.
[0051] The attachment device 40 is typically anchored to the outer
shell 10 of the helmet 1, though the attachment device 40 may
optionally be attached to other components of the helmet 1 in
addition to or instead of the outer shell 10. For instance, the
attachment device 40 may be attached to the inner liner 20. The
attachment device 40 comprises attachment components, such as
straps (e.g. soft straps such as straps made of fabric or nylon
mesh, and/or rigid straps, such as made of plastic material)) or
other features to secure the helmet 1 on the wearer's head. The
attachment device 40 may be adjusted to allow for a customized fit
of the helmet 1 on the wearer's head and ensure the helmet 1 is
secured to the wearer's head. In some cases, the attachment device
40 may include a chin strap (not shown) as typically found on
hockey or lacrosse helmets, bicycle helmets, or the like. The
attachment device 40 may additionally or alternatively include
other attachment components adjustable to properly maintain the
helmet 1 on the wearer's head when performing the activity for
which the helmet 1 is intended. Additional components may be
connected to the outside of the helmet 1. For instance, the helmet
may also include attachment means for securing (permanently or
removably securing) a visor, a cage, a facemask or face protection
devices and/or other components to the helmet 1, such as portable
cameras or other electronic devices, depending on the types of
activity the helmet 1 is intended for. In some embodiments, the
helmet 1 may include an adjustment mechanism for customizing the
fit of the helmet 1 and/or the padding arrangement 30 according to
the wearer's preferences. In such cases, the adjustment mechanism
may be accessible from the inside or outside of the helmet 1.
[0052] The helmet 1 is defined by an occipital portion, a frontal
portion, opposite lateral portions and a top portion. Each of these
portions covers a corresponding region of the wearer's head when
the helmet 1 is worn. That is, the occipital portion of the helmet
1 is configured to cover an occipital region of the head, above the
wearer's neck, the opposite lateral portions of the helmet 1 are
configured to cover opposite lateral regions (temporal or side
regions) of the wearer's head, the frontal portion of the helmet 1
is configured to cover a frontal region of the wearer's head, and
the top portion of the helmet 1 is configured to cover a top
portion of the wearer's head. These different portions of the
helmet 1 may correspond to or be divided into zones of the wearer's
head to be protected against impact. Such zones on the wearer's
head may be transposed (or "reflected" into) to respective portions
of the inner liner 20 and the padding arrangement 30. As will be
discussed later, these different portions of the helmet 1, more
specifically the respective portions of the inner liner 20 and the
padding arrangement 30 include zone-specific sets of features for
customizing their respective behaviour when experiencing a rear
impact, a lateral impact, a frontal impact and/or a top impact, for
example, depending on their respective locations within the inner
cavity of the helmet 1.
[0053] To illustrate an example of the zones of the wearer's head
that face and/or correspond to respective portions of the inner
liner 20 and padding arrangement 30 discussed later, a human skull
SK is shown with views taken in different orientations in FIGS. 1A
to 1E. As shown in these figures, the darkened zones correspond to
respective zones of the wearer's head that face and/or correspond
to respective portions of the inner liner 20 and padding
arrangement 30. The direction of the arrows on these figures will
be described later with more details. The arrows correspond to an
example of contemplated preferential deformation directions
characterizing the padding arrangement 30, where such directions
may correspond to the most frequent and/or critical/damaging load
(impact load) conditions applied on the wearer's head and the
helmet 1 according to given sports or situations in use.
[0054] As shown on FIGS. 1A and 1B, a frontal zone FZ is defined as
a zone extending from above the orbit O toward the pole of the
skull SK. The frontal zone FZ covers a substantial portion (e.g.,
more than 50%) of the frontal bone FB, up to all of the frontal
bone FB. When viewed in the side elevational view (see FIG. 1B),
the frontal zone FZ extends from a forwardmost point of the skull
SK above the orbits O towards the back of the skull. The frontal
zone FZ may cover at least part of the lateral extensions of the
frontal bone FB above the temporal bone TB on opposed sides of the
skull SK. The frontal zone FZ ends forward of the ears, or forward
of the temporomandibular articulation TA.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, an occipital zone OZ is defined
as a zone extending from a lower section of the occipital bone OB
toward the pole of the skull SK. The occipital zone OZ may define a
substantial portion of the rear portion of the skull SK, or stated
differently a substantial portion of a projected cross-section area
in a plane facing the rear of the skull SK (posterior view, such as
in FIG. 1C). The occipital zone OZ covers at least part of the
occipital bone OB and part of the parietal bone PB. The occipital
zone OZ extends in a back-to-front direction of the skull SK along
a sagittal plane of the skull SK, and extends transversally to the
posterior-to-anterior direction towards the temporal bones TB on
opposite sides of the skull SK. The occipital zone OZ may end
rearward of the ears, or temporal bones TB, when viewed in a side
elevational plane (see. FIG. 1B). The occipital zone OZ may cover
up to all of the posterior zone of the skull SK up to the junction
between the squamous suture SS1 and the lambdoid suture SS2.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 1D, an elevated lateral zone ELZ is defined
as extending upwardly from the ear toward the sagittal suture SS3,
or from the external auditory canal AC to the sagittal suture SS3.
The elevated lateral zone ELZ covers part of the parietal bone PB
and the temporal bone TB. As shown, the elevated lateral zone ELZ
may cover part of the lateral extensions of the frontal bone FB,
which is adjacent the coronal suture SS4 when viewed in FIG.
1D.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 1E, a posterior lateral zone PLZ is defined
as extending laterally rearward of the helmet 1, between the
external auditory canal AC and the sagittal suture SS3. The
posterior lateral zone PLZ may cover part of the temporal bone TB
and of the occipital bone OB. The posterior lateral zone PLZ covers
up to all of the lateral portion of the skull SK from behind the
ear (or from rearward of the external auditory canal AC).
[0058] At junction areas between adjacent ones of the frontal zone
FZ, the occipital zone OZ, the elevated lateral zone ELZ, and the
posterior lateral zone PLZ, transition or overlapping zones may be
defined between adjacent zones. Referring to FIGS. 1F to 1N,
transition zones TZ, which may also be referred to as overlapping
zones, may be defined at a junction between adjacent ones of the
frontal zone FZ, occipital zone OZ elevated lateral zone ELZ, and
the posterior lateral zone PLZ. The transition zones TZ may spread
over a surface area of adjacent ones of the frontal zone FZ,
occipital zone OZ elevated lateral zone ELZ, and the posterior
lateral zone PLZ. Such transition zones TZ may be transposed to
selected areas of the inner liner 20 and/or padding arrangement 30.
This will be discussed later with respect to embodiments of the
inner liner 20 and padding arrangement 30.
[0059] Returning to FIG. 1, the outer shell 10 defines an outer
surface of the helmet 1. The outer shell 10 has an hemispherical
shape. The outer shell 10 thus defines a convex outer surface
(exposed outer surface of the helmet 1). The outer shell 10 defines
an inner cavity 11 of the helmet configured to receive the inner
liner 20 and portions of the wearer's head when the helmet 1 is
worn. The outer shell 10 may have vent holes defined therethrough
to channel outside air into the helmet 1 for comfort of the wearer
and cooling the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1 during use.
Although the outer surface of the helmet 1 is relatively smooth to
increase the likelihood to slide on surfaces or against projectiles
that may impact the helmet 1, the outer shell 10 may have various
shapes, geometries and/or surface finish for aesthetic purposes or
with some practical functions. For instance, the outer shell 10 may
define a combination of curved and/or profiled surfaces for
enhancing aerodynamic properties of the helmet 1. Additionally or
alternatively, the outer shell 10 may provide access to and/or
include the adjustment mechanism of the helmet 1, in embodiments
where such adjustment mechanism(s) is/are present. For instance,
one or more actuator(s) of the adjustment mechanism(s) of the
helmet 1 may be disposed on the outer shell 10, and accessible from
the outside of the helmet 1, such that a wearer may operate the
adjustment mechanism, manually or using a tool, while wearing the
helmet 1.
[0060] In some embodiments, the helmet 1 may be adjustable, such
that the size and/or shape of the helmet 1 may be adjusted
longitudinally and/or laterally by the wearer to allow for a
customized fit of the helmet 1 on the wearer's head. This is often
viewed in the hockey helmets and ski helmets industry, for
instance. As such, in some embodiments, the outer shell 10 may
include a plurality of shell portions that are movable relative to
one another to adjust a size and/or shape of the helmet 1. For
instance, a first and a second portion of the outer shell 10 may be
slidably connected to one another and/or pivotally connected to one
another to vary dimensions of the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1.
In such cases, the inner liner 20, including the padding
arrangement 30, is configured to adapt to the movement of the shell
portions relative to one another. That is, the inner liner 20 may
be connected to one or more of the shell portions such as to allow
the shell portions and/or components forming the padding
arrangement 30 to move relative to one another. In some
embodiments, the helmet 1 is made of a single outer shell 10, such
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0061] The outer shell 10 is typically rigid and relatively thin
when compared to the inner liner 20 of the helmet 1. Hence the
outer shell 10 may be referred to as a hard shell. The outer shell
10 is made of a rigid material, whereby the outer shell 10 may
disperse impact energy over a large area even though the impact may
be effected on a small area of the helmet 1. The outer shell 10 may
deflect, bend, buckle, or otherwise deform (panel-like
deformations), when the outer shell 10 is impacted. Stated
differently, when an extrinsic body hits the outer shell 10, the
impact may be spread over an area larger than the impacted area of
the inner liner 20 as a result of the panel-like deformations of
the outer shell 10 to transmit the impact energy received on the
outer shell 10 to a volume of the inner liner 20 surrounding the
location of impact. That is typically the main role of the outer
shell 10 in terms of impact energy transmission. In an embodiment,
the outer shell 10 is made of thermoplastic material, such as
polycarbonate, for instance. In other embodiments, the outer shell
10 may be made of composite materials, such as fiber-reinforced
materials. A combination of composite and thermoplastic materials,
and/or other rigid materials may be contemplated in some
embodiments. The outer shell 10 is "rigid" in that the outer shell
10 may be resilient without (without or substantially without)
deforming in compression (or "flatten" when compressed) to absorb
energy, with no (or substantially limited) damping, as opposed to
the deformations caused at the padding arrangement 30, and/or
damping of the padding arrangement 30, for instance. Stated
differently, the outer shell 10 has a substantially limited elastic
deformation capability in contrast to the pads of the padding
arrangement 30, and is substantially more rigid.
[0062] In some embodiments of the helmet 1, depending on the use it
is intended for, there may not have such outer shell 10. For
instance, the rigid outer shell 10 may be absent and replaced by
one or more layers of fabric material or leather encapsulating or
covering the inner liner 20 of the helmet 1. This is found
typically in boxing headgears or helmets and rugby helmets (scrum
caps), for instance. Also, in embodiments where the helmet 1 is a
cycling helmet, for instance, the outer shell 10 takes the form of
a thin layer of plastic sheet thermoformed and integral to the
inner liner 20. In such case, the outer shell 10 has aesthetic
functions rather than impact protection functions. As seen in some
cycling helmet, for instance, such outer shell 10 may not form a
continuous surface for covering the inner liner 20, as the inner
liner 20 may be visually apparent from the outside of the helmet 1
and form portions of the outer surface of the helmet 1. In the case
of cycling helmet, for instance, the outer shell 10 may not be
considered as "rigid" and may not help in spreading the impact
energy over a greater area of the inner liner 20.
[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner liner 20 is
connected to the outer shell 10 of the helmet 1. As mentioned
above, the inner liner 20 includes a padding arrangement 30, which
may be referred to as the energy-absorbing device of the helmet 1,
as the primary function of the padding arrangement 30 is to absorb
impact energy resulting from impacts received on the helmet 1, by
an extrinsic body (e.g. ground or wall surfaces, projectiles or
objects, a third party body part, etc.). Although the outer shell
10, by deforming and/or breaking may also absorb a certain amount
of impact energy, in the context of the present disclosure, the
outer shell 10 is excluded from the so-called energy-absorbing
device of the helmet 1.
[0064] The inner liner 20 may be secured to the outer shell 10 in
any suitable manner. In an embodiment, the inner liner 20 is
secured to the outer shell 10 by adhesive bonding (e.g. glue,
structural adhesive, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the
inner liner 20 may be co-molded with the outer shell 10, for
instance. Additionally or alternatively, the inner liner 20 may be
secured to the outer shell 10 using fasteners, such as rivets,
screws, or other types of fasteners.
[0065] In addition to the padding arrangement 30, the inner liner
20 may include comfort paddings (not shown) that are typically soft
and/or cushiony (i.e. substantially softer than the padding
arrangement 30) and adapted to contact the wearer's head when the
helmet is donned. The comfort paddings may typically deform upon
donning the helmet 1 to conform to the wearer's head. Since the
comfort paddings are deformable by mere pressure of the wearer's
head when the helmet 1 is donned, the comfort paddings may solely
absorb a negligible amount of impact energy, if any. The comfort
paddings may include soft foam, liquid bladders and/or fabric
materials, for instance. The comfort paddings may interface with
the wearer's head when the helmet 1 is worn. The comfort paddings
may be disposed within the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1 at
different locations to surround the wearer's head when worn,
between the wearer's head and the padding arrangement 30. In an
embodiment, the comfort paddings may be removably secured to the
remainder of the inner liner 20, for instance to the padding
arrangement 30, by Velcro.TM., and/or glue, or otherwise. The
comfort paddings may be permanently or removably secured to the
padding arrangement 30 and/or other components of the helmet 1 as
permanent or replaceable parts of the inner liner 20, in other
embodiments. In some cases, comfort paddings may be connected to
the attachment device that secures the helmet 1 on the wearer's
head. For instance, comfort paddings may be disposed on a head
contacting side of straps of the attachment device to prevent the
straps from contacting directly the wearer's head, throat or chin
and/or for improving comfort of the wearer.
[0066] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the padding arrangement 30
comprises a plurality of padding substructures 31, which are
arranged together to form parts of the padding arrangement 30. The
padding arrangement 30 is adapted to reduce linear and/or
rotational acceleration of the wearer's head when receiving an
impact, as discussed below.
[0067] As depicted in FIG. 4, an oblique impact made on the helmet
1 may be defined as an acceleration vector V originating from a
surrounding environment of the helmet 1. The acceleration vector V
extends toward the helmet 1. The acceleration vector V may be
decomposed into a normal component a.sub.x and a tangential
component a.sub.y with respect to an imaginary domed surface
generally corresponding to the convex outer surface of the helmet
1, which may correspond to the outer shell 10 in embodiments where
it is present. The normal component a.sub.x of the acceleration
vector intersects the helmet 1 normally to that domed surface. The
normal component a.sub.x of the acceleration vector V may thus be
considered equivalent to the linear component of the oblique impact
made on the helmet 1. Because of the tangential component a.sub.y
of the acceleration vector V, a "rotational" or tangential
acceleration is induced to the outer shell 10 relative to the
wearer's head. The tangential component a.sub.y of the acceleration
vector V may thus be considered equivalent to the "rotational"
component of the oblique impact.
[0068] The helmet 1, and more particularly the padding arrangement
30 opposes to the normal and tangential accelerations by deforming.
Such deformation results in energy absorption. In other words, the
padding arrangement 30, by one or more padding substructures 31,
individually or by reciprocal relationship, counteracts at least
partially the normal and tangential accelerations of the
acceleration vector defining the impact by deforming the one or
more padding substructures 31 in a combination of compression and
shear deformations (i.e. a deformation component oriented along a
thickness T of the padding substructure 31 and a deformation
component transverse to said thickness T of the padding
substructures 31). This may at least partially decouple the
acceleration induced to the outer shell 10 of the helmet 1 with
respect to the wearer's head for an instant time upon impact.
[0069] The plurality of padding substructures 31 form parts of the
padding arrangement 30 and are disposed at selected locations in
the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1, where the padding
substructures 31 may deform in a combination of deformation in
compression and shear in their own way. An aspect of the padding
substructures 31 is that a ratio of impact energy absorbed in
compression over impact energy absorbed by shear may be optimized,
where such optimized ratio is dependent upon the impact force
incidence. Depending on the embodiment, this optimized ratio may be
minimized or maximized, depending on the impact force incidence.
For instance, in an embodiment, the geometrical parameters of the
padding substructures 31 are such that the shear deformation is
maximized and provide absorption of, at least partially, the energy
in shear induced by the oblique impact, while a greater proportion
of energy may be absorbed by compression of the padding
substructures 31 on the overall energy induced to the helmet 1 by
the oblique impact. The geometrical parameters of the padding
substructures 31 are such that a proportion of energy absorbed by
shear deformation over the energy absorbed by compressive
deformation is increased over a comparable structure without the
geometrical parameters of the padding substructures 31. In a
particular embodiment, such situation may be met when the oblique
impact is at 450 with respect to a plane tangent to the outer
surface of the helmet 1 at the impact location. This may be
different in some embodiments, where, for instance, the geometrical
parameters of the padding substructures 31 are such that the
proportion of energy absorbed by shear deformation is greater than
the energy absorbed by compressive deformation for a given oblique
impact, for instance, a 45.degree. oblique impact.
[0070] In an embodiment, the padding substructures 31 are connected
together. This may be done in any suitable manner. For instance,
the padding substructures 31 may be mounted on a layer of fabric
that may stretch to allow the movement of outer shell portions,
where the outer shell 10 is made of a plurality of shell portions
that are movable relative to one another, as discussed above. At
least one of the padding substructures 31 may be disconnected from
other padding substructures 31, in some embodiments. Yet, in other
embodiments, all the padding substructures 31 may be removably
connected to one another, or not connected to any others. The
padding substructures 31 may each be individually connected to the
outer shell 10, although in some embodiments at least some of the
padding substructures 31 may be indirectly connected to the outer
shell 10 through other padding substructures 31 directly connected
to the outer shell 10.
[0071] According to an embodiment, the padding substructures 31 may
each be made based on their assigned location within the inner
cavity 11 of the helmet 1. In other words, each padding
substructure 31 may have a shape, size, composition and/or an
internal macrostructure adapted to reduce the impact energy
transmitted to the wearer's head, and absorb a least partially the
impact energy by deforming, in response to an impact on one of the
occipital portion, the frontal portion or the lateral portions of
the helmet 1. In use, the occipital portion of the helmet 1 may
receive an oblique rear impact defined by an acceleration vector V
oriented in a back-to-front direction and obliquely relative to the
helmet 1, with a tangential component a.sub.y imparting a forward
rotation of the helmet 1 (toward the front of the head) or a
rearward rotation (toward the neck portion at the rear of the head)
about the wearer's head, depending on the orientation of the
tangential component a.sub.y. This is shown in FIG. 4 as an
example. Thus, one or more padding substructures 31 disposed in the
occipital portion of the helmet 1 has/have a set of features to
counteract a rear impact and maximize its overall energy absorption
by combination of deformation in compression of the padding
substructure 31 against the normal component a.sub.x of the
acceleration vector V of the oblique rear impact, and deformation
in shearing against the tangential component a.sub.y of the
acceleration vector of the oblique rear impact, along a direction
generally aligned with such tangential component a.sub.y. This
direction may be referred to as a preferential deformation
direction. Stated differently, the padding substructures 31 are
weaker against shear along the preferential deformation direction
in a shear plane than against compression in a direction transverse
(transverse or normal) to the preferential deformation direction,
transverse to said shear plane in a direction generally aligned
with the normal component a.sub.x. In other words, a shear rigidity
of the padding substructures 31 along the preferential deformation
direction is lower than a rigidity in compression of the padding
substructures 31 along a direction transverse to the preferential
deformation direction. Such rigidity may correspond to a
compression modulus or a Young modulus, for instance. Additionally
or alternatively, the padding substructures 31 may be weaker
against shear along the preferential deformation direction than
against shear in a direction transverse (transverse or normal) to
the preferential deformation direction in said shear plane. In an
embodiment, for a given impact load amplitude and incidence, a
ratio of shear deformation along the preferential deformation
direction over a compressive deformation oriented transversely from
the preferential deformation direction is greater than 2. Stated
differently, for a given imposed deformation amplitude and
direction, a ratio of shear force along the preferential
deformation direction over a force oriented normally from the
preferential deformation direction, with such force being also a
shear force or being a compressive force, is lower than 0.5. For
instance, in some cases a ratio of shear deformation along the
preferential direction over a deformation oriented transversely
from the preferential direction, with such deformation being also a
shear deformation or being a deformation in compression, is from 2
to 10, and more particularly in some cases from 4 to 6. In other
embodiments, the ratio may be different. Stated differently, a
shear resistance is lower than a compressive resistance, where the
compressive direction extends transversely (transversely or
normally) to the shear direction. Additionally or alternatively,
the shear resistance along the preferential deformation direction
may be smaller than a shear resistance in a direction transverse to
said preferential deformation direction, where these shear
directions extend transversely to the thickness T of the padding
substructure 31.
[0072] The preferential deformation direction of the one or more
padding substructures 31 located in the occipital portion of the
helmet 1 correspond to the direction of the tangential component
a.sub.y of the acceleration vector V that causes the helmet 1 to
rotate forwardly or rearwardly, as discussed above. In other words,
the one or more padding substructures 31 located in the occipital
portion are less resistant to shear along the preferential
deformation direction than in a direction normal to said
preferential deformation direction. In some embodiments, minimizing
the ratio of constraint in shear over the constraint in compression
for padding substructures 31 disposed in the helmet 1 at selected
locations and receiving an oblique impact may help absorbing impact
energy. This may be done by minimizing the energy transmitted in
shear to the wearer's head, which typically causes rotational
acceleration to the wearer's head, and/or maximizing the energy
absorbed in compression deformation. This may decrease the
rotational acceleration imparted to the wearer's head upon
receiving an oblique impact. Some examples of padding substructures
31 that may achieve this are described later.
[0073] This similarly applies to the one or more padding
substructures 31 located in the frontal portion of the helmet 1,
and/or the one or more padding substructures 31 located in the
lateral portions of the helmet 1, and/or the one or more padding
substructures 31 located in the top portion of the helmet 1.
[0074] In an embodiment, the one or more padding substructures 31
located in a lateral portion of the helmet 1 may counteract a
lateral impact received on the helmet 1, with the normal component
a.sub.x of its acceleration vector V causing compression of the
padding substructures 31, and the tangential component a.sub.y of
its acceleration vector V causing shearing along the preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the lateral portion of the helmet 1. The preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in a lateral portion of the helmet 1 extends in a
left-to-right (or vice-versa) direction of the helmet 1, along the
imaginary domed surface of the helmet 1 (rotation of the helmet 1
with respect to the wearer's head from one side of the wearer's
head to the opposed side). The preferential deformation direction
of the one or more padding substructures 31 located in a lateral
portion of the helmet 1 may be oriented differently in other
embodiments, such as in a rear-to-front (or vice-versa) direction
of the helmet 1, for instance.
[0075] In an embodiment, the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the frontal portion of the helmet 1 may counteract a
frontal impact received on the helmet 1, with the normal component
a.sub.x of its acceleration vector V causing compression of the
padding substructures 31, and the tangential component a.sub.y of
its acceleration vector V causing shearing along the preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the frontal portion of the helmet 1. The preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the frontal portion of the helmet 1 extends in a
rear-to-front (or vice-versa) direction of the helmet 1, along the
imaginary domed surface of the helmet 1, similar to the
preferential deformation direction of the one or more padding
substructures 31 located in the occipital portion of the helmet 1.
The preferential deformation direction of the one or more padding
substructures 31 located in the front portion of the helmet 1 may
be oriented differently in other embodiments, such as in a
left-to-right (or vice-versa) direction of the helmet 1, for
instance.
[0076] In an embodiment, the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the top portion of the helmet 1 may counteract a top
impact received on the helmet 1, with the normal component a.sub.x
of its acceleration vector V causing compression of the padding
substructures 31, and the tangential component a.sub.y of its
acceleration vector V causing shearing along the preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the top portion of the helmet 1. The preferential
deformation direction of the one or more padding substructures 31
located in the top portion of the helmet 1 extends in a
left-to-right direction of the helmet 1, along the imaginary domed
surface of the helmet 1 (rotation of the helmet 1 with respect to
the wearer's head from one side of the wearer's head to the opposed
side), similarly to the preferential deformation direction of the
padding substructures 31 located in the lateral portions of the
helmet 1. In other embodiments, the preferential deformation
direction of the padding substructures 31 located in the top
portion of the helmet 1 may extend in a front-to-back direction of
the helmet 1, similar to the padding substructures 31 located in
the frontal and occipital portion of the helmet 1.
[0077] The padding substructures 31 thus have respective sets of
features for customizing their respective behaviour when
experiencing a rear impact, a lateral impact, a frontal impact
and/or a top impact, depending on their respective locations within
the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1. Some examples of sets of
features that may contribute to this are described later.
[0078] In some embodiments, these preferential deformation
directions may correspond to standardized load conditions or
acceleration vector pertaining to standardized tests for linear
and/or rotational impact protection of protective helmets. For
instance, these standardized tests include: [0079] the "Standard
Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the
Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear" (ASTM F1446),
the contents of the 2019 Annual Book of ASTM Standards with respect
to this standard is incorporated herein by reference; [0080] the
"Standard Specification for Protective Headgear Used in Horse
Sports and Horseback Riding" (ASTM F1163), the contents of the 2019
Annual Book of ASTM Standards with respect to this standard is
incorporated herein by reference; [0081] the "Standard
Specification for Helmets Used in Recreational Bicycling or Roller
Skating" (ASTM F1447), the contents of the 2019 Annual Book of ASTM
Standards with respect to this standard is incorporated herein by
reference; [0082] the "Standard Specification for Helmets Used for
Recreational Snow Sports" (ASTM F2040), the contents of the 2019
Annual Book of ASTM Standards with respect to this standard is
incorporated herein by reference; [0083] the "Standard Performance
Specification for Ice Hockey Helmets" (ASTM F1045-16), the contents
of the 2019 Annual Book of ASTM Standards with respect to this
standard is incorporated herein by reference; [0084] the Ski and
Snowboard Helmets standard of the European Committee for
Standardization (CE EN1077), the contents of the standard text is
incorporated herein by reference; [0085] CSA Z263.1 and CSA Z262.1,
the contents of the standards texts is incorporated herein by
reference; and [0086] Hockey and Football STAR, Drop 45.
[0087] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, an exemplary embodiment of the
helmet 1 is shown with a padding arrangement 130 having padding
substructures 131 with respective preferential deformation
directions dependent upon the location of the padding substructures
131 within the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1. As shown, the
padding substructures 131 are disposed within the inner cavity 11
of the helmet 1 respectively at locations generally corresponding
to the zones of the wearer's head with which they are configured to
contact and/or face. In some embodiments, the sizes and shape of
the padding substructures 131 are selected to mimic (mimic or
reflect) the surface areas of the respective zones of the wearer's
head with which they are configured to contact and/or face.
[0088] As shown, the padding arrangement 130 has a frontal
substructure 131FZ located in the foremost portion of the helmet 1.
The frontal substructure 131FZ may be configured to face and/or
contact the frontal zone FZ of the wearer's head when the helmet 1
is worn and subject to a frontal impact. The padding substructure
131FZ is configured to cover at least part of (at least part of or
a majority of) the forehead of the wearer. As shown, the frontal
substructure 131FZ extends in a front-to-back direction of the
helmet 1 from (adjacent to) a front peripheral edge 101 of the
helmet 1, along a sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1, towards the
top of the helmet 1 (the pole of the helmet 1). The frontal
substructure 131FZ extends laterally towards the opposite lateral
sides of the helmet 1 between elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ
at opposite sides of the inner cavity 11.
[0089] The elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ may be configured
to face and/or contact the elevated lateral zones ELZ of the
wearer's head when the helmet 1 is worn and subject to a lateral
impact. The elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ are located in
lateral portions of the helmet 1 within the inner cavity 11 to face
sides of the wearer's head that are closer to the occipital portion
of the helmet 1 than the frontal portion of the helmet 1. The
elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ are located on opposite
lateral sides of the helmet 1, on both sides of the frontal
substructure 131FZ. There may have a gap 132 (empty space) between
the frontal substructure lateral edges 133A and the forward facing
edges 134A of the elevated lateral substructures in some
embodiments. The frontal substructure lateral edges 133A and the
forward facing edges 134A of the elevated lateral substructures
131ELZ may also be connected, by contacting each other for
instance, whether or not bonded to each other, in some embodiments.
While the elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ on the left and
right side of the inner cavity 11 of the helmet 1 are shown as
symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1,
they may be shaped and/or sized differently from each other in
other embodiments. In the depicted embodiment, the elevated lateral
substructures 131ELZ extend laterally rearwardly relative to the
frontal substructure 131FZ of the helmet 1 along part of the front
peripheral edge 101. The elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ
extend from (adjacent to) the front peripheral edge 101 of the
helmet 1, towards the top of the helmet 1 (the pole of the helmet
1). The elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ are disposed on
opposite sides of the sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1. The
elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ extend between the frontal
substructures 131FZ and posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ at
opposite sides of the cavity 11.
[0090] The posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ are located
rearward from the elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ within the
inner cavity 11. The posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ may be
configured to face and/or contact the posterior lateral zones ELZ
of the wearer's head when the helmet 1 is worn and subject to a
lateral impact. There may be a gap 132 (empty space) between
forward facing edges 135B of the posterior lateral substructures
131PLZ and the rearward facing edges 134B of the elevated lateral
substructures 131ELZ in some embodiments. The forward facing edges
135B of the posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ and the rearward
facing edges 134B of the elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ may
be connected, by contacting each other for instance, whether or not
bonded to each other, in some embodiments. The posterior lateral
substructures 131PLZ are disposed on opposite sides of the sagittal
plane S-S of the helmet 1. While the posterior lateral
substructures 131PLZ on the left and ride sides of the inner cavity
11 of the helmet 1 are shown as symmetrical with respect to the
sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1, they may be shaped and/or sized
differently from each other in other embodiments. In the depicted
embodiment, the posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ extend
between the elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ and an occipital
substructure 131OZ at the rear of the cavity 11.
[0091] The occipital substructure 131OZ is located rearward from
the posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ within the inner cavity
11. The occipital substructure 131OZ has a head-facing surface that
faces a head-facing surface of the frontal substructure 131FZ. The
occipital substructure 131OZ may be configured to face and/or
contact the occipital zone OZ of the wearer's head when the helmet
1 is worn and subject to a rear impact. There may be a gap 132
(empty space) between the forward facing edges 136A of the
occipital substructure 131OZ and the rearward facing edges 135A of
the posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ in some embodiments. The
forward facing edges 136A of the occipital substructure 131OZ and
the rearward facing edges 135A of the posterior lateral
substructures 131PLZ may be connected, by contacting each other for
instance, whether or not bonded to each other, in some embodiments.
The occipital substructure 131OZ intersects with the sagittal plane
S-S of the helmet 1, like the frontal substructure 131FZ.
[0092] The frontal substructure 131FZ, the elevated lateral
substructures 131ELZ, the posterior lateral substructures 131PLZ
and the occipital substructure 131OZ may surround
circumferentially, in a crown-like disposition, the wearer's head
and form energy absorbing structures dedicated to specific parts of
the helmet 1 to protect specific zones of the wearer's head against
impacts. A top substructure 131T may be located at the top (pole)
of the helmet 1. The top substructure 131T may be configured to
cover the highest portion of the wearer's head. As shown, the
peripheral edges 137 of the top substructure 131T may be surrounded
by interfacing edges 138 of the frontal substructure 131FZ, the
elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ, the posterior lateral
substructures 131PLZ and the occipital substructure 131OZ that
coincide with the top substructure 131T.
[0093] While the various substructures 131 discussed above are
illustrated each as a single part (one continuous part), one or
more of the padding substructures 131 may be divided in a plurality
of separate substructure segments (or sections), whether or not
interconnected to one another. While shown as of similar or
identical thicknesses, the substructures 131 may have different
thicknesses, such that some substructures 131 may be thinner than
other substructures 131 depending on the embodiments. The padding
substructures 131 may also have one or more perforations extending
across the padding substructures 131 to provide ventilation
passages within the padding substructures 131 for comfort, as
another possibility.
[0094] The padding substructures 131 discussed above are depicted
with arrays of arrows oriented in different directions, which
corresponds to preferential deformation directions particular to
the dedicated location of the respective padding substructures 131
within the inner cavity 11.
[0095] The preferential deformation directions for the padding
substructures 131 discussed above may correspond to that shown on
the zones of the wearer's head illustrated on the skull SK of FIGS.
1A to 1E.
[0096] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
direction of the frontal substructure 131FZ extends in the
front-to-back direction, from the front peripheral edge 101, along
the sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1, toward a top of the helmet
1, which may correspond to toward the top substructure 131T. This
corresponds to that shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, where the arrows extends
from the orbit O towards the top of the skull SK. The preferential
deformation direction extends along the curvature of the outer
shell 10, and/or along a plane extending transversally to the
thickness of the padding substructures 131.
[0097] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
direction of the elevated lateral substructure 131ELZ extends
upwardly, that is towards the top of the helmet 1. This corresponds
to that shown in FIG. 1D, where the arrows extend from the ear (or
external auditory canal AC) towards the sagittal suture SS2. The
preferential deformation direction extends along the curvature of
the outer shell 10, and/or along a plane extending transversally to
the thickness of the elevated lateral substructure 131ELZ.
[0098] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
direction of the posterior lateral substructure 131PLZ extends
rearwardly with respect to the helmet 1, that is towards the
occipital substructure 131OZ. This corresponds to that shown in
FIG. 1D, where the arrows extends from the ear (or external
auditory canal AC) towards the lambdoid suture SS2. The
preferential deformation direction extends along the curvature of
the outer shell 10, and/or along a plane extending transversally to
the thickness of the posterior lateral substructure 131PLZ.
[0099] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
directions of the elevated lateral substructure 131ELZ and the
posterior lateral substructure 131PLZ are normal to each other.
[0100] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
direction of the occipital substructure 131OZ extends in the
back-to-front direction, from a rear peripheral edge 102 of the
helmet 1, and along the sagittal plane S-S of the helmet 1, toward
the top of the helmet 1, which may correspond to toward the
substructure 131T if present. This corresponds to that shown in
FIGS. 1B-1C, where the arrows extend from the occiput towards the
coronal suture SS4 of the skull SK. The preferential deformation
direction extends along the curvature of the outer shell 10, and/or
along a plane extending transversally to the thickness of the
padding substructures 131.
[0101] In the depicted embodiment, the preferential deformation
directions of the posterior lateral substructure 131PLZ and the
occipital substructure 131OZ are normal to each other.
[0102] In the depicted embodiment, the top substructure 131T does
not have any preferential deformation direction like the other
padding substructures 131. The top substructure 131T may have a
preferential deformation direction in other embodiments. For
instance, the top substructure 131T may have the same preferential
deformation direction as one of the frontal substructure 131FZ, the
elevated lateral substructures 131ELZ, the posterior lateral
substructures 131PLZ and the occipital substructure 131OZ or a
different/its own preferential deformation direction. As another
possibility, segments (or sections) of the top substructure 131T
may have a preferential deformation direction that corresponds to
an adjacent padding substructure 131, such that the top
substructure 131T may have a plurality of preferential deformation
directions corresponding to the respective preferential deformation
directions of the adjacent padding substructure 131.
[0103] While in the depicted embodiment the various substructures
131 all have their respective preferential deformation directions
(except for the top substructure 131T in the depicted embodiment),
the padding arrangement 30 may have only one or some selected ones
of its padding substructures 131 having a preferential deformation
direction in other embodiments of the helmet 1. As such, one helmet
1 may be configured to prioritize protection against one or some
selected types of impact, i.e. to prioritize protection against
impacts applied at one or more selected areas of the helmet 1 to
counteract impacts applied in one or more specific directions on
the helmet 1.
[0104] For instance, a helmet 1 may have an inner liner with a
padding arrangement optimized for one specific type of impact (e.g.
optimized only against frontal impacts, rear impacts or lateral
impacts), such that a padding substructure covering only one
specific zone of the wearer's head may have a preferential
deformation direction while all other padding substructures of the
padding arrangement may have no preferential deformation direction.
For instance, in an embodiment, the frontal substructure 131FZ may
have a preferential deformation direction such as discussed above
while the other padding substructures 131 may not have any
preferential deformation direction. As another possibility, the
occipital substructure 131OZ may have a preferential deformation
direction such as discussed above while the other padding
substructures 131 may not have any preferential deformation
direction. Yet as another possibility, selected ones of the padding
substructures 131 may have their respective preferential
deformation directions while other ones of the padding
substructures 131 may not have a preferential deformation
direction. For instance, in an embodiment, the frontal substructure
131FZ and the occipital substructure 131OZ may have their
respective preferential deformation directions while the other
padding substructures may not have any preferential deformation
direction.
[0105] As discussed above earlier with respect to FIGS. 1F to 1N,
just as zones on the wearer's head may be defined as transition
zones TZ (also called overlapping zones) at junction areas between
adjacent ones of the zones FZ, OZ, ELZ, PLZ, the padding
arrangement 30 may have areas that mimic such transition zones TZ.
This may limit drastic changes of damping behaviour and/or other
padding properties, at transitions between adjacent padding
substructures 131.
[0106] In the depicted embodiment, the padding substructures 131 do
not have segments implementing such transition zones TZ discussed
above, though this may be contemplated in other embodiments. As an
example, hatched areas delimited by broken lines at the
intersection of adjacent padding substructures are shown in FIGS.
5-9. FIGS. 10A to 10E show schematically different embodiments of
transition zone segments 131TZ of the padding substructures 131,
with exemplary preferential deformation direction configurations.
The transition zone segments 131TZ shown in FIGS. 10A to 10E may be
implemented in the hatched areas of FIGS. 5-9 with the patterns of
preferential deformation directions shown. For instance: [0107] as
shown in FIG. 10A, the preferential deformation direction in one or
more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may be the same as in
one of the adjacent padding substructure 131; [0108] as shown in
FIG. 10B, one or more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may
have no preferential deformation direction; [0109] as shown in FIG.
10C, one or more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may have a
preferential deformation direction oriented in a mean direction of
the preferential deformation directions of each of the adjacent
padding substructures 131 (e.g. if the adjacent preferential
deformation directions are normal to each other, then the mean
direction would be oriented at 450 from each one of the adjacent
preferential deformation directions); [0110] as shown in FIG. 10D,
one or more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may have a
preferential deformation direction oriented in a weighted mean
direction of the directions of each of the adjacent padding
substructures 131 (e.g. if A*x+B*y represents vector components
along axes x-x and y-y of a resultant vector of the preferential
deformation direction of one of the adjacent padding substructures
131, and C*x+D*y represents vector components along axes x-x and
y-y of a resultant vector of the preferential deformation direction
of another one of the adjacent padding substructures 131, where A,
B, C, D are the amplitudes of the shear resistance along axes x-x
and y-y of the respective padding substructures 131, then the
resulting vector of the preferential deformation direction of the
one or more transition zone segment=(j*A+k*C)*x+(j*B+k*D)*y), with
the weighting factors j and k having values selected to reflect a
desired relative weight to be given to the adjacent preferential
deformation directions, e.g. more weight to be given to one of the
adjacent preferential directions than another; and [0111] as shown
in FIG. 10E, one or more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may
have a gradient of preferential deformation directions from the
preferential deformation direction of one of the adjacent padding
substructures 131 to the preferential deformation direction of
another one of the adjacent padding substructures 131, such that
one or more of the transition zone segments 131TZ may have a
plurality of preferential deformation directions with an
orientation that respectively progressively changes from the
preferential deformation direction of one of the adjacent padding
substructures 131 to the preferential deformation direction of
another one of the adjacent padding substructures 131.
[0112] Other preferential deformation directions, including other
distribution of preferential deformation directions within one or
more padding substructures 131 may be contemplated in other
embodiments.
[0113] Foam material typically used in helmets for making the inner
liner 20 have isotropic properties, which may be less efficient
and/or less suited for absorbing energy resulting from oblique
accelerations/impacts affecting the foam material. Foam materials
with isotropic properties may have relatively high shear rigidity
when the foam material has a high compression rigidity, and thus
isotropic foam materials may transmit a non-negligible amount of
energy in a shear direction, perpendicular to a compression
direction while impacted. In order to at least partially alleviate
this, the energy-absorbing material(s) of the padding substructures
31 of the padding arrangement 30 are made of anisotropic materials,
and/or have anisotropic properties because of their internal
macrostructure(s) or configuration(s), for instance.
[0114] The padding substructures 31 may be made of one or more
energy-absorbing materials. Energy-absorbing materials have
viscoelastic properties, which may provide absorption of energy, as
opposed to pure restitution or transmission of the impact energy
over a short period of time. The damping properties of viscoelastic
materials may provide more efficient absorption of impact energy
over a short period of time (impact occurred over a very short
period of time) than conventional elastic materials without
viscoelastic properties. More particularly, in an embodiment, the
padding substructures are made of elastomeric material, such as an
elastomeric foam, a polymer foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP),
etc. The materials used may also be auxetic materials, such as
crystalline materials (e.g. zeolites), for instance.
[0115] In an embodiment, at least one of the padding substructures
31 is made of a composition of different energy-absorbing
materials. For instance, in a particular case, at least one of the
padding substructures 31 is made of a plurality of layers of
different materials. There may be at least two different materials,
if no more than two, each having different properties to absorb
different types of impact. For instance, referring to FIGS. 11 to
22, at least a first layer 32.sub.1 of material is made of a soft
material (i.e. a material with low rigidity in compression) to
absorb, at least partially, low intensity impacts. At least a
second layer 32.sub.2 of material may be made of a material stiffer
than the at least first layer of material. This second layer of
material, due to its greater rigidity, may absorb, at least
partially, high intensity impacts. In an embodiment, the rigidity
of the materials is measured as a Young modulus, for instance. In
an embodiment, the rigidity of the second material is at least two
times (e.g., 2.times.) the rigidity of the first material. This
proportion may be different in other embodiments.
[0116] Additionally or alternatively, the layers of materials
forming the one or more padding substructures 31 may have different
thicknesses, an uneven thickness across one or more layers, and/or
a non-linear shape (i.e. not flat, such as an oscillating shape).
Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Also, in other
embodiments, the different materials of the padding substructures
31 may be distributed differently than by layers stacked one on the
others, such as in a plot-like form as shown in FIG. 13A, or as a
series of blocks 32.sub.3 of different materials contained within
one layer 32.sub.1 of material, as shown in FIG. 13B.
[0117] In addition to or instead of padding substructures 31 having
a composition of different energy-absorbing materials, one or more
of the padding substructures 31 may have an internal macrostructure
adapted to increase the shear deformation in a shear plane, along a
preferential deformation direction, as discussed above. As such, a
lower shear rigidity of the padding substructures 31 may be due to
the internal macrostructure configured to weaken the padding
substructures 31 against the shear load caused by the tangential
component a.sub.y of the oblique impact. The internal
macrostructure may thus cause the padding substructures 31 to
deform more than they would without such internal macrostructure.
For instance, in an embodiment, the internal macrostructure may be
created by material removal within the padding substructures 31.
Referring to FIGS. 14-23, for instance, the internal macrostructure
includes a plurality of channels 33 defined through the padding
substructure 31. The number of channels 33 may vary, depending on
the embodiments.
[0118] As shown, in an embodiment, the channels 33 may be elongated
slits having a rectangular cross-section (shown with rounded
edges). The slits extends longitudinally in a direction transverse
to the thickness T of the padding substructure 31. When subjected
to an oblique impact oriented transversely to the longitudinal
dimension of the slits, the padding substructure 31 may shear (the
slits may deflect). The slits are examples of features that may
weaken the overall padding substructure 31 against shearing load in
a preferential deformation direction, as discussed above.
[0119] In an embodiment, the rectangular cross-section of the slits
has a height H that corresponds to 75%.+-.5% of the thickness T of
the padding substructure 31, and a width W of 1 mm.+-.0.5 mm. A
space S between adjacent slits measures 6.85 mm.+-.0.5 mm. Other
dimensions or proportions may be contemplated in other embodiments.
Although the height H of the slits shown in FIG. 8 extends in a
direction along the thickness T of the padding substructure 31, the
slits may be obliquely oriented with respect to the thickness T of
the padding substructure 31. This is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for
instance. In an embodiment, referring back to FIG. 4, the slits are
oriented such that their height H is transverse (in the case shown,
normal or perpendicular) to the wearer's head when the padding
substructures 31 are disposed within the inner cavity 11 of the
helmet 1 at their assigned locations. Also, as shown, the slits may
extend longitudinally along the imaginary domed surface of the
helmet 1, along the convex surface of the wearer's head. In some
embodiments, the slits extend longitudinally across the padding
substructure 31, such that an opening is visible on opposed sides
of the padding substructure 31. In other cases, the slits may not
extend longitudinally all the way across the padding substructure
31.
[0120] In other embodiments, the channels 33 may have other
cross-sectional shapes, such as an oval cross-section, diamond
cross-section, although other channel 33 cross-sections may be
contemplated. Examples of contemplated cross-sections of the
channels 33 are illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 23. Additionally or
alternatively, in some embodiments, the channels 33 may be filled
with different materials instead of being hollowed.
[0121] Any suitable manufacturing techniques may be used to make
the padding substructures 31. In an embodiment, the padding
substructures 31 are made by additive manufacturing, such as
3D-printing manufacturing process, for instance. Such manufacturing
technique may help making padding substructures 31 with complex
shapes and/or combinations of different materials interconnected
(e.g. interlaced, interlocked, merged, etc.) together to achieve a
desired energy absorption pattern, such as padding substructures 31
with anisotropic properties, and padding substructures 31 having a
complex internal macrostructure, such as a lattice macrostructure
made of a network of bars or branches extending in a plurality of
directions, for instance. Other types of manufacturing process may
be used, such as injection-molding, with or without complementary
or subsequent manufacturing processes (e.g. material removal
process, such as grinding, drilling, etc.).
[0122] The embodiments described in this document provide
non-limiting examples of possible implementations of the present
technology. Upon review of the present disclosure, a person of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made
to the embodiments described herein without departing from the
scope of the present technology. Yet further modifications could be
implemented by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the
present disclosure, which modifications would be within the scope
of the present technology.
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