U.S. patent number 3,600,713 [Application Number 04/839,585] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-24 for athletic helmet.
Invention is credited to Mike C. Holt.
United States Patent |
3,600,713 |
Holt |
August 24, 1971 |
ATHLETIC HELMET
Abstract
The athletic helmet has a sectional pad for the forehead and
temple areas of the wearer, which pad has ends tapering outwardly.
This pad is mounted in the shell by mating tapes, one of which is
affixed to the outer surface of said pad, and the other mating tape
is attached to the inside surface of the shell through a
horizontally positioned plastic band that extends about the inside
frontal half of the shell. One of the mating tapes carries woven
hooks and the other facing mating tape carries woven loops.
Extending back from the respective ends of the said pad is a head
suspension composed of two web horizontal bands, one of which is
the chordal band attached at spaced intervals to the interior of
the shell and the other of which is the head contacting band
affixed at medial points to the underlying chordal band. At the
rear of the shell below the head suspension bands are two web,
horizontal bands of the same type as the head suspension, for
contacting and protecting the neck. The helmet has additional
protective means including a soft crown piece at the top, inside of
the helmet from which radiate spaced sling straps of the same soft
material and which are attached to the shell between the latter's
inside surface and the chordal head band.
Inventors: |
Holt; Mike C. (N/A, FL) |
Family
ID: |
25280142 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/839,585 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/83; 2/425;
2/909 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
3/14 (20130101); Y10S 2/909 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
3/04 (20060101); A42B 3/14 (20060101); A42B
001/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/3,6,8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Parent Case Text
This invention is a continuation-in-part of patent application of
Mike C. Holt identified as Ser. No. 796,336 of filing dated Feb. 4,
1969 entitled Athletic Helmet.
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. An athletic helmet for protecting the head and neck of the
wearer, comprising a hard, stiff shell, to the inside thereof there
is attached a horizontal plastic band spaced from the shell and
extending over the approximate frontal half of the shell, a pad
composed of soft material having a smooth inner surface, and whose
two ends are tapered convergingly in thickness outwardly, to
protect the wearer's forehead and temple areas, two contacting
mating tapes having permanently woven hooks on one tape and
permanently woven loops on the other tape, one of the said tapes
being fastened to the outer side of the said pad, and the other
tape being fastened to the inner side of said plastic band thus
indirectly to the shell, said mating tapes detachably securing said
pad to said plastic band, a head suspension comprising two
horizontally positioned web bands of which there is a chordal web
band and an outer head contacting web band, the head suspension
extending rearwardly from the end areas of the aforesaid protective
pad, the said chordal web band secured to the shell at spaced
intervals and the outer, head contacting, web band affixed to said
chordal web band at approximately medial points thereof to give the
head contacting band an elliptical configuration, a neck protector
consisting of two web bands positioned below, horizontally the
aforesaid web head suspension in the rear of the shell, the said
neck protector consisting of a chordal web neck contacting band
that is affixed at medial points to the said chordal web band
attached at spaced intervals to the interior of the shell, and a
web neck contacting band that is affixed at medial points to said
chordal neck band to give a curved configuration.
2. An athletic helmet as set out in claim 1, wherein at the
interior top of the shell there is a crown piece of soft material
from which radiate a plurality of spaced sling straps of the same
material, whose lower ends are fastened underneath the chordal
suspension web band to the shell.
3. An athletic helmet for protecting the head and neck of the
wearer, comprising a hard, stiff shell, to the inside thereof there
is attached a horizontal, plastic band spaced from the shell and
extending over the approximate frontal half of the shell, a pad
composed of soft material with a smooth inner surface to protect
the wearer's forehead and temple areas, said pad having a plurality
of sections the end sections of which taper to decreased thickness,
two contacting mating tapes having permanently woven hooks on one
tape and permanently woven loops on the other tape, one of the said
tapes being fastened to the outer side of the said pad, and the
other tape being fastened to the said plastic band, thus indirectly
to the shell, said mating tapes detachably securing said pad to
said plastic band, a head suspension comprising two horizontally
positioned web bands of which there is a chordal web band and an
outer, head contacting web band, the head suspension extending
rearwardly from the end areas of the aforesaid protective pad, the
said chordal web band secured to the shell at spaced intervals and
the outer, head contacting web band affixed to said chordal web
band at approximately medial points thereof to give the head
contacting band an elliptical configuration, a neck protector
consisting of two web bands positioned below horizontally the
aforesaid web head suspension in the rear of the shell, the said
neck protector consisting of a chordal web band attached at spaced
intervals to the interior of the shell, and a web neck contacting
band that is affixed at medial points to the said chordal neck band
to give a curved configuration.
4. An athletic helmet as set out in claim 3, wherein at the
interior top of the shell there is a crown piece of soft material
from which radiate a plurality of spaced sling straps of the same
material, whose lower ends are fastened underneath the chordal
suspension web band to the shell.
Description
The present invention relates to protective helmets having a padded
front and front sides of the type particularly suitable for use by
athletes, such as football players. It relates more specifically to
football helmets having a padded front and front sides portions,
the padding of which is a center pad joined with or to sections,
which padding secured to a band on the helmet by tapes that mate,
having permanent mating construction on each tape, one kind on one
tape and the other kind on the opposite tape. The invention relates
more specifically to football helmets having padded front and front
sides of the type just mentioned, and extending to the rear of
these portions a web head suspension, and at the back of the helmet
below the horizontal level of the head suspension a web neck band.
The purpose is to protect to the ultimate the head and neck of the
wearer-player, such as the football player who is subject to great
impacts, which can be damaging in vital areas of his body,
specifically to head and/or neck.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a helmet, the
shell of which is of the rigid type such as formed from molded
plastic, having cushioning padding in the interior thereof arranged
in the front thereof and extending to the front sides of the shell,
also having a head cradle or suspension made of fabric that is
somewhat elastic and also having a fabric neck band that is
somewhat elastic also, specifically of web construction. The said
cushioning sectional padding is held or affixed to the shell by
means of tapes, preferably of Nylon material, one of which is
covered with a myriad of firmly woven permanent hooks and the other
tape covered with myriads of soft hoops to mate with the hooks on
the opposite tape. One of these is affixed to the outer surface of
the sectional pad and the other tape is affixed to a hard band
fastened in turn to the shell of the helmet. The head web
suspension provides lateral spacing of the wearer's head from the
shell of the helmet where the aforesaid cushioning pads do not
extend, and provides protection.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide
a rigid type helmet, such as whose shell is made from molded
plastic, that has a sectional pad, which is secured to a band on
the inside of the helmet in the front area by mating tapes of the
kind identified in the preceding sentences, and which protect the
fore-head and the front sides of the wearer, with a web head
suspension or cradle that gives the wearer a proper fit and
maintains his head in that area a lateral distance from the shell,
and with a web neck band. The neck band thereof securely holds the
helmet to the wearer's head. As to the padded front and front sides
of the nature described above, that characterize this invention, it
would like to be stated that because of the full, ample protection
that this affords, the forehead and front-side areas of the
wearer's head, the corresponding result can not be gotten with a
full web suspension helmet. Also because of the fabric web head
suspension and the fabric web neck band this type of fitting of the
wearer's head in the helmet can not be secured with a fully padded
helmet.
Whereas the aforesaid neck band affords the wearer a proper fit,
which per se is important, it also, because of its cushioning
nature and its position for keeping the wearer's head away from the
shell under all conditions, has a protective role as well.
As pointed out supra, the padding at the front and two front sides
on the interior of the shell of the helmet are fastened thereon, as
has previously been explained by means of coacting Nylon tapes one
on the outer side of the pads and the other on a plastic band that
is affixed directly to the shell of the helmet. To explain how the
tapes achieve this will be herewith gone into in detail. One of
these tapes is covered with a myriad of finely woven Nylon
monofilaments formed into permanent hooks, the other covered with
softy Nylon loops. When the two tapes are pressed together, they
fasten tightly and hold securely to one another. The item, a tape
fastener, is marketed under the trade mark, VELCRO, produced by
Velcro Corp., 681 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York. That fastener
tape combination of VELCRO that the applicant prefers is designed
by its manufacturer as "Hook 80" for the hook fastening component,
and for its mating tape, "Velstrick SR" (Semirigid) --napped pile.
The first of these, namely "Hook 80" is described in its marketer's
literature as having great sheer strength, whose tape is first
woven of 80 mil. monofilament Nylon in the form of raised and
staggered loops with one-sixteenth inch selvage along both edges;
these loops are then precision cut in alternate directions and
thereby provide a concentration of over 200 hooks per sq. in. The
mating napped pile, is a pile tape that has been woven and suitably
napped to form a uniform disoriented surface of invert loops; a
one-sixteenth inch selvage is woven along both edges to prevent
raveling The "Velstrick SR" (Semirigid) tape is a 1 inch wide,
semirigid high impact vinyl extension on which has been permanently
attached napped pile tape; there is a protective beading, along
both edges, offering greater rigidity. The vinyl base is slightly
concave in order to maintain flat edges after having been applied
to the surface.
Although the combination of the padding at the front and front
sides affixed to the shell of the helmet by mating Nylon tapes as
described above with a web suspension or cradle to the rear of the
ends of the aforesaid pad protectors, and a web neck suspension at
the rear of the shell of the helmet, each of which latter two
elements are also affixed to the interior of the shell, are
features characterizing the present invention, this is not to be
construed as meaning that other features assisting in the
protection of the wearer player can not supplement these to make
the protection of the wearer's head and neck more complete. One
such auxiliary protective means is shown in the drawing of this
invention, and is the combination of a plurality of radiating bands
of soft, resilient material to absorb shocks, which material is
closed cell vinyl, extending from the top center of the helmet to
spaced paints on the interior of the shell of the helmet at the
locus of the aforesaid pads and the web-suspension, thus to spaced
points in one plane; this protection is further supplemented by a
center piece of the same material both on top and below the center
area of the radiating bands just mentioned.
For a further understanding of this invention, reference is made to
the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a football helmet in such position
as to display a portion of the internal structure.
FIG. 2 is a view of the helmet taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, a
longitudinal cross section
FIG. 3 is a transverse view of the helmet, i.e. on line 3--3, FIG.
2
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of fastening means in open position, on
line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of liner pad showing mating tape
fastener attached.
For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, the drawing
shows the protective helmet for a football player. The outer shell
is made of a suitable, solidified molded plastic, such as vinyl
resin, or cellulose acetate, or analogous, functioning, solid,
hard, molded plastic; however, this invention is not tied to any
particular composition from which the shell is made. The shell is
shaped to conform generally to the shape of the head of the wearer
and is of such size that the shell per se will be spaced a lateral
distance from the head of the wearer.
In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the football helmet's
shell, numbered 1, is provided with a detachable padding, numbered
2, for the inside front of the shell which protects the fore-head
and the temple portion on each side of the player's head. From
FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be perceived that this particular pad 2 is
composed of three joined sections, the two end sections tapering
off in thickness; this configuration is important from the
standpoint of comfort to the wearer. From FIGS. 2 and 4 it will be
observed how this frontal and temple protector sectional pad 1 is
attached to the helmet. There is a double plastic band 3, that is
fastened by three spaced rivets, each numbered 4, to the shell;
each rivet also extends through one of three radiating, crown
suspension straps, numbered 11, and in the case of the front rivet
also through a rubber nose bridge guard, 5, and in the case of each
of the other rivets 10 through the terminal end of cordal web band,
numbered 8. Due to this arrangement of mounting the double plastic
band 3, through which the spaced rivets 4 extend as mentioned
above, it is spaced (outer surface) throughout its length about
1/4" from the inside surface of the shell as the drawing clearly
reveals; that has significance. On the inner surface of the double
plastic band there is a beaded edge, numbered 6 of woven napped
pile forming a uniform disoriented surface of uncut loops. This is
more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Facing this surface with
beaded edge just described there is a Nylon tape or band covered
with myriads of finely woven Nylon monofilaments formed into
permanent hooks designated by numeral 7. When these tapes, one on
the exterior surface of the sectional pad, and the other on the
inside surface of the inner plastic band, are pushed together by
pushing the sectional pad toward the inside surface of the shell,
they fasten tightly and hold securely. This consequently holds
securely the sectional pad to the double plastic bands, hence to
the interior of the shell. Impacts on the exterior of the shell
from contacts with opposing players, their equipment or the ground
will not dislodge the sectional pad. And because the double plastic
bands are spaced a good distance from the inside surface of the
hard shell, this structure diminishes the force of the impact on
the player's head--a not to be dismissed advantage. It is obvious
that the sectional pads surrounding the front and temples of the
player's head cushion the force of each blow. Sectional pads of
various thicknesses are available, and this enables the helmet to
be fitted to wearers'heads of different sizes. Although the pad in
the embodiment shown in this drawing has three joined sections,
more or less could be used, provided its surface contact with the
wearer's head is smooth. Preferably a plurality of sections
exceeding two is employed in order to achieve smoothness. The angle
of the edge of each joint should be such, as shown in the drawing,
to avoid folds or bulging; that is of practical importance to the
wearer to avoid abrasion. This sectional pad not only obviates
abrasion or skinning of the forehead of the wearer but also it
protects the nose of the wearer in the event the helmet is rolled
forward due to impact; this happens quite often in football
games.
The front and front side sectional pad is preferably made of closed
cell vinyl to absorb the blow and covered with a coated fabric sold
under the brand name, DOVE-LON -DM 6841 (marketer is Uniroyal, Inc.
of Stoughton, Wisconsin), to give a smooth surface against the
forehead and front sides of the wearer's head.
The web bands head suspension or cradle is composed of two bands,
one of which, namely the chordal web band, 8, has been previously
mentioned. The other web band of this suspension is the contacting
head band 9. This structure provides lateral spacing of the shell
from the player's head in that portion of the shell lying between
the two ends of the protection pad, as is to be seen from FIGS. 2
and 3. The web band 9 that contacts the wearer's head, is suspended
on or carried by chordal web band 8, arranged exteriorly about the
head contacting band 9 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The chordal
suspension band or strap is shown fixed or fastened to the shell by
rivets, numbered 10, and at the front end by rivets 4; this last
fastening has previously been mentioned. The rivets 10 also fasten
the lower ends of the crown suspension, sling straps or bands 11,
to the shell. As also shown in the drawing, the preened ends of the
rivets 10 are protected from any contact with the wearer, not only
by the web but also by a one piece resilient cover, numbered 12 as
shown in FIG. 2 also FIG. 3. The suspension strap or web band 8 is
stretched taut in chordal relation to those areas of the shell that
are bridged by them; these web straps 8 and 9 are secured to one
another at medial points by rows of stitches, denoted by the
numeral 13. As to be seen from FIG. 3, the chordal suspension web
strap assumes, because of this spaced manner of anchoring to the
shell, a polysided form or configuration, and the head contacting
web band 9, has an elliptical configuration, which is the
approximate configuration of the heads of most people. The chordal
suspension web band in the embodiment shown in this drawing, where
riveted to the shell, is positioned over the respective ends of the
crown suspension straps 11.
These crown suspension straps radiate downwardly from the central
portion, numbered 14, analogous to the spokes from a hub in a
wheel; the central portion is of the same material as are the crown
suspension straps. In the center of this central portion portion
14, is a hole 15. Through this hole projects a dual crown head
cushioning member; the lower section of it 16, is circular in
design and is of a diameter about twice that of the upper portion
17. This dual cushioning member is soft, and is formed also from
closed cell vinyl as are the radiating crown suspension strap
11.
In the embodiment shown in the drawing, and as to be seen from
FIGS. 1 and 2, the helmet's shell is provided with cheek extensions
18, one on each side of it. They are each provided with protective
pads 19, for the cheek and ear areas of the face; these pads are of
sponge rubber covered by soft leather to prevent chafing of the
cheeks and ears.
Positioned below the web, head suspension or cradle bands 8 and 9,
referred to previously, is a neck protector 20; it is fastened in
the neck portion of the helmet. As seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
drawing it extends horizontally between the rear portion of the
protective pads 19, just mentioned, but slightly above the tips
thereof. The neck protector is formed of the chordal strap, 21 that
spans inwardly the areas mentioned, between the ear pads, and a web
neck contacting strap, 22, having a curvature; the midportion
thereof would contact the very back of the player's neck. The
chordal web strap is fastened by a screw 23, to the base midpoint
of the shell. This screw is protected from contacting the
wearer'neck by a one piece resilient cover 24, which type of cover
protects the preened ends of other screws also numbered 23 that
anchor the ends of chordal web strap 21 to the shell. This type of
resilient cover is used to protect the wearer from the ends of
rivets in points of attachment of chordal web band 8 to the shell
by rivets. The neck contacting strap is firmly stitched to chordal
web strap by stitches of two rows on each side at points 25. It is
replaceable and the neck protector can be varied to fit in this
manner the players of thick to thin necks.
This invention may be developed within the scope of the following
claims. According the above specification is to be interpreted as
illustrative of only a single embodiment of this invention, rather
than in a strictly limited sense.
* * * * *