CA2770713A1 - Helmet - Google Patents

Description

-. , , HELMET
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to helmets and more particularly, relates to helmets to protect the head of the user when undertaking an activity posing a danger to the user's head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of helmets when participating in an activity has grown enormously over the years. Originally used only in relatively violent sports such as football, their use in other activities has increased as medical science has set forth the dangers in many activities.
Helmets are now worn in a wide range of sporting activities such as playing hockey, skiing, skating, and the like. They are also widely used in other recreational activities such as bicycling, inline skating, skateboarding, etc.
The design of helmets has also evolved substantially and many helmets are designed for a specific activity. Original designs normally consisted simply of a hard outer shell with some inner cushioning material. This is still the basic design which is utilized for many different types of helmets.
The prime purpose of the helmet is to protect the head of the wearer should it come in contact with a hard surface. As the design of helmets has progressed, differing materials have been utilized in order to provide the maximum impact resistance. This is generally accomplished by using different density foams and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in helmet designs which can be adapted for many different purposes and/or activities. Some activities require special design considerations. Thus, for example, the popularity of renting bicycles from one station and dropping them off at another station has increased in many urban areas. One problem with this arrangement is that the bicycle riders generally are not using any helmets for protection. As it is highly inconvenient to continually carry a helmet, most people opt to not utilize any head protection. Since rental helmets are not considered desirable for health reasons, it would be desirable to provide a helmet structure which is compact and portable.
Helmets according to the present invention can be designed in many different ways.
Some of the helmets will have a hard outer shell in a conventional manner while others will have a soft outer shell which can be easily carried around by the user.
Other helmets need to be designed to reduce the impact or in other words, provide for controlled deceleration of the head. Recent evidence has raised the possibility that concussions can lead to other medical problems later in life and particularly some forms of dementia.
In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a helmet which comprises pellets and an air bladder. This helmet will have a soft outer shell and is collapsible rendering it ideal for uses where the helmet is desirably portable.
In a second embodiment, there is provided a soft outer shell along with the use of pellets. Again, this design is relatively collapsible and suitable for portability.
In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hard outer shell with an interior comprising pellets and an air bladder.
In a fourth embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hard outer shell with encased pellets forming the cushioning layer.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a helmet which has a hard shell with encased pellets within. However, over the hard shell, there is a further

- 2 -layer of pellets with a soft outer shell.
In a still further embodiment, there is provided a hard outer shell with an interior honeycomb design.
A variation of the above will include a soft outer shell and a honeycomb design.
In a still further embodiment, there is provided a hard shell having an interior honeycomb design. However, exteriorly of the hard shell there is provided a honeycomb design and a soft outer shell.
In a further embodiment, there is provided a hard shell having an interior formed of encased pellets and an air bladder. Exteriorly of the hard shell, there are provided both an air bladder and encased pellets and a soft outer shell.
In the instance wherein the helmet uses a hard outer shell, such structures are well known in the art and many different designs are available. It suffices to say that the hard outer shell may be formed of any suitable material and may have any suitable design.
The nature of the hard shell and the design will partially be dictated by the activity for which it is designed.
The use of pellets or beads in some of the embodiments of the present invention will comprise a plurality of pieces of particulate matter which are encased in a holder or shell. The beads may be formed of many different materials and are preferably of a plastic material such as a polypropylene. However, other materials can also be engineered to have particular properties and could be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
The shape of the beads can be varied. Thus, circular beads or beads having an irregular configuration with a plurality of flat surfaces can be utilized in certain situations.
The overall thickness of the layer of the beads can vary and would depend on the desired protection.

- 3 -In the case of the air bladder, any conventional air bladder might be utilized.
Preferably, the valve arrangement is one which would permit the user to blow into the same or alternatively, to utilize an inflation device. Also, the valve arrangement is preferably one wherein air is prevented from entering the valve to the air bladder following deflation. This will permit the helmet to be collapsible and to stay in a collapsed state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:
Figure 1 A is a perspective view of a helmet structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 1B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 1C is an enlargement of a portion of the cutaway view of Figure 1B;
Figure 1D is a cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 2A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 2B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 3 is a partial sectional view thereof;
Figure 2D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 3A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 3B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 3C is a further partial cutaway view;
Figure 3D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;

- 4 -Figure 4A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 4B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 4C is a further cutaway view thereof;
Figure 4D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 5A is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 5B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 5C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 6A is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 6B is a partial cutaway view thereof;
Figure 6C is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;
Figure 7A is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 8A is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 9A is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention;
Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view thereof;
Figure 10A is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to

- 5 -the present invention;
Figure 10B is a partial cutaway view thereof; and Figure 10C is an enlarged view of a portion of the cutaway view of Figure 10B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a first embodiment of the helmet according to the present invention.
The helmet is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and has a rigid outer shell 12.
Mounted interiorly of rigid outer shell 12 is an air bladder 14 with a valve 20 for inflation/deflation. Surrounding air bladder 14 is a soft liner 18 containing a plurality of beads or pellets 16.
In the embodiment of Figure 2, helmet 24 has a soft outer shell 26. An inner liner 28 contains beads or pellets 30.
Turning to Figure 3, a helmet 34 has a hard outer shell 36. Mounted interiorly of hard outer shell 36 is an air bladder 38 which is equipped with an inflation/deflation valve 40. An inner liner 42 extends about air bladder 38 and contains a plurality of beads 44.
The embodiment of Figure 4 illustrates a helmet 48 having a hard outer shell 50.
Interiorly of hard outer shell 50 is an inner liner 52 containing beads 54.
Turning to the embodiment of Figure 5, helmet 56 includes a hard shell 58. On the inner side of hard shell 58, there is an air bladder 60 with an inflation/deflation valve 62.
Extending about air bladder 60 is an inner soft liner 64 containing a plurality of beads 66. On the outer side of hard shell 58, there is provided an air bladder 68 surrounded by a soft outer liner 70 containing beads 72. Finally, there is provided a soft cover shell 73.
In the embodiment of Figure 6, there is provided a helmet 73 having a hard shell 74

- 6 -. .
, with an inner soft liner 76 containing beads 78. On the exterior of hard shell 74, there is provided an outer soft liner 80 containing beads 82. An outer soft shell 84 is utilized.
The embodiment of Figure 7 illustrates a helmet generally designated by reference numeral 86. Helmet 86 has an inner honeycomb structure 88 and a hard outer shell 90.
Honeycomb structure 88 consists of a plurality of separated cells which will crush as required.
If so desired, the cells of honeycomb structure 88 may include interiorly thereof a further substance which may be of a shock absorbing nature.
In the embodiment of Figure 8, helmet 94 has a honeycomb structure 96 and a soft outer shell 98.
A helmet 104 is illustrated in Figure 9 and which helmet is comprised of a hard shell 106 having an interior honeycomb structure 108. Exteriorly of hard shell 106, there is provided an exterior honeycomb structure 110 and a soft shell 112.
In Figure 10, there is illustrated a helmet generally designated by reference numeral 116 has an interior air bladder 118 (valve not shown) surrounded by a liner containing beads 120.
A hard shell 121 surrounds this structure. Exteriorly of hard shell 121, there is provided an exterior air bladder 122 and a liner 124 to encase beads 126. This arrangement is covered by a soft outer shell 128.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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