Patent Application
20180027895
The present disclosure generally relates to helmets. In particular, the disclosure relates to interactive helmets responsive to impacts against surfaces.
During contact sports and other physical activities, helmets have long been worn to protect users from sustaining injuries to the head and brain. Over time, helmets have become lighter and have provided additional cushioning to help better protect users. However, lighter helmets offer less protection for a user's head and brain, and additional cushioning can be ineffective. Being injured while wearing conventional helmets can result in serious injuries including sustaining a concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain damage. As athletes experience long and short-term brain injuries resulting from head impacts, there is a need for more effective helmets. Short-term brain injuries typically result from hard falls, impact with objects, and helmet-to-helmet contact. While there are protocols in place to protect players from concussions, repeatedly experiencing concussions can result in brain damage which can be detected by medical resonance imaging (MRIs) and autopsies of athletes who have sustained multiple concussions. Consequently, traditional helmets have many shortcomings and do not fully protect users.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an interactive helmet system for reducing brain injuries. The system may include at least one inflatable air pouch that may be provided in an interior of a helmet in an active position. An air pouch pressure may increase over a predetermined inflation time, and the at least one inflatable air pouch may not depressurize in the active position. The system may include a force measuring instrument that may be provided in the interior of the helmet to predetermine an impact force of the helmet against a surface. The air pouch pressure may increase in proportion to the force. The system may further include an inflation device that may be provided in the interior of the helmet to initiate inflating the at least one inflatable air pouch. The system may include a pressure sensor that may be provided in the interior of the helmet to monitor the air pouch pressure of the at least one inflatable air pouch. A pressure regulator may control and maintain the air pouch pressure at or above a predetermined pressure. The air pouch pressure may increase to a maximum of approximately twice the predetermined pressure. The predetermined inflation time may be from approximately 0.01 to 0.5 seconds following an impact of the helmet against the surface. The inflation device may provide a signal to at least one valve that may control a flow of gas into the at least one inflatable air pouch. The system may include additional inflatable air pouches that may be provided in the interior of the helmet in the active position. The force measuring instrument may be a force gauge and/or a rupture disc. The inflation device may be actuated mechanically without utilizing electronics upon undergoing the predetermined impact force.
The system may include a strap that may be provided to support at least one of a user's chin and jaw. The strap may include the at least one inflatable air pouch that may be arranged to prevent injuries. An internal helmet cushioning material may be provided to harden or soften as an electrical current may be applied to the interactive helmet system. An internal helmet cushioning material may be provided to harden as an impact may increase. The impact may result from physical forces that may be applied to the interactive helmet system.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method of reducing brain injuries using an interactive helmet. The method may provide arranging at least one inflatable air pouch in an active position in an interior of a helmet. The method may further provide determining an impact force of the helmet against a surface using a force measuring instrument. The method may provide initiating inflation of the at least one inflatable air pouch using an inflation device for a predetermined inflation time. The method may also provide monitoring the air pouch pressure of the at least one inflatable air pouch after initiating inflation using a pressure sensor, and maintaining the air pouch pressure at or above the predetermined pressure using a pressure regulator. The predetermined inflation time may be approximately 0.01 to 0.5 seconds following an impact of the helmet against the surface. The method may include providing a signal to at least one valve using the inflation device that may control a flow of air or gas into the at least one inflatable air pouch. The method may provide arranging additional inflatable air pouches in the interior of the helmet in the active position. The impact force of the helmet against a surface may be predetermined using a force gauge and/or a rupture disc. The inflation device may be actuated mechanically without utilizing electronics upon undergoing the predetermined impact force. The method may provide arranging the at least one inflatable air pouch in an active position in a strap that may be provided to support at least one of a user's chin and jaw. The method may provide arranging an internal helmet cushioning material in the interior of the helmet system. The internal helmet cushioning material may harden or soften as an electrical current may be applied to the interactive helmet system. The method may provide arranging an internal helmet cushioning material in the interior of the helmet system. The internal helmet cushioning may harden as an impact may increase. The impact may result from physical forces that may be applied to the interactive helmet system.
Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure generally provides an interactive helmet system and method for reducing concussions and brain injuries that may result from head impacts.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
A force measuring instrument including, but not limited to, force gauge 122, may include indicator 124 that may provide whether at least one inflatable air pouch 120 has been inflated to a pressure in which at least one inflatable air pouch 120 needs to be replaced and helmet 110 is inoperable. A force measuring instrument, such as force gauge 122 and rupture disc 126 (
It should also be appreciated that interior 170 may include at least one proximity sensor 180 that may predict when an impact may be expected to occur from any angle in some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, proximity sensor 180 may predict that an impact will occur within 10 seconds along a right side of helmet 110 and may inflate at least one inflatable air pouch 120. It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may include some air in an active position, as further described below, and may further inflate when an impact is predicted to occur.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
At least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be provided in interior 170 of helmet 110 proximate a user's ear and/or forehead. It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be provided at other locations in interior 170 of helmet 110 without departing from the present disclosure. At least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be arranged in an active position 210 (
Following an impact of helmet 110 against a surface, automatic or instant inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may occur. It should be appreciated that the predetermined inflation time may be less than approximately 0.01 seconds and/or greater than approximately 0.5 seconds without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that any quantity of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be incorporated into interior 170 of helmet 110 without departing from the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that helmet 110 may be a football helmet without departing from the present disclosure.
It should be appreciated that helmet 110 may be a device for other sports, occupations, recreation, and the military without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120, force gauge 122, rupture disc 126, pressure sensor 132, pressure regulator 134, at least one valve 130, at least one filler port 140, and/or inflation device 150 may be incorporated into helmets or headgear.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
Strap 152 may be provided to support a user's chin and/or jaw with chin portion 154 and/or jaw portion 156 (
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
It should be appreciated that the at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may include a pressure level that may protect a user's brain against impacts of up to approximately 100 G's. It should further be appreciated that helmet 110 may instantly inflate to a preset higher pressure after inflation device 150 provides a signal to at least one valve 130. It should also be appreciated that a preset higher pressure may be a pressure that is approximately twice an initial pressure in an embodiment of the present disclosure; however, it may be higher or lower without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that mechanical valve 190 may automatically or instantly inflate at least one air pouch 120 to a preset higher air pressure than an initial air pressure that may provide greater protection at high impact forces or G's. It should further be appreciated that mechanical valve 190 may be provided on at least one air pouch 120 with or without any electronic components without departing from the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that mechanical valve 190 may be provided in a form including, but not limited to, a spring-operated or pop-off valve, a disc, and a rupture mechanism.
Inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may provide increased protection from brain trauma during impact by providing more cushioning and/or an optimal amount of cushioning around a user's head than conventional helmets. The optimal amount of cushioning may be determined by calculating the force that may be generated by an impact. Force gauge 122 and/or rupture disc 126 may measure the force that may be generated at impact. It should be appreciated that force gauge 122 may be provided with off-the-shelf components including, but not limited to, transistors, resistors, capacitors, batteries, micro universal serial bus (USB) plugs, miniature air cylinders, and miniature inflating charge devices. It should be appreciated that the pressure of at least one air pouch 120 may be at least twice an initial air pressure or normal air pressure in some embodiments of the present disclosure.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, helmet 110 may automatically return the air pressure of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 to a normal inflation after sustaining an impact against another object. Normal inflation may be an amount of inflation prior to sustaining an impact. It should be appreciated that helmet 110 may be re-inflated to a normal inflation without departing from the present disclosure. Nominal inflation may occur within approximately 0.01 to 0.5 seconds following impact against a hard surface. It should further be appreciated that a hard surface in which helmet 110 may make a hard impact may include, but is not limited to, the ground, an object, a wall, a person or an extension of a person, and/or another helmet system or helmet. It should be appreciated that an inflation time may be shorter or longer without departing from the present disclosure. A preset air pouch pressure may provide more protection to a user wearing helmet 110 at a force that may be higher than a force in which conventional helmets may be constructed to protect users.
It should be appreciated that inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may add little weight to helmet 110 and may decrease risks of injury to users. It should be appreciated that use of interactive helmet system 100 may eliminate a need for a spare helmet that may be required when factory-installed conventional air pockets in conventional helmets depressurize and/or become damaged after impact against a surface. It should be appreciated that interactive helmet system 100 may only require replacement of components including at least one inflatable air pouch 120, force gauge 122, pressure sensor 132, pressure regulator 134, at least one valve 130, at least one filler port 140, inflation device 150, and/or strap 152 following an impact against a surface, as opposed to providing an entirely new helmet. At least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be incorporated into helmet 110 using a simple manufacturing process that may include bonding, mechanically fastening, and/or molding at least one inflatable air pouch 120, force gauge 122, rupture disc 126, pressure sensor 132, pressure regulator 134, at least one valve 130, at least one filler port 140, inflation device 150, and/or strap 152 to portions of helmet 110.
It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be incorporated into any type of helmet including, but not limited to, athletic helmets, hats, and non-athletic headgear including, but not limited to, occupational hard hats and recreational hats, and at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be utilized in any sport or activity where helmets are used. At least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be provided on top of and/or under factory-installed air pockets. Following an impact against a surface, at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be removed from helmet 110 and may be replaced with new components including, but not limited to, at least one inflatable air pouch 120, force gauge 122, rupture disc 126, pressure sensor 132, pressure regulator 134, at least one valve 130, at least one filler port 140, inflation device 150, and/or strap 152 to portions of helmet 110. It should be appreciated that these components may provide a system that has not been activated prior to sustaining impact against a surface. It should further be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may release air when interactive helmet system 100 is not being worn to provide easier removal of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 from helmet 110.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be provided in standard, as-purchased, and off-the-shelf helmets that may also include air pockets, bags, and/or bladders. It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be made of a material such as plastic or rubber without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be incorporated into helmets that include standard foam and/or rubber cushioning with no factory-installed air pockets. It should further be appreciated there may be embodiments of the present disclosure where the standard foam and/or rubber in a helmet may be removed and replaced with at least one inflatable air pouch 120 that may provide a capability of instant inflation. It should be appreciated that air pockets, pouches, bags, and/or bladders may be interchangeable with components that provide a capability of instant inflation. It should further be appreciated that materials including, but not limited to, foam, rubber, urethane, and/or other cushioning materials may be provided in interior 170 and/or exterior 172 of helmet 110. A chemical charge or a pressurized cylinder may provide instant inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120. It should be appreciated that a chemical charge may be provided by a device including, but not limited to, a carbon dioxide (CO2) cartridge. Inflation device 150 may be positioned so that inflation device 150 does not interfere with at least one inflatable air pouch 120. It should be appreciated that a small battery may be mounted in inflation device 150 to provide power without departing from the present disclosure.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one filler port 140 may be provided on top 174 or back 176 of helmet 110 that may provide a pathway to inflate at least one inflatable air pouch 120 with air. It should be appreciated that additional filler ports may be provided on helmet 110 without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that at least one filler port 140 may be provided at any location along helmet without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the OEM pressure of at least one air pouch 120 may be doubled in some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that more or less pressure than approximately twice the OEM pressure may be added to at least one air pouch 120 without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that the air pouch pressure may be increased to provide impact protection of up to approximately 100 G's without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the inflation capability of at least one air pouch 120 may not be inflated over twice the OEM standard factory pressure or setting for safety precautions without departing from the present disclosure.
It should be appreciated that an analog inflation device may be provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that a digital inflation device may be provided in helmet 110 in other embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that a mechanical non-electronic device may cause inflation of an air pressure cylinder that may be mechanically ruptured upon exertion and/or detection of impact G's. It should be appreciated that a mechanical non-electronic device may be rupture disc 126 that may be provided to inflate at least one inflatable air pouch 120 without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may remain inflated in an active position without depressurizing or deflating. Instant inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be triggered by an accelerometer that may be secured or fastened to a helmet shell. It should be appreciated that instant inflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may be triggered by rupture disc 126 that may be secured or fastened to interior 170 of helmet 110. It should be appreciated that the helmet may be deflated whether or not worn by a user. Also, new inflatable air pouches may be installed in place of used inflatable air pouches. Inflation device 150 may inflate at least one inflatable air pouch 120 in various manners such as a chemical reaction that may occur and fill air pouch with a gas and use of a pressurized cylinder that may include carbon dioxide and/or a gas, and/or rupture disc 126. An inflation device for controlling and inflating at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may actuate mechanically without utilizing electronics upon helmet 110 undergoing a predetermined impact force.
It should be appreciated that at least one inflatable air pouch 120 may have a pressure release that may release pressure in at least one inflatable air pouch 120 after an interactive inflation event occurs including, but not limited to, impact with the ground, an object, a wall, a person or an extension of a person, and/or another helmet system or helmet. It should be appreciated that the pressure release may release excess pressure, so that an amount of pressure may return to an original amount of pressure that may have been provided in at least one inflatable air pouch 120 prior to the interactive inflation event. It should further be appreciated that the release of excess pressure by the pressure release may allow the interactive helmet to be quickly removed from a user's head and may prevent the user from experiencing discomfort from a high pressure that may result following the interactive inflation event. It should be appreciated that the pressure release may eliminate a need for manual deflation of at least one inflatable air pouch 120 using an inflation needle when an over-inflation of the interactive helmet may be present after an interactive inflation event occurs.
It should be appreciated that helmet 100 may provide an internal helmet cushioning material that may harden and/or soften as an electrical current may be applied to the helmet cushioning material. It should be appreciated that an internal liner cushioning material may harden as an impact increases, that such as an impact that may result from physical forces that may be applied to a helmet. It should further be appreciated that an internal liner cushioning material may harden due to an increase in physical force alone that may be applied to a helmet in the absence of mechanical devices and/or electronics in some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that an internal liner cushioning may utilize a pressure- seeking fluid in which the harder an impact that may be applied to helmet 100 is, the harder and/or stiffer the internal liner cushioning may become. It should be appreciated that the more fluid that may flow into cushioning material as a pressure increases may result in an increase in the hardness and/or stiffness of internal liner cushioning in embodiments of the present disclosure.
It should be appreciated that an interactive helmet system and method according to embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce brain injuries that may result from head impacts during activities including, but not limited to, football, motorbike riding, baseball, soccer, volleyball, rugby, boxing, wrestling, and other activities including sporting, occupational, recreational, and/or military activities.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
