Patent Application
20140020158
The invention relates generally to headgear and more specifically to impact attenuating headgear intended to reduce the incidence or severity of closed head injuries.
Closed head injuries, particularly concussions, are a relatively common occurrence. The term concussion describes an injury to the brain resulting from an impact to the head. By definition, a concussion is not a life-threatening injury, but it can cause both short-term and long-term problems. The terms mild brain injury, mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), mild head injury (MHO, minor head trauma, and concussion may be used interchangeably. Frequently defined as a head injury with a temporary loss of brain function, concussion can cause a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms A mild concussion may involve feeling “dazed” or a very brief loss of consciousness, for example, being “knocked out”. A severe concussion may involve prolonged loss of consciousness with a delayed return to normal.
A concussion can be caused by a blow to the head, or by acceleration forces without a direct impact. The forces involved disrupt cellular processes in the brain for days or weeks. Concussions often occur in sports, particularly contact sports such as football or hockey. Military personnel can suffer concussions from direct blows to the head or from the percussion of an explosive device.
Treatment of concussion involves monitoring and rest. Symptoms usually go away entirely within three weeks, though they may persist, or complications may occur. Repeated concussions can cause cumulative brain damage or severe complications such as second-impact syndrome.
Use of protective equipment such as headgear has been found to reduce the number of concussions in athletes and military personnel. Improvements in the design of protective gear such as helmets may decrease the number and severity of such injuries.
It would be advantageous, therefore, to have protective headgear with enhanced impact attenuating properties.
Headgear with enhanced impact attenuating properties is provided. The headgear can be provided as a liner for protective headgear, such as a helmet, or as an integral part of the protective headgear.
The headgear comprises an impact attenuating or shock reducing pad which can be employed as a permanent liner or replaceable liner for protective headgear such as a helmet. In one aspect, the pad comprises a flexible base or web having an array of individual cells across the web. The liner is configured to fit within the cavity of an impact resistant shell, such as a helmet. As such the liner is configured so as to be folded and positioned within the helmet. The liner can be reasonably secured inside the helmet shell or integral with the helmet shell.
The individual cells can be air cells. The air cells can be sealed at an optimal internal pressure or can be interconnected by airflow channels so that pressure can be equalized among the cells. The size of the various air flow channels is predetermined can be varied to control the flow of air between the cells at impact to better control the impact attenuating characteristics of the pad.
In another embodiment, the cells can be at least partially filled with another impact attenuating medium such as a visco-elastic material or foam or impact attenuating plastic that has optimal impact attenuating characteristics.
In another aspect, the impact attenuating liner comprises an impact attenuating base and an impact attenuating cellular layer positioned on the base.
One embodiment of the impact attenuating headgear is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The illustrated headgear comprises an outer shell 12 defining an inner cavity 14. There is an impact attenuating pad or liner within cavity 14. Cavity 14 is sized and configured such that a wearer's head is snugly and comfortably nestled within the cavity and surrounded by the liner, as will be explained.
It will be noted that outer shell 12, as illustrated, is commonly referred to as a helmet. The illustrated embodiment is configured as a military type helmet. The outer shell, however, can be any type of helmet including, but not limited to, a football helmet, racing or motorcycle helmet, bicycling helmet, baseball batter's helmet, hockey, skiing, or the like. It will be understood that any reference to an outer shell or helmet or headgear herein is intended to encompass any type of protective headgear presently known or developed in the future.
In general, outer shell 12 is impact resistant, in that it comprises a hard material that resists penetration or breaking, cracking or shattering upon impact. Although no material is absolutely impact resistant, the material comprising the outer shell will be referred to as impact resistant in the general sense. Such materials include, but are not limited to, synthetic fiber materials such as Kevlar® high impact plastics, fiberglass or metal.
Impact attenuating pad or liner 16 comprises a base 18, which is constructed as a flexible web. There is an array 20 of individual, upstanding cells 21 across the web. The liner can be constructed with cells 21 molded into an upper or top sheet, or conformal, which is then adhered to a bottom or backing sheet. The bottom sheet and the material around the cells form a flexible web. However, the impact attenuating pad can be formed or molded or constructed in any acceptable manner.
Cells 21 are referred to as impact attenuating cells in that they absorb forces exerted against the cells resulting from impact to the outer shell or jarring or shaking movement of the wearer's head. In one embodiment, cells 21 are upstanding inflatable cells. Many of the cells are substantially rectangular, while others are triangular and others trapezoidal in peripheral configuration. The configuration of the cells allows the liner to be folded into place within the helmet without any gaps between impact attenuating cells. In any event, the upstanding cells include a top wall 22 and side walls 23 around the periphery of the cell. The cells can be filled with a gas, such as air, to a desired pressure and sealed.
In other aspects, the cells can be partially or fully filled with another impact attenuating material, such as liquid or foam or visco-elastic material or combinations thereof. In one aspect of the liner the cells are about ¾ inch high when fully functional.
In the illustrated embodiment, cells 21 can be interconnected by air flow pathways or conduits 24 extending through base 18. The interconnected cells can have enhanced impact attenuating properties since the pressure within the cells can be equalized. Moreover, if there is impact at one area of the cells, air within those cells will be forced through the air conduits to better absorb the force. The cross-sectional area of conduits 24 may be varied among the cells to enhance or control the shock or force absorbing characteristics of the cells by controlling the egress of air out of the cells upon the application of force. As seen in
In one embodiment, the base and cells comprise a dip molded neoprene material which has optimal pressure dispersing characteristics. The base and cells also can be a cavity molded polyurethane or other appropriate material.
In alternative embodiments, the base and cells can be molded from urethane or similar materials. Cells 21 can contain or be filled with, or fashioned from, other impact attenuating material, such as visco-elastic gel, or foam or the like. Moreover, some of the cells can be air cells and others can be gel or foam filled cells. In other embodiments, the cells are not filled with gel or foam, but the cell itself is constructed of gel or foam.
The liner has major components that are intended to provide impact attenuation at primary areas of a wearer's skull when folded and positioned within the cavity of the protective shell. Liner 16 includes a central section 26 that is positioned at the midline of the protective shell and extends the length of the liner and extends from the frontal area, over the parietal area and to the occipital area of the skull of the wearer. There is a forward section 28, having side flaps 28A and 28B at the first or front end of the central section that is positioned across the frontal area of the skull. At the approximate midpoint of the central section there is a first temporal pad 30 and an opposed second temporal pad 32. At the rear or second end of the central section is rear section 34, having side flaps 34A and 34B that is position over the occipital area of the wearer's skull.
As seen from
Another aspect of a liner, indicated generally by reference number 40, is shown in
Cells 44 in the center, front and rear sections are substantially rectangular in peripheral configuration. The cells comprising first and second side sections 50 and 52, respectively, have varied configurations. As shown, the cells in the temporal pads are configured to define cut-outs or arches 54 and 56 positioned such that the liner does not impinge on the wearer's ears and hearing when position in a helmet.
As previously described, cells 44 of liner 40 may be partially or totally filled with a gas, such as air, or filled or partially filled with another impact attenuating material such as a liquid, foam, a visco-elastic material, an impact attenuating plastic or the like. In any event, cells 44, containing a gas or another flowable medium, such as liquid, are interconnected by fluid flow conduits 58 to equalize the pressure among the cells in use. The conduits may be varied in size to control fluid flow patterns, as described above.
Liner 44 may be sealed or include an air valve 59, which can be a self-inflating valve or even a valve and pump combination. The valve 59 (or pump/valve, or a self-adjusting valve as disclosed in the assignee's co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/408,774, which is incorporated herein by reference) is located on one of the side sections so that it is easily reached when installed in a helmet and placed on the head. Also, by placing valve 50 at this position, it does not contact the head if the helmet is struck by a projectile or jarred by concussive force. In use, the helmet and liner is place on the head and inflated. The user then manipulates valve 59 to allow some deflation until the helmet is optimally positioned on the head.
It should be noted that open spaces 86 may be filled with other, light weight material, such as light weight foam. Or, as will be explained hereinafter, liner 80 may be positioned on a pad. Appropriately configured surfaces of the pad may protrude into open areas 86 between the cells.
The dome shaped cells of liners 60 and 80 offer significant advantages. As mentioned above, the liner is secured in the helmet, deflated, placed on the head and then inflated for proper fit. In some circumstances, cells with a top wall and peripheral side wall will collapse when deflated. However, the side walls buckle or fold and the folded or wrinkled cell material support the helmet on the head. It is difficult to get a proper fit or feel. On the other hand, when domed cells are deflated, the collapse inwardly without the wrinkling or folding, allowing for a better feel and a better fit upon inflation.
Moreover, base layer 102 can comprise another cellular layer with different impact attenuating characteristics than cellular liner 80. In any event, base layer 102 has the same peripheral configuration as cellular liner 60 and includes a center 104, a front section 106, a rear section 108, a first temporal section 110 and a second temporal section 112. In one aspect, cellular layer 60 is slightly undersized in width and length compared to base layer 102 so that when both layers are folded or configured to fit inside a helmet 12 the layers have coextensive peripheral edges, as shown in
In one aspect, the multi-layer liner 100 is approximately ⅞ inch in thickness from the bottom surface of the base to the top of the functional cells.
Base layer 102 can have a cover and/or both layers together can be covered. In one example, the cover could have two pockets, one to hold the base layer and another to hold the cellular layer.
In another aspect, cellular layer 60 may be attached or bonded to base layer 102, for example by spot welds or hook and loop fastener (Velcro®) or any other means to keep the layers in alignment in use.
Although base layer 102 is shown as a contiguous sheet, it can comprise discrete segments of impact attenuating material that are hinged or otherwise flexibly attached together to allow it to bend or flex to fit properly within the helmet. Or, base layer 102 may comprise a cover or container that encloses a plurality of chunks or granules or pieces of impact attenuating material.
One embodiment of an acceptable pump assembly is shown in
The foregoing description of the various embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broader aspects of the present invention and should not be construed in a limiting sense.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/480,847, filed Apr. 29, 2011 and to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/521,584 filed Aug. 9, 2011, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US12/28710 | 3/12/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/9/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61480847 | Apr 2011 | US | |
| 61521584 | Aug 2011 | US |
