Patent Application
20170013906
The invention relates generally to the field of protective gear, and more particularly, to systems employing impact-resistant pads in headgear.
Conventionally, participants in sports (e.g., wrestling, football, rugby, baseball, etc.) wear protective headgear to cushion the force of impacts that are regularly received during those events. In recent years, the negative health effects of impacts to the head experienced during such contact sports have been a matter of focus. These negative health effects can be diminished or minimized by effectively cushioning participants from the forces of impacts. Accordingly, improved structures, such as impact-resistant headgear, are desired to lessen the impact forces experienced by those participants.
Aspects of the invention are directed to protective headgear systems.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a protective headgear system is disclosed. The system includes an elongated pad having a width, a length greater than the width, and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending along the length of the elongated pad. The protective headgear system further includes a pair of side pads coupled to the elongated pad, each side pad having a half disk shape with a semicircular edge and a diameter edge. The protective headgear system further includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads therein.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, another protective headgear system is disclosed. The system includes an elongated pad having a width, a length greater than the width, a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending parallel to one another along the length, and a pair of opposed end edges extending between the longitudinal edges. The protective headgear system also includes a pair of side pads coupled to the elongated pad, each side pad having a half disk shape with a semicircular edge and a diameter edge, the semicircular edge of each side pad being adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge of the elongated pad and having a length approximately the same as the length of the longitudinal edges of the elongated pad. Each end edge of the elongated pad extends from one of the diameter edges to the other one of the diameter edges such that the end edges and the diameter edges define a rim of the system. The elongated pad and the side pads contain at least one impact resistant layer, and the at least one impact resistant layer includes an elastomer layer. The protective headgear system further has a plurality of pockets, each pocket accommodating a respective one of the elongated pad and the pair of side pads therein. Additionally, when the system is worn on a user's head the elongated pad extends from a rear of the user's head to a front of the user's head and the side pads extend to a top portion of each ear of the user.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, another protective headgear system is disclosed. The system includes three or more side pads and a plurality of pockets. Each side pad has two side edges and an arc edge. Each side edge has a first end and a second end. The arc edge extends from the first end of one side edge to the first end of the other side edge. Each side pad further has a separation extending from the second end of each side edge to a center portion of the side pad. The side pads are coupled to one another such that each first end is positioned at a common location with another first end, and such that all second ends are positioned at a common vertex. Each of the plurality of pockets accommodates a respective one of the side pads therein.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similar elements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to the plurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referring to specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or to a non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designation may be dropped. According to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. To the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:
The embodiments of the invention described herein relate to protective headgear systems and apparatuses including protective pads that incorporate impact-resistant materials to cushion the force of impacts to a user's head. As used herein, the term “impact-resistant” is intended to encompass any object that partially or fully lessens, diminishes, dissipates, deflects, or absorbs the mechanical force of an impact.
The protective headgear systems herein are particularly suited for use by participants in athletic activities or sports, including traditional “contact” sports, such as wrestling, football, or rugby, where high-force impacts may be commonly experienced. While the exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein with respect to athletic activities, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited. Suitable applications for apparatuses of the present invention include, for example, military gear, police gear, and construction gear. Other suitable applications will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein.
Referring now to the drawings,
Elongated pad 110 and side pads 130 are adapted to partially or fully lessen, diminish, dissipate, deflect, and/or absorb impact forces. Accordingly, elongated pad 110 and side pads 130 include at least one impact resistant layer. The impact resistant layer may form a single layer, e.g., a single elastomer layer, or two or more layers of impact resistant materials. Preferably the impact resistant layer includes an elastomer. Suitable elastomer materials include, but are not limited to, urethane rubbers, silicone rubbers, nitrile rubbers, butyl rubbers, acrylic rubbers, natural rubbers, styrene-butadiene rubbers, and the like. One or more layers of the impact resistant layer may be formed of a non-elastomer foam material, including open-cell foam materials and/or closed-cell foam materials. In general, any suitable elastomer or non-elastomer foam material can be used to form the above-described impact resistant layers without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The impact resistant layer may also include high-tensile strength fibrous materials. Suitable materials for forming the layer of high-tensile strength fibrous material include, but are not limited to, aramid fibers, fiberglass, or other high-tensile strength fibers. The high-tensile strength fibrous materials may block and redirect impact energy that passes through one or more of the layers of impact resistant materials. The high-tensile strength fibers may be woven to form a separate cloth layer that is disposed between layers of the impact resistant material or may be integrated into the impact resistant layers. For example, a separate layer of high-tensile strength fibrous material may be located between two or more layers of other material or as an outer layer of the impact resistant layer. Desirably, the impact resistant layer will enable pads 110 to preserve their shape after receiving an impact or being deformed. Additional description of materials for forming the impact resistant layer may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/978,130, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Protective headgear system 100 is configured to fit on a user's head. Accordingly, the particular size, shape, and materials of elongated pad 110 and side pads 130 may vary depending on the size and/or shape of the user's head. As depicted in
Elongated pad 110 is not particularly limited to any specific geometrical shape and one of skill in the art would readily conceive of other suitable shapes for elongated pad 110. In an exemplary embodiment, elongated pad 110 has a rectangular shape. Elongated pad 110 has two longitudinal edges 116 extending along length 112 of elongated pad 110. Longitudinal edges 116a and 116b may be parallel to one another. Alternatively, the distance between longitudinal edges 116a and 116b may vary with width 114 of elongated pad 110 along length 112. For example, width 114 may vary such that longitudinal edges 116 form a concave or convex shape relative to the body of elongated pad 110. Elongated pad 110 has a pair of opposed end edges 118 extending between longitudinal edges 116a and 116b along width 114 of elongated pad 110. The width 114 of elongated pad 110 may be greater near end edges 118 than at a middle portion 120 of elongated pad 110. As described in more detail below, end edges 118 may delineate a portion of a rim 170 of protective headgear system 100.
One or more side pads 130 are employed in protective headgear system 100. As seen in
Diameter edge 138 may be configured as a straight line that extends along width 134 of side pads 130 from a first intersection with semicircular edge 136 to a second intersection with semicircular edge 136 of the same side pad 130. Alternatively, diameter edge 138 may not be configured as a straight line, e.g., portions of diameter edge 138 may extend lower than other portions of diameter edge 138. In one embodiment, a portion or all of diameter edge 138 of side pad 130 may be positioned lower than the top of the user's ear to provide further comfort to the user's ear and/or to provide additional protection to the side of the user's head in front or behind the user's ear.
Desirably, semicircular edges 136 of side pads 130 align with longitudinal edges 116 of elongated pad 110. In one embodiment, each semicircular edge 136 of side pad 130 aligns with a respective longitudinal edge 116 of elongated pad 110. Semicircular edges 136 may have a length 132 approximately equal to length 112 of longitudinal edges 116 of elongated pad 110. In one embodiment, semicircular edge 136 of each side pad 130 is adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge 116 of elongated pad 110, as shown in
Elongated pad 110 and/or side pads 130 may each be formed of a continuous and/or uniform impact resistant layer. Additionally or alternatively, elongated pad 110 and/or side pads 130 may have perforations, openings, slits, etc. to facilitate air movement and heat transfer between the user's head and the surrounding environment.
Protective headgear system 100 includes a rim 170 that is formed from one or more edges of elongated pad 110 and/or side pads 130. For example, rim 170 may be defined by diameter edges 138 of side pads 130 and end edges 118 of elongated pad 110. Rim 170 may be configured to encircle the cranium of the user's head. End edges 118 of elongated pad 110 may extend from one diameter edge 138 to another diameter edge 138 to provide a continuous area of impact resistant layer circumferentially along rim 17Q.
A constriction band 172 may be coupled to or extend from rim 170. For example, constriction band 172 may be formed of the same material as the plurality of pockets 150. Alternatively, constriction band 172 may be formed of a suitable elastic material and coupled to rim 170 of protective headgear system 100. Suitable materials for constriction band 172, include impact resistant materials and/or any materials having suitable elasticity, e.g., rubbers, polymers, etc. Constriction band 172 may be configured to press the rim 170 against the user's head when protective headgear system 100 is worn by the user, in order to produce additional friction between protective headgear system 100 and the user's head to increase the force required to remove protective headgear system 100 from the user's head. In one embodiment, constriction band 172 and/or the materials adjacent to constriction band 172 are fluid absorbent, thereby hindering sweat from flowing downward into the user's eyes, ears, and/or neck.
Protective headgear system 100 includes a plurality of pockets 150. The plurality of pockets 150 may be formed of a fabric material such as natural fabrics, e.g., cotton, wool, hemp, etc. and/or synthetic fabrics, e.g., polyester, nylon, elastane, polymer blends etc. The plurality of pockets 150 may be formed from one unitary piece of fabric or multiple pieces of fabric. Preferably, plurality of pockets 150 includes a top fabric layer 152 and a bottom fabric layer. A unitary piece of fabric may be folded to produce top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer. In one embodiment, all of the plurality of pockets 150 are formed from the same unitary piece of fabric, which may be folded to produce top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer. In another embodiment, top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer are formed from two or more separate pieces of fabric. Top fabric layer 152 may be affixed to the bottom fabric layer by any suitable means. Additionally or alternatively, the pads, e.g., elongated pad 110 and/or side pads 130, may be coupled to plurality of pockets 150 using suitable means. Suitable means for affixing top fabric layer 152 to the bottom fabric layer and/or coupling pads 110 and/or 130 to the plurality of pockets 150 includes mechanical means, e.g., stitches, staples, hook and loop material, latches, etc. and/or non-mechanical means, e.g., adhesives, melt pressing, etc. For example, in one embodiment, elongated pad 110 and side pads 130 are affixed to the respective one of the fabric pockets 150 via stitching. In another exemplary embodiment, elongated pad 110 and side pads 130 are affixed to the respective one of the fabric pockets 15Q via an adhesive.
Plurality of pockets 150 are configured to fully or partially accommodate elongated pad 110 and side pads 130. For example, one or more sides of pads 110 and/or 130 may be adjacent to top fabric layer 152 and/or the bottom fabric layer. One or more of pads 110 and/or 130 may be positioned within a single pocket 150 or, alternatively, two or more pockets 150 of the plurality of pockets 150. For example, each pocket 150 of the plurality of pockets 150 may accommodate a respective one of elongated pad 110 and/or side pads 130.
The plurality of pockets 150 accommodating each respective pad 110 and/or 130 may be attached and/or coupled to each other directly or indirectly, such as by attachment to a separate fabric layer. In an exemplary embodiment, pocket 150b accommodating elongated pad 110 is stitched to pockets 150a and 150c accommodating each side pad 130. In another embodiment, each pocket 150 accommodating pads 110 and 130 of the plurality of pockets 150 is stitched to a separate fabric layer.
Protective headgear system 100 may be configured to provide additional protection to the user's head by inhibiting excessive movement of pads 110 and/or 130 within the plurality of pockets 150 upon receipt of an impact force. Rearrangement or excessive movement of pads 110 and/or 130 may be reduced by affixing pads 110 and/or 130 to the plurality of pockets 150, e.g., by attaching pads 110 and/or 130 to top fabric layer 152 and/or the bottom fabric layer, or by affixing top fabric layer 152 to the bottom fabric layer near one or more edges 116, 118, 136, and/or 138 of pads 110 and/or 130 to produce a pocket 150 sized and/or shaped to secure pads 110 and/or 130 in a desirable position. In one embodiment, top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer are affixed together, e.g., stitched, along longitudinal edges 116 and/or semicircular edges 136 of each side pad 130. In another embodiment, top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer are affixed together along end edges 118 of elongated pad 110 and/or diameter edges 138 of side pads 130. Desirably, top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer are directly affixed together to produce a plurality of pockets 150 sized and/or shaped to accommodate pads 110 and/or 130 and pads 110 and/or 130 are directly affixed to plurality of the pockets 150. In one embodiment, top fabric layer 152 is stitched to the bottom fabric layer near each edge 116, 118, 136, and/or 138 of pads 110 and/or 130 and the pads 110 and/130 may be stitched to both top fabric layer 152 and the bottom fabric layer.
Each side pad 230 includes two side edges 280 and an arc edge 29Q. Each side edge 280 has a first end 282 and a second end 284 opposed first end 282. Arc edge 290 extends from first end 282 of one side edge 280 to the first end 282 of the other side edge 280 of the respective side pad 230. Arc edges 290 may comprise all of or a portion of rim 270. Accordingly, arc edges 290 may be integrally formed with a constriction band 272 and/or may be coupled to constriction band 272, as shown in
Side pads s30 may include a separation 285 extending between the second ends 284 of each side edge 280 to a center portion 294 of the respective side pad 230. The separation 285 may comprise, e.g., a removed section, a cut, a slit, an opening, etc., which delineates a first cut edge 286 and a second cut edge 288 of side pad 230. First cut edge 286 and second cut edge 288 may define any geometric shape, individually or in conjunction with one another, with reference to the separation 285 (e.g., a removed portion). For example, separation 285 may define a triangle, a semi-circle, a square, etc. In one embodiment, separation 285 defines an isosceles triangle. Desirably, when first cut edge 286 is positioned adjacent second cut edge 288, the respective side pad 230 forms a curve 296 for adjust to the profile of a user's head. In one embodiment, first cut edge 286 and second cut edge 288 are secured to one another, thereby securing curve 296 with respect to side pad 230. Curve 296 may be configured to enable protective headgear system 200 to better fit a user's head.
Protective headgear system 200 includes plurality of pockets 250, which similar to at least one embodiment of protective headgear system 200, accommodate one or more side pads 230. For example, each pocket 250 may accommodate a respective one of the side pads 230 therein. Side pads 230 may be coupled to one another such that each first end 282 is positioned at a common location with another first end 282, and such that all second ends 284 are positioned at a common vertex 292. In one embodiment, side pads 230 are coupled to one another by way of plurality of pockets 250. In another embodiment, side pads 230 are coupled directly to one another or indirectly by way of, e.g., a top fabric layer 252 or a bottom fabric layer.
Embodiments of the present invention may include features from protective headgear system 100 and protective headgear system 200. For example, protective headgear system 100 and/or 200 may include more than two side pads 130 or 230, and in one embodiment includes exactly four side pads 130 or 230. In another embodiment, the protective headgear system includes two or more side pads 130 or 230 in combination with an elongated pad. In yet another embodiment, the protective headgear system employs four side pads 130, with two side pads 130 on each side of elongated pad 110.
Protective headgear system 100 and/or 200 may advantageously include other protective headgear. For example, protective headgear system 100 and/or 200 may include a helmet 198 configured to be positioned overtop of elongated pad 110 and side pads 130, as shown in
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention. In particular, any of the features described herein with respect to one embodiment may be provided in any of the other embodiments.
