Helmet for reducing concussive forces during collision and facilitating rapid facemask removal
OwnerCarter J. Kovarik, Joseph E. Kovarikinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved design for a helmet to reduce injuries caused by helmet-to-helmet collisions. Certain embodiments include novel quick release features that permit the detachment of a facemask from a helmet in 30 seconds or less, resulting in the ability to attend to an injured player in a rapid fashion and without the need for any additional tools to accomplish such removal. Other aspects relate to impact energy absorbing constructions, including shock absorbing systems and PEEK facemask designs, that when combined with the quick release features described, provide a superior helmet for a player's protection.
Claims16
A football helmet comprising:
- an inner padding layer and an outer layer spaced apart from the inner padding layer, said football helmet having at least one layer that includes an array of polygonal structures and at least one layer comprising one or more of the following materials:
- thermoplastic polyurethane, an impact absorbing silicone, an energy-absorbing foam, a polymer gel, a shock-absorbing elastomer, a visco-elastic polymer, an impact dispersing gel, and shape memory material;
- a facemask having a facemask bar portion connected to the football helmet by at least two quick release facemask connecting structures positioned on at least a left side and a right side of the football helmet, said at least two quick release facemask connecting structures including a slot configured to accept the face mask bar portion, a rotatable member having opposing columns that are attached to one of at least two slot coverable extensions such that when the rotatable member is rotated it causes the opposing columns to rotate and the two slot coverable extensions to rotate over the slot, to reversibly secure the facemask bar portion to said football helmet;
- said rotatable member, opposing columns and at least two slot coverable extensions configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position, with an axis of rotation of both the rotatable member and the opposing columns being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the facemask bar portion when the facemask bar portion is positioned within the slot, the facemask bar portion being positioned between the at least two slot coverable extensions when in the open position, and being restrained by the at least two slot coverable extensions when in the closed position, said facemask bar portion secured in the slot when in said closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.