# US 10,306,944 B1 · Modular helmet apparatus and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,306,944 B1 - Document ID: US10306944B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/165,099 - Filed: 2018-10-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-19 - Applicants: Dana Ratliff - Inventors: Dana Ratliff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306944B1 ## CPC - A42B 3/326: {Helmets with movable or separable chin or jaw guard} - A42B 3/125: {with a padded structure, e.g. foam} - A42B 3/20: Face guards, e.g. for ice hockey (A42B3/22 takes precedence) - A42B 3/32: Collapsible helmets; Helmets made of separable parts {; Helmets with movable parts, e.g. adjustable} - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a modular helmet apparatus and system comprised of a removable outer shell disposed on an inner frame. The disclosed football helmet provides for enhanced energy diffusion through the use of one or more energy diffusion areas disposed on an outer shell of the helmet, the one or more energy diffusion areas being configured to align with the energy diffusion zones of the frame. Embodiments of the present disclosure enables a user to quickly and easily replace or swap the outer shell of the helmet with a second or replacement shell by selectively coupling the desired outer shell with the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular helmet comprising: a frame comprising a first frame section, a second frame section, and a third frame section, the first frame section extending from a front end to a rear end and defining a circumference of the frame, the second frame section extending from a left base portion to a right base portion at a first angle and defining a height of the frame, the third frame section extending from the left base portion to the right base portion at a second angle, the first frame section and the second frame section being configured to define a frontal diffusion zone adjacent to the front end, and the first frame section and the third frame section being configured to define a rear diffusion zone adjacent to the rear end, the first frame section, the second frame section, and the third frame section being substantially spaced apart from each other; and, a shell being configured to be removably coupled to the frame, the shell being configured to house the frame in an interior portion of the shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular helmet of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a first deformable area, the first deformable area being disposed on the shell such that the first deformable area is located adjacent to the frontal diffusion zone of the frame when the shell is removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular helmet of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a second deformable area, the second deformable area being disposed on the shell such that the second deformable area is located adjacent to the rear diffusion zone of the frame when the shell is removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular helmet of claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a fourth frame section, the fourth frame section extending from the left base portion to the right base portion, and being coupled to the first frame section at the rear end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular helmet of claim 1 further comprising a face mask removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular helmet of claim 1 wherein the shell is constructed, at least in part, of a rubber or plastic material having a Shore durometer in the range of 30-00 to 80-00. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The modular helmet of claim 2 wherein the first deformable area comprises a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The modular helmet of claim 3 wherein the second deformable area comprises a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 9 A modular helmet comprising: a frame comprising a first frame section, a second frame section, and a third frame section, the first frame section extending from a front end to a rear end and defining a circumference of the frame, the second frame section extending from a left base portion to a right base portion at a first angle and defining a height of the frame, the third frame section extending from the left base portion to the right base portion at a second angle, the first frame section and the second frame section being configured to define a frontal diffusion zone adjacent to the front end, and the first frame section and the third frame section being configured to define a rear diffusion zone adjacent to the rear end, the first frame section, the second frame section, and the third frame section being substantially spaced apart from each other; and, a shell being configured to be removably coupled to the frame, the shell being configured to house the frame in an interior portion of the shell, the shell comprising a first deformable area disposed on a forward portion of the shell, and a second deformable area disposed on a rear portion of the shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The modular football helmet of claim 9 further comprising a face mask removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The modular helmet of claim 9 wherein the first deformable area is disposed on the forward portion of the shell such that the first deformable area is located adjacent to the frontal diffusion zone of the frame when the shell is removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The modular helmet of claim 9 wherein the second deformable area is disposed on the rear portion of the shell such that the second deformable area is located adjacent to the rear diffusion zone of the frame when the shell is removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The modular helmet of claim 9 wherein the shell is constructed, at least in part, of a rubber or plastic material having a Shore durometer in the range of 30-00 to 80-00. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The modular helmet of claim 9 wherein the first deformable area and the second deformable area comprise a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular helmet of claim 14 further comprising a filler material being bonded to the plurality of apertures at the first deformable area and the second deformable area. ### Claim 16 A modular helmet system comprising: a frame comprising a first frame section, a second frame section, and a third frame section, the first frame section extending from a front end to a rear end and defining a circumference of the frame, the second frame section extending from a left base portion to a right base portion at a first angle and defining a height of the frame, the third frame section extending from the left base portion to the right base portion at a second angle, the first frame section and the second frame section being configured to define a frontal diffusion zone adjacent to the front end, and the first frame section and the third frame section being configured to define a rear diffusion zone adjacent to the rear end, the first frame section, the second frame section, and the third frame section being substantially spaced apart from each other; a first shell being configured to be removably coupled to the frame, the first shell being configured to house the frame in an interior portion of the first shell; and, a second shell being configured to be removably coupled to the frame in place of the first shell, the second shell being configured to house the frame in an interior portion of the second shell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The modular helmet of claim 16 wherein the first shell is constructed to have a first strength and the second shell is constructed to have a second strength. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The modular helmet of claim 16 wherein the first shell further comprises at least one deformable area disposed on a forward portion of the first shell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The modular helmet of claim 16 further comprising a face mask removably coupled to the frame. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The modular helmet of claim 16 wherein the first shell is constructed to have a first weight and the second shell is constructed to have a second weight.