# US 10,477,909 B2 · Helmet for impact protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,909 B2 - Document ID: US10477909B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/106,192 - Filed: 2014-12-19 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-19 - Assignees: Bauer Hockey, LLC - Applicants: Bauer Hockey Corp. - Inventors: Jean-Francois Laperriere; Thierry Krick; Jacques Durocher; Ryan Ouckama; Marie-Claude Genereux; Denis Cote; Philippe Jean; Ken Covo; Garnet Alexander; Jean-Marie Bidal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477909B2 ## CPC - A42B 3/064: {with relative movement between layers} - A42B 3/121: {with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid} - A42B 3/124: {with at least one corrugated or ribbed layer} - A42B 3/324: {Adjustable helmets} - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) ## Abstract A helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, such as a hockey, lacrosse, football or other sports player. The helmet includes an outer shell and an inner padding disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. The inner padding includes a plurality of shock absorbers and an interconnector interconnecting the shock absorbers, each shock absorber being deformable in response to a rotational impact on the helmet such that an outer part of the shock absorber moves relative to an inner part of the shock absorber in a direction tangential to an angular movement of the outer shell due to the rotational impact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, the helmet comprising: an outer shell; and inner padding connected to the outer shell, the inner padding configured to be disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head, the inner padding comprising a plurality of pads separate from one another, each pad comprising a plurality of padding layers that overlap one another and are arranged such that adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable relative to one another in response to a rotational impact on the outer shell, wherein: the pad comprises a low-friction interface between the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad to facilitate movement of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad relative to one another; the low-friction interface of the pad is between a first one of the padding layers of the pad and a second one of the padding layers of the pad; and the low-friction interface of the pad is configured such that a coefficient of friction between the first one of the padding layers of the pad and the second one of the padding layers of the pad is lower than a coefficient of friction between a shock-absorbing material of the first one of the padding layers of the pad and a shock-absorbing material of the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable relative to one another in a direction tangential to angular movement of the outer shell in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are shearable relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The helmet of claim 3, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are stacked and interconnected such that compression of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad is decoupled from shearing of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad relative to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable omnidirectionally relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a connector interconnecting the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the connector of the pad is elastically deformable to allow the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad to move relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The helmet of claim 7, wherein the connector of the pad is at least one of elastically stretchable and elastically bendable to allow the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad to move relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The helmet of claim 7, wherein the connector of the pad comprises elastomeric material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the connector of the pad is elongated in a direction from the first one of the padding layers of the pad towards the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The helmet of claim 10, wherein the connector of the pad comprises: an elongate portion that is elongated in the direction from the first one of the padding layers of the pad towards the second one of the padding layers of the pad; and an enlarged portion that is larger than the elongate portion of the connector of the pad in a direction transversal to the direction from the first one of the padding layers of the pad towards the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The helmet of claim 11, wherein: the enlarged portion of the connector of the pad is a first enlarged portion of the connector of the pad; the connector of the pad comprises a second enlarged portion that is larger than the elongate portion of the connector of the pad in a direction transversal to the direction from the first one of the padding layers of the pad towards the second one of the padding layers of the pad; and the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are disposed between the first enlarged portion and the second enlarged portion of the connector of the pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein a third one of the padding layers of the pad is secured to the second one of the padding layers of the pad other than by the connector of the pad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The helmet of claim 13, wherein the third one of the padding layers of the pad is adhesively bonded to the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein an end of the connector of the pad is disposed between a third one of the padding layers of the pad and the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The helmet of claim 15, wherein the end of the connector of the pad is concealed between the third one of the padding layers of the pad and the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the connector of the pad extends through the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the connector of the pad comprises a plurality of connecting members separate from one another. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein a modulus of elasticity of the connector of the pad is different from a modulus of elasticity of a given one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The helmet of claim 19, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the connector of the pad is less than the modulus of elasticity of the given one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 21 (depends on 6) The helmet of claim 6, wherein the connector of the pad is configured to suspend the first one of the padding layers of the pad between the second one of the padding layers of the pad and the wearer's head. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein a third one of the padding layers of the pad is configured to remain stationary relative to the second one of the padding layers of the pad in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing material of the first one of the padding layers of the pad is a first padding material and the shock-absorbing material of the second one of the padding layers of the pad is a second padding material different from the first padding material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The helmet of claim 23, wherein the first padding material comprises a first foam and the second padding material comprises a second foam different from the first foam. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The helmet of claim 24, wherein a third one of the padding layers of the pad comprises a third padding material different from the first padding material and the second padding material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The helmet of claim 23, wherein the first padding material comprises foam and the second padding material comprises a material other than foam. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The helmet of claim 23, wherein the first padding material comprises foam and the second padding material comprises expanded polymeric microspheres. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein a compressibility of a padding material of a given one of the padding layers of the pad is greater than a shearability of the padding material of the given one of the padding layers of the pad, such that the padding material of the given one of the padding layers of the pad deforms by compression more easily than by shearing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein given ones of the padding layers of the pad differ in stiffness from one another. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The helmet of claim 29, wherein the first one of the padding layers of the pad is stiffer than the second one of the padding layers of the pad that is configured to be closer to the wearer's head than the first one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The helmet of claim 30, wherein the second one of the padding layers of the pad is stiffer than a third one of the padding layers of the pad that is configured to be closer to the wearer's head than the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first one of the padding layers of the pad is a main shock absorption layer of the pad and the second one of the padding layers of the pad configured to be closer to the wearer's head than the main shock absorption layer of the pad is a comfort layer of the pad. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The helmet of claim 32, wherein a third one of the padding layers of the pad is an intermediate layer of the pad disposed between the main shock absorption layer of the pad and the comfort layer of the pad. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein given ones of the padding layers of the pad have different shapes from one another. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein given ones of the pads have different shapes from one another. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member movable relative to one another to adjust a size of the helmet. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The helmet of claim 36, wherein respective ones of the pads are secured to different ones of the first shell member and the second shell member to move relative to one another when the first shell member and the second shell member are moved relative to one another to adjust the size of the helmet. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the helmet is a hockey helmet. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the second one of the padding layers of the pad comprises a comfort layer for contacting the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein: the low-friction interface of the pad comprises a first low-friction element of the pad and a second low-friction element of the pad; and a coefficient of friction between the first low-friction element of the pad and the second low-friction element of the pad is lower than a coefficient of friction between the shock-absorbing material of the first one of the padding layers of the pad and the shock-absorbing material of the second one of the padding layers of the pad. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The helmet of claim 1, wherein the low-friction interface of the pad comprises at least one low-friction element, each low-friction element including at least one of a fluorocarbon, polyethylene, nylon, or a dry lubricant. ### Claim 42 A helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, the helmet comprising: an outer shell; and inner padding connected to the outer shell, the inner padding configured to be disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head, the inner padding comprising a plurality of pads separate from one another, each pad comprising a plurality of padding layers that overlap one another and are arranged such that adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable relative to one another in response to a rotational impact on the outer shell, wherein, for each pad of the plurality of pads separate from one another, the plurality of padding layers of the pad comprises a comfort layer for contacting the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable relative to one another in a direction tangential to angular movement of the outer shell in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are shearable relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The helmet of claim 44, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are stacked and interconnected such that compression of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad is decoupled from shearing of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad relative to one another. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad are movable omnidirectionally relative to one another in response to the rotational impact. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the pad comprises elastic material retaining the adjacent layers of the pad together and stretchable to allow the adjacent layers of the pad to move relative to one another in response to the rotational impact on the outer shell. ### Claim 48 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the pad comprises a low-friction interface between the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad to facilitate movement of the adjacent ones of the padding layers of the pad relative to one another. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The helmet of claim 48, wherein the low-friction interface of the pad is between a main shock absorption layer of the pad and the comfort layer of the pad. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The helmet of claim 48, wherein the low-friction interface of the pad comprises at least one low-friction element, each low-friction element including at least one of a fluorocarbon, polyethylene, nylon, or a dry lubricant. ### Claim 51 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein given ones of the padding layers of the pad have different shapes from one another. ### Claim 52 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein given ones of the pads have different shapes from one another. ### Claim 53 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the outer shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member movable relative to one another to adjust a size of the helmet. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The helmet of claim 53, wherein respective ones of the pads are secured to different ones of the first shell member and the second shell member to move relative to one another when the first shell member and the second shell member are moved relative to one another to adjust the size of the helmet. ### Claim 55 (depends on 42) The helmet of claim 42, wherein the helmet is a hockey helmet. ### Claim 56 A helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, the helmet comprising: an outer shell; and inner padding connected to the outer shell, the inner padding configured to be disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head, the inner padding comprising a plurality of protective members separate from one another, each protective member comprising a plurality of layers that overlap one another and are arranged such that adjacent ones of the layers of the protective member are shearable relative to one another and slidable against one another in response to a rotational impact on the outer shell. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein the adjacent ones of the layers of the protective member respectively comprise low-friction elements configured to facilitate sliding of the low-friction elements against one another in response to the rotational impact on the outer shell. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein each of the low-friction elements includes at least one of a fluorocarbon, polyethylene, nylon, or a dry lubricant. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein the protective member comprises elastic material retaining the layers of the protective member together and stretchable to allow the layers of the protective member to shear relative to one another and slide against one another in response to the rotational impact on the outer shell. ### Claim 60 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein a given one of the layers of the protective member comprises a shock-absorbing material. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The helmet of claim 60, wherein the shock-absorbing material comprises foam. ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) The helmet of claim 60, wherein the shock-absorbing material comprises fluid. ### Claim 63 (depends on 60) The helmet of claim 60, wherein the given one of the layers of the protective member comprises a low-friction element connected to the shock-absorbing material. ### Claim 64 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein each of the layers of the protective member comprises a shock-absorbing material. ### Claim 65 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein a material of a first one of the layers of the protective member is different from a material of a second one of the layers of the protective member. ### Claim 66 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein the adjacent ones of the layers of the protective member are shearable omnidirectionally relative to one another. ### Claim 67 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein a left one of the protective members is disposed on a left side of the helmet and a right one of the protective members is disposed on a right side of the helmet. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The helmet of claim 67, wherein the left one of the protective members is a first left one of the protective members, the right one of the protective members is a first right one of the protective members, a second left one of the protective members is disposed on the left side of the helmet, and a second right one of the protective members is disposed on the right side of the helmet. ### Claim 69 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein the outer shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member movable relative to one another to adjust a size of the helmet. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The helmet of claim 69, wherein respective ones of the protective members are secured to different ones of the first shell member and the second shell member to move relative to one another when the first shell member and the second shell member are moved relative to one another to adjust the size of the helmet. ### Claim 71 (depends on 56) The helmet of claim 56, wherein the helmet is a hockey helmet.