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US 10,736,373 B2Granted
Helmet with shock absorbing inserts
AssigneeSmith Optics, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Chilson, John Lloyd, James Rogers, Piers Storey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Helmets and methods for manufacturing a helmet are described. An example helmet includes a shell and a shock absorbing liner attached to the shell. The shock absorbing liner includes a cavity. The helmet a shock absorbing insert formed of a material different than the material of the shock absorbing liner. The cavity is configured to retain the shock absorbing insert.
Claims17
A helmet, comprising:
- a shell comprising a plurality of vents including a first vent defining a first opening and a second vent defining a second opening;
- a shock absorbing liner adjacent to and attached to the shell and comprising a cavity at least partially aligned with the plurality of vents;
- and
- a shock absorbing insert positioned in and substantially filling the cavity such that the shock absorbing insert is visible through and spans across at least a portion of each of the plurality of vents, wherein at least a portion of the shock absorbing liner is positioned between the shell and the shock absorbing insert, wherein the shock absorbing insert comprises an array of energy absorbing cells, each having respective open first longitudinal ends and open second longitudinal ends, wherein the first longitudinal ends of a first plurality of adjacent cells of the array of energy absorbing cells are positioned within a perimeter of the first opening and the first longitudinal ends of a second plurality of adjacent cells of the array of energy absorbing cells are positioned within a perimeter of the second opening such that air is able to flow from an exterior side of the helmet through each of the first and second vents and through a respective one of the first and second plurality of adjacent cells toward an interior of the helmet.
1 more element
A helmet comprising:
- a shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface and defining a first vent a second vent, a third vent, and a fourth vent;
- a shock absorbing liner coupled to the interior surface of the shell and defining a first insert cavity and a second insert cavity, wherein the first insert cavity is positioned beneath the first vent and the second vent and the second insert cavity is positioned beneath the third vent and the fourth vent;
- a first shock absorbing insert positioned within the first insert cavity, wherein the first shock absorbing insert spans across at least the first vent and the second vent;
- and
- a second shock absorbing insert positioned within the second insert cavity, wherein the second shock absorbing insert spans across at least the third vent and the fourth vent;
- wherein the first shock absorbing insert and the second shock absorbing insert are tubular arrays formed of open tubes extending longitudinally relative to a thickness of the shock absorbing liner and direct air from an exterior of the helmet to an interior of the helmet.
3 more elements
A helmet, comprising:
- a shell including a first vent defining a first opening and a second vent defining a second opening;
- a shock absorbing liner adjacent to and attached to the shell, the shock absorbing liner extends from and that spans across at least a portion of each of the first and second openings;
- and
- a shock absorbing insert positioned in and substantially filling the cavity such that the shock absorbing insert is visible through and spans across at least a portion of each of the first and second vents, wherein the shock absorbing insert comprises an array of hollow structures defining a plurality of adjacent through-passages extending through a thickness of the shock absorbing insert, wherein a first portion of the shock absorbing insert that includes a first group of the plurality of adjacent through-passages overlaps with the first opening to allow air to enter through the first opening and pass through the first group of adjacent through-passages to an interior of the helmet, and wherein a second portion of the shock absorbing insert that includes a second group of the plurality of adjacent through-passages overlaps with the second opening to allow air to enter through the second opening and pass through the second group of adjacent through-passages to the interior of the helmet.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.