Athletic gear or other devices comprising post-molded expandable components
AssigneeBauer Hockey, LLC
InventorsThierry Krick, François Asselin, Jean-François Laperriere, Martin Ladouceur, Ivan Labonte, Marco Beauregard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).
Claims38
A helmet for protecting a head of a user, the helmet comprising:
- a shell comprising an outer surface of the helmet;
- and
- a liner disposed within the shell and comprising an inner surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the helmet being configured to contact the user's head, the liner including a pad comprising expandable material formed into an initial three-dimensional configuration using 3D printing and subsequently expanded to an expanded three-dimensional configuration that is a scaled-up version of the initial three-dimensional configuration and is thicker than the shell.
A helmet for protecting a head of a user, the helmet comprising:
- a shell comprising an outer surface of the helmet;
- and
- a liner disposed within the shell and comprising an inner surface of the helmet, the inner surface of the helmet being configured to contact the user's head, the liner including a plurality of pads distinct from one another, each of the pads comprising expandable material formed into an initial three-dimensional configuration using 3D printing and subsequently expanded to an expanded three-dimensional configuration that is a scaled-up version of the initial three-dimensional configuration, wherein the initial three-dimensional configuration of a first one of the pads is different from the initial three-dimensional configuration of a second one of the pads such that the expanded three-dimensional configuration of the first one of the pads is different from the expanded three-dimensional configuration of the second one of the pads.
An article of athletic gear wearable by a user, the article of athletic gear comprising:
- a shell that is rigid and comprises an outer surface of the article of athletic gear;
- and
- a liner that is disposed within the shell and comprises an inner surface of the article of athletic gear, the inner surface of the article of athletic gear being configured to contact the user, the liner including a pad comprising expandable material formed into an initial three-dimensional configuration using 3D printing and subsequently expanded to an expanded three-dimensional configuration that is a scaled-up version of the initial three-dimensional configuration and is thicker than the shell.
An article of athletic gear wearable by a user, the article of athletic gear comprising:
- a shell that is rigid and comprises an outer surface of the article of athletic gear;
- and
- a liner that is disposed within the shell and comprises an inner surface of the article of athletic gear, the inner surface of the article of athletic gear being configured to contact the user, the liner including a plurality of pads distinct from one another, each of the pads comprising expandable material formed into an initial three-dimensional configuration using 3D printing and subsequently expanded to an expanded three-dimensional configuration that is a scaled-up version of the initial three-dimensional configuration, wherein the initial three-dimensional configuration of a first one of the pads is different from the initial three-dimensional configuration of a second one of the pads such that the expanded three-dimensional configuration of the first one of the pads is different from the expanded three-dimensional configuration of the second one of the pads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.