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US 12,751,517 B2Granted
Systems and methods for smart helmet
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsBill C. Hartlieb, Andrew J. Berg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helmet for a rider of an on-road or off-road vehicle protects the rider's head. The helmet also may include various features for enhancing the riding experience. For example, the helmet may include electrical connections for power various features of the helmet. Additionally, the helmet may include earmuffs which reduce road or other noises during operation of the vehicle.
Claims16
A helmet with passive noise cancellation, the helmet comprising:
- a helmet shell configured to be worn on a head of a user;
- an earmuff disposed in an interior of the helmet shell, the earmuff including:
- an external housing surrounding an ear cavity;
- and
- a bladder within the external housing and at least partially surrounding the ear cavity;
- a pump in communication with the bladder, the pump being configured to inflate the bladder, the inflation of the bladder being configured to push the external housing toward a portion of the head proximate an ear of the user to increase passive noise cancellation for the user;
- and
- a biasing element coupled to the bladder and configured to bias the bladder to a deflated position, the biasing element comprising an internal spring configured to lengthen with inflation of the bladder and contract with deflation of the bladder.
5 more elements
A method for operating a helmet with passive noise cancellation, the method comprising:
- positioning the helmet over a head of a user, the helmet includes an exterior shell and an earmuff;
- controlling passive noise cancellation provided by the helmet, controlling the passive noise cancellation including one or more of:
- inflating a bladder of the earmuff, inflating the bladder comprising expanding the bladder toward a portion of the head proximate an ear of the user and increasing the passive noise cancellation;
- or
- deflating the bladder of the earmuff, deflating the bladder comprising relaxing the bladder relative to the portion of the head proximate the ear of the user and decreasing the passive noise cancellation;
- and
- biasing the bladder to a deflated position using an internal spring coupled to the bladder.
4 more elements
A helmet with passive noise cancellation, the helmet comprising:
- a helmet shell configured to be worn on a head of a user;
- a first earmuff disposed in an interior of the helmet shell, the first earmuff including:
- a first external housing surrounding a first ear cavity;
- and
- a first bladder within the first external housing and at least partially surrounding the first ear cavity, the first bladder being inflatable to push the first external housing toward a portion of the head proximate a first ear of the user to increase passive noise cancellation for the user;
- a second earmuff disposed in the interior of the helmet shell, the second earmuff including:
- a second external housing surrounding a second ear cavity;
- and
- a second bladder within the second external housing and at least partially surrounding the second ear cavity, the second bladder being inflatable to push the second external housing toward a portion of the head proximate a second ear of the user to increase passive noise cancellation for the user, the first bladder and the second bladder being coupled to inflate simultaneously;
- a first internal spring configured to bias the first bladder to a deflated position;
- and
- a second internal spring configured to bias the second bladder to a deflated position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.