Helmet cushioning pad with variable, motion-reactive applied-load response, and associated methodology

• US 20050251899A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Dennis, Michael R., Paasche, Gerhard, Tucker, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/414
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/12 Cushioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/121 with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/125 with a padded structure, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/127 with removable or adjustable pads
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/724 Permeability to gases, adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/04 Caps, helmets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/26 characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205; characterised by an apertured layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]

Abstract

A site-selectable, helmet-installable load-cushioning pad structure employable inside a helmet shell as a part of a plural-spaced-pad distribution featuring a compressible viscoelastic foam core which resists rapid, but not slow-movement, compression. Associated methodology includes the steps of providing such a structure for installation inside the shell of a helmet, and pre-arming the core of that structure with a load-response characteristics which (a) resists sudden-movement, rapid compression, yet (b) offers less resistance to slow-movement compression. An encapsulating moisture barrier layer may be provided around the foam core.

Claims

1. A site-selectable, helmet-installable load-cushioning pad deployable as one of a collection of plural, spaced pads inside the shell of a helmet comprising

compressible viscoelastic foam componentry with a structure possessing a load-response behavior which (a) resists sudden-movement rapid compression, yet (b) is less resistive to slow-movement compression.

2. The pad of claim 1, wherein said foam componentry is acceleration-rate (strain-rate) sensitive.

3. The pad of claim 1, wherein said foam componentry is non-springy, and which, following a condition of compression, exhibits a slow-return, slow push-back-force characteristic.

4. The pad of claim 1, where said foam componentry is layered, and includes at least two operatively adjacent layers.

5. The pad of claim 2, wherein said foam componentry is layered, and includes at least two operatively adjacent layers.

6. The pad of claims 4, wherein said at least two layers differ from one another in load-response, energy-absorption characteristics.

7. The pad of claim 5, wherein said at least two layers differ from one another in load-response, energy-absorption characteristics.

8. The pad of claim 4, wherein said at least two layers differ in hardness.

9. The pad of claim 5, wherein said at least two layers differ in hardness.

10. The pad of claim 6, wherein, when the pad is installed appropriately in a helmet, the layer possessing the lower load-response, energy-absorption characteristic is disposed intermediate (a) the other layer, and (b) the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

11. The pad of claim 7, wherein, when the pad is installed appropriately in a helmet, the layer possessing the lower load-response, energy-absorption characteristic is disposed intermediate (a) the other layer, and (b) the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

12. The pad of claim 8, wherein, when the pad is installed appropriately in a helmet, the layer possessing the lesser hardness is disposed intermediate (a) the other layer, and (b) the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

13. The pad of claim 9, wherein, when the pad is installed appropriately in a helmet, the layer possessing the lesser hardness is disposed intermediate (a) the other layer, and (b) the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

14. The pad of claim 1, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

15. The pad of claim 2, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

16. The pad of claim 3, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

17. The pad of claim 4, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

18. The pad of claim 5, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

19. The pad of claim 6, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

20. The pad of claim 7, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

21. The pad of claim 8, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

22. The pad of claim 9, wherein said foam componentry is encapsulated in an elastomeric film which blocks moisture from reaching that componentry.

23. The pad of claim 1, wherein said foam componentry has a helmet-facing side, and an opposite wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side, and which further comprises a moisture-wicking material disposed adjacent said wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side.

24. The pad of claim 6, wherein, with the pad disposed in operative condition in a helmet, said foam componentry has a helmet-facing side, and an opposite, wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side, the layer in this componentry which possesses the lower load-responsive, energy-absorption characteristic is disposed toward said wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side relative to the other layer, and which further comprises a moisture-wicking material disposed intermediate said layer with the lower load-responsive, energy-absorption characteristic and the space in the helmet provided to receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

25. The pad of claim 7, wherein, with the pad disposed in operative condition in a helmet, said foam componentry has a helmet-facing side, and an opposite, wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side, the layer in this componentry which possesses the lower load-responsive, energy-absorption characteristic is disposed toward said wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side relative to the other layer, and which further comprises a moisture-wicking material disposed intermediate said layer with the lower load-responsive, energy-absorption characteristic and the space in the helmet provided to receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

26. The pad of claim 8, wherein, with the pad disposed in operative condition in a helmet, said foam componentry has a helmet-facing side, and an opposite wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side, the layer in this componentry which possesses the lesser hardness is disposed toward said wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side relative to the other layer, and which further comprises a moisture-wicking material disposed intermediate said layer with the lesser hardness and the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

27. The pad of claim 9, wherein, with the pad disposed in operative condition in a helmet, said foam componentry has a helmet-facing side, and an opposite wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side, the layer in this componentry which possesses the lesser hardness is disposed toward said wearer'"'"'s-head-facing side relative to the other layer, and which further comprises a moisture-wicking fabric material disposed intermediate said layer with the lesser hardness and the space in the helmet provided for receiving a wearer'"'"'s head.

28. A helmet-installable load-cushioning methodology employing a helmet-installable load-cushioning pad as part of a plural-spaced-pad distribution within the shell of a helmet, said method comprising

providing a compressible, viscoelastic load-cushioning pad body for installation inside a helmet, and

pre-arming that pad body with load-response characteristics whereby, with the pad in place inside a helmet, the pad body responds to a motion load with behavior which (a) resists sudden-movement, rapid compression, yet (b) offers less resistance to slow-movement compression.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said pre-arming further includes providing the mentioned pad body with a characteristic of acceleration-rate (strain-rate)-sensitivity.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said pre-arming further includes assuring that the pad body will exhibit a recovery from load-induced compression which can be characterized as slow-return, low-pushback-force behavior.