HELMET SUSPENSION SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A head protection system comprising:
- a helmet having a rigid exterior shell;
a shoulder cuff disposable over left and right shoulders of a wearer;
a plurality of pistons, each piston defining a first end portion pivotally attached to the rigid exterior shell of the helmet and a second end portion pivotally attached to the shoulder cuff, each piston having a fluid cavity;
a viscous fluid disposed within the fluid cavities of the pistons; and
a tube fluidly connected to the fluid cavities of the pistons for transferring fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid cavity of another piston, the tube having a sufficiently small inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of a wearer'"'"'s head under normal circumstances but limits the fluid exchange rate upon sudden movement of the wearer'"'"'s head.
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Abstract
A head protection system is disclosed herein. The system may comprise a helmet having a rigid exterior shell and a padded interior. A shoulder cuff may be disposable over left and right shoulders of the wearer. A plurality of pistons may be attached to the helmet and the shoulder cuff. Each of the pistons may be fluidly connected to each other through a tube and ultimately to a reservoir. The tube may have a small inner diameter to provide resistance to movement of the pistons during rapid deceleration or acceleration of the helmet with respect to the wearer'"'"'s body.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A head protection system comprising:
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a helmet having a rigid exterior shell; a shoulder cuff disposable over left and right shoulders of a wearer; a plurality of pistons, each piston defining a first end portion pivotally attached to the rigid exterior shell of the helmet and a second end portion pivotally attached to the shoulder cuff, each piston having a fluid cavity; a viscous fluid disposed within the fluid cavities of the pistons; and a tube fluidly connected to the fluid cavities of the pistons for transferring fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid cavity of another piston, the tube having a sufficiently small inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of a wearer'"'"'s head under normal circumstances but limits the fluid exchange rate upon sudden movement of the wearer'"'"'s head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A helmet suspension system attachable to an existing helmet, the helmet suspension system providing protection from neck and back injuries due to an impact, the system comprising:
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a shoulder cuff disposable over left and right shoulders of a wearer; a plurality of pistons, each piston defining a first end portion pivotally disposable adjacent to the exterior of the helmet and a second end portion pivotally attached to the shoulder cuff, each piston having a fluid cavity; a viscous fluid disposed within the fluid cavities of the pistons; a tube fluidly connected to the fluid cavities of the pistons for transferring fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid cavity of another piston, the tube having a sufficiently small inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of a wearer'"'"'s head under normal circumstances but restricts sudden movement of the wearer'"'"'s head due to the viscosity of the fluid and the small inner diameter; a pad pivotally attached to each of the first end portions of the pistons; and a net of straps attached to the helmet and the pads for holding each of the pads in place adjacent to the exterior of the helmet during impact. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of setting up a helmet suspension system on a wearer engaged in a physical activity, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the helmet suspension system on the wearer; with the wearer in a normal position for the physical activity, removing a fill cap of a deformable fluid reservoir; filling the fluid reservoir or removing fluid from the fluid reservoir to mitigate bias on pistons of the helmet suspension system; and attaching the fill cap to the deformable fluid reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification