HELMET HAVING EMBEDDED ANTENNA

• US 20120272436A1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardo Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cardo Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Glezerman, Abraham, Kushnirov, Avraham, Twina, Yossef
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/411
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems

Abstract

An enhanced protective helmet includes in one embodiment an outer shell and a molded lining disposed within the outer shell and contoured to surround a human head. The helmet further includes an elongated antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the antenna being supported by the molded lining. The helmet includes a connection point which can be mounted to the molded lining or otherwise extend away from the proximal end of the antenna, the connection point communicatively connected to the proximal end of the antenna. The connection point receives a connection from a mobile communication device, thereby linking the mobile communication device and the antenna. The antenna is located at helmet location that is along one side of the helmet above a left or right ear of the user for optimizing antenna performance.

Claims

1. An enhanced protective helmet comprising:

an outer shell;

a molded lining disposed within the outer shell and contoured to surround a human head;

a first antenna in the form of an elongated antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the antenna being supported by the molded lining;

a first connection point mounted to the molded lining, the connection point communicatively connected to the proximal end of the first antenna;

a second antenna being supported by the molded lining;

a second connection point mounted to the molded lining, the connection point communicatively connected to the second antenna;

wherein at least the second antenna is disposed in a helmet location that is along a side of the helmet above one of a left ear and a right ear of a user when the helmet is worn by the user;

wherein the connection point is configured to receive a connection from a mobile communication device, thereby linking the mobile communication device and the respective antenna.

2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the molded lining comprises shock-absorbent material.

3. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is supported across a surface of the molded lining.

4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is embedded within the molded lining.

5. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is a frequency modulation (FM) antenna.

6. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is a radio frequency (RF) antenna.

7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second connection points is a female-type connector.

8. The helmet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connection points is interchangeable with an alternate connection point.

9. An enhanced protective helmet comprising:

a shaped foam element contoured to surround a human head, the shaped foam element comprising a shock-absorbent material;

a first antenna antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the first antenna being supported by the shaped foam element; and

a first connection point mounted to the shaped foam element, the first connection point communicatively connected to the first antenna;

wherein at least the first antenna is disposed in a helmet location that is along a side of the helmet generally above one of a left ear and a right ear of a user when the helmet is worn by the user;

wherein the connection point is configured to receive a connection from a mobile communication device, thereby linking the mobile communication device and the antenna.

10. The helmet of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the first antenna is embedded within the shaped foam element.

11. The helmet of claim 9, wherein the first antenna is a frequency modulation (FM) antenna.

12. The helmet of claim 9, wherein the first antenna is a radio frequency (RF) antenna.

14. The helmet of claim 9, further including a second antenna that comprises an elongated antenna having a proximal end and a free end, the second antenna being supported by the molded lining and a second connection point is provided and is communicatively connected to the second antenna.

15. The helmet of claim 14, wherein the second antenna is embedded within the molded lining.

13. The helmet of claim 13, wherein the first antenna is a blue tooth (BT) antenna.