Sport safety headgear with bracing system and warning system

• US 20150245680A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loren George Partlo
• Original Assignee: Loren George Partlo
• Inventors: Partlo, Loren George
• Granted Patent: US 9,241,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0473 Neck restraints

Abstract

A protective headgear having an axial rotation control and bracing system, a head and neck linking system and impact safety warning system made for a single player. The axial rotation control and bracing system is designed to reduce linear and axial rotation of the head and allow for bracing; a headgear with multiple embodiments. Constructed of energy absorbent material to dissipate and transfer excessive impact energy to the torso of the player. A headgear which links the head and neck to improve effective mass thereby reducing head acceleration to minimize transfer of force and mechanical effect on the brain. A headgear having a non-removable electronic communication system designed for: measuring, collecting, monitoring, storing, interpreting and transmitting linear and rotational acceleration impact data. An impact safety warning system with pre-determined force threshold that when met or exceeded will identify and stop play so medical assessment can be conducted.

Claims

1. A protective sport headgear having an axial rotation control and bracing system designed to reduce linear and axial rotation of the head about the XZ and YZ axis to minimize the mechanical effect on the head;

and,

a sport headgear constructed of force absorbent material designed to absorb, dissipate and distribute force of impacts thereby reducing the force of direct impact transmitted to the head, having;

a one piece crown component that encompasses the skull or head which supports the axial rotation control and bracing system, and;

a bracing system designed such that the player may brace themselves from a single direction or multiple directions simultaneously for impact;

meaning the player may hunch their shoulders up or move their chin/neck down or both to engage the posterior edges of the axial rotation control system against their torso with one or multiple bracing pints thereby linking the torso of the player to the headgear thereby supporting the neck, allowing for direct transfer of energy of the blow from the headgear to the torso of the player, and;

a headgear constructed of a resilient force absorbent material with multiple embodiments designed to absorb a portion of impact force before transferring additional said force to the torso of the wearer, and;

a axial rotation control system that reduces the range of movement on the XZ and YZ axis reducing axial and rotational movement about the Z axis which provide the components for the bracing system bracing point(s) that work together to reduce range of motion and provide bracing ability in all axis, and;

a axial rotation control and bracing system which consist of four to six component parts depending upon the embodiment of construction, that may be engaged singly or in combination, being;

a headgear axial rotational control shoulder extension(s) having bi-lateral symmetry (left and right) extending from the anterior edge of the crown component of the headgear'"'"'s distal edge terminating prior to contacting the wearer'"'"'s shoulders, providing a clearance space (left and right) between the distal edge of the axial rotation control shoulder extension(s) and the wearer'"'"'s shoulders that allow for bracing and reduce linear and rotational YZ axis movement and;

a headgear axial rotational control rear extension, extending from the posterior edge of the crown component of the headgear distally on the posterior side of the body centered on the sagital (median) plane appropriate in length to limit lateral and rotational movement about the XZ and Z axis as desired while providing a rear extension clearance space between the headgear rear extension and the wearer'"'"'s back to provide freedom of movement, and;

a rear extension having a rotational limiting bracing edge, which is a surface created on the headgear rear extension such that when the headgear is rotated horizontally about the Z axis the rotational limiting bracing edge contacts the wearer'"'"'s back/shoulders area perpendicularly thereby limiting rotational range of movement on the Z axis and YZ axis and due to the resiliency of the axial rotation control rear extension absorbs force and transfers force to the wearers torso and;

depending upon the embodiment the rear extension may have rear extension helmet support(s) left and right which extend from the posterior edges of the headgear crown padding and the dorsal edges of the shoulder extensions left and right providing rigidity, assist in alignment of the rear extension and assist in determining fit and the lock of the rear extension into place, and;

depending upon the embodiment the rear extension may have an interlocking rear impact pad which is designed specifically with a geometric shape that has corners that when the helmet/headgear is tightened down and the helmet adjustment gaps removed by use of the helmet closure/tightening strap the edges of interlocking rear impact pad join the rear extension helmet supports and lock snuggly together with the rear extension and will not allow the headgear to shift or slide upon its self but will flex and return or maintain its shape when struck depending on the material of manufacture, and;

a forward bracing system which may be one of two configurations depending upon the embodiment of the invention, the first is;

a headgear chest extension system having bilateral symmetry (left and right) extending from the anterior distal edge of the crown component of the headgear having a posterior edge in front of the chest of the wearer which extends anterior of the wearer above the chest or shoulder pads having a clearance space (left and right) between the chest or shoulder pads of the wearer and the posterior edge of the chest extension(s) allowing for limited freedom of movement rotationally about XZ axis and laterally about the Z axis, but allowing for the wearer to draw their shoulders up and or tip their head forward to brace the posterior edge of the headgear chest extension system against the wearer'"'"'s torso thereby bracing for an impact, and;

having a second embodiment, depending upon the desire of the sport, the second forward bracing system, is;

the chin bracing support beard which replaces the headgear chest extensions in various embodiments consisting of a chin bracing beard that extends from the posterior edge of the chin support of the helmet which provides more freedom of movement rotationally about the Z axis yet provides the wearer the ability to brace or draw their chin to their chest or to the inside of the shoulders to place the chin brace support beard against their torso or inside of their shoulder(s) and brace for a impact from the front or front side thereby transferring excess force to the torso of the wearer, and;

a chin bracing support beard that also provides the function of being a neck and throat protector inhibiting the wearer from being punched directly in the throat, and;

a chin bracing support beard that which may be split at the base multiple times to expand the bracing contact area that contacts the user'"'"'s chest to provide more rigidity and comfort and;

a headgear having a chin support strap, a strap with chin cup or a strap for adjustment under the chin support portion of the headgear or chin bracing support beard or contoured portion of the headgear providing adjustment from the front of the headgear which allows adjustment so the headgear can be firmly secured, and or adjusted to the front of the user'"'"'s head based on the embodiment of design, and;

a headgear having a variety of face protection designs commonly found,

depending upon the sport type which the headgear is being intended for such as open face, cheek guards or closed face as found in boxing headgear or with a bar or wire type protection as found in American football, hockey, or kendo, helmets.

a headgear which may have a rear closure adjustment strap to allow the headgear to be tightened to the wearer'"'"'s head depending upon the embodiment of design, and;

a headgear having venting.

2. A method of claim 1, where the headgear may either be constructed of padding, a pliable polymer, a foam or multi layered foam with tough foam skin exterior or a combination thereof with thee embodiments the first being a soft helmet/headgear, the second a soft headgear with a hard exterior crown shell of various lengths, the third a headgear with a soft foam interior with a hard outer shell that encompasses the entire headgear, and;

the crown shell and encompassing shell are integrally part of the headgear and not removable by a player, but may be removable for maintenance.

3. A method of claim 1, where the axial rotation control system components of the headgear extend from the crown portion of the headgear such that a clearance space is created to allow but limit the lateral and or rotation movement about the XZ and YZ and Z axis before the contact with the bracing points of the respective axial rotation control system components individually or simultaneously being:

the headgear chest extension or chin bracing support beard, the axial rotation control shoulder extensions, the headgear rear extension and rotational limiting bracing edge off the headgear rear extension.

4. A method of claim 1, where the axial rotation control shoulder extension(s) can be made of various thicknesses and lengths or extended at an angle from the crown portion of the headgear thereby extending on the Y axis, projecting out over the shoulders yet above, providing a shoulder clearance gap which allows freedom of rotational movement about the XZ axis yet limits range of movement about the YZ axis when the head is hit form either side along the YZ axis, the axial rotation control shoulder extension(s) are made to absorb and or transfer impact to the wearer'"'"'s torso.

5. A method of claim 1, where the headgear axial rotation control rear extension component extending from the posterior edge of the crown component of the headgear is distally parallel to the wearer'"'"'s back along the sagital (median) plane having a clearance space and adequate length which allows for limited linear XZ axis movement.

6. A method of claim 1, where the sport headgear has a rotational limiting bracing edge which is a surface created on the headgear rear and or adjoining rear extension helmet supports, depending on embodiment, such that when the headgear is rotated about the Z axis the rotational limiting bracing edge contacts the wearer'"'"'s back perpendicularly thereby limiting the rotational range of movement on the YZ axis and or Z axis thus stopping the rotational movement of the headgear about the YZ and or Z axis and allowing for transfer of energy from the helmet/headgear to the torso of the player.

7. A method of claim 1, having depending upon the embodiment of the headgear, a chest extension component that extends from the anterior portion of the headgear that is bilaterally symmetrical or having a chin support beard having an appropriate length extending such that when the player'"'"'s head is tilted on the XZ axis the chest extension will have limited movement as the chest extension gap(s) are reduced and once contact is made bracing will take place the same would be true of the for the chin bracing support beard gap and its function, and;

rotational about the Z axis of the head will also allow the edge of the outer edge of the chest extension to have limited movement about the Z axis until the outer edge of the chest extension will be stopped by the inside of the wearer'"'"'s shoulder thereby halting rotational movement about the Z axis allowing the wearer to be able to be push their chin against the chest extension and their inside of their shoulder to brace themselves thereby increasing rigidity of the neck, the same process can be applied to the chin bracing support beard thereby providing additional support whereby the headgear becomes a structural component creating a link between the head and upper torso and depending on the embodiment of design the neck of the user to reduce and minimize mechanical rotational effect and transference energy into the torso of the player reducing said impact transfer to the head, and;

the rotational movement and bracing processes just described for the chest extension(s) and chin bracing support beard can also work in conjunction with and or simultaneously with the rotational limiting bracing edge to improve transfer of and bracing ability of the headgear to the torso.

8. A method of claim 1, being a bracing system consisting of all or any of the following components:

two axial rotation control shoulder extensions, two chest extensions or a chin bracing support beard, rotational limiting bracing edge a rear extension as previously described all having a clearance gap between the posterior edge of said structures and the user such that when the wearer draws their shoulders up and or neck down the clearance gaps between aforementioned portions of the headgear axial rotation control components will be eliminated and the posterior edge of the headgear axial rotation control system will contact the chest, shoulders and back of the user individually or simultaneously depending upon the desire of the wearer to increase rigidity of the neck and head thereby providing additional support whereby the headgear becomes a structural component creating a link between the head and upper torso allowing the user to brace themselves for impact and thereby reduce rotational and lateral head movement and reduce normal mechanical transfer effect on the head, dissipate the force of the blow through the absorption of the padding and the transfer of remaining force to the torso of the player.

10. A method of claims 1 and 9, having option for internal adjustment padding to allow for individual adjustment of fit for the interior of the headgear and head and neck linking system depending on the embodiment by the insertion of pads by means of an adhesive, lacing, Velcro, snaps, etc. that may or may not inflate by pneumatic or viscous substance(s) to allow for individual building of the interior of the headgear to include the axial rotation control system to fit the individual and to provide resilient support from the crown of the skull the length of the neck as covered by the headgear thereby reducing the interior gap in the headgear between the users head and neck thereby enhancing the link of the neck and head and headgear thereby increasing the effective mass of the head and neck creating one unit thereby reducing head acceleration potential.

11. A method of claim 1, having a soft, flexible linking pad interface that connects to the distal edges of the axial rotation control system, the bracing components, depending upon embodiment of design that rests against the torso of the wearer that provides little to no restriction of movement within a specific range, thereby offering a headgear with limited freedom of movement but no perceived or actual clearance gaps.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the sport headgear having an axial rotation control and bracing system that may or may not have a head and neck linking system and or impact safety warning system of which multiple embodiments can be created for various types of sports with or without:

a hard crown shell, encompassing shell, facemask, or variation of forward bracing system or any combination thereof.

9. A headgear that has a head and neck linking system consisting of:

a neck support system that directly contacts and supports the neck, that is directly an extension of the crown component of the headgear thereby linking the head and neck within a single headgear thereby improving the effective mass by creating a single unit thereby increasing the requirement of force needed to create head acceleration thereby reducing the mechanical effect of a blow to the head, and;

material components of the headgear that extend from the distal edges of the crown component of the headgear that extend and conform to the neck of the wearer or may have a gap so that padding can be inserted to make direct contact with the neck of force absorbent material to support the neck and connect it directly to the crown of the headgear, and;

a head and neck linking system where the head and neck supports may be on any or all sides, normally having three sides left, right and back of the neck for support, and;

a neck support system that is integrally manufactured within or may be separate from the axial rotation control system components depending upon the embodiment of the headgear, and;

a head and neck linking system created of resilient force absorbing material that supports the neck and flexes with the neck and head during an impact and;

a left and right side head and neck linking system directly in contact with the neck that supports the left and or right side of the neck which may be individual structures extending from the distal edge of the crown portion of the headgear or may be directly manufactured and integrally part of and supported by the axial rotation control shoulder extension(s), and;

a head and neck rear linking system that may be a separate structure or part of the rear extension and or rear extension helmet support(s) depending upon embodiment, and;

a head and neck left and right linking system that may be a separate structure or connected to the chest extension component dependent upon the embodiment, and;

a head and neck left and right linking system that may be a separate structure or connected to the chin support beard depending upon the embodiment, and;

a head and neck lining system that has a rear helmet closure/tightening strap depending upon embodiment, and;

a head and neck linking system that may have a head and neck linking front adjustment strap depending upon the embodiment, and;

a head and neck linking system that absorbs force as well as assists in limiting the overall range of motion available to the neck which thereby reduces the translation of the force, be it rotational or linear to the head, and;

a head and neck linking system that works in conjunction with the axial rotation control and bracing system to assist in the transfer of energy from the head and neck when struck to the torso of the wearer, and;

a head and neck linking system that flexes with the neck and head absorbing and directing force impact to the axial rotation control and bracing system.

13. A headgear based impact safety warning system that measures acceleration of the headgear and provides instant audio and visual alarm when a pre-determined acceleration threshold is met or exceeded, and;

having embedded within the construction of the headgear an electronic system designed for efficiently collecting, quantifying, monitoring, storing, interpreting, organizing and transmitting large quantities of linear and rotational acceleration data on headgear impacts in real time, and;

worn by a single player engaged in a sporting activity, designed with the intent to collect data and measure acceleration events in the field on an everyday basis during actual sport events and or practice, and;

designed with the intent to provide notice of a head acceleration of significance so play will be stopped so the player can be evaluated for possible head or neck injury, and;

a data storage and retrieval system so translational and rotational accelerations can be evaluated to better understand headgear acceleration to improve future equipment designs having;

An instant visual and auditory impact warning system comprising of a safety strobe/light or light emitting diode(s) (LED) that illuminate when a predetermined acceleration threshold is met or exceeded, and;

an alarm/claxon which provides an auditory warning when a predetermined acceleration threshold is met or exceeded, and;

A user interface that the user can access the functions of or to input data into the impact safety warning system, and;

having a one touch button feature that can activate the impact warning system so that the user may make notification during play or use that they have experienced a head impact that is disconcerting even if it did not meet the preset anticipated threshold, and;

an electronic system to efficiently collect, interpret and organize large quantities of real-time data, having;

one or more sensors for quantifying linear and rotational acceleration and or direction of impact forces, such as a accelerometer(s) or another such electronic impact or acceleration measuring device(s), embedded within the body of the headgear arranged to measure acceleration when contact is made with said headgear, and;

a central processing unit which gathers and processes linear, rotational and direction of impact and or acceleration data from the sensors, encodes it and has individual headgear threshold adjustment acceleration setting(s) that can be pre-set for each individual headgear based on the wearer'"'"'s weight, neck size or other body mass indicator, wirelessly or via the user interface, having indicator(s) which when the headgear is struck and the threshold is exceeded triggers the headgear safety system strobe/light and alarm/claxon, allowing the wearer to be clearly and quickly identified so play can be stopped and medical assessment can take place, and;

a headgear to be used by a single user with or without a remote receiver such as a computer or phone with appropriate software application so a second or third party, etc. such as a judge, parent or medical doctor or all can monitor said data for single or multiple players and;

memory, such as flash memory which may be a chip that is non-removable and may be augmented with a removable memory device such as an SD card, or digital data storage feature that allows data to be stored if the wireless data transmitter feature is not being utilized, and;

a transceiver that allows for wireless receiving and transmitting of data to and from the headgear to a remote unit such as a laptop or other digital wireless component having software so said data can be associated to a specific headgear so data can be disaggregated, managed and reviewed in real time for safety in training or at a sports contest or stored and used longitudinally over time to assess head impact exposure and;

a battery power supply which will provide power to the sport headgear system and a function/power indicator light which lets the user and observer know that the headgear has power and is functioning properly which is visible from a distance, having a power supply which may be replaceable such as a 9 volt battery or rechargeable in nature.

14. A method of claim 13, being a headgear based impact warning system consist of:

a safety strobe/light, an alarm/claxon, one or more sensors, accelerometer(s), gyroscope, a central processing unit or microprocessor, a digital data storage, flash memory or memory feature, a transceiver, a function/power light emitting diode (LED), with user interface to input data and or turn power on or off.

15. A method of claim 13, being a headgear based impact warning system with components that are non-removable from the headgear they are constructed within, unless specifically stated or implied such as a battery or LED which may be removed for servicing.

16. A method of claim 13, wherein the remote receiver for the impact warning system is a lap top computer, phone or another such device with proper software application allowing the remote receiver to act as a judging station and with appropriate code(s) allows access to the central processing unit and memory, wirelessly via the transceiver.

17. A method of claim 13, being a headgear based impact warning system which can be identified by encoding sequence number providing access to monitoring said headgear by the judging station or remote receiver providing the ability to monitor acceleration statistics for an individual and or multiple sport headgear having or not having an axial rotation control and bracing system and or head and neck linking system.