Lightweight impact resistant helmet system
First Claim
1. A helmet system for a player engaged in contact sports, comprising:
- a. a helmet shell having inner and outer surfaces, said shell being composed of a polymeric material and at least one of said surfaces being reinforced with a bonded net or mesh of long length fibers comprising long-length para-aramid or extended chain, high modulus polyethylene reinforcing fibers;
b. a pliable, padded inner helmet attached to said inner surface of said helmet shell, said inner helmet being composed of shock absorbing material; and
c. an attachment means associated with said helmet shell for positioning and holding said pliable padded inner helmet in contact with the player'"'"'s head;
said helmet shell producing a low curvature bend under impact load, increasing contact area between said inner surface and said inner helmet to thereby increase load absorption and decrease load intensity at the player'"'"'s head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A strong, lightweight, impact resistant helmet system protects the wearer from impact injury and minimizes bodily injury to other players brought into contact therewith during blocking and tackling events. Weight reduction is achieved by reinforcing inner and outer surfaces of the helmet shell with long length, high strength fibers. Orientation of the fibers is such that the fiber lengths are aligned generally in the direction of tension and compression forces imposed on the helmet surface during impact. This reinforcement geometry permits use of a thin helmet shell. Efficient impact absorption by the helmet shell is accomplished by limiting the bend curvature produced at the impact location. The bend curvature reduction increases the contact area between the helmet shell and a pliable padded inner helmet made from energy absorbing polymeric foam disposed within the helmet shell in contact with its inner surface. The pliable padded inner helmet rests on the wearer'"'"'s head, held in place by an attachment mechanism associated with the helmet shell. Energy is absorbed when the inner surface of the helmet shell contacts and compresses the inner helmet. The reduced bend curvature of the helmet shell spreads impact forces over a large area, and the impact load experienced by the wearer is decreased.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A helmet system for a player engaged in contact sports, comprising:
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a. a helmet shell having inner and outer surfaces, said shell being composed of a polymeric material and at least one of said surfaces being reinforced with a bonded net or mesh of long length fibers comprising long-length para-aramid or extended chain, high modulus polyethylene reinforcing fibers; b. a pliable, padded inner helmet attached to said inner surface of said helmet shell, said inner helmet being composed of shock absorbing material; and c. an attachment means associated with said helmet shell for positioning and holding said pliable padded inner helmet in contact with the player'"'"'s head; said helmet shell producing a low curvature bend under impact load, increasing contact area between said inner surface and said inner helmet to thereby increase load absorption and decrease load intensity at the player'"'"'s head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A protective sports helmet appointed to be worn by a user, comprising:
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a. a helmet shell having inner and outer surfaces, said shell being composed of at least one polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly-alpha-olefins, homopolymers of ethylene, copolymers of ethylene and other alpha-olefins, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetobutyrate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyoxymethylene polymers, polyester, epoxy, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polycarbonate, and mixtures thereof and at least one of said surfaces being reinforced with a bonded net or mesh of long length fibers comprising long-length para-aramid or extended chain, high modulus polyethylene reinforcing fibers; and b. a pliable, padded inner helmet attached to said inner surface of said helmet shell, said inner helmet being composed of shock absorbing material; said mesh or net providing enhanced strength in a plurality of directions in a plane of said net or mesh and said helmet shell producing a low curvature bend under impact load, increasing contact area between said inner surface and said inner helmet to thereby increase load absorption and decrease load intensity at said user'"'"'s head.
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23. In a process for producing a helmet shell, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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a. laying a mesh or net of long length fibers against inner and outer surfaces of a previously molded helmet; b. burying said mesh or net in a polymeric solution that is compatible with the helmet shell material; and c. evaporating said solution to form a hardened polymer.
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Specification