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

• US 7,299,505 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Dennis, Michael R., Paasche, Gerhard, Tucker, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Welch; Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr.; Robert H
• Application Number:
  US11/186,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 226/7, 2410-414, 245/5
• US Class Current: 2/410
• 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, non-springy load-cushioning pad deployable as one of a collection of plural, spaced pads inside the shell of a helmet comprising

compressible, non-springy, viscoelastic, urethane 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, wherein said urethane foam componentry compression characteristics are degraded when exposed to water-based moisture, and

completely covering said componentry, an encapsulating elastomeric film formed of material which functions simultaneously, over the entire outside surface of said componentry, to block all outside water-based moisture from reaching said componentry, while at the same time offering over the entire outside surface bidirectional gas permeability of all non-water-based gases to preserve non-springiness of the pad as a whole.

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 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 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.