Helmet with integrated electronic components

• US 9,549,583 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Sports Incorporated (Easton-Bell Sports Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bell Sports Incorporated (Easton-Bell Sports Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tomascheski, Joseph D., Pietrzak, Christopher T., Allen, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPATZ, ABBY M
• Application Number:
  US14/146,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 241/1, 242/5, 241/0, 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/062 with reinforcing means

Abstract

A helmet that can include a helmet body comprising an energy absorption layer and an outer shell. A first opening can be formed through the outer shell and extend into the energy absorbing layer, the first opening including a perimeter. A first sleeve can be disposed at least partially within the first opening, the first sleeve including a first end including a first flange coupled to the outer shell and extending beyond the perimeter of the first opening, and a second end opposite the first end including a base disposed over the energy absorption layer. A camera can be coupled to the first sleeve and exposed through the first opening. The helmet can further include the first sleeve including a depth greater than a width or a length. The first flange can be directly coupled to an outer surface or an inner of the outer shell.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

a helmet body comprising an energy absorbing layer and an outer shell, the energy absorbing layer formed of at least one of expanded polystyrene and expanded polypropylene;

a first opening formed through the outer shell and extending into the energy absorbing layer, the first opening comprising a perimeter;

a first sleeve disposed at least partially within the first opening, the first sleeve comprising;

a first end comprising a first flange coupled to the outer shell and extending beyond the perimeter of the first opening,

a second end opposite the first end comprising a base disposed over the energy absorption layer such that the first sleeve extends only partially into the energy absorbing layer and no part of the first sleeve extends through the energy absorbing layer to an inner surface of the helmet body, and

an outer surface of the first sleeve comprising a second flange disposed between, and vertically offset from, the first end and the second end and embedded in the energy absorbing layer; and

a camera coupled to the first sleeve and exposed through the first opening at a front of the helmet, offset from a longitudinal central axis of the helmet.

2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve comprises a depth greater than a width or a length.

3. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first flange is directly coupled to an outer surface or an inner surface of the outer shell.

4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the outer shell and the first sleeve are formed of a single integrally formed piece.

5. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first sleeve is configured to dissipate energy from an impact sustained by the camera, the first sleeve comprising an outer surface configured to be in contact with an area of the energy absorbing layer, a size and a shape of the area selected to dissipate the energy from the impact by deforming the energy absorption layer without the outer surface of the first sleeve breaking through the energy absorbing layer, the first flange overlapping the outer shell by a distance in a range of 0.5-30 millimeters (mm).

6. The helmet of claim 5, wherein the energy absorbing layer comprises a thickness in a range of 10-50 mm, and wherein the second flange comprises a distance in a range of 0.5-30 mm.

7. The helmet of claim 5, wherein the outer surface of the second flange embedded in the the energy absorbing layer and the second flange is formed as an incline plane spirally circling around the the first sleeve.