Helmet with shock detector, helmet attachment device with shock detector & methods

• US 20070089480A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Beck
• Original Assignee: Gregory Beck
• Inventors: Beck, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/12.10
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/067 with damage indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation

Abstract

A helmet includes a head enclosure with an open cavity for the head of a user and a shock detector attached to the head enclosure that provides a signal when the head enclosure is subjected an impact exceeding a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A helmet including a head enclosure with an open cavity for the head of a user and a shock detector attached to an exterior surface of the head enclosure that provides a visual signal when the head enclosure is subjected an impact exceeding a predetermined level, said shock detector employing liquid surface tension technology to detect said impact.

2. The helmet of claim 1 where the helmet is a military helmet adapted to be used in combat and the shock detector is attached to a rear portion of the exterior surface of the helmet.

3. The helmet of claim 1 where the shock detector is calibrated to provide said signal for a predetermined impact level depending on the use of helmet.

4. The helmet of claim 3 where the shock detector is an accelerometer calibrated to provide said signal when subjected to an acceleration substantially from 50 to 200 g'"'"'s for 50 milliseconds or an acceleration substantially from 150 to 500 g'"'"'s for 2 milliseconds.

5. The helmet of claim 4 where the helmet is drop from a predetermined elevation above ground and upon impact the shock detector is activated by the impact to provide the signal, but does not provide this signal when dropped to ground at a lower elevation.

6. A helmet including a head enclosure with an open cavity for the head of a user and a shock detector attached to an exterior surface of the head enclosure that provides a visual signal when the head enclosure is subjected an impact exceeding a predetermined level, said shock detector comprising an electronic accelerometer with a light source that is energized electrically to provide said visual signal.

7. A helmet including

a head enclosure with an open cavity for the head of a user, said head enclosure comprising a tough, substantially rigid yet flexible shell and an internal impact absorbing liner suited to absorb an impact exceeding a predetermined level, and

a shock detector attached to an exterior surface of the head enclosure that provides a visual signal when the head enclosure is subjected to said impact, said shock detector being an accelerometer employing liquid surface tension technology to detect said impact.

8. The helmet of claim 7 where the liner comprises a foam material that is compressed to absorb said impact.

9. The helmet of claim 8 where the shock detector includes a liquid droplet within a light permeable container, said droplet, when subjected to an acceleration below a predetermined level, remaining in tact and, when subjected to an acceleration above said predetermined level, at least a portion of said droplet being disbursed to provide said visual signal.

10. The helmet of claim 8 including a wall structure that at least partially encloses said shock detector.

11. The helmet of claim 8 including a warning that when the visual signal appears the helmet may no longer provide impact protection.

12. The helmet of claim 8 where the shock detector is retained within a mounting member having an external portion including an adhesive, said external portion bearing against the exterior surface of the head enclosure and the adhesive holding the mounting member to said head enclosure.

13. The helmet of claim 12 where the mounting member includes a wall structure forming a recess in which the shock detector is received, said wall structure at least partially enclosing the shock detector.

14. The helmet of claim 12 where removal of the mounting member produces a visual indication of tampering.

15. A helmet including

a head enclosure with an open cavity for the head of a user,

an internal impact absorbing liner comprising a plurality of cells that are compressed, and remain compressed, when the head enclosure is subjected to an impact producing an acceleration exceeding a predetermined maximum, and

a shock detector attached to an exterior surface of the head enclosure including a colored liquid droplet mounted within a light permeable container that responds to said acceleration above said predetermined maximum to disburse at least a portion said droplet over at least a portion of an interior surface of the container to provide a visual signal,

a wall structure extending outward from the exterior surface that at least partially encloses said shock detector, and

a warning on the helmet that when the visual signal appears the helmet may no longer provide impact protection.

16. An attachment device for a helmet comprising

a mounting member holding a shock detector that, upon attaching said member to the helmet, provides a provides a visual signal when the helmet is subjected to an impact exceeding a predetermined level,

said mounting member having a recess including a surface to which the shock detector is attached and an external portion including an adhesive capable of holding the mounting member on the helmet, and

a removable member that covers said adhesive.

17. The attachment device of claim 16 where the mounting member has an aerodynamic shape including a tapered forward-looking element with beveled, inwardly sloped edges and a low profile that is less than ½

inch.

18. The attachment device of claim 16 where the mounting member includes a wall structure forming at least in part said recess, said wall structure partially enclosing the shock detector.

19. The attachment device of claim 16 including a warning that when the visual signal appears the helmet may no longer provide impact protection.

20. The attachment device of claim 16 where the mounting member is made of a flexible material and the external portion has a surface that is shaped to correspond to a shape of an external surface of the helmet to which the attachment device is to be connected, so that upon connection to the helmet the surface the external portion bears against the external surface of the helmet.

21. The attachment device of claim 20 where said predetermined shape is substantially concave.

22. The attachment device of claim 21 where the external portion comprises a surface having a predetermined shape that corresponds to the shape of an external surface of the helmet to which the attachment device is to be connected, so that upon connection to the helmet said surface having said predetermined shape bears against the external surface of the helmet.

23. The attachment device of claim 22 where said predetermined shape is substantially concave.

24. An attachment device for a safety helmet comprising

a mounting member adapted to be attached to an exterior surface of the helmet including a recess holding a shock detector that provides a visual signal when the helmet is subjected to an impact exceeding a predetermined level,

said mounting member having a first side that is exposed to view upon attaching said member to the helmet to enable the visual signal to be observed and a second side with an opening providing access to the recess that enables the shock detector to be inserted into the recess from the second side, and

a wall element attached to the second side that covers said opening, said wall element having an exterior surface with an adhesive thereon.

25. The attachment device of claim 24 where the first and second sides are opposite each other and the second side is shaped so that said second side conforms in shaped to the exterior surface of the helmet

26. A method of identifying a damaged helmet comprising the steps of

(a) attaching a shock detector to the helmet that provides a signal when the helmet has been subjected to an impact exceeding a predetermined level, and

(b) when said signal occurs, returning the helmet to its manufacturer for inspection to determine if said helmet is damaged and needs to be replaced.

27. The method of claim 26 where inspection includes sound testing of the helmet.

28. A method for monitoring for a possible head injury of an athlete participating in a sporting activity comprising the steps of

(a) said athlete during the sporting activity wearing a helmet having a shock detector that provides a signal when the helmet is subjected an impact exceeding a predetermined level, and

(b) terminating said athlete'"'"'s participation in said sporting activity for a period of time to observe said athlete'"'"'s physical condition when said signal is provided upon said helmet sustaining said impact exceeding the predetermined level.

29. A method for monitoring for a possible head injury of military personnel in combat comprising the steps of

(a) said military personnel during combat wearing a helmet having a shock detector that provides a signal when the helmet is subjected an impact exceeding a predetermined level, and

(b) terminating said military personnel'"'"'s participation in combat for a period of time to observe said military personnel'"'"'s physical condition when said signal is provided upon said helmet sustaining said impact exceeding the predetermined level.

30. The method of claim 29 including the step of recording in the medical record of military personnel experiencing a head impact while in military service.