Multi-body helmet construction and strap attachment method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016007-B2
Application number	US-201514640148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A helmet can comprise an upper-body comprising an upper outer shell and an upper energy-absorbing material coupled the upper outer shell. The helmet can comprise a lower-body comprising a lower outer shell and a lower energy-absorbing material coupled the outer shell, wherein the lower-body is nested within the upper-body. A strap anchor can be formed without a web and embedded within the upper-body or the lower-body between the upper-body and the nested lower-body. A strap can be coupled to the strap anchor, wherein the strap extends between the upper-body and the lower-body and is threaded through the lower-body to couple the helmet to a head of a user. The strap anchor can comprise a size less than or equal to 10-30 millimeters (mm), by 10-50 mm, by 2-10 mm. The strap anchor can be sandwiched between the upper-body and the lower-body and hidden from view within the helmet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A helmet comprising:
an upper-body comprising an upper outer shell coupled to an upper energy-absorbing shell formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polyurethane (EPU), or expanded polyolefin (EPO), the upper energy-absorbing material comprising an outer surface oriented away from a user's head and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;
a lower-body separate and distinct from the upper-body, the lower-body comprising a lower outer shell coupled to a lower energy-absorbing shell formed of EPP, EPS, EPU, or EPO, wherein the lower-body is nested within the upper-body;
a strap anchor formed without a web and embedded within the upper-body, the strap anchor comprising a housing with an opening formed through the housing and sized to receive a rod through the opening such that the strap anchor does not contact the upper outer shell and a portion of the upper energy-absorbing material is sandwiched between the strap anchor and the outer surface of the upper energy-absorbing material, the strap anchor being further disposed between the upper-body and the nested lower-body with the strap anchor being adjacent to, and oriented towards, the outer surface of the lower-body;
a strap disposed around the rod and coupled to the strap anchor with the rod being supported by the strap anchor housing, wherein the strap extends between, and directly contacts both of, the upper-body and the lower-body and is threaded through the lower-body, the strap being configured to couple the helmet to a head of a user.

2. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the strap anchor comprises a height, width, and depth less than or equal to at least one of 10-30 millimeters (mm), by 10-50 mm, and by 2-10 mm.

3. The helmet of claim 2 , wherein the strap anchor is disposed within the upper-body such that a strap anchor opening is substantially coplanar with an inner surface of the upper-body and offset from a lower edge of the upper-body.

4. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper energy-absorbing material comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polyurethane (EPU), or expanded polyolefin (EPO); and
the lower energy-absorbing material comprises EPP, EPS, EPU, or EPO.

5. The helmet of claim 4 , wherein:
the upper energy-absorbing material comprises a density in a range of 70-100 g/L; and
the lower energy-absorbing material comprises a density in a range of 50-80 g/L.

6. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein:
the rod comprises a length L; and
the opening comprises a first width W 1 greater than the length L, and a second width W 2 less than the length L.

7. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the strap anchor is positioned within the helmet to reduce twisting of the strap used for coupling the helmet to the head of the user.

8. A helmet comprising:
an upper-body comprising an upper outer shell coupled to an upper energy-absorbing shell formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polyurethane (EPU), or expanded polyolefin (EPO);
a lower-body comprising a lower outer shell coupled to a lower energy-absorbing shell formed of EPP, EPS, EPU, or EPO, wherein the lower-body is nested within the upper-body;
a strap anchor embedded within the upper-body, the strap anchor comprising a housing with an opening formed through the housing and sized to receive a fastening device through the opening such that the upper energy-absorbing material directly contacts the strap anchor and separates an outer surface of the upper-body and the strap anchor, wherein the strap anchor is sandwiched between the upper-body and the lower-body with the strap anchor being adjacent to, and oriented towards, the outer surface of the lower-body;
a strap coupled to the fastening device and coupled to the strap anchor, wherein the strap extends and is sandwiched between the upper-body and the lower-body and is threaded through the lower-body adapted to couple the helmet to a head of a user.

9. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the strap anchor comprises a height, width, and depth less than or equal to at least one of 10-30 millimeters (mm), by 10-50 mm, and by 2-10 mm.

10. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein the strap anchor is formed without a web.

11. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein the strap anchor is disposed within the upper-body such that a strap anchor opening is substantially coplanar with an inner surface of the upper-body and offset from a lower edge of the upper-body.

12. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein:
the upper energy-absorbing material comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polyurethane (EPU), or expanded polyolefin (EPO); and
the lower energy-absorbing material comprises EPP, EPS, EPU, or EPO.

13. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein:
the fastening device comprises a rod comprising a length L; and
the opening comprises a first width W 1 greater than the length L, and a second width W 2 less than the length L.

Assignees

• Bell Sports Inc

Inventors

• Jacobsen Gregg T

Classifications

• A42B3/08

  Chin straps or similar retention devices · CPC title

• A42B3/066 Primary

  specially adapted for cycling helmets, e.g. for soft shelled helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/128

  with zones of different density · CPC title

• A42B3/06 Primary

  Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/147

  Anchoring means · CPC title