Protective helmet with multiple energy management liners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10463099-B2
Application number	US-201615374597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 11, 2015
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A helmet for rotational energy management can include an outer energy management layer comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface can comprise a first slidable finish comprising a first glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm). An inner energy management layer can be disposed within the outer energy management layer and further comprise an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface can comprise a second slidable finish that directly contacts the first slidable finish. The second slidable finish can comprise a second glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm. A space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish can be devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective helmet for rotational energy management, comprising:
an outer energy management layer formed of a first material comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a first slidable finish formed of the first material, the first material continuous from the outer surface to and including the first slidable finish, the first material of the first slidable finish comprising a first glaze formed from the first material through a first glazing process, the first glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm); and
an inner energy management layer formed of a second material and disposed within the outer energy management layer, the inner energy management layer further comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the inner energy management layer comprises a second slidable finish that directly contacts the first slidable finish, the second slidable finish formed of the second material, the second material continuous from the inner surface of the inner energy management layer to and including the second slidable finish, the second material of the second slidable finish comprising a second glaze formed from the second material through a second glazing process, the second glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm;
wherein a space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish is devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer to facilitate relative movement between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish at a time of impact; and wherein each of the first material and the second material is at least one of expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polyurethane (EPU), and expanded polyolefin (EPO).

2. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein:
the first glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm; and
the second glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm.

3. The protective helmet of claim 2 , wherein the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish each comprise a surface texture skewness of less than or equal to 1 mm.

4. The protective helmet of claim 1 , wherein a first surface texture style on the first slidable finish is the same as a second surface texture style on the second slidable finish.

5. The protective helmet of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer shell; and
the outer energy management layer disposed within the outer shell and the outer surface of the outer energy management layer oriented towards the outer shell.

6. A protective helmet for rotational energy management, comprising:
an outer energy management layer formed of a first material and comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a first slidable finish having a first glaze at the inner surface of the outer energy management layer, the first glaze formed of the first material through a first glazing process; and
an inner energy management layer formed of a second material and disposed within the outer energy management layer, the inner energy management layer further comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the inner energy management layer comprises a second slidable finish having a second glaze at the outer surface of the inner management layer, the second glaze formed of the second material through a second glazing process, the second slidable finish in direct contact with the first slidable finish;
wherein a space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish is devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer to facilitate relative movement between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish at a time of impact; and wherein each of the first material and the second material is at least one of expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polyurethane (EPU), and expanded polyolefin (EPO).

7. The protective helmet of claim 6 , wherein:
the first glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm); and
the second glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm.

8. The protective helmet of claim 6 , wherein the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish each comprise a surface texture skewness of less than or equal to 1 mm.

9. The protective helmet of claim 6 , further comprising:
an outer shell; and
the outer energy management layer disposed within the outer shell and the outer surface of the outer energy management layer oriented towards the outer shell.

10. A protective helmet for rotational energy management, comprising:
an outer energy management layer formed of a first material and comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a first slidable finish having a first glaze at the inner surface of the outer energy management layer, the first glaze formed of the first material through a first glazing process; and
an inner energy management layer formed of a second material and disposed within the outer energy management layer, the inner energy management layer further comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the inner energy management layer comprises a second slidable finish having a second glaze at the outer surface of the inner management layer, the second glaze formed of the second material through a second glazing process; wherein a space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish is devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer to facilitate relative movement between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish at a time of impact; wherein each of the first material and the second material is at least one of expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polyurethane (EPU), and expanded polyolefin (EPO); and wherein the inner energy management layer comprises a thickness of 5-40 millimeters (mm).

11. The protective helmet of claim 10 , wherein:
the first glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm; and
the second glaze comprises a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm.

12. The protective helmet of claim 11 , wherein the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish each comprise a surface texture skewness of less than or equal to 1 mm.

13. The protective helmet of claim 10 , further comprising:
an outer shell; and
the outer energy management layer disposed within the outer shell and the outer surface of the outer energy management layer oriented towards the outer shell.

14. The protective helmet of claim 10 , wherein the outer energy management layer comprises a thickness of 5-40 mm.

Assignees

• Bell Sports Inc

Inventors

• Allen Scott R
• Penny James R
• Szela Alexander J
• Valencia Julio
• Pietrzak Christopher T

Classifications

• A42B3/066

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

• A42B3/127

  with removable or adjustable pads · CPC title

• A42B3/064 Primary

  with relative movement between layers · CPC title

• A42B3/065

  Corrugated or ribbed shells · CPC title

• A63B71/10

  for the head ({A63B71/081 takes precedence } ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00) · CPC title