Protective helmets with non-linearly deforming elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10966479-B2
Application number	US-201415034006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

The present technology relates generally to protective helmets with non-linearly deforming members. Helmets configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can comprise, for example, an inner layer, an outer layer, a space between the inner layer and the outer layer, and an interface layer disposed in the space. The interface layer comprises a plurality of filaments, each having a height, a longitudinal axis along the height, a first end proximal to the inner layer, and a second end proximal to the outer layer. The filaments are sized and shaped to span the space between the inner layer and the outer layer. The filaments are configured to deform non-linearly in response to an external incident force on the helmet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A helmet, comprising:
an inner layer, the inner layer having an outer surface;
an outer layer having an inner surface, the inner surface spaced apart from the inner layer outer surface; and
an interface layer disposed between the inner layer outer surface and the inner surface of the outer layer, the interface layer comprises a plurality of elongated filaments having an aspect ratio between 3:1 and 1,000:1, at least two of the plurality of elongated filaments having different aspect ratios, the plurality of elongated filaments extend between the inner layer outer surface and the outer layer inner surface, the plurality of elongated filaments including a spacing between the plurality of elongated filaments, the spacing is filled with a gas, the interface layer further including a plurality of segmented tiles, each of the plurality of segmented tiles attached to a subset of the plurality of elongated filaments;
wherein the plurality of elongated filaments are configured to buckle in response to an external incident force on the helmet.

2. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the outer layer moves laterally relative to the inner layer in response to an external oblique force on the helmet.

3. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the buckling comprises a lateral deflection.

4. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated filaments comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: a foam, an elastomer, a polymer, and any combination thereof.

5. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated filaments are composed of a shape memory material.

6. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated filaments comprise a self-healing material.

7. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated filaments exhibit different shear characteristics in different directions.

8. The helmet of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of elongated filaments have a non-circular cross-sectional shape.

9. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of elongated filaments have a cross-sectional shape selected from one of the following: circular, hexagonal, triangular, square, and rectangular.

10. The helmet of claim 1 wherein a density of the plurality of elongated filaments is higher in some portions of the interface layer than in other portions of the interface layer.

11. The helmet of claim 1 wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of elongated filaments varies along a length of the filament.

12. The helmet of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of elongated filaments are attached to the inner layer.

13. The helmet of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of elongated filaments are attached to the outer layer.

14. The helmet of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of elongated filaments extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axes of the elongated filaments are perpendicular to a surface of at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer.

15. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the outer layer comprises an elastically deformable material.

16. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the inner layer comprises a material having a rigidity at least five times more rigid than the outer layer.

17. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the inner layer comprises padding configured to substantially conform to the contours of a head.

18. The helmet of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated filaments is hollow.

19. The helmet of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated filaments is conical.

20. The helmet of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of a first filament of the plurality of elongated filaments is not perpendicular to either the inner layer or the outer layer.

21. The helmet of claim 20 wherein a longitudinal axis of a second filament of the plurality of elongated filaments is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first filament.

22. The helmet of claim 21 wherein an angle of the longitudinal axis of the first filament relative to at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer is supplementary to an angle of the longitudinal axis of the second filament relative to at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer.

23. The helmet of claim 22 wherein the first filament is connected to the second filament at an intersection point.

24. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated filaments each have at least one end and the interface layer further comprises at least one sheet, the at least one end of the plurality of elongated filaments attached to the at least one sheet.

25. A helmet comprising:
an inner layer, the inner layer having an outer surface;
an outer layer, the outer layer having an inner surface, the inner surface of the outer layer spaced apart from the inner layer outer surface to define a space; and
an interface layer disposed in the space between the inner layer outer surface and the inner surface of the outer layer, wherein the interface layer comprises:
a first plurality of elongated filaments having an aspect ratio between 3:1 and 1,000:1, each of the first plurality of elongated filaments comprising a first end proximal to the inner layer outer surface and a second end proximal to the outer layer inner surface; and
a second plurality of elongated filaments having an aspect ratio between 3:1 and 1,000:1, each of the second plurality of elongated filaments comprising a first end proximal to the inner layer or a second end proximal to the outer layer inner surface, and
a plurality of segmented tiles, each of the plurality of segmented tiles attached to a subset of the first and second plurality of elongated filaments;

wherein the first and second plurality of elongated filaments are configured to deform non-linearly in response to an incident force,
a height of the first plurality of elongated filaments extends between the inner layer outer surface and the outer layer inner surface,
a height of the second plurality of elongated filaments extends between the inner layer outer surface and the outer layer inner surface; and
the height of the first plurality of elongated filaments is greater than the height of the second plurality of elongated filaments.

26. The helmet of claim 25 wherein the first ends of each of the second plurality of elongated filaments are attached to the inner layer.

27. The helmet of claim 25 wherein the second ends of each of the second plurality of elongated filaments are attached to the outer layer.

28. The helmet of claim 25 wherein the second plurality of elongated filaments have a lower aspect ratio than the first plurality of elongated filaments.

29. The helmet of claim 25 wherein the second plurality of elongated filaments are more rigid than the first plurality of elongated filaments.

30. The helmet of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of segmented tiles includes a tile spacing between each of the segmented tiles, the tile spacing being filled with a gas.

Assignees

• Univ Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization

Inventors

• Browd Samuel R
• Posner Jonathan D
• Reinhall Per G
• Marver David L
• Dardis Ii John T

Classifications

• A42B3/064 Primary

  with relative movement between layers · CPC title

• A42B3/065

  Corrugated or ribbed shells · CPC title

• A42B3/046

  Means for detecting hazards or accidents · CPC title

• A42B3/125

  with a padded structure, e.g. foam · CPC title

• A42B3/121

  with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid · CPC title