Helmet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11944149-B2
Application number	US-201916960253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Jan 8, 2018
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

A helmet comprising: an inner shell; an outer shell; a sliding interface between the inner shell and the outer shell; and a switch configured to be selectively switchable between first and second discrete modes, the first mode allowing relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell at the sliding interface in response to an impact to the helmet, the second mode preventing relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell at the sliding interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A helmet comprising:
an inner shell configured to extend in front of a wearer's forehead and behind a back of the wearer's head in use;
an outer shell configured to extend in front of the wearer's forehead and behind the back of the wearer's head in use;
a sliding interface between the inner shell and the outer shell; and
a switch selectively switchable between first and second discrete modes, the first discrete mode allowing relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell at the sliding interface in response to an impact to the helmet to provide protection against oblique impacts, the second discrete mode preventing relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell at the sliding interface.

2. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a movable lock; the movable lock is movable between a first position and a second position, and
the first and second discrete modes correspond to the first and second positions, respectively, of the movable lock;
in the first position, the lock does not engage with least one of the inner shell and the outer shell; and
in the second position, respective parts of the lock engage with the inner shell and the outer shell to prevent relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell.

3. A helmet according to claim 2 , wherein the movable lock is mounted to one of the inner shell and the outer shell; and, when the movable lock is in the second position, a part of the movable lock is inserted in a recess in the other of the inner shell and outer shell.

4. A helmet according to claim 3 , wherein an end of the movable lock is rotatably attached to said one of the inner shell and the outer shell; and,
in moving from the first position and the second position, the movable lock is rotated about said end of the movable lock.

5. A helmet according to claim 3 , wherein the movable lock is slidably mounted to said one of the inner shell and outer shell to enable the lock to move from the first position to the second position.

6. A helmet according to claim 5 , wherein the movable lock is configured such that, in sliding from the first position to the second position, a protrusion of the movable lock may extend at an angle relative to a direction in which the movable lock slides; and,
in the second position, said protrusion is inserted in said recess.

7. A helmet according to claim 5 , wherein the movable lock comprises a protrusion arranged such that, when the movable lock is in the first position, the protrusion is not aligned with the recess, and the movable lock is configured such that, when the movable lock slides to the second position, the protrusion is aligned with and is biased to enter said recess.

8. A helmet according to claim 3 , wherein the part of the movable lock is a first part of the movable lock that may be inserted into said recess in said other of the inner shell and the outer shell by deforming part of the movable lock; and the movable lock further comprises a second part of the movable lock that is fixedly secured to said one of the inner shell and outer shell on which the movable lock is mounted.

9. A helmet according to claim 2 , wherein the helmet has an edge, and said movable lock is mounted at the edge of the helmet.

10. A helmet according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of said movable locks.

11. A helmet according to claim 10 , wherein a first of said plurality of movable locks restricts movement of the inner shell relative to the outer shell in a first direction; and
a second of said plurality of movable locks restricts movement of the inner shell relative to the outer shell in a second direction, different from said first direction.

12. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises an interface engagement lock configured such that, in the second discrete mode, the interface engagement lock fixes a portion of an outer surface of the inner shell to a portion of an inner surface of the outer shell such that the interface engagement lock prevents relative sliding between the portion of the outer surface of inner shell and the portion of the inner surface of the outer shell.

13. A helmet according to claim 12 , wherein the interface engagement lock comprises a friction pad mounted on one of the inner shell and outer shell; and
the interface engagement lock is configured such that, in the second discrete mode, the friction pad contacts the other of the inner shell and the outer shell with sufficient force that the friction prevents relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell.

14. A helmet according to claim 13 , wherein the interface engagement lock comprises a rotating actuator that, on rotation in respective first and second directions, retracts and advances the friction pad in order to switch the interface engagement lock between the first and second discrete modes, respectively.

15. A helmet according to claim 13 , wherein the interface engagement lock comprises a push button switch that, when pressed, advances the friction pad in order to set the interface engagement lock to the second discrete mode.

16. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a connector for connecting the inner shell and the outer shell; and the connector is configured such that, in the first discrete mode, the connector permits relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell.

17. A helmet according to claim 16 , wherein the switch further comprises a removable insert member;
in the first discrete mode, the removable insert member is positioned such that no part of the removable insert member is engaged with the connector; and
in the second discrete mode, the removable insert member is engaged with the connector such that the connector does not allow relative sliding between the inner shell and the outer shell at the sliding interface.

18. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to be manually switchable between the first and second discrete modes by the wearer of the helmet and/or the switch is configured to be switchable without requiring the use of a tool.

19. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the inner shell is configured to contact the head of the wearer, and the outer shell is an energy absorbing shell for absorbing impact energy.

20. A helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the inner shell is a first energy absorbing shell for absorbing impact energy and the outer shell is a second energy absorbing shell for absorbing impact energy.

Assignees

• Mips Ab

Inventors

• Halldin Peter
• Lindblom Kim

Classifications

• A42B3/064 Primary

  with relative movement between layers · CPC title

• A42B3/125

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

• A63B2243/007

  American football · CPC title