Patent ID: 9468249
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: A42B,B29C

Claim Text:
1. A helmet comprising: a shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; and a support system comprising a base and a plurality of hollow cells extending outward from said base, said support system is flexible and substantially conforms to said shell inner surface, said plurality of cells segmented into a plurality of regions wherein said plurality of cells within each of said plurality of regions are coupled together in flow communication via a plurality of channels extending between said plurality of cells, at least one said cells within a first of said plurality of regions is coupled in flow communication to at least one cell within a second of said plurality of regions for selectively transferring fluid from at least some of said cells in said first region to at least some of said cells in said second region to facilitate reducing an amount of energy induced to a wearer of said helmet following an impact to said shell, said support system further comprising a plurality of fluid control devices positioned between said base and at least some of said plurality of cells, each of said plurality of fluid control devices configured to facilitate independently controlling flow communication through at least some of said plurality of channels, wherein a first of said cells within said first region is in flow communication with a first of said plurality of fluid control devices within a third of said plurality of regions, such that fluid discharged from said first cell in response to an impact to said first region causes said first fluid control device to inhibit flow communication between at least some of said cells in said third region.