Patent ID: 6351854
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: A42B

Abstract:
Personal protective equipment in the form of a helmet comprising;a substantially rigid outer wall formed by said helmet; a first area subject to loads; a second area spaced from said first area and not subject to loads; load absorbing apparatus including a resilient bag containing fluid under pressure disposed in said first area for receiving loads; a reservoir of elastomeric material expandable from an initial condition in which its volume is at a minimum to a loaded condition in which its volume is increased, said reservoir being disposed in said second area; conduit means of fixed cross section placing said resilient bag in fluid communication with said reservoir whereby said reservoir receives fluid in response to an increased load on said resilient bag and collapses to return said fluid to said resilient bag upon a reduction of load on said resilient bag; and wherein said helmet forms a first compartment in said first area to receive the head of a user and a second compartment in said second area adjacent to but separate from said first compartment.