Abstract:
A helmet ( 10 ) formed of a plurality of layers wherein at least one of the layers comprises a plurality of beads ( 16 ) encased within a liner ( 28 ), and a second liner selected from the group consisting of a hard layer ( 36 ) and a soft layer ( 26 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to helmets and more particularly, relates to helmets to protect the head of the user when undertaking an activity posing a danger to the user&#39;s head. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of helmets when participating in an activity has grown enormously over the years. Originally used only in relatively violent sports such as football, their use in other activities has increased as medical science has established the dangers for head injuries in many activities. Helmets are now worn in a wide range of sporting activities such as playing hockey, skiing, skating, and the like. They are also widely used in other recreational activities such as bicycling, inline skating, skateboarding, etc. 
         [0003]    The design of helmets has also evolved substantially and many helmets are designed for a specific activity. Original designs normally consisted simply of a hard outer shell with some inner cushioning material. This is still the basic design which is utilized for many different types of helmets. 
         [0004]    The prime purpose of the helmet is to protect the head of the wearer should it come in contact with a hard surface. As the design of helmets has progressed, differing materials have been utilized in order to provide the maximum impact resistance. This is generally accomplished by using different density foams and the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in helmet designs which can be adapted for many different purposes and/or activities. Some activities require special design considerations. Thus, for example, the popularity of renting bicycles from one station and dropping them off at another station has increased in many urban areas. One problem with this arrangement is that the bicycle riders generally are not using any helmets for protection. As it is highly inconvenient to continually carry a helmet, most people opt to not utilize any head protection. Since rental helmets are not considered desirable for health reasons, it would be desirable to provide a helmet structure which is compact and portable. 
         [0006]    Helmets according to the present invention can be designed in many different ways. Some of the helmets will have a hard outer shell in a conventional manner while others will have a soft outer shell to enhance portability such that they can be easily carried around by the user. 
         [0007]    Other helmets need to be designed to reduce the impact or in other words, provide for controlled deceleration of the head. Recent evidence has raised the possibility that concussions can lead to other medical problems later in life and particularly some forms of dementia. These frequently occur in high impact sports such as football and hockey. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a helmet comprising a plurality of layers, at least one of the layers comprising a plurality of beads, the beads being encased within a liner, and a second layer selected from the group consisting of a hard layer and a soft layer. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a helmet which comprises beads contained within a liner and an air bladder. This helmet will have a soft outer shell and is collapsible rendering it ideal for uses where the helmet is desirably portable. 
         [0010]    In a second embodiment, there is provided a soft outer shell along with the use of beads. Again, this design is relatively collapsible and suitable for portability. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hard outer shell with an interior comprising beads and an air bladder. 
         [0012]    In a fourth embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hard outer shell with encased beads forming the cushioning layer. 
         [0013]    In a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a helmet which has a hard shell with a layer of encased beads within. However, over the hard shell, there is a further layer of beads with a soft outer shell. 
         [0014]    In a still further embodiment, there is provided a hard outer shell with an interior honeycomb design. 
         [0015]    A variation of the above will include a soft outer shell and a honeycomb design. 
         [0016]    In a still further embodiment, there is provided a hard shell having an interior honeycomb design. However, exteriorly of the hard shell there is provided a honeycomb design and a soft outer shell. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment, there is provided a hard shell having an interior formed of encased beads and an air bladder. Exteriorly of the hard shell, there are provided both an air bladder and encased beads and a soft outer shell. 
         [0018]    In the instance wherein the helmet uses a hard outer shell, such structures are well known in the art and many different designs are available. It suffices to say that the hard outer shell may be formed of any suitable material and may have any suitable design. The nature of the hard shell and the design will partially be dictated by the activity for which it is designed. The use of pellets or beads in some of the embodiments of the present invention will entail the use of a plurality of pieces of particulate matter which are encased in a holder or liner. The beads may be formed of many different materials and may be of a plastic material such as a polypropylene. However, other materials which can be engineered to have particular properties could also be utilized in the practice of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The shape of the beads can be varied. Thus, circular beads or beads having an irregular configuration with a plurality of flat surfaces can be utilized in certain situations. 
         [0020]    The overall thickness of the layer of the beads can vary and would depend on the desired protection. 
         [0021]    In the case of the air bladder, any conventional air bladder might be utilized. Preferably, the valve arrangement is one which would permit the user to blow into the same or alternatively, to utilize an inflation device. Also, the valve arrangement is preferably one wherein air is prevented from entering the valve to the air bladder following deflation. This will permit the helmet to be collapsible and to stay in a collapsed state. One may use separate dedicated valves or alternatively a honeycomb layer comprising a closed cell configuration, the closed cell frequently having a second material therein. Honeycomb structures are known per se and many different materials could be utilized. 
         [0022]    The present invention utilizes different elements of the helmet to reduce the forces of impact to the human head and brain. These different mechanisms can be designed to absorb, dissipate and divert forces directed to the head. 
         [0023]    The liner used to encase the beads, as aforementioned, can be formed of many different materials. In broader terms, the liner may be made either of an expandable or relatively rigid material. The expandable material may be, for example, a knit type material. The use of different materials can control the compaction of the beads. Thus, in the case of an expandable material, the beads are forced to move and thus supply a controlled compaction. In the case of a more rigid material, one may use a denser bead structure and thereby provide a harder cushion. The horizontal and vertical walls forming the liner can be made from a variety of material which, as aforementioned, in the case of a softer material will deform more easily and expand to absorb shock. 
         [0024]    The air bladder may be utilized with walls of varying degrees of elasticity from soft to rigid to contain air at different pressures. 
         [0025]    As previously mentioned, one may have a combination inlet/outlet valve or alternatively, separate valves. In either case, the inflation valve or portion thereof would open to admit air and close automatically to hold the air or other gas within the bladder. 
         [0026]    The outlet valve can open when activated manually but would close automatically when the manual pressure is released. The outlet valve may also function as a pressure safety valve to release air when pressure reaches a given point. It will open automatically and then close once the excess air pressure has been released. Naturally, a separate pressure safety valve may be provided. 
         [0027]    As utilized herein, the word “layers” will include all layers wherein a first material will lie adjacent to a second material. The orientation of the layers can be any desired and will include both horizontal, vertical and diagonal layers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a helmet structure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0031]      FIG. 1C  is an enlargement of a portion of the cutaway view of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 1D  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view thereof; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2D  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3C  is a further partial cutaway view; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3D  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4C  is a further cutaway view thereof; 
           [0044]      FIG. 4D  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5A  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 5B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0047]      FIG. 5C  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0048]      FIG. 6A  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; 
           [0050]      FIG. 6C  is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; 
           [0051]      FIG. 7A  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0053]      FIG. 8A  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0055]      FIG. 9A  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
           [0057]      FIG. 10A  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 10B  is a partial cutaway view thereof; and 
           [0059]      FIG. 10C  is an enlarged view of a portion of the cutaway view of  FIG. 10B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0060]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a first embodiment of the helmet according to the present invention. The helmet is generally designated by reference numeral  10  and has a rigid outer shell  12 . Mounted interiorly of rigid outer shell  12  is an air bladder  14  with a valve  20  for inflation/deflation. Surrounding air bladder  14  is a soft liner  18  containing a plurality of beads or pellets  16 . 
         [0061]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , helmet  24  has a soft outer shell  26 . An inner liner  28  contains beads or pellets  30 . 
         [0062]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , a helmet  34  has a hard outer shell  36 . Mounted interiorly of hard outer shell  36  is an air bladder  38  which is equipped with an inflation/deflation valve  40 . An inner liner  42  extends about air bladder  38  and contains a plurality of beads  44 . 
         [0063]    The embodiment of  FIG. 4  illustrates a helmet  48  having a hard outer shell  50 . Interiorly of hard outer shell  50  is an inner liner  52  containing beads  54 . 
         [0064]    Turning to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , helmet  56  includes a hard shell  58 . On the inner side of hard shell  58 , there is an air bladder  60  with an inflation/deflation valve  62 . Extending about air bladder  60  is an inner soft liner  64  containing a plurality of beads  66 . On the outer side of hard shell  58 , there is provided an air bladder  68  surrounded by a soft outer liner  70  containing beads  72 . Finally, there is provided a soft cover shell  73 . 
         [0065]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , there is provided a helmet  73  having a hard shell  74  with an inner soft liner  76  containing beads  78 . On the exterior of hard shell  74 , there is provided an outer soft liner  80  containing beads  82 . An outer soft shell  84  is utilized. 
         [0066]    The embodiment of  FIG. 7  illustrates a helmet generally designated by reference numeral  86 . Helmet  86  has an inner honeycomb structure  88  and a hard outer shell  90 . Honeycomb structure  88  consists of a plurality of separated cells which will crush as required. If so desired, the cells of honeycomb structure  88  may include interiorly thereof a further substance which may be of a shock absorbing nature. 
         [0067]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , helmet  94  has a honeycomb structure  96  and a soft outer shell  98 . 
         [0068]    A helmet  104  is illustrated in  FIG. 9  and which helmet is comprised of a hard shell  106  having an interior honeycomb structure  108 . Exteriorly of hard shell  106 , there is provided an exterior honeycomb structure  110  and a soft shell  112 . 
         [0069]    In  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated a helmet generally designated by reference numeral  116  has an interior air bladder  118  (valve not shown) surrounded by a liner containing beads  120 . A hard shell  121  surrounds this structure. Exteriorly of hard shell  121 , there is provided an exterior air bladder  122  and a liner  124  to encase beads  126 . This arrangement is covered by a soft outer shell  128 .