Patent Publication Number: US-2006000009-A1

Title: Protective helmet for children in automobiles

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/584,544, filed Jul. 1, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates generally to protective helmets for children in automobiles, and relates more particularly to helmets having an impact absorbing structure and having apertures for ventilation to a portion of the head of the child.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The most common injury caused by motor vehicle collisions is an injury to the head. Automobile crashes account for between forty and fifty percent of all head injuries, and these crashes are also often the cause of the most severe injuries. It has been reported that sixty-four percent of all significant injuries sustained by children in an automobile crash are to the head. Infants and small children often sustain head injury while restrained in a car seat during motor vehicle crashes. Skull fracture and/or brain injuries can occur as a result of an impact collision between the child&#39;s head and the interior parts of an automobile. It is further recognized that air bags have not solved the problem of child safety in automobiles, and such skull fracture and/or brain injuries remain a significant risk for a child in an automobile.  
      Thus, a significant number of children suffer head injuries as a result of automobile accidents each year. Indeed, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and acquired disability in children all over the world. Previously, there has been no device for protecting a child&#39;s head inside an automobile. It should be noted, however, that no protective helmet can fully guarantee the prevention of injury to the head of a child, because the nature and circumstances of the forcible impact have a significant influence on the extent of injury to the head regardless of the protective mechanism. Nevertheless, a protective helmet for children in automobiles would be desirable in order to decrease the likelihood and the extent of injury to the head of a child in an automobile.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The protective helmet for children in automobiles of the present invention provides considerable advantages, most specifically attempts to decrease the likelihood and the extent of injury to the head of a child in an automobile. The present invention also offers the advantage of providing the child a high degree of comfort associated with ventilation provided to the child&#39;s head through apertures, as well as through the gentle character of the inner impact absorbing structure surrounding the head of the child. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      In the drawing:  
       FIG. 1  is a side, perspective view of a protective helmet in accordance with the invention, being worn by a child;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the protective helmet of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , of several layers which may be included within the impact absorbing structure of the protective helmet of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a partial, expanded side view of another embodiment of the protective helmet of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a portion of another embodiment of the protective helmet of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
      While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS  
      Although the following detailed description contains many specific details for purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the invention described below is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.  
      The protective helmet  10  of  FIG. 1  of the present invention is a safety device that is preferably used by child passengers in automobiles. The protective helmet  10  should be worn upon the head  15  of a child so that the protective helmet  10  diminishes the amount of force applied to the head  15  of the child when an impact force is applied to the protective helmet  10 . The helmet  10  is designed for use by children ages approximately 6 months to 14 years old, but also may be used by older children. The helmet  10  is designed for children to use in automobiles, which may include cars, trucks, vans, mobile homes, or other vehicles having at least four wheels.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , helmet  10  has a lower band, or lower band member,  20  which fits circumferentially around the head  15  of the child. The lower band  20  is preferably fitted in a position approximately just above the eyes of the child and approximately just above the ears of the child so that the child may maintain proper vision and hearing while wearing the protective helmet  10  in an automobile (not shown). The front portion, or front side,  11  of the protective helmet  10  is positioned approximately just above the eyes of the child, and the back portion, or back side,  12  of the protective helmet  10  is secured around the backside of the child&#39;s head  15 .  
      A crown portion, or member, or strap,  35  is attached to, or disposed between, the front portion, or side,  21  and back portion, or side,  22  of the lower band  20 . The crown portion, or strap,  35  offers protection for the upper, middle part of the head extending from a position just above the child&#39;s eyes to a position at the back of the child&#39;s head  15 . The protective helmet  10  preferably includes one longitudinal portion, or strap,  35 , but alternatively may have several longitudinal portions. or straps,  35  extending from the front portion  21  of the lower band  20  to the back portion  22  of the lower band  20 .  
      To each side, or edge,  36  of the longitudinal portion, or strap,  35 , a plurality of lateral portions, or members, or straps  25 ,  30  are attached to, or disposed between, the longitudinal strap  35  and a side portion  23  of the lower band  20  at a position on the lower band  20  approximately just above the ears of the child. The front lateral strap  25  is attached to the longitudinal strap  35  and the lower band  20  toward the front side  11  of the protective helmet  10 . The back lateral strap  30  is attached to the longitudinal strap  35  and the lower band  20  toward the back side  12  of the protective helmet  10 . The lateral portions  25 ,  30  may be separate parts glued or heat sealed to the longitudinal strap  35  and lower band  20 , or may alternatively be formed integrally with longitudinal band  35  and lower band  20 . The protective helmet  10  could include as few as two lateral portions  25  and  30 , but alternatively may have more than two lateral straps, such as straps  30 ,  25 , and  32  to provide additional protection to the child, or it may have only one lateral portion, or strap,  32  which would be disposed intermediate the front and back sides  11 ,  12  of the helmet  10 .  
      Several apertures, or openings,  45  pass through those portions of the protective helmet  10  located directly above the head  15  of the child to provide ventilation to the head  15  of the child. The apertures  45  may be located in between each of the straps  25 ,  30 ,  32 ,  35  above the lower band  20 . The apertures  45  allow air inside the automobile access to the head  15  of the child. The size of the apertures  45  is dependent upon the relative width “W” ( FIG. 1 ) of the lower band  20  and the relative width “W′” ( FIG. 2 ) of the straps  25 ,  30 ,  32 ,  35  of the helmet  10 . That is, the greater the width W of the lower band  20  and the greater the width W′ of the straps  25 ,  30 ,  32 ,  35 , the smaller the space remaining for apertures  45 . Therefore, the width W of the lower band  20 , and the width W′ of the longitudinal portion, or strap,  35  and the lateral portions, or straps,  25 ,  30 ,  32 , are selected to optimize the comfort or ventilation provided by the apertures  45  for allowing air to access the child&#39;s head  15 , while also optimizing the safety provided by the protective helmet  10 . Alternatively, apertures  45  could be provided by forming openings, or apertures, in the straps  25 ,  32 ,  30 ,  35  themselves. Alternatively, the top of the helmet  10  located above lower band  20  may be formed of a single piece of material, such as those which will be hereinafter described, which covers the top of the child&#39;s head  15 . The straps  25 ,  32 ,  30 , and  35  merge into a single sheet, or wall, of material having a generally semi-spherical configuration corresponding to the top of the child&#39;s head  15  disposed above lower band  20 . Apertures  45  may then be formed in the wall to provide the desired ventilation.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the width W of the lower band  20 , and the width W′ of the longitudinal strap  35 , and the lateral straps  25 ,  30  are several inches, for example approximately 1 or 2 inches, thus establishing apertures  45  that allow a sufficient amount of air to access the head  15  of the child. The apertures  45  provide greater comfort for the child, especially when sleeping in the automobile, because of the ventilation provided by the apertures  45 , and because the apertures  45  provide for a lightweight protective helmet  10 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 3 , it is seen that a strap  35 ,  30 ,  32 , and  25 , as well as lower band  20  may be formed of several layers of the same or differing materials. The layered construction shown in  FIG. 3  may be used for the lower band  20 , the longitudinal strap  35 , and the lateral straps  25 ,  30 ,  32 .  FIG. 3  shows for illustrative purposes the construction of longitudinal strap  35 . A body, or reinforcement,  55  has lower surface, or layer, or substrate  56 , and an outer or upper surface, or layer, or substrate  57 , and the body  55  is positioned between an inner or lower impact absorbing structure  50  and an outer or upper impact absorbing structure  60 .  
      An outer surface  51  of the inner impact absorbing structure  50  underlies the inner surface  56  of the body  55 , and is attached to the inner surface  56  of the body  55 . Similarly, an inner surface  61  of the outer impact absorbing structure  60  substantially surrounds the outer surface  57  of the body  55 , and is attached to the outer surface  57  of the body  55 . The inner surface  52  of the inner impact absorbing structure  50  substantially covers a portion of the top of the head  15  of the child as seen in  FIG. 1 . The outer surface  62  of the outer impact absorbing structure  60  receives the strike from the impact force when the impact force is applied to the protective helmet  10 . When the impact force strikes the helmet  10 , both the inner impact absorbing structure  50  and the outer impact absorbing structure  60  cushion the blow and diminish the amount of force applied to the head  15  of the child when the impact force is applied to the outer surface  62  of the outer impact absorbing structure  60 . In one of many possible embodiments of the invention, the body  55 , the inner impact absorbing structure  50 , and the outer impact absorbing structure  60  are glued or heat sealed together, or are formed integrally. Preferably body  55  is embedded within, and surrounded by layers  50  and  60 . Alternatively, the protective helmet  10  may have one single shock absorbing structure  50  or  60  throughout the entire helmet. Alternatively, the helmet  10  may include the lower band  20  having: one layer  50  or  60 ; two layers,  50  and  60 ,  50  and  55 , or  60  and  55 ; or three layers  55 ,  50 , and  60 . The longitudinal and lateral straps  35 ,  30 ,  32 , and  25  may have the same structure and configurations as the lower band  20 . The thickness “T” ( FIG. 2 ) of lower band  20 , as well as the thickness of the straps  35 ,  25 ,  32 , and  30 , may fall within a range of from approximately ¼ to 1½″, dependent upon the material used to construct them. For example, in general, with a denser foam having greater impact absorbing characteristics, a smaller thickness T may be utilized.  
      The body, or reinforcement,  55  is typically made from an elastomeric material, but otherwise may be made from any material that is firm enough to maintain durability and reliability, but flexible enough to enable the helmet  10  to adjust upon a child&#39;s head  15  for comfort, such a thin metallic insert member formed of aluminum or steel. The inner impact absorbing structure  50  and the outer impact absorbing structure  60  may be made from a soft or cushioned material that is capable of diminishing the amount of force applied by a strike to the head  15  from an impact force, and does not have a hard outer surface  62 , but rather has a soft, or flexible, outer surface  62 , as will be hereinafter described. In this manner, the inner impact absorbing structure  50  and the outer impact absorbing structure  60  are preferably made from an impact absorbing material, such as a latex or polyurethane foam or other similar elastomeric materials, but may also be made from an air pocket structure or a pillow-type material, or any suitable material having the requisite strength, comfort, and impact absorbing characteristics to function in helmet  10 . The inner impact absorbing structure  50  and the outer impact absorbing structure  60  serve the purpose of reducing the likelihood of injury to the child&#39;s head  15 , while providing comfort in the event the child desires to sleep in the automobile Since the outer surface of the impact absorbing structure is not hard, or non-resilient, such as a rigid plastic material, a child bumping against another child in the automobile, will not hurt the other child.  
      The inner impact absorbing structure  50  and outer impact absorbing structure  60  also tend to prevent injury to other occupants of vehicle, in the event that another occupant of the vehicle happens to collide with the helmet  10  on the head  15  of the child. Additionally, the inner impact absorbing structure  50  and outer impact absorbing structure  60  would also tend to prevent damage to parts inside the vehicle itself, to the extent that a strike by the child&#39;s head  15  to part of the vehicle would otherwise result in damage to the vehicle had the child not been wearing the protective helmet  10 .  
      As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of ear covers  40  may be provided and each ear cover  40  extends below the lower band  20  to cover an ear of the child. The ear covers  40 , if utilized, may assist in securing the protective helmet  10  to the child&#39;s head  15 . The ear covers  40  may also be formed of a protective material, such as the foams previously described, designed to diminish the amount of force applied to the ear when an impact force is applied in a direction toward that part of the child&#39;s head  15 . The ear covers  40  may also provide an entertainment function, wherein an ear cover  40 , or both ear covers  40 , may contain built-in earphones  75  or other audio devices, which may be used in connection with a radio, CD player, VCR player, DVD player, or video games located in the automobile, whether portable in operation or installed within the vehicle. Additionally, the earphones  75  may also be used in connection with cell phones, hand-held game consoles, or laptop computers. It is widely recognized that the use of earphones, or headphones,  75  is growing rapidly, and it is also believed that parents would prefer providing their children with headphones, or earphones,  75  with proper head protection via helmet  10 , rather than without any protection at all. Earphones  75  may be wireless earphones, or as shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 1 , may include a wire  76 , for connecting earphone  75  to the desired audio device.  
      The ear covers  40  may also include a soft padding, or may be made of the previously described foam materials, surrounding the audio device  75  which absorbs any outside interference sound that may come from outside the vehicle or from other passengers within the vehicle. When the outside interference sound is absorbed by the soft padding, the child is better able to hear the sound from the audio device  75  with clarity. Importantly, the soft padding not only dampens the interference of outside sound not emanating from the audio device, but the soft padding also helps diminish the amount of force applied to the ear of the child when dealt a strike by an impact force.  
      The protective helmet  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may also have connected to its bottom portion a fastener  47 , such as a velcro strap or a belt to better secure the protective helmet  10  to the head  15  of the child. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener  47  extends downwardly from the ear covers  40  for wrapping around the chin of the child to secure the protective helmet  10  upon the child&#39;s head  15 . Alternatively, if no ear covers  40  are provided, fastener  47  may be directly connected to the lower band  20   
      With reference to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of ear flaps  40  is illustrated. If ear flaps  40  are to be provided to helmet  10 , the ear flaps may be releasably secured to the lower band  20 , as by the use of snaps  80  and/or a conventional hook and loop fastener, such as a Velcro fastener,  81 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 5 , if it is desired to provide additional protection to the back of the child&#39;s head  15 , in a direction extending below lower band  20 , additional protection may be provided by use of a downwardly extending side and rear neck flap  90 . Flap  90  may be formed as a separate member, or may preferably be formed integral with ear flap  40   a , and may be secured to the lower band  20  as by the snaps  80  and/or hook and loop fastener  81  previously described. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , flap  90  incorporates ear flap  40   a  therein. Flap  90  may be formed of the same protective materials, such as the foams previously described.  
      The invention seeks not only to provide protection to a child&#39;s head while inside an automobile, but also to provide such a benefit in a comfortable and functional manner. In this manner, the invention seeks to optimize the comfort of the device, so that the device is willingly and perhaps eagerly used by children, and regularly utilized by the parents of such children with confidence that their children will be safe and comfortable at the same time. Thus, if desired, ornamental decals, or stickers (not shown), may be provided so that a child may decorate his or her helmet  10 , or alternatively a design may be incorporated into the outer surface of the helmet.  
      While it is the desire and goal that the helmet of the present invention, as well as all helmets, prevent injuries from occurring, it should be noted that due to the nature of automobile accidents and other events which include forcible impacts, no protective equipment or helmet can universally and completely prevent all injuries to the head. To be sure, even while utilizing the helmet of the present invention, the forcible impact associated with an automobile accident or other strike to the head may still result in severe head and/or neck injuries, paralysis, or death to the child wearing the helmet.  
      In this manner, it should be noted that no protective helmet can fully guarantee the prevention of injury to the head of a child, because the nature and circumstances of the forcible impact have a significant influence on the extent of injury to the head regardless of the protective effectiveness if the protective mechanism. Therefore, this invention does not guarantee safety of any child in an automobile without regard to the circumstances surrounding the accident or injury. To be sure, this invention will not prevent every potential injury to any child who uses the invention. Rather, the benefit of this invention is to decrease the likelihood of an injury to the head of a child in an automobile, and if such an injury should occur, to lessen the extent or degree of such an injury, so that hopefully only a minimal amount of harm is inflicted onto the child. Such safety considerations are matters of extent or degree-not absolutes.  
      Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereupon without departing from the principle and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims and their appropriate legal equivalents.