Patent Publication Number: US-2020275721-A1

Title: Sports helmet with integrated liner air pump

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY 
     The subject technology relates to sports helmets, for example, football helmets, lacrosse helmets, hockey helmets, and baseball helmets. 
     Sports helmets generally comprise a plastic shell, usually a one-piece shell made of ABS or polycarbonate plastic; internal padding inside the shell, attached directly or indirectly to the inner surface of the shell by, for example, T-nuts or hook-and-loop tape; and a face guard (i.e. a facemask) attached to the shell. A helmet shell has a front region, a crown region, a rear region, a left side region, a right side region, an inner surface and an outer surface. 
     Internal padding for a sports helmet may include helmet liners, for example, foam elements encapsulated within cells formed between polymer (e.g. vinyl or TPU) layers. Some helmet liners are “air liners,” in which some or all the cells are inflatable through a valve, for adjusting the fit of a helmet to suit a wearer. 
     Air liners, typically, require an external hand-operated pump, for example a needle valve pump, for inflation and deflation of the liner. The need for an external pump is an inconvenience which limits the opportunity to made adjustments to the fit of the helmet on the field. 
     SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY 
     According to the subject technology, an inflatable liner for a sports helmet (for example a football helmet, lacrosse helmet, hockey helmet, or baseball helmet), includes an integrated, finger-operable air pump. The liner further includes an integrated, finger-operable deflation valve that is separate from the air pump. The pump and deflation valve are operable by features which protrude through holes in the helmet shell, which enables the wearer of the helmet to conveniently operate the liner by inflating or deflating it as desired, without any external assistance or accessories. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the liner of  FIG. 1  along the line A-A, showing the exhaust valve assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a valve seat for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the valve seat of  FIG. 7  along the line B-B, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view of a valve stem for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a valve stem for an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 13  is a left elevational view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevational view of a face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view into a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, and face guard clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 17  is a left, rear detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 18  is a right, rear detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 19  is a detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, showing the rear lateral padding disposed over the liner, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 20  is a detail view of a lacrosse helmet having an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, showing the liner installed on the inner surface of the shell, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 21  is a view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, with the top and bottom sheets cut through to show the interior of the pump, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the liner of  FIG. 21 , according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 23  is a view of an inflatable helmet liner with integrated pump, with the top sheet cut partially away to show the one-way valve exiting the pump chamber, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
         FIG. 24  is a bottom detail view of lacrosse helmet showing the face guard clip and attachment of the face guard via the clip, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT TECHNOLOGY 
     According to an aspect of the subject technology, a sports helmet (for example a football helmet, lacrosse helmet, hockey helmet, or baseball helmet), has an inflatable liner  11  (i.e., an “air liner”) disposed within its shell  10 . Liner  11  has an integrated, finger-operable air pump  30  and a deflation valve  50  that is separate from the air pump  15 , so that the liner  11  may be inflated and deflated by a user without any additional devices such as a hand pump or needle pump. 
     In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this aspect of the subject technology, as best seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , an inflatable liner  11  comprises two flexible sheets  12 ,  13  of nonporous polymer material, for example, polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), consisting of a top sheet  12  and a bottom sheet  13 . The top and bottom sheets  12 ,  13  are bonded or fused together around the edges thereof and in certain intermediate places to form therebetween a plurality of linked, inflatable chambers  14 ,  15 ,  16 . The inflatable chambers are connected in fluid communication by passages  17 ,  18  therebetween. Some or all of the chambers  15  may include pads of foam or other shock absorbing material, for example, pads of Poron or D3O foam. In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, none of the chambers  15  contain foam pads. 
     As shown for example in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the chambers  14 ,  15 ,  16  are arranged in a single row from left-to-right. One of the chambers, pump chamber  14 , is provided with an upstanding, flexible, resilient, finger-operable pump button  31 , which is molded as an integral part of the top sheet  12 . The pump button  31  is hollow and is formed with a small hole  32  at the top to admit air from the environment. In use, the user presses on the pump button  31  with a finger to compress the pump button  31  and expel the contained air into pump chamber  14 , through passage  17  and into the row of chambers and passages  15 ,  16 ,  18 . The user&#39;s finger covers the small hole  32  so that the air contained in button  31  is expelled as described. When the user removes his or her finger from button  31  and thereby uncovers hole  32 , pump button  31  resiliently returns to its original shape and fills with environmental air through the hole  32 . The pump  31  may be repeatedly operated until the desired degree of inflation is reached. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , cylindrical insert  33  made of open-cell or closed-cell foam may be provided in the pump button  31  to support the button  31  in its upstanding shape and ensure it maintains its shape when not being pressed by a user. The insert  33  may be bonded to a flat, rigid base plate  34 , made for example of metal or hard plastic, positioned at the base of the pump button  31 . Base plate  34  has a cutout section  35  aligned with the exit of the pump chamber  14  to insure the insert  33  stays in place and does not block the flow of air. 
     As seen in  FIG. 23 , passage  17  from pump chamber  14  is preferably provided with a one-way valve  36 , such as a duckbill valve or check valve, which permits passage of air in only one direction, from the pump chamber  14 . The other passages  18  do not require valves, because the series of passages  18  and chambers  15 ,  16  onward is sealed air-tight by the one-way valve  36  on one end and the normally-closed deflation valve  50  as hereinafter described. However, valves such as check valves may be included in the passages  18  if desired. In a non-limiting example, as seen in  FIG. 23  the check valve may be formed very simply by bonding together on opposite edges two flat, rectangular, flexible sheets of nonporous polymer material, for example, polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), to form a flat tube therebetween having a mouth or opening on each end; the valve is positioned with one mouth at or within the exit of the pump chamber  14  and the opposite end extending into the immediate neighbor of the pump chamber  14 . 
     To provide for deflation of the air liner  11 , as best seen in  FIG. 4-11 , a deflation valve or exhaust valve  50  is provided in one of the chambers  16  downstream from the pump chamber  14 , preferably (in a non-limiting embodiment) the chamber at the end of the row. The deflation or exhaust valve  50  is normally closed, and when opened by a finger press by the user, provides a path for air contained in the chambers  14 ,  15 ,  16  of the air liner  11  to exhaust out, thereby deflating liner  11 . 
     In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the exhaust chamber  16  is provided with a small exhaust hole  51  in the bottom sheet  13 , and the exhaust valve  50  is superimposed over the hole  51  to gate the passage of air through the hole  51 . A valve seat  52 , which may be made of the same polymer material as the liner but formed as a separate part, has a hollow generally cylindrical body  53  with a flange  54  at one end. Flange  54  is bonded to the bottom sheet  13  over the exhaust hole  51  to form an airtight seal around the exhaust hole  51 . A valve stem  55 , which may be made of metal such as aluminum or a hard plastic, is inserted through a spring  56 , which may be a coil spring or a wave spring, and into the valve seat  52 , as shown. The valve stem  55  has a head  57  having a face  58  which contacts an integrally formed face  59  of the valve seat  53 , to close the valve  50 . The spring  56  biases the valve stem  55  in the closed position, keeping the faces of the stem and seat  58 ,  59  in airtight contact with each other. On an end of the valve stem opposite the head, a button  60  is formed. Spring  56  exerts a force on button  60  to keep the faces of the stem and seat  58 ,  59  normally in contact and the valve normally closed. 
     The exhaust chamber  16  is enclosed by a valve cap  19 , which is superimposed over the valve  50  and may be integrally formed as part of the top sheet  12  or may be a separate part, as in the preferred non-limiting embodiment. If made as a separate part, the cap  19  may be formed of the same polymer material as the top sheet  12  and should be bonded to the top sheet  12  to form an airtight seal. Preferably the valve cap  19  is made of a thicker, stiffer material than the top sheet, to prevent accidental operation of the valve. In use, when deflation of the air liner  11  is desired by the user, the valve cap  19  is pressed down, and contact of the valve cap  19  with the button  60  further compresses the spring  56  and moves the face  58  of the valve stem  55  out of contact with the face  59  of the valve seat  52 , providing a path for air contained in the chambers  14 ,  15 ,  16  of the air liner  11  to exhaust out of the exhaust hole  51 . When finger pressure is removed from the valve cap, the spring  56  moves the valve stem  55  back into the closed position and the liner  11  may be inflated again by operation of the pump  30 . 
     According to a further non-limiting aspect of the subject technology, as shown for example in  FIGS. 16-20 , an air liner  11  with self-contained pump and exhaust mechanism as described is disposed on the inner surface of the shell  10  of a sports helmet  1 , which in the non-limiting embodiment of the Figures is a lacrosse helmet  1 . The helmet  1  is provided with a first through-going hole to accommodate the pump button  31  and a second through-going hole to accommodate the exhaust valve cap  19 . Bushings  62 ,  63  may be inserted through the respective holes for the pump button  31  and exhaust valve cap  19 , which are inserted through openings in the bushings. The liner may be secured with respect to the shell holes by hook-and-loop fastener material  20  disposed about pump button  31  and valve cap  19 . Additional shock-absorbing padding  65  is installed over the air liner  11 . In this non-limiting embodiment, the air liner  11  is disposed in the rear of the helmet  1 , just above the lower edge of the shell  10 , corresponding generally to the occipital area of the wearer&#39;s head. However, it could be installed in any area of the shell  10 . When inflated, the air liner  11  applies pressure to the shock-absorbing padding  65 , pushing it away from the inner surface of shell  10  and variably filling the space between padding  65  and shell  10 , thereby adjusting the fit and ride of the sports helmet  1 . The pump button  31  and exhaust valve cap  19  are easily operable by the wearer, simply by reaching behind to the rear of the helmet. Thus, the subject technology enables the wearer of the helmet to conveniently adjust fitment by inflating or deflating the air liner as desired, without any external assistance or accessories. 
     According to a further aspect of the subject technology, sports helmet  1  has a face guard  70  composed of a cage of wire members, including members  78  and  29 , removably attached to shell  10 . The means provided for removable attachment of face guard  70  to shell  10  include clip  71  and may include additional means such as conventional loop straps. Clip  71  is attached to one surface (i.e. the inner or outer surface) of shell  10 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 12-15 , clip  71  comprises a T-nut body  72  with first retention arm  73  and second retention arm  75  extending outwardly therefrom, co-planar with body  72  and parallel to each other. Arms  73 ,  74  terminate in retention curves  75 ,  76 , which curve in opposite directions to define a channel  77 . Retention curves  75 ,  76  engage a wire member  78  of face guard  70  and locate the wire member  78  in channel  77 . In the non-limiting embodiment shown, helmet  1  is a lacrosse helmet and clip  71  is attached under the bill of shell  10 , in the central plane of shell  10 . The structure of clip  71  permits attachment of face guard  70  at this central location, without interfering with perpendicular wire member  79  attached to wire member  78 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. It will also be understood that the present invention includes any combination of the features and elements disclosed herein and any combination of equivalent features. The exemplary embodiments shown herein are presented for the purposes of illustration only and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.