Abstract:
A head protection system is disclosed herein. The system may comprise a helmet having a rigid exterior shell and a padded interior. A shoulder cuff may be disposable over left and right shoulders of the wearer. A plurality of pistons may be attached to the helmet and the shoulder cuff. Each of the pistons may be fluidly connected to each other through a tube and ultimately to a reservoir. The tube may have a small inner diameter to provide resistance to movement of the pistons during rapid deceleration or acceleration of the helmet with respect to the wearer&#39;s body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 60/904,250, filed Mar. 1, 2007, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a suspension system for a helmet to prevent neck and back injuries associated with a crash or other violent motion, but yet allow normal movement of the head during engagement of a physical activity. 
         [0004]    Activities that involve high speed, such as motocross racing, boating, flying all involve a risk of a high speed crash. Upon impact, the vehicle may rapidly decelerate to a halt but the participants may continue to travel at the vehicle&#39;s full speed. To prevent injury to the participants, participant restraint systems have been incorporated into vehicles. These participant restraint systems include, but are not limited to, seatbelts and harnesses. Unfortunately, upon impact, the seatbelts may prevent the body of the participant from lunging forward. However, the head of the participant may not be restrained. Accordingly, the head of the participant may lunge forward while the body of the participant remains secured to the seatbelt or harness. Such movement of the head with respect to the body may cause injuries to the person&#39;s neck and back. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the deficiencies identified above, discussed below, and those that are known in the art. 
         [0006]    A suspension system may be attached to a helmet which generally allows unrestricted movement of the head of the wearer. The head may move at a normal speed when engaged in a physical activity but the system may provide a counterforce to prevent rapid head movement occasioned in a crash or other similar violent misfortune. The suspension system may comprise a plurality of pistons that are interconnected to each other via a tube with a small inner diameter. During normal head movement, the fluid is exchanged between the pistons and/or a reservoir at a low rate via the tube so that the head can easily move or move with negligible resistance. However, upon encountering a rapid movement, the viscosity of the fluid and the small inner diameter tube prevents rapid exchange of fluid through the tube and thereby also prevents rapid movement of the head. The reason is that there may be a steep rise is viscous friction when the fluid is forced through a single fixed orifice (i.e., the tube). 
         [0007]    A head protection system is provided herein comprising a helmet having a rigid exterior shell. The system may also comprise a shoulder cuff, a plurality of pistons, a viscous fluid, and a tube. The shoulder cuff may be disposable over left and right shoulders of a wearer. The pistons may each define a first end portion pivotably attached to the rigid exterior shell of the helmet and a second end portion pivotably attached to the shoulder cuff. Each of the pistons may also define a fluid cavity. The viscous fluid may be disposed within the fluid cavities of the pistons. The tube may fluidicly connect the fluid cavities allowing transfer of fluid from the fluid cavity of one piston to the fluid cavity of another piston. The tube may have a sufficiently small inner diameter to allow relatively free movement of the wearer&#39;s head under normal circumstances but restricts sudden movement of the wearer&#39;s head due to the viscosity of the fluid and the small inner diameter. 
         [0008]    The head protection system may further comprise a fluid reservoir fluidicly connected to the tube for receiving excess fluid released from the pistons or for providing additional fluid to the pistons. It is also contemplated that the fluid reservoir may be a deformable bladder. To fill or remove fluid from the fluid reservoir, a fill cap may be removably attachable to the deformable bladder/fluid reservoir. 
         [0009]    The head protection system may comprise a helmet suspension system that may be retrofitted to an existing helmet. To this end, a net of straps (e.g., cords, etc.) may be attached to the helmet and hold the pistons in place during normal usage of the helmet and also during sudden impact. 
         [0010]    A method of setting up the helmet suspension system on a wearer engaged in a particular physical activity is also disclosed herein. In particular, the method may comprise the steps of placing the helmet suspension system on the wearer. While the wearer is in a normal position for the particular physical activity, the fill cap may be removed from the deformable fluid reservoir. By removing the fill cap from the deformable fluid reservoir, any bias due to the deformation of the fluid reservoir may be removed from the hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system. Additional fluid may have to be inserted into the deformable fluid reservoir to eliminate air from within the hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system or fluid may have to be removed from the deformable fluid reservoir to bring the deformable fluid reservoir back to its non-deformed normal state such that deformation of the fluid reservoir does not bias the pistons in any manner when the wearer is in the normal position for the particular physical activity. After the fluid has been filled in the fluid reservoir or removed from the fluid reservoir, the fill cap may be reattached to the deformable fluid reservoir to close the hydraulic system. At this point, the hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system may be airless. Also, the pistons are not biased when the wearer is in the normal position for the particular physical activity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a helmet suspension system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a tube used in the helmet suspension system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the helmet suspension system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of the helmet suspension system  10 . The helmet suspension system  10  may incorporate at least one piston or ram  12 . Preferably, the helmet suspension system  10  may include four pistons  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The first piston  12  may be located in the front right area of the wearer. The second piston  12  may be located at the rear right area of the wearer. The third piston  12  may be located at the left rear area of the wearer. Lastly, the forth piston  12  (not shown) may be located around the front left area of the wearer. These pistons  12  limit movement of the helmet  14  upon experiencing extreme high velocity differential between the head and body of the wearer. However, during normal usage, the pistons  12  permit the wearer to rotate his/her head to engage in an activity (e.g., skiing, snowboarding, motocross, racecar driving, cycling, etc.). By way of example and not limitation, in motocross racing, the wearer may be in a normal sitting stance on the motorcycle. While riding the motorcycle, the wearer may look left, right, up or down to keep track of various obstacles in front or to track competitors behind him/her. The pistons  12  permit normal rotation of the wearer&#39;s head for the particular activity with negligible resistance to head rotation. In the event of a crash, the wearer may be thrown from his/her motorcycle and possibly hit his/her head on a hard object. The head of the wearer upon hitting the ground may experience violent forces on the wearer&#39;s neck due to the impact. Fortunately, the pistons  12  react in an opposing manner to prevent the helmet, and thus, the head of the wearer from sudden movement due to the crash. Beneficially, injuries to the wearer&#39;s neck and back are minimized or prevented. 
         [0016]    The pistons  12  may be attached to the helmet  14  and to cuff  16  worn about the shoulder area of the wearer. The piston  12  may define an upper distal end portion  18  and a lower distal end portion  20 . The upper distal end portion  18  may be fixedly attached to the exterior hard shell of the helmet  14 . Moreover, the upper distal end portion  18  may swivel or pivot in relation to the helmet  14 . Likewise, the lower distal end portion  20  may be pivotably attached to the cuff  16 . By way of example and not limitation, the lower distal end portion  20  may be formed as a ball  22  that may be received into a socket  24  attached or formed into the cuff  16 . Similarly, the upper distal end portion  18  may be fixedly attached to a swivel joint  26  to allow multi-axis rotation. The swivel joint  26  may be fixedly attached to the helmet  14 . The pistons  12  may each contain hydraulic fluid which may be non-toxic to the wearer in the event that the hydraulic fluid is leaked out of the system  10 . The pistons  12  may be a two stage or three stage (as shown) piston that pushes fluid out of the piston  12  or receives fluid back into the pistons  12 . To provide resistance to linear movement of the pistons  12 , the pistons  12  may be fluidly connected to each other via a tube  28 . The tube  28  may have a small inner diameter  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). The viscosity of the fluid and the small size of the inner diameter  30  of the tube  28  limit the rate of fluid exchange through the tube  28 . Accordingly, upon impact of the helmet  14 , the pistons  12  will attempt to push the fluid through the tube  28 . Since the rate of fluid exchange through the tube  28  is limited by the viscosity of the fluid and the size of the inner diameter  30  of the tube  28 , rapid movement of the pistons  12  and the helmet  14  are prevented thereby preventing rapid movement of the head and injuries to the wearer&#39;s neck and back. 
         [0017]    The tube  28  may also be fluidly connected to a reservoir  32 . The reservoir  32  may be protected by a plastic or rigid cover that may be fixedly attached to or be a part of a back paddle  36 . The reservoir  32  may be a deformable bladder that allows for unequal displacement of fluid in each of the pistons  12 . For example, not all of the fluid exiting out of one of the pistons  12  may enter a different piston  12 . The excess fluid would then be routed to the reservoir  32 . Since the reservoir  32  is a deformable bladder, the excess fluid will expand the bladder to allow the wearer&#39;s head to move regardless of unequal fluid displacement. Conversely, the pistons receiving fluid may receive more fluid compared to the amount of fluid displaced out of the other pistons. Since the reservoir  32  is a deformable bladder, the bladder will contract to provide the additional fluid necessary to the pistons. 
         [0018]    The reservoir  32  may have a fill cap  34 . The fill cap  34  may be removed from the reservoir  32  to remove fluid from the reservoir  32  to prevent the expanded bladder from biasing the pistons  12  when the wearer is in a normal position for a particular physical activity. Initially, the wearer may wear the helmet suspension system  10 . The wearer may assume the normal position of the sport he/she will be engaged in. For example, in motocross racing, the wearer may be in the generally upright seated position with hands up front. In this position, the pistons  12  may be lengthened or shortened thereby displacing fluid from the pistons through the tube and into the reservoir. At this normal position, the bladder may be expanded. The expanded bladder may place pressure on the fluid that is transferred to the pistons so as to bias the pistons  12 . To remove the bias, the fill cap  34  may be removed and fluid removed from the reservoir  32  to bring the bladder back to its normal size. This prevents a biasing force from being transferred from the reservoir  32  through the tube  28  to the pistons  12 . 
         [0019]    Conversely, if the bladder is contracted when the wearer is in the normal position for a particular physical activity, then additional fluid may be required. The fill cap  34  may be removed and fluid may be injected into the reservoir  32 . Other normal positions other than generally upright are also contemplated. For example, in cycling, the wearer&#39;s head may be slightly tilted upward. To install the helmet suspension system, the wearer may assume the normal riding position (i.e., head tilted upward). The wearer may be hunched forward with his/her head slightly raised to see the road ahead. The fill cap  34  may then be removed from the reservoir  32 . Fluid may then be inserted into the reservoir or removed therefrom, as needed, to prevent any biasing force due to the deformation of the bladder acting on the pistons  12  through the tube  28  when the wearer is in the normal position. 
         [0020]    The cuff  16  may comprise a back paddle  36  which may begin approximately 7 in. below the wearer&#39;s shoulder. The reservoir  32  may be fixedly engaged to the back paddle  36 . The cuff  16  may then split into left and right paddles  38 ,  40 . The left and right paddles  38 ,  40  are disposable upon the left and right shoulders of the wearer, respectively. The left and right paddles  38 ,  40  may be hinged to the back paddle  36  with a hinge  62  to allow the left and right paddles  38 ,  40  to move outward such that the wearer may put on or take off the helmet suspension system  10 . In the front of the left and right paddles  38 ,  40 , a latch  42  may secure the left and right paddles  38 ,  40  together. With the latch  42  attaching the left and right paddles  38 ,  40  together, the cuff  16  may be comfortably rested upon the shoulders of the wearer. The latch  42  may be adjustable such that the left and right paddles  38 ,  40  may be spread apart or brought closer together depending on size and body contour of the wearer. 
         [0021]    The helmet suspension system  10  may be secured to the wearer by the chin strap of the helmet  14 . Alternatively, the chin strap may be optionally removed from the helmet  10 . To maintain the helmet on the wearer&#39;s head without the chin strap, the cuff  16  may be attached to suspenders attached to a belt worn by the wearer. Accordingly, the helmet  14  and the helmet suspension system  10  are secured to the wearer via the suspenders. The suspenders may be elastic but are preferably rigid and adjustable such that the wearer can cinch the helmet suspension system  10  down upon the wearer&#39;s shoulder. Alternatively, the cuff  16  may be integrated into the clothing (e.g., jumpsuit) of the wearer. 
         [0022]    The pistons  12  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  are a three stage piston. Each of the stages is telescopically insertable into a lower stage. More particularly, each three stage piston may comprise a first upper stage, a second middle stage, and a third lower stage. The first upper stage may be telescopically inserted or removed from the second middle stage. The second middle stage may be telescopically inserted or removed from the third lower stage. When the first upper stage is inserted into the second middle stage or the second middle stage is inserted into the third lower stage, fluid may exit the fluid cavity of the piston. Conversely, when the first upper stage is removed from the second middle stage or the second middle stage is removed from the third lower stage, fluid may enter the fluid cavity of the piston. It is also contemplated that a two stage piston may also be used or incorporated into the helmet suspension system  10 . The size and number of piston stages may be selected based on the range of motion required for the particular physical activity. The system  10  may be designed such that the stages are about half way through their stroke when the user is in the normal position for the particular physical activity. It is also contemplated that the system  10  may comprise three pistons, two pistons in the front and one larger ram in the rear. It is also contemplated that the system  10  may comprise two pistons with tethers. 
         [0023]    In a second embodiment of the helmet suspension system  10 , the same may be incorporated into existing helmets  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The helmet suspension system  10  may incorporate all the features described above in relation to the first embodiment except that the upper distal end portions  18  of the pistons  12  may be attached to a respective pad  44 . The pads  44  are connectable to the swivel joints  26  that are attached to the upper distal end portions  18  of the pistons  12 . 
         [0024]    The pads  44  are held against the helmet  14  via a net of cords or straps. In particular, a first cord  46  may be hooked onto an inner peripheral opening  48  of the helmet  14 . The cord  46  may be routed through an opening of each of the pads  44  and connected to an adjuster  50 . The adjuster  50  may also be attached to two cords  52 ,  54  that hook to the inner peripheral opening  48  of the helmet  14  under the visor  56 . A third cord  58  may be attached to the pads  44  and hooked under the bottom edge  60  of the helmet  14 . The adjuster  50  may place tension on the cord  46  to tighten the entire net of cords and effectively hold the upper distal end portions  18  of the pistons  12  in place. 
         [0025]    In an aspect of the helmet suspension system, the hydraulic system of the helmet suspension system  10  may be fitted with an adjustable flow restrictor. One or more adjustable flow restrictors may be in fluid communication with the tube  28 . For example, a flow restrictor may be placed between two pistons  12  or between the piston  12  and the reservoir  32 . In this situation, the tube  28  does not require a small inner diameter. The flow restrictor in conjunction with the viscosity of the fluid may restrict fluid flow through the tube  28  upon impact or sudden movement of the head due to a crash or the like. 
         [0026]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of attaching the upper distal end portions of the rams or pistons to a helmet for retrofitting the helmet suspension system to an existing helmet. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.