Patent ID: 8863320

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: an athletic helmet shell configured to be worn on a head of a user; a suspension chassis disposed within the athletic helmet shell; a plurality of pads coupled to the suspension chassis, each pad including: a membrane defining an interior volume, the membrane having a valve configured to place the interior volume in fluid communication with an exterior of the membrane; a first structural member disposed within the interior volume; and a second structural member disposed within the interior volume and disposed between the first structural member and the head when the athletic helmet shell is worn on the head, the second structural member at least partially deformed when the athletic helmet shell is worn on the head and when no external force is applied; the plurality of pads including a first pad and a second pad, the valve of the first pad having a diameter such that when a first portion of the athletic helmet shell associated with the first pad receives an impact, the first pad is configured to mitigate the impact and the head experiences a first acceleration; and the valve of the second pad having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the valve of the first pad such that when a second portion of the athletic helmet associated with the second pad and not associated with the first pad receives the impact, the second pad is configured to mitigate the impact and the head experiences a second acceleration different from the first acceleration.