Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HELMET PADS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to protective sportswear,
and particularly
to supplemental external helmet pads for a sports helmet.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Protecting athletes from disabling injury has long been a primary
focus for
practitioners in the field of sports medicine and manufacturers of protective
sportswear. The
prevention of concussion injuries has been especially a target of discussion
in view of recent
findings regarding the long-term effects of such injuries. Athletes
participating in sports, such
as football, hockey, cycling, baseball, etc., whether professional or amateur,
typically are
required to wear helmets for protection in violent collisions or blows to the
head. Waves
(shock and acoustic) propagated by the aforementioned collisions and blows are
thought to
cause stress to the brain that may consequently produce concussions.
Heretofore, helmets
have been designed to protect the athlete from the effects of shock waves. No
attention has
been given to the effect of acoustic waves as a causative factor in concussive
injuries. The
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need for a protective system that could be applied to existing helmet
structure and that would
be effective to absorb both shock and acoustic waves would be accepted eagerly
in the art.
Thus, helmet pads solving the aforementioned problem are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is drawn to helmet pads that are removably
attached to the
outer surface of an existing helmet. The pads are constructed to conform to
the contours of
the outer surface of the helmet. The pads are structured to absorb both shock
and acoustic
waves. Each pad is constructed of layers of different thermoplastic foam
materials, and
includes layers designed to collapse to help absorb shock waves and acoustic
waves that
might otherwise produce head injuries resulting in stress to the brain.
[0005] Accordingly, the invention presents protective pads that can be
quickly and easily
attached to the outer surface of a conventional sports helmet. The pads
provide supplemental
protection against impacts that may cause concussive type injuries. The
invention provides for
improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that
are inexpensive,
dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
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[0005a] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided
a helmet pad adapted for removable attachment to an outer surface of a helmet.
The helmet
pad comrpises a central core including a honeycombed configuration having
shock wave
absorbing structure encapsulated therein. The central core is fabricated from
polyvinyl
chloride material extruded into a honeycombed configuration wherein the
honeycombed
configuration includes a plurality of alternating inverted V-shaped structures
having vertices
in the form of thick fingers extending in opposite directions and further
including thin,
angled legs joining each of the fingers to the next adjacent finger. An inner
layer is disposed
on one side of the central core, the inner layer being fabricated from a
material for absorbing
acoustic waves produced by the impacts on the helmet. The inner layer is
fabricated from
polyurethane foam material. An outer layer is disposed on a side of the
central core opposite
the inner layer. The central core is sandwiched between the inner layer and
the outer layer.
The outer layer is fabricated from polypropylene material. A shell encases the
central core,
the inner layer and the outer layer therein, the shell being fabricated from
silicone closed-
cell sponge material and having a base abutting the inner layer of foam
material. A layer of
adhesive is disposed on the shell base, the layer of adhesive being adapted
for adhering the
helmet pad to the helmet.
[00061 These and other features of the present invention will become
readily apparent
upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100071 Fig. I is an environmental, perspective view of helmet pads
according to the
present invention.
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[0008] Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of helmet pads
according to the
present invention.
[0009] Fig. 3 is an end view, in section, of a helmet pad according to the
present
invention.
[0010[ Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently
throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] Referring to Figs 1-3 of the drawings, the helmet pads 10 include a
top pad 11 and
two side pads 13. The pads are adapted to be removably attached to the outer
surfaces 12 of a
conventional sports helmet 14. This arrangement permits the pads to be
instantly adaptable to
existing sport helmets without modification of the helmet structure. As
indicated above, the
pads 10 are designed to conform to the contours of the helmet 14 and may be
configured in
various patterns to cover the entire exterior surface of the helmet 14.
Although, as illustrated,
the helmet 14 is generally of the type used in football, it should be
recognized that the pads 10
may be designed for any type (lacrosse, skating, cycling, etc.) of sports
helmet. As presently
contemplated, the pads will have a thickness ranging from .040 to .050 inches
depending on
the type of sport for which they are used.
[0012] As best seen in Fig. 3, each pad 10 is encased in a shell or outer
layer 16 having a
base 16a. The shell is fabricated from a suitable material, such as a silicon
closed cell sponge,
that would permit the shell to be painted or designed with school or team
logos and/or colors,
if desired. An outer layer of polypropylene or the like 18 is positioned
immediately below the
shell 16. First and second crumple zones are defined at 20 and 22. The crumple
zones 20 and
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22 are fabricated from polyvinyl chloride, or other suitable material that is
extruded into a
honeycombed configuration having alternating inverted V-shaped structures 24
encapsulated
therein, the vertex of the V-shaped structures being formed as thick fingers
24a extending in
opposite directions and thin, angled legs 24b, joining each finger to the
next. The thin legs
are engineered to fracture or crumple upon impact exceeding a predetermined
threshold of
force. The V-shaped structures 24 are fabricated from high-density
polyethylene or the like,
and are aligned against each other to create a folding zone when impacted. The
crumple
zones 20 and 22 create a stable platform that will absorb an impact equal to
250 lbs. of kinetic
momentum before crumpling. Lesser impacts will produce no crumpling. A layer
of high-
density foam material 26, e.g., polyurethane, is disposed below and adjacent
to the crumple
zone 22 to absorb acoustical shock waves and limit exposure thereof to the
helmet. Reference
character 28 indicates an adhesive layer that is disposed along the exterior
surface of the base
of the pad 10, whereby the pad may be easily attached to the surface of the
helmet 14. The
adhesive layer 28 may be covered with conventional, removable release paper
(not shown)
when the pad 10 is not in use.
100131 It is
to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of
the following
claims.
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