US 7159249 B2
A self-seeking, load-distributing, load-balancing and shock-managing head-engaging system for use inside, and in association with, the shell of a helmet, including (a) a collection of configurationally changeable, shock-absorbing pads removeably and changeably attached/attachable effectively as a variable distribution to the inside of such a shell, and (b) a cinchable, self-seeking/adjusting, self-load-balancing and load distributing chin-strap subsystem operatively associated with the pad distribution, and also attached to the shell. This sub-system is sensitive to the then-particularities of such a pad distribution, and is operable, on cinching of the subsystem through the simple act of pulling on just two strap ends, to stabilize the associated helmet shell on the head of a wearer, with all of the pads in the then-distribution of pads being thereby drawn into proper, defined, shock-managing, load-distributing and load-balancing condition relative to the wearer's head.
1. A helmet head engaging system for use with a suspension frame mounted inside a helmet shell comprising
plural, head-engaging shock-absorbing pads prepared for removable and position-adjustable mounting on such a frame, and
cooperating chin-strap cinching subsystem structure attachable to the same frame and including frictioning material, and an elongate central chin-engaging component having opposite ends disposed operatively adjacent said frictioning material, and carried in said structure (a) for fore-and-aft, initially free, relative-sliding, load-balancing motion during initial cinching of the cinching structure, and (b), during conclusory cinching of the cinching structure, for frictional anti-slide locking of the chin-engaging component in place, thus to stabilize an associated helmet shell on the head of a wearer.
2. A helmet head-engaging, self-balancing load distribution system, with chin-strap cinch-to-frictionally-lock stabilizing capability, for use with a suspension frame mounted inside a helmet shell comprising
plural, head-engaging shock-absorbing pads prepared for removable and position-adjustable mounting on such a frame, and
cooperating chin-strap cinching subsystem structure attachable to the same frame, and therethrough to a helmet shell inside of which that frame is mounted, with said subsystem structure including (a) elongate lateral side strap structure, (b) a chin-engaging component having an elongate sub-strap with a pair of reverse-bend loops formed adjacent its opposite ends each curving around and receiving a different portion of said lateral side strap structure, and (c), in each said reverse-bend loop, a reverse-bend patch of frictioning material disposed to engage and tighten functionally and progressively with respect to the associated portion of said lateral side strap structure with cinching-tightening of said chin-strap cinching subsystem structure.
3. A helmet-shell independent, self-balancing, load-distributing, head-engaging system employable inside the shell of a helmet comprising,
a suspension frame anchorable to the inside of such a shell,
plural, head-engaging, shock-absorbing, load-cushioning pads removably and position-adjustably mountable on said frame, and
a chin-strap cinching subsystem structure attachable directly to said frame independent of any associated helmet shell, selectively cinchable to act through said frame on load-cushioning pads mounted on the frame to draw these pads, through interaction through the frame, into self-seeking, self-load-balancing engagement with the head of any wearer of the associated helmet, in a manner which is dependent upon the positions of said pads on said frame, and where said subsystem structure includes an elongate, central chin-engaging component having opposite ends carried in the subsystem structure for fore-and-aft, relative-sliding, load-balancing motion during cinching of the subsystem structure to stabilize an associated helmet shell on the head of a wearer.
This application claims priority to prior-filed, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/626,702, filed Nov. 9, 2004, for “Self-Balancing, Load-Distributing Helmet Structure”. The entire disclosure content of that prior-filed provisional application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to protective helmet construction, and in particular to a novel combined self-seeking, load-distributing, load-balancing and shock-managing head-engaging system employable within the shell of a helmet. A preferred and best mode embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated herein in the context of a military helmet—an environment wherein the invention has been found to offer special utility. Incorporated by reference into this text, are the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,099 B2 for “Body-Contact Cushioning Interface Structure”, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,409 B2 for “Helmet Liner Suspension Structure”.
One preferred embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated herein on the inside of a helmet shell which is equipped with a suspension structure, or “frame”, suitably anchored to the shell. A very appropriate “frame” for the purpose of implementing and describing this embodiment of the invention is fully illustrated and discussed in above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,409 B2. In other recognized embodiments of the invention, which may be best suited for, and therefore preferred in, certain other applications, this frame is omitted, and the invention is employed directly attached to the inside of the shell of a helmet. Such a direct attachment may be made selectively (a) with, or (b) without, the provision and use of attaching throughbores formed in that shell. The conscious absence of such attaching throughbores is preferable in relation to minimizing the existence of weak spots in a helmet shell per se.
Adjustably, changeably and removably attached, as by hook-and-pile fasteners, to this frame are plural, distributed, acceleration-rate-sensitive, shock-absorbing pads, (preferably made in accordance with the teachings of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,099 B2. These pads, as will be seen, may be made, sized and distributed in a number of different ways.
It is a key consideration in the performance of a protective helmet that these shock-absorbing pads engage the wearer's head with what can be thought of as being uniform functionality. That is, each pad should always fully engage the head wherever that pad is specifically located inside the helmet shell, and no matter what the current specific orientation of the pad or worn helmet happens to be. Only with this condition met under all circumstances will the full shock-absorbing capability of the full protective helmet system be “engaged” and available. This is no minor concern. It is, in fact, a critical, life-saving concern, for if there exists inside a helmet some region where an available pad is not fully engaged, a shock impact delivered in the right manner can “exploit” this dangerous, not-properly-engaged situation in a devastating way.
The opportunities for serious misadventure are rampant in a setting, such as a military setting, where plural pads in a helmet can (a) be removed for cleaning, (b) be shifted variously, and as often as desired, to suit the wearer's particular tastes for a comfortable fit, and/or (c) positionally changed for a host of other reasons. This setting, or “condition”, absolutely defines a situation wherein there is no predictable constancy of pad “population content” and disposition inside a helmet.
Another type (condition) of varying head-to-pad engagement is that which changes every time that a worn helmet “cocks” unpredictably at different “angles” relative to the head, quite apart from the categories of specific, possible user-selectable changes.
When one marries to these “conditions” a conventional “chin-strap” cinching and tightening structure which traditionally has, except for accommodating differences in “tightness” and “looseness”, a substantially “fixed” self-configuration, it is possible that only rarely will the wearer's head be properly fully engaged with installed protective pads, especially where pad population and distribution are also variable.
The present invention dramatically addresses this serious problem situation. It does so, as will be learned from discussion below, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, by linking to a suspension frame and pad environment, as just above described, a laterally and longitudinally (front-to-rear, etc.) self-adjusting, self-“load-balancing” chin-strap structure. There is no absolute “fixed” configuration for such a chin-strap structure. Rather, this structure automatically “senses” the specific, current head-to-pad engagement condition immediately on the occurrence of its being tightened “into place” to achieve helmet/head stabilization. No matter the pad “condition” (population, disposition) inside a helmet, the cooperative, self-adjusting chin-strap structure and system of the present invention assures at all times that all installed pads will fully and correctly engage the wearer's head.
The various significant features and advantages of the present invention will become fully apparent as the detailed description below is read in conjunction wih the accompanying drawings.
Turning attention first to
Suspension 22, in general terms, includes a wrap-around, elongate band 22 a which is directly and appropriately anchored to shell 20 a, with this band including a pair of forward, lateral strap-end attaching structures 22 b which, as illustrated particularly in
Also carried on band 22 a, near the rear of helmet shell 20 a, are two, additional strap-end attaching devices generally shown at 28 which are also per se conventional in design, and which accommodate quick-release strap-end securement. Devices 28 also receive the ends of these straps in a manner which allows for adjustable “pull-relax tightening and loosening” of the strap ends to set and release desired tension in an attached strap. As will thus be observed, cinching and loosening of the chin-strap subsystem which forms part of the present invention is especially simplified and enabled by the employment, as illustrated herein, of devices 28. Uniquely, merely by pulling on and loosening the two chin-strap subsystem strap ends which connect with these devices, all major chin-strap subsystem adjustments are accomplished.
Additionally, frame band 22 a carries an appropriate distribution, six herein, of one of the two, usual “operative parts” of conventional hook-and-pile fastening elements 30 (see the dashed lines in
Looking now at the developed, fragmentary views presented in
There are many reasons why the particularities of the pad arrangement and population may change. A wearer may decide to remove pads for cleaning and then returning; may reorient pads to allow for greater inter-pad ventilation within a helmet shell; may lose a pad; and on placing a pad back in a helmet, may pay little attention to its placement, orientation, etc.
Given this, it is important to note that, if all other aspects of helmet wearing by a particular person were kept exactly the same, save pad placement and disposition, the critical load-bearing and shock-absorbing behavior of the associated helmet, capably addressable by cushioning pads of the type described, would never be the same, and specifically, would likely never be what it should be in terms of head/pad engagement to minimize the likelihood of injury occurring from an impact event. Such a “non-proper” situation is not merely a matter of wearer comfort. It is indeed, a matter perhaps of the difference between safety and extreme danger. The shock-absorbing pads must be properly engaged with a wearer's head to afford the important, potentially life-saving behavior for which they are intended.
Because of this, not unless something is done to “recognize” and adjust for cushioning pad “reorganization”, will a helmet system perhaps ever be maximized for safety.
The system (24) of this invention directly addresses this situation by promoting a collaboration with a pad collection like that just described of a unique, self-seeking, self-load-balancing, self-adjusting load-distributing chin-strap subsystem which, no matter the specific pad arrangement in place, will sense and self-seek an appropriate condition which assures that the most correct and effective head/pad state of interengagement becomes established. All pads, because of this unique, cooperative behavior, wherein the chin-strap subsystem effectively “senses” pad organization, will properly, shock-absorbingly engage a wearer's head.
Adding significant complexity and challenge to the issue of assuring, always, proper cushioning pad/head interengagement, is that when a wearer dons a helmet, it is very likely, whether because of pad disposition or not, the orientation of the helmet will probably always never be exactly placed “symmetrically” on the head with regard to the three, orthogonal, spatial X, Y, Z axes of rotation.
Thinking through what has just been discussed regarding pad disposition, orientation, and population, and helmet angular disposition, it should be apparent that conditions of “nonsymmetrical” helmet angularity, as pictured especially in
Not so, however, with the full system and behavior of the present invention in place.
Focusing attention now on
This manner of free, slidable connection/interconnection (interface) and adjustability between chin-strap element 46 and lateral straps 48, 50 results in the chin-strap element effectively “floating freely on and along portions 48 a, 50 a in the lateral straps. A significant consequence of this unique arrangement is that the chin-strap elements' opposite ends are not, during initial fitting of helmet 20 in place, committed and locked to predetermined fixed locations along the lateral straps.
Turning attention particularly to
Similar frictioning functionality may of course be implemented in that modified form of sub-strap 52 which is shown in
Such frictioning behavior may, of course, be implemented in other ways than by employing patches, such as those illustrated in
As seen in
Digressing for a moment to
The “rear” ends 48 c, 50 c of lateral straps 48, 50, respectively, are releasably and adjustably attached to frame 22 through previously mentioned devices 28. See particularly
Because of the way in which all of the elements of the present invention co-act, such cinching will always seat the combined shock-absorbing pads, no matter their precise number or disposition, in proper states of engagement with the head, with essentially completely correct load-balancing tension existing (a) in all of the elements of the chin-strap chin-engaging component per se, and (b) in all regions of the lateral chin-strap elements. The elements of the system of this invention, no matter what turns out to be the organization, disposition, etc. of the cushioning pads, will automatically “sense” that organization and disposition, and through relative sliding and angulating motions which are accommodated at the front ends of lateral straps 48, 50, and at the opposite ends of the chin-strap chin-engaging component, will self-adjust to establish a proper load- and shock-managing organization, without requiring any special care or attention by the wearer.
With the system of this invention installed in and with respect to a helmet shell, and looking now again at
Thus, as distinguished from prior art helmet structures which are usually improperly disposed on the head with respect to correct load-bearing engagements with the head, a helmet structure employing the system of the present invention will always be properly seated on the head. And while certain preferred and modified forms of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. As one illustration of this statement, and was mentioned earlier, we recognize that the system of this invention could be well employed within, and with respect to, the shell of a helmet which is not equipped with a suspension frame, such as frame 22. Other modifications will certainly come to the minds of those skilled in the relevant art, and it is intended that all such variations and modifications come within the scope of the claims herein.