Protective helmet and insert with concussion reduction features

摘要

A protective helmet and insert for reducing the possibility or severity of a concussion are provided. The insert comprises a shock absorbing portion and a flexible liner portion, the shock absorbing portion to be disposed between a helmet shell and the liner portion. The shock absorbing portion can possess a substantially constant resistive deformation force characteristic for reducing the peak G-force applied to the head during an impact. The insert can comprise a plurality of flexible liner connectors for movably interconnecting the liner portion to a helmet shell to allow for the flexible movement of the liner portion relative the shell. The liner connectors can be in the form of vent shaft walls that each defines a vent shaft for providing fluid communication between a headspace of the liner and an outer side of the shock absorbing portion to ventilate the headspace. A helmet comprising the liner is also provided.

主权项

1. A helmet insert disposable at an inner side of a shell of a helmet, the insert comprising:
a first resilient shock absorbing portion comprising material possessing a substantially constant resistive deformation force characteristic whereby the material exhibits a substantially constant resistive deformation force during compression of the material during an impact, the material consisting essentially of open-cell foam, the first shock absorbing portion having an outer side and an inner side; a flexible liner portion, the liner portion being disposed at or proximate the first shock absorbing portion, the liner portion having an outer side and an inner side; and wherein the inner side of the first shock absorbing portion faces the outer side of the flexible liner portion; wherein the helmet insert defines at least one aperture therethrough extending between the inner side of the liner portion and the outer side of the first shock absorbing portion for providing fluid communication between the inner side of the liner portion and the outer side of the first shock absorbing portion; wherein the helmet insert further comprises fluid sealing for preventing the ingress into the first shock absorbing portion of any fluid disposed in or flowing through the at least one aperture; wherein the fluid sealing is in the form of one or more vent shaft walls, each vent shaft wall defining a vent shaft therethrough, and being disposed in a one of at least one aperture in the first shock absorbing portion and extending between the inner side and the outer side of the first shock absorbing portion; and wherein when the insert is disposed in the helmet, the first shock absorbing portion faces an inner surface of the shell, and the liner portion faces a region of the helmet adapted to receive the head of a wearer.