Helmet structure with compressible cells

摘要

A helmet structure without any hard outer shell has axially compressible cell units contained in a hemispheric frame by a thin fabric covering stretched over cup shaped cell retainers that have sidewalls of compressible foam. The frame is supported on the wearer's head on plastic foam posts that space the inner ends of compressible bladders from the wearer's head, and ambient air in the bladders compresses at impact, being vented then through openings for gradually absorbing such impact forces. Each bladder is vented into a space between the cup “bottom” and the outer end of a bladder. At least two cell sizes are provided, and some of these are on depending lobes in the frame, for protecting the wearer's ears and neck.

主权项

1. A helmet structure for protecting a wearer's head, and comprising:
a generally hemispherical frame of having a plurality of through openings arranged in a hemispherical array, said openings being of at least two sizes, larger size openings disposed adjacent the pole of the hemisphere, smaller size openings adjacent the periphery of said hemispherical frame, a plurality of compressible cells provided in said frame openings, each cell including an inverted cup shaped retainer portion having an inner frame engaging cup lip, and each cell including an axially compressible cell bladder provided in part within said cup shaped retainer portion, each said cell bladder having an inner portion extending inwardly beyond said frame, a plurality of resiliently deformable plastic posts projecting inwardly of said frame so as to normally abut the head of the wearer, and normally extending beyond the inner ends of said cell bladders so as to locate said cell bladder inner ends in outwardly spaced relation to the wearer's head, an outer covering of high tensile strength stretched around and abutting outer end portions of said cup shaped retainer portion, and spaced from said frame, by the depth of cup shaped retainer sidewalls, said sidewalls adapted to absorb impact forces by compressive deformation.