Helmet pads

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/638,922, filed Apr. 26, 2012.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to protective sportswear, and particularly to supplemental external helmet pads for a sports helmet.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] 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 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

[0012] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

[0013] 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 0.040 to 0.050 inches depending on the type of sport for which they are used.

[0014] 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 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.

[0015] 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.