Helmet for tangential and direct impacts
Apparatus for protecting a user from impacts to the head. The apparatus includes a shell configured to receive a human head and a plurality of structures attached to the outer surface of the shell. Each structure includes an outer cell that absorbs direct impacts. Each structure is independently coupled to the shell with a respective assembly. The structures move independently of one another and are restricted to sliding tangentially along the outer surface of the shell. The assemblies each include a biasing mechanism that absorbs tangential impacts to the structure and returns the respective structure to its rest position. Thus, a user is protected from the concussive effects of a head-on impact and the rotational acceleration injuries of a tangential impact.
1. An apparatus for protecting a user from an impact, said apparatus comprising:
a shell configured to receive a human head, said shell has an outer surface,
a plurality of structures, wherein each structure of said plurality of structures includes
(a) an attachment mechanism coupling said structure to said shell,
(b) a bottom surface that includes an area in direct contact with said shell outer surface, said area includes a periphery, and
(c) a location inside said periphery at which said attachment mechanism is affixed to said bottom surface, wherein said periphery is configured to slide tangentially on said outer surface of said shell when the impact impacts on said structure, and wherein said periphery is configured to slide from a first position to a second position on said shell outer surface
wherein each said structure has an assembly corresponding to said structure, said assembly
is coupled to said shell
is configured to receive said attachment mechanism such that said structure is coupled to said shell by said assembly, and
includes a biasing mechanism that biases said periphery to return to said first position after the impact.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said structure is mechanically detachable from said shell and mechanically re-attachable to said shell.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said biasing mechanism is an elastomeric donut.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each said elastomeric donut includes a top surface, wherein sliding magnitude of said periphery is limited such that said periphery cannot slide over said top surface of said donut.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , said outer surface of shell has a contour, said contour is regular and arcuate, said top surface substantially follows said contour.
6. An apparatus for protecting a user from an impact, said apparatus comprising:
a shell that fits a human head, said shell has an outer surface,
a plurality of structures, each structure is independently coupled to said shell, each said structure includes
(a) a backplate that is rigid, said backplate includes a contact area that is direct contact with said outer surface, said contact area is configured to slide tangentially along said outer surface from a first position to a second position upon the impact upon said structure, and
(b) a cell affixed to said backplate, said cell is configured to deform from a first shape to a second shape upon the impact on said cell, said cell biases to re- forming to said first shape,
wherein each said structure is coupled to a corresponding biasing mechanism, said biasing mechanism biases said contact area to return to said first position after the impact.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each said structure further includes:
(c) an attachment mechanism coupling said structure to said shell, said contact area has a periphery, said attachment mechanism is a part of said backplate and is positioned inside said periphery.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each said biasing mechanism is an elastomeric donut located in a respective opening, each said opening is on said outer surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , each said elastomeric donut has a center that is open, wherein a hub is affixed to said elastomeric donut in said center, said attachment mechanism latches to said hub.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , each said elastomeric donut is mechanically detachable from said shell and mechanically re-attachable to said shell.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein essentially all of each said elastomeric donut is inside said opening on said outer surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 6 , each said structure is mechanically detachable and mechanically re-attachable to said shell.
13. A helmet for protecting a user from an impact, said helmet comprising:
a shell configured to receive a human head, said shell has an outer surface,
a plurality of structures coupled to said shell, each structure is in direct contact with said outer surface of said shell, each said structure is configured to slide tangentially on said outer surface independently from one another,
each said structure is configured to slide tangentially on said outer surface of said shell from a respective first position to a respective second position, each said structure biases to slide and return to said respective first position upon the impact,
each said structure includes a respective cell, each said respective cell is configured to deform from a respective first shape to a respective second shape, each said respective cell biases to return to said respective first shape from the respective second shape after the impact occurs;
each said structure is coupled to a respective elastomeric donut, each said respective donut is located inside a respective opening, each said respective opening is on said outer surface of said shell.
14. The helmet of claim 13 , each said structure is mechanically detachable from said shell and mechanically re-attachable to said shell.