IP Library Granted Patent US 11,758,965
Granted Patent B2
US 11,758,965 · App. 16/859,377 · Granted Sep 19, 2023

Helmet with integrated shoulder pad

Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell (Boulder Creek, CA); Scott R. Allen (Scotts Valley, CA); Christopher T. Pietrzak (Ben Lomond, CA); Allen Bischofberger (Ben Lomond, CA); Julio Valencia (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
A42B3/105A41D13/0512A42B3/0406A42B3/0473A42C2/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,758,965
App. No.
16/859,377
Granted
Sep 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A helmet body includes an outer shell having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the outer shell further comprising at least two shoulder pad recesses positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet; and an energy management liner adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and comprising at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material, each of the at least two shoulder pads received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet.

Claims (27)

1. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the outer shell further comprising at least two shoulder pad recesses positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on respective left and right sides of the helmet; and

an energy management liner adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and comprising at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material and integral with a portion of the energy management liner, each of the at least two shoulder pads received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad configured to alleviate the impact of the helmet to a wearer's shoulder and extending from inside of the outer shell to across at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell, and each shoulder pad extends further downward from the outer shell beyond the outer shell lower edge.

2. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the energy management liner comprises: a first portion formed of a first material;

at least one anchor formed of a third material harder than the first material extending from within the first portion; and

a second portion formed of a second material co-molded to the first portion around the at least one anchor.

3. The helmet of claim 2 , further comprising one or more cheek pad magnets mounted to the first portion of the energy management liner.

4. The helmet of claim 3 , wherein the energy management liner comprises:

the first portion formed of expanded polystyrene (EPS); and

the second portion formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP).

5. The helmet of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two shoulder pads is part of the second portion of the energy management liner and are also formed of EPP.

6. The helmet of claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the energy management liner extends into a chinbar of the helmet body.

7. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer shell lower edge indents upward to form at least two shoulder pad recesses positioned at a respective left and right sides of the helmet; and

an energy management liner adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and comprising at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material and integral with a portion of the energy management liner, each of the at least two shoulder pads configured to alleviate the impact of the helmet to a wearer's shoulder and received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across a portion of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.

8. The helmet of claim 7 , wherein each shoulder pad comprises a length in a range of 2 to 7 inches and a height in a range of 0.2 to 2 inches.

9. The helmet of claim 7 , wherein the energy management liner comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP).

10. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two shoulder pads is formed of EPP and is part of the energy management liner.

11. The helmet of claim 7 , further comprising one or more cheek pad magnets mounted to a first portion of the energy management liner.

12. The helmet of claim 11 , wherein a second portion of the energy management liner extends into a chinbar of the helmet body.

13. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer shell lower edge indents upward to form at least two shoulder pad recesses positioned at a respective left and right sides of the helmet; and

an energy management liner adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and comprising at least two shoulder pad assemblies formed of a foamed energy management material and integral with a portion of the energy management liner, each of the at least two shoulder pad assemblies comprising shoulder pads configured to alleviate the impact of the helmet to a wearer's shoulder and received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across a portion of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell, and each shoulder pad extends further downward from the outer shell beyond the outer shell lower edge.

14. The helmet of claim 13 , wherein each shoulder pad comprises a length in a range of 2 to 7 inches and a height in a range of 0.2 to 2 inches.

15. The helmet of claim 13 , wherein the shoulder pad assemblies comprise expanded polypropylene (EPP).

16. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein each of the at least two shoulder pads is part of the shoulder pad assemblies and are also formed of EPP.

17. The helmet of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the energy management liner extends into a chinbar of the helmet body.

Assignments (8)
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.
To: BELL SPORTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072908/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072238/0250 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC
To: FORTRESS CREDIT CORP., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069817/0586 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 069460/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; FOX HEAD, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 066959/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; QUIETKAT, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0747 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2021
From: ALLEN, SCOTT R.; PIETRZAK, CHRISTOPHER T.; BISCHOFBERGER, ALLEN; VALENCIA, JULIO; WHITESELL, SCOTT S.
To: BELL SPORTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056523/0604 →
ABL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 056033/0349 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15880042 · Jan 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62450471 · Jan 25, 2017
Related Publication 20200253313A1 · Aug 13, 2020