IP Library Granted Patent US 11,589,631
Granted Patent B2
US 11,589,631 · App. 17/171,189 · Granted Feb 28, 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 11,589,631
App. No.
17/171,189
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A helmet body includes an outer shell and an energy management liner with an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer shell. At least two shoulder pad recesses are positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet. The energy management liner is adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and includes at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material. Each of the at least two shoulder pads is 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 at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.

Claims (21)

1. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell including an outer shell lower edge, wherein a portion of the outer shell lower edge of each of a respective left side and a right side of the helmet indents upward to form at least one shoulder pad recess on respective left and right sides of the helmet body; and

an energy management liner, a majority of the energy management liner disposed inside the outer shell, the outer shell and energy management liner inside the outer shell defining a first width, the energy management liner comprising two shoulder pad assemblies, each shoulder pad assembly partially disposed inside the outer shell, a portion not disposed inside the outer shell comprising a shoulder pad extending downward into the shoulder pad recess on the respective left side or right side of the helmet, the shoulder pad extending across a portion of the width of the outer shell lower edge, wherein the shoulder pad has a second width substantially the same as the first width and the shoulder pad is configured to to alleviate the impact of the helmet to a wearer's shoulder.

2. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder pad assembly comprises a chinbar portion extending into a chinbar of the helmet body.

3. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein each of the shoulder pads also extends away from the outer shell lower edge beyond the respective shoulder pad recess into which each shoulder pad extends.

4. The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising one or more cheek pad magnets mounted on the energy management liner.

5. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the energy management liner comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP).

6. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein each shoulder pad assembly comprises:

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

a second portion formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP), the second portion comprising the shoulder pad extending into the shoulder pad recess on the respective left or right side of the helmet.

7. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the 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.

8. A helmet comprising:

an outer shell including an outer shell lower edge, wherein a portion of the outer shell lower edge of each of a respective left side and a right side of the helmet indents upward to form at least one shoulder pad recess on respective left and right sides of the helmet body; and

an energy management liner, a majority of the energy management liner disposed inside the outer shell, the outer shell and energy management liner inside the outer shell defining a first width, the energy management liner comprising two shoulder pad assemblies, each shoulder pad assembly partially disposed inside the outer shell, a portion not disposed inside the outer shell comprising a shoulder pad extending outward and downward into the shoulder pad recess on the respective left side or right side of the helmet, the shoulder pad extending across a portion of the width of the outer shell lower edge, wherein the shoulder pad is configured to alleviate the impact of the helmet to a wearer's shoulder.

9. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the shoulder pad assembly comprises a chinbar portion extending into a chinbar of the helmet body.

10. The helmet of claim 8 , further comprising one or more cheek pad magnets mounted on the energy management liner.

11. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the energy management liner comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP).

12. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein each shoulder pad assembly comprises:

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

a second portion formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP), the second portion comprising the shoulder pad extending into the shoulder pad recess on the respective left or right side of the helmet.

13. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the 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.

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 056523/0613 →
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)
Continuation 15880042 · Jan 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62450471 · Jan 25, 2017
Related Publication 20210161240A1 · Jun 3, 2021