Cycling helmet with rotational impact attenuation
A helmet having an outer liner with an inward-facing surface, an inner liner with an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, and a flexible tether coupling the outer liner to the inner. The inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner via a plurality of return springs, the plurality of return springs biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner.
1. A helmet, comprising:
an outer liner comprising an inward-facing surface;
an inner liner comprising an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, wherein the inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner via a plurality of return springs, the plurality of return springs biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner; and
a leash coupling comprising a flexible tether coupling the leash coupling to the outer liner and the inner liner such that the flexible tether comprises a slack.
2. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between the first position and a second position where the inner liner and outer liner are rotated with respect to each other away from the first position.
3. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the tether is located in a cavity formed in at least one of the outer liner and inner liner.
4. The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising at least one chin strap anchored to the outer liner and passing through an opening in the inner liner.
5. The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising at least one glide pad having an adhesive surface affixed to one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner, and a glide surface opposite the adhesive surface, the glide surface having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner.
6. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the outer liner is formed of a first foamed energy management material and the inner liner is formed of a second foamed energy management material.
7. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of return springs comprises a first end coupled to an inward-facing surface of the outer liner, a second end opposing the first end, the second end coupled to an outward-facing surface of the inner liner, and a body connecting the first end to the second end.
8. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the outer liner comprises a recess in which the plurality of return springs is seated.
9. A helmet, comprising:
an outer liner comprising an inward-facing surface;
an inner liner comprising an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, wherein both the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner are substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section having a first contour and a sagittal cross section having a second contour different from the first contour;
a plurality of return springs substantially tangential to the pseudo-spherical surface and biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner; and
a leash coupling comprising a flexible tether coupling the leash coupling to the outer liner and the inner liner such that the flexible tether comprises a slack.
10. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein the inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between the first position and a second position where the inner liner and outer liner are rotated with respect to each other away from the first position.
11. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein a majority of the tether is located in a cavity formed in at least one of the outer liner and inner liner.
12. The helmet of claim 9 , further comprising at least one chin strap anchored to the outer liner and passing through an opening in the inner liner.
13. The helmet of claim 9 , further comprising at least one glide pad having an adhesive surface affixed to one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner, and a glide surface opposite the adhesive surface, the glide surface having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner.
14. The helmet of claim 9 , wherein the outer liner is formed of a first foamed energy management material and the inner liner is formed of a second foamed energy management material.
15. A helmet, comprising:
an outer liner comprising an inward-facing surface;
an inner liner comprising an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, wherein the inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner via a plurality of return springs, the plurality of return springs being substantially tangential to the interface between the outer liner and the inner liner and biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner; and
a leash coupling comprising a flexible tether coupling the leash coupling to the outer liner and the inner liner such that the flexible tether comprises a slack.
16. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein the inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between the first position and a second position where the inner liner and outer liner are rotated with respect to each other away from the first position.
17. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein a majority of the tether is located in a cavity formed in at least one of the outer liner and inner liner.
18. The helmet of claim 15 , further comprising at least one chin strap anchored to the outer liner and passing through an opening in the inner liner.
19. The helmet of claim 15 , further comprising at least one glide pad having an adhesive surface affixed to one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner, and a glide surface opposite the adhesive surface, the glide surface having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the one of the inward-facing surface of the outer liner and the outward-facing surface of the inner liner.
20. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein the outer liner is formed of a first foamed energy management material and the inner liner is formed of a second foamed energy management material.