IP Library Granted Patent US 12,389,969
Granted Patent B2
US 12,389,969 · App. 17/927,417 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Helmet for monitoring rider condition

Inventors: Michael K. Jones (Boise, ID); Jeremy Len Lathrop (Meridian, ID)
Assignee: Western Power Sports, LLC
A42B3/046A42B3/30A42B3/00A42B3/0433A42B3/06A42B3/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,389,969
App. No.
17/927,417
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a helmet for monitoring a plurality of conditions of a wearer and a method thereof. The helmet comprises an outer shell, an inner padding arrangement, a plurality of sensors, an electronic device, and one or more indicators. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect a plurality of parameters of the wearer and further configured to generate a first set of signals. The first set of signals correspond to at least one condition of the wearer. The electronic device is configured to generate a second set of signals based on the first set of signals, which are indicated by the one or more indicators. Hence, the one or more indicators are configured to indicate a detected condition of the wearer. Such indication facilitates a third person or first responders to know the condition of the wearer without any additional components.

Claims (26)

1. A helmet for monitoring a plurality of conditions of a wearer, the helmet comprising:

an outer shell defining an outer shape of the helmet, the outer shell comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a front part, a rear part, a first side part, and a second side part;

an inner padding arrangement configured to receive the wearer's head therewithin, the inner padding arrangement comprising an inner liner and a foam arrangement, the foam arrangement comprising a holder;

a plurality of sensors placed within the outer shell, the plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of parameters associated with the wearer, and further configured to generate a corresponding first set of signals associated with each of the detected plurality of parameters;

an electronic device communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the electronic device comprising at least a processing unit, and a transceiver, the electronic device configured to be received within the holder of the inner padding arrangement, the electronic device configured to receive the first set of signals from the plurality of sensors, and further configured to generate a second set of signals indicative of at least one of the plurality of conditions of the wearer; and

one or more indicators communicatively coupled with the electronic device, the one or more indicators configured to receive the second set of signals from the electronic device and further configured to generate a corresponding indication associated with each of the plurality of the conditions of the wearer.

2. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the inner padding arrangement is configured to be placed adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell.

3. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the first set of signals to generate the second set of signals corresponding to each of the plurality of conditions of the wearer.

4. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the holder is placed adjacent to a bottom trim at a bottom portion of a back part of the inner liner.

5. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a cavity and a closing mechanism, the cavity and the closing mechanism configured to enclose the electronic device therewithin.

6. The helmet of claim 5 , wherein the closing mechanism comprises a door and a corresponding flap.

7. The helmet of claim 6 , wherein the door is a hinged door and is configured to be attached to the corresponding flap attached to the outer shell at a bottom part of the rear part.

8. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a first surface having at least one visual indicator and an I/O interface, wherein the first surface is placed adjacent the inner surface of the outer shell when enclosed in the holder.

9. The helmet of claim 8 , wherein the outer shell comprises a first aperture and a second aperture at a bottom part of the rear part, the first aperture being corresponding to the at least one visual indicator and the second aperture corresponding the I/O interface of the electronic device.

10. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators are selected from the group consisting of an audio indicator, a video indicator, and a combination thereof.

11. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators are configured to be placed at the outer surface of the outer shell.

12. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators are configured to be placed at a bottom trim of the helmet.

13. The helmet of claim 1 , comprising a microphone and a speaker for facilitating a communication of the wearer with a third person using a user device via a communication network.

14. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a memory unit to store the first set of signals, wherein the stored first set of signals are configured to be retrieved from the memory unit using an I/O interface.

15. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a third set of signals from one or more sources via a communication network and is further configured to generate a fourth set of signals, the third set of signals indicative of one or more unsafe surrounding conditions.

16. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein the one or more indicators are configured to receive the fourth set of signals and further configured to indicate the one or more unsafe surrounding conditions corresponding to the fourth set of signals.

17. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein the one or more sources comprise at least one of a second set of sensors of a second person, a third set of sensors placed on a path of the wearer, a user device in communication with the electronic device, and a combination thereof.

18. The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising a chinstrap placed at a bottom portion of each of the first side part and the second side part of the outer shell, the chinstrap comprising one or more of the plurality of sensors for detecting corresponding parameters of the wearer.

19. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to cause the one or more indicators to generate a first indication in response to the electronic device determining a the wearer has incurred a minor impact or accident, is configured to cause the one or more indicators to generate a second indication in response to the electronic device determining the wearer has incurred a moderate impact or accident, and is configured to cause the one or more indicators to generate a third indication in response to the electronic device determining the wearer has incurred a severe impact or accident, wherein the first indication, the second indication, and the third indication are each different from each other.

20. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to cause the one or more indicators to generate multiple different indications, wherein each of the different indications respectively corresponds to a different severity of an impact or accident of the wearer.

21. The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators are configured to generate the corresponding indication associated with each of the plurality of the conditions of the wearer such that each indication is visible outside the helmet by spectators of the wearer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: JONES, MICHAEL K.; LATHROP, JEREMY LEN
To: WESTERN POWER SPORTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068388/0675 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63239845 · Sep 1, 2021
Related Publication 20240237776A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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Cited By (1)
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