Granted Patent B2

US 12,678,682 · App. 18/302,379 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Inventors: Vittorio Bologna (Des Plaines, IL); Murphy Gillogly (Des Plaines, IL); Andrew Tryner (Des Plaines, IL); Thad M. Ide (Des Plaines, IL)

Assignee: Riddell, Inc.

A63B71/10A42B3/0406A42B3/08A42B3/125A42B3/127A42B3/20A42B3/283A42C2/002A42C2/007A63B71/1225G06F30/00A63B2071/1208A63B2071/1233A63B2071/1241A63B2071/125A63B2071/1258G06F2119/18

Abstract

Claims (35)

1 . A method of assembling a protective sports helmet to be worn by a player while participating in a sports activity, comprising:

obtaining head data from a player's head using an electronic device;

providing a helmet model and a group of pre-manufactured pad models within a computer software program, wherein each of said pre-manufactured pad models has a unique set of physical characteristics;

aligning the head data in the helmet model within the computer software program; and

identifying a pre-manufactured pad model from the group of pre-manufactured pad models within the computer software program, wherein at least one of said physical characteristics of said identified pre-manufactured pad model is selected based on a comparison of the helmet model and the aligned head data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of aligning the head data within the helmet model includes modifying the aligned head data by moving the head data either forward or backward based on the player's playing position or playing level.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a group of pre-manufactured pads that corresponds to the group of pre-manufactured pad models;

providing a helmet shell;

selecting a pre-manufactured pad from the group of pre-manufactured pads based on the identified pre-manufactured pad model; and

installing the selected pre-manufactured pad within the helmet shell.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparison of the helmet model and the aligned head data further includes selecting a pad model with a thickness based on at least one of the following factors: (i) the player's preferences regarding fit of the protective sports helmet, (ii) the player's impact history, (iii) the player's skill level, or (iv) the player's position while participating in the sports activity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique set of physical characteristics in the group of pre-manufactured pad models comprises: (i) a first pre-manufactured pad model having a first thickness, and (ii) a second pre-manufactured pad model having a second thickness.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique set of physical characteristics in the group of pre-manufactured pad models comprises: (i) a first pre-manufactured pad model having a first compression deflection value, and (ii) a second pre-manufactured pad model having a second compression deflection value.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique set of physical characteristics in the group of pre-manufactured pad models comprises: (i) a first pre-manufactured pad model having an outer portion corresponding to an inner surface of the helmet model, said outer portion having a first periphery, and (ii) a second pre-manufactured pad model having an outer portion corresponding to the inner surface of the helmet model, said outer portion having a second periphery.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified pre-manufactured pad model corresponds to a physical pad that is suitable for installation in the protective sports helmet that corresponds to the helmet model.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the physical pad will be compressed to at least a pre-determined amount when (i) installed within the helmet, and (ii) the protective sports helmet is worn by the player but prior to an impact being received by the protective sports helmet.

10 . A method of assembling a protective sports helmet to be worn by a player while participating in a sports activity, comprising:

acquiring head data from a player's head using a handheld electronic device;

identifying a reference point associated with the acquired head data;

aligning the head data within a computer program using the identified reference point to form aligned head data;

providing (i) a first pre-manufactured pad with a first set of physical characteristics, and (ii) a second pre-manufactured pad with a second set of physical characteristics that is different from the first set of physical characteristics;

using the aligned head data to select either the first pre-manufactured pad or the second pre-manufactured pad; and

installing the selected first pre-manufactured pad or selected second pre-manufactured pad in a helmet shell.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected first pre-manufactured pad or the selected second pre-manufactured pad will be compressed to at least a pre-determined amount when the selected first pre-manufactured pad or the selected second pre-manufactured pad is installed within the helmet shell, and the protective sports helmet is worn by the player but prior to an impact being received by the protective sports helmet.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of aligning the head data within a computer program using the identified reference point to form aligned head data includes: (i) providing a computerized three-dimensional helmet model with a coordinate point, and (ii) aligning the identified reference point with the coordinate point.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein using the aligned head data to select either the first pre-manufactured pad or the second pre-manufactured pad includes: (i) comparing the aligned head data with a first computerized pad model and a second computerized pad model, wherein the first computerized pad model substantially corresponds to the first pre-manufactured pad and the second computerized pad model substantially corresponds to the second pre-manufactured pad, and (ii) selecting either the first or second computerized pad model based upon analysis of said aligned head data.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the selected first computerized pad model or the second computerized pad model substantially corresponds to the first pre-manufactured pad or second pre-manufactured pad.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of using the aligned head data to select either the first pre-manufactured pad or the second pre-manufactured pad includes analyzing the distances between: (i) information obtained from the aligned head data, and (ii) a model of the helmet shell.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the protective sports helmet is designed for a specific position that the player primarily plays while participating in the sports activity.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the specific position is quarterback.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected first pre-manufactured pad or the second pre-manufactured pad is configured to ensure that the helmet shell is positioned a minimum distance away from the player's head when the protective sports helmet is worn by the player but prior to an impact being received by the protective sports helmet.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of acquiring head data from a player's head using a handheld electronic device includes obtaining information from the player's facial region and player's head that is covered by a hood.

20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of aligning the head data includes modifying the aligned head data by moving the head data either forward or backward within the computer program based on the player's playing position or playing level.

21 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the selection of the first pre-manufactured pad or the second pre-manufactured pad further includes evaluation of at least one of the following factors: (i) the player's preferences regarding fit of the protective sports helmet, (ii) the player's impact history, (iii) the player's skill level, or (iv) the player's position while participating in the sports activity.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)