Protective helmet; Method for mitigating or preventing a head injury

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective helmet and a method for mitigating or preventing a head injury, in which a shock-absorbing, or shock-absorbing and comfort-providing, inner wearing unit, which can comprise liners, comfort pads, protective pads, nubbed cages and / or strapped wearing units (for example spider-shaped wearing elements, wearing straps, head bands or the like), is divided into a shell-side insert and a head-side insert, which can be counter-rotated (preferably starting from application of a predetermined force) in at least one direction, wherein a sliding surface is provided that assumes the function of a rotational surface, so that the angular acceleration introduced by a blow is drastically reduced or prevented because the head-side insert and the shell-side insert, and thus the head of the wearer and the outer helmet shell, can be counter-rotated quickly and without impediment, preferably in all directions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Many protective helmets are known, which are used to protect the head of a wearer from injuries. These protective helmets are adapted to the human head, which, when seen from above, has an oval shape, which can be classified as a “round oval” shape or a “long oval” shape. Protective helmets that are ordinarily on the market assume this shape in order to resemble the human head, and in particular so as to have a narrow appearance. Narrow helmets which, as seen looking only from the front, appear to be small, sell well on the market. Round helmets which, as seen looking from the front, appear to be wide, are not successful on the market.[0002]In general, these protective helmets, which can have various configurations depending on the field of application, comprise: an outer shell, which is produced from a hard material and typically has a basic oval shape; and a shock-absorbing inner wearing unit, which absorbs impacts to the head and is disposed on th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In contrast, the protective helmet according to the invention and the method according to the invention provide for mitigating or preventing a head injury, and has the advantage that, by dividing the shock-absorbing, or shock-absorbing and comfort-providing, inner wearing unit, which can comprise liners, comfort pads, protective pads, nubbed cages and / or strapped wearing units (for example spider-shaped wearing elements, wearing straps, head bands or the like), into a shell-side insert and a head-side insert, which can be counter-rotated (preferably starting from application of a predetermined force) in at least one direction, a sliding surface is provided that assumes the function of a rotational surface, so that the angular acceleration introduced by a blow is drastically reduced or prevented, because the head-side insert and the shell-side insert, and thus the head of the wearer and the outer helmet shell, can be counter-rotated quickly and without impediment, preferably in all directions. The division can relate to the shock-absorbing and / or the non-shock-absorbing part of the inner wearing unit.

[0011]The combination of the two technologies is also advantageous. For this purpose, large segments are produced using multi-density methods, in particular dual-density methods, and combined with smaller segments having a simpler design.

[0013]According to a further advantageous embodiment of the protective helmet according to the invention, the head-side insert and / or the shell-side insert have (golf ball) structured surfaces so as to countersink the imprints of the nozzles in the EPS shaping process and prevent irregularities on the surface.

[0014]According to a further advantageous embodiment of the protective helmet according to the invention, an intermediate layer is disposed between the head-side insert and the shell-side insert. The intermediate layer can positively affect the shock absorption if it is particularly rigid and, for example, produced from carbon fibers. If no full intermediate layer is present, for example, punctiform, star-shaped or crosswise sliding sites, are conceivable. It is also conceivable for the intermediate layer to be a liquid or a gel. In this case, the viscosity of the liquid or the gel is adjusted so that it can be used to achieve various friction coefficients (shear values) and thus various accelerations. In this way, the angular acceleration progression can be adjusted.

[0027]A molded part can preferably be joined to the shell if the wall thickness of the EPS part becomes too thin at the edges of the two shells (the head-side insert and the shell-side insert). This molded part can support smooth sliding of the system, and accommodate additional functional parts of the helmet (for example foams, straps, textile components).

Problems solved by technology

Round helmets which, as seen looking from the front, appear to be wide, are not successful on the market.

The disadvantage of these protective helmets is that, while they offer protection from blows striking the protective helmet or the bump cap thereof translatorily, they offer no protection from rotatory forces acting during the blow, so that, for example, many accidents result in severe head injuries despite the use of a protective helmet.

It must be regarded as disadvantageous that the outward appearance of the protective helmet is negatively influenced by the skin.

The disadvantage of this solution is that the rotary motion is inhibited by the oval shape of the helmet in the general form thereof.

Thus, good protective action is achieved, but this solution is very complex.

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