Hydraulic helmet

Claim 2

A safety helmet comprising an outer shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user, an inner compressible liner portion for contacting the head of the user, and an intermediate portion positioned between said shell and liner portions, said intermediate portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid, said assembly including a plurality of spaced and expandable cells extending generally coextensive with the top, front, rear and sides of said shell portion, means for connecting some of said cells to other said cells for intercommunication of hydraulic liquid between said some and other cells, said means including constrictive passageways extending between said some and other cells to permit restricted flow of the hydraulic liquid between said cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet, said liner portion compression between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on said shell portion to cause the liquid contained within said assembly to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 3

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic assembly further includes a hydraulic sump positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, some of said cells being connected to said sump and extending generally outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and sides of said shell portion.

Claim 4

In a safety helmet as defined in claim 2 further comprising valve means connected to said sump and communicating with the interior thereof whereby said assembly may be filled with hydraulic liquid through said valve means.

Claim 5

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 further comprising a valve means connected to said assembly and communicating with he interior thereof whereby hydraulic liquid may be inserted through said valve means and into said assembly.

Claim 6

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic assembly extends over and occupies at least one-half of the available space existing between said shell portion and said inner liner portion.

Claim 7

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic assembly contains hydraulic liquid under pressure thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly.

Claim 8

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cells are elastic and said hydraulic assembly is substantially completely filled with hydraulic liquid.

Claim 9

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 7 wherein said hydraulic assembly contains hydraulic liquid under pressure thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly.

Claim 10

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cells are between about one-half and about three-fourths of an inch in diameter and wherein said inner compressible liner portion is about one-half of an inch in thickness.

Claim 11

In the safety helmet ad defined in claim 1 wherein said constrictive passageways are between about one-sixteenth and three-sixteenth of an inch in diameter.

Claim 12

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer shell portion is resiliently deformable, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 13

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of user and an inner portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid under a pressure above atmospheric thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly, said assembly being attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a plurality of spaced and expandable cells generally coextensive with the top, front, rear and sides of said shell portion, means for connecting some of said cells to other said cells for intercommunication of hydraulic liquid between said some and other cells, said means including constrictive passageways extending between said some and other cells to permit restricted flow of the hydraulic liquid between said cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said deformable shell portion of the helmet, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 14

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of user and an inner portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid under a pressure above atmospheric thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly, said assembly being attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a plurality of spaced and expandable cells generally coextensive with the top, front, rear and sides of said shell portion, means for connecting some of said cells to other said cells for intercommunication of hydraulic liquid between said some and other cells, said means including constrictive passageways extending between said some and other cells to permit restricted flow of the hydraulic liquid between said cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said deformable shell portion of the helmet, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 15

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 12 wherein said hydraulic assembly further includes a hydraulic sump positioned adjacent the top of said outer shell portion, some of said cells being connected to said sump and extending generally outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and sides of said shell portion.

Claim 16

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 12 further comprising valve means connected to said hydraulic assembly and communicating with the interior thereof whereby hydraulic liquid may be inserted through said valve means and into said assembly.

Claim 17

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user, an inner compressible liner portion for contacting the head of the user, and an intermediate portion positioned between said shell and liner portions, said intermediate portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet, said liner portion compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow out of portions thereof positioned generally beneath the blow and into other adjacent portions thereof, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow of said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of portions thereof positioned generally beneath the blow and into other adjacent portions thereof.

Claim 18

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user, an inner compressible liner portion for contacting the head of the user, and an intermediate portion positioned between said shell and liner portions, said intermediate portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet, said liner portion compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow out of portions thereof positioned generally beneath the blow and into other adjacent portions thereof, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow of said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of portions thereof positioned generally beneath the blow and into other adjacent portions thereof.

Claim 19

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 15 further comprising a valve means connected to said assembly and communicating with the interior thereof whereby hydraulic liquid may be inserted through said valve means and into said assembly.

Claim 20

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 15 wherein said hydraulic assembly contains hydraulic liquid under pressure thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly.

Claim 21

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 15 wherein said portions of said hydraulic assembly are elastic and said hydraulic assembly is substantially completely filled with hydraulic liquid.

Claim 22

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 18 wherein said hydraulic assembly contains hydraulic liquid under pressure thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly.

Claim 23

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 15 wherein said hydraulic assembly includes a plurality of cells and a sump with the sump being positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, some of said cells being connected to said sump and extending generally outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and sides of said shell portion.

Claim 24

In a safety helmet havIng an outer shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of user, the improvement comprising an inner portion of expandable material including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid under a pressure above atmospheric thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly, said assembly being attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a hydraulic fluid sump positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, a plurality of spaced elongated cells connected to said sump and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, additional elongated cells connected to the outer ends of said radially extending cells and positioned transversely thereof adjacent the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, means including constrictive passageways extending between said sump and said radially extending cells and between said transversely extending cells and some of said radially extending cells to restrict the flow of the hydraulic liquid between said sump and cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet.

Claim 25

In a safety helmet havIng an outer shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of user, the improvement comprising an inner portion of expandable material including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid under a pressure above atmospheric thereby insuring hydraulic liquid throughout said assembly, said assembly being attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a hydraulic fluid sump positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, a plurality of spaced elongated cells connected to said sump and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, additional elongated cells connected to the outer ends of said radially extending cells and positioned transversely thereof adjacent the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, means including constrictive passageways extending between said sump and said radially extending cells and between said transversely extending cells and some of said radially extending cells to restrict the flow of the hydraulic liquid between said sump and cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet.

Claim 26

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 21 wherein the outer shell portion is resiliently deformable, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow through said passageways generally outwardly from beneath the blow.

Claim 27

In the safety helmet as defined in claim 13 further comprising valve means connected to said sump and communicating with the interior thereof whereby hydraulic liquid may be inserted through said valve means and into said sump.

Claim 28

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user and an inner portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a plurality of spaced and expandable cells generally coextensive with the top, front, rear and sides of said shell portion, means for connecting some of said cells to other said cells for intercommunication of hydraulic liquid between said some and other cells, said means including constrictive passageways extending between said some and other cells to permit restricted flow of the hydraulic liquid between said cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said deformable shell portion of the helmet, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto, said inner portion further including a compressible liner for contacting the head of the user and which is positioned between said hydraulic assembly and the user''s head, said compressible liner compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 29

A safety helmet comprising an outer resiliently deformable shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user and an inner portion including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a plurality of spaced and expandable cells generally coextensive with the top, front, rear and sides of said shell portion, means for connecting some of said cells to other said cells for intercommunication of hydraulic liquid between said some and other cells, said means including constrictive passageways extending between said some and other cells to permit restricted flow of the hydraulic liquid between said cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said deformable shell portion of the helmet, said shell portion deforming under the impact of the blow to transmit the energy of the blow to said hydraulic assembly causing the liquid contained therein to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto, said inner portion further including a compressible liner for contacting the head of the user and which is positioned between said hydraulic assembly and the user''s head, said compressible liner compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow out of said cells positioned generally beneath the blow and into said cells adjacent thereto.

Claim 30

In a safety helmet having an outer shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user, the improvement comprising an inner portion of expandable material including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid and attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a hydraulic fluid sump positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, a plurality of spaced elongated cells connected to said sump and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, additional elongated cells connected to the outer ends of said radially extending cells and positioned transversely thereof adjacent the front, rear and Side edges of said shell portion, means including constrictive passageways extending between said sump and said radially extending cells and between saId transversely extending cells and some of said radially extending cells to restrict the flow of the hydraulic liquid between said sump and cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet, said inner portion further including a compressible liner for contacting the head of the user and which is positioned between said hydraulic assembly and the user''s head, said compressible liner compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on the said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow through said passageways generally outwardly from beneath the blow.

Claim 31

In a safety helmet having an outer shell portion designed to generally conform to the shape of the head of a user, the improvement comprising an inner portion of expandable material including a hydraulic cushioning assembly containing hydraulic liquid and attached to said shell portion, said assembly including a hydraulic fluid sump positioned adjacent the top of said shell portion, a plurality of spaced elongated cells connected to said sump and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom toward the front, rear and side edges of said shell portion, additional elongated cells connected to the outer ends of said radially extending cells and positioned transversely thereof adjacent the front, rear and Side edges of said shell portion, means including constrictive passageways extending between said sump and said radially extending cells and between saId transversely extending cells and some of said radially extending cells to restrict the flow of the hydraulic liquid between said sump and cells to dissipate and absorb the energy of a blow delivered to said shell portion of the helmet, said inner portion further including a compressible liner for contacting the head of the user and which is positioned between said hydraulic assembly and the user''s head, said compressible liner compressing between the user''s head and said hydraulic assembly generally beneath the location of the blow on the said shell portion to cause liquid contained within said assembly to flow through said passageways generally outwardly from beneath the blow.