US4064565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Helmet structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-13
•
Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1996-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A helmet is constructed with a hard surfaced, limitedly flexible shell lined with an energy absorbing material having an inner conforming liner adapted to the shape of the head or skull of a wearer for maximum comfort and safety. There may also be provided a transfer layer on the interior surface of the energy absorbing liner and formed of a flexible layer of incompressible fluid for dispersing impact forces.
Inventors
- 👤 William S. Griffiths
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:54
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/10; A42B3/12; A42B3/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible outer shell having the shape of the head of a person and adapted for deflection adjacent the opening therein so as to fit over the head of a person, a conformal layer of a slowly conforming thermoplastic or pressure deformable material within said shell disposed on a substantial area of the interior surface of said shell for conforming to the physical configuration of the skull of a wearer of the helmet in physical engagement with a substantial portion of such skull, an impact absorbing layer disposed between said shell and said conformal layer and extending over a substantial area of the interior of said shell and a transfer layer of substantially incompressible fluid or gel disposed between said impact absorbing layer and said conformal layer and having a thin semirigid liner adjacent said impact absorbing layer for applying a substantially uniform pressure over the surface of said conformal layer upon the application of a force to the transfer layer from said energy absorbing layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible outer shell having the shape of the head of a person and adapted for deflection adjacent the opening therein so as to fit over the head of a person, a conformal layer of a slowly conforming thermoplastic or pressure deformable material within said shell disposed on a substantial area of the interior surface of said shell for conforming to the physical configuration of the skull of a wearer of the helmet in physical engagement with a substantial portion of such skull, an impact absorbing layer disposed between said shell and said conformal layer and extending over a substantial area of the interior of said shell and a transfer layer of substantially incompressible fluid or gel disposed between said impact absorbing layer and said conformal layer and having a thin semirigid liner adjacent said impact absorbing layer for applying a substantially uniform pressure over the surface of said conformal layer upon the application of a force to the transfer layer from said energy absorbing layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible outer shell having the shape of the head of a person and adapted for deflection adjacent the opening therein so as to fit over the head of a person, a conformal layer of a slowly conforming thermoplastic or pressure deformable material within said shell disposed on a substantial area of the interior of said shell for conforming to the physical configuration of the skull of a wearer of the helmet in physical engagement with a substantial portion of such skull, an impact absorbing layer disposed between said shell and said conformal layer and extending over a substantial area of the interior of said shell and a transfer layer of a substantially incompressible flowable material disposed between said impact absorbing layer and said conformal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible outer shell having the shape of the head of a person and adapted for deflection adjacent the opening therein so as to fit over the head of a person, a conformal layer of a slowly conforming thermoplastic or pressure deformable material within said shell disposed on a substantial area of the interior of said shell for conforming to the physical configuration of the skull of a wearer of the helmet in physical engagement with a substantial portion of such skull, an impact absorbing layer disposed between said shell and said conformal layer and extending over a substantial area of the interior of said shell and a transfer layer of a substantially incompressible flowable material disposed between said impact absorbing layer and said conformal layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The helmet structure of claim 2 further defined by the material of said transfer layer comprising a plurality of contiguous liquid filled flexible spheres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible exterior shell having a continuous front and bottom opening that is narrower than the interior of the shell and being resiliently deformable thereat for fitting over the head of a wearer to close thereabout, a first layer of impact absorbing material disposed on the inner surface of said outer shell and extending over substantially all of the interior surface thereof, a transfer layer disposed on said first layer within said shell and comprising a substantially incompressible nonsolid deformable material which converts an applied force to an equal pressure therethrough, and an inner conformal layer disposed on said transfer layer and formed of a material that is slowly deformable and substantially incompressible by rapidly applied forces adapted to conform to the shape of the skull of a wearer of the helmet so as to contact at least a substantial area of such skull.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
An improved helmet structure comprising a limitedly flexible exterior shell having a continuous front and bottom opening that is narrower than the interior of the shell and being resiliently deformable thereat for fitting over the head of a wearer to close thereabout, a first layer of impact absorbing material disposed on the inner surface of said outer shell and extending over substantially all of the interior surface thereof, a transfer layer disposed on said first layer within said shell and comprising a substantially incompressible nonsolid deformable material which converts an applied force to an equal pressure therethrough, and an inner conformal layer disposed on said transfer layer and formed of a material that is slowly deformable and substantially incompressible by rapidly applied forces adapted to conform to the shape of the skull of a wearer of the helmet so as to contact at least a substantial area of such skull.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 4 further defined by a thin semi-rigid liner between said impact absorbing layer and said transfer layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |