United States Patent [19]
`Rush, III
`
`[54] HELMET
`
`[76] Inventor; Gus A_ Rush, III, 1300 12th St‘,
`Meridian, Miss_ 39301
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 288,078
`_
`[22] Flledz
`Aug. 10, 1994
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllii
`005546609A
`Patent Number:
`[111
`5,546,609
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`1/1987 Tacfri .
`4,637,074
`3/1987 Havriluk ........................... .. 455/100 X
`4,654,010
`6/1990 Hwang .................................. .. 362/103
`4,931,913
`3/1992 Puslc .
`5,091,992
`7/1994 Walker .............................. .. 455/100 X
`5,329,637
`5,353,008 10/1994 Eikenberry et a1. .................. .. 2/422 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`3/1971 Germany .
`1944821
`3142962 6/1933 Germany -
`
`[63] Continuation-in-part Of Ser. N0. 66,670, May 25, 1993, Pat.
`N0. 5,390,367, which is a continuation-in-part Of Ser. NO.
`964,875, Oct. 22, 1992, Pat. No. 5,287,562, which is a
`continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 818,840, Jan. 10, 1992,
`abandoned.
`
`.
`
`6
`
`[51] Int. Cl. ............................... .. A42B 3/06, A42B 3/30
`[52] U.S. Cl. ........................ .. 2/413; 2/422; 2/424; 2/425;
`2/906; ‘155/100
`[58] Field Of Search .............................. .. 2/422, 411, 413,
`2/415, 424, 425, 2, 905, 906; 362/103,
`105, 106; 455/100
`
`[56]
`
`.
`References Clted
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,243,248
`4,274,161
`4,321,433
`4,324,005
`
`1/1981 Scholz .
`6/1981 Littler.
`3/1982 King ...................................... .. 2/422X
`4/1982 Willis .
`.
`
`P'immy Examineel’éter Nerbun
`Attomey, Agent, or Flrm—Cushman Darby & Cushman,
`L_L_P_
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A helmet assembly for providing an indication when a
`predetermined axial compressive force tending to cause
`serious injury to the wearer is applied thereto. The assembly
`comprises a rigid helmet having a lower rim for at least
`partially encircling the head of the wearer. The helmet is
`de?ned by an exterior surface including a crown areal. A
`transmitting device is carried by the helmet for transmitting
`a signal to a remote location when a predetermined amount
`of
`compressive. force is applied to the crown area.
`Receiving means disposed remotely from the helmet
`receives the signal transmitted by the transmitting device.
`,
`
`31 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`US. Patent
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`Aug. 20, 1996
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`Sheet 1 of 7
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`5,546,609
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`FIG. I
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`US. Patent
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`Aug. 20, 1996
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`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US. Patent
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`Aug. 20, 1996
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`Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 20, 1996
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`Sheet 7 of 7
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`5,546,609
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`“[51
`8
`l7
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`Mé
`/
`1/
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`Recelvlng
`Means
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`Z142
`/:/LI—. 208
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`I48
`)
`Recording
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`Means
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`5,546,609 7
`
`1
`HELMET
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of application
`Ser. No. 08/066,670, ?led May 25, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No.
`5,390,367 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.
`No. 964,875, ?led Oct. 22, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,
`562 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
`07/818,840, ?led Jan. 10, 1992, now abandoned.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a helmet which will prevent
`damaging axial compressive forces, occasioned by impacts
`to the crown area of the head, i.e. the helmet, from being
`transmitted to the cervical spine of the wearer. The invention
`is particularly applicable to football helmets but is equally
`useful for helmets in those other activities where there is a
`chance of a severe impact to the top or crown area of the
`head, e.g. ice hockey players, car racing drivers, motorcy
`clists, construction workers in hard hat areas, etc.
`This invention also relates to helmets which provide a
`signal or indication that the wearer has participated in
`activity which can be potentially dangerous to the wearer.
`Such signal or indication can be provided to the wearer
`himself or a remote observer.
`This invention also relates to shoulder pads, such as those
`used by football players, which are adapted to cooperate
`with the above-described type of helmet in order to improve
`the function thereof.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Efforts have been made to minimize cervical spine inju
`ries to football players, motorcyclists, and others who may
`be involved in collisions, related impacts or blows. In the
`past, hyper?exion and hyperextension injuries to the neck
`were considered to be the primary mechanisms responsible
`for severe cervical spine trauma. Many types of neck rolls or
`collars, both foam and in?atable, have been tried, as have
`check straps, to limit ?exion and extension of the cervical
`spine. Thus, for example the U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,631, to
`Ettinger, Dec. 24, 1974, discloses an in?atable protective
`neck collar for a football player. The collar is a separate
`element but is constantly in?ated after being put on to ?ll the
`gap between the head and shoulders, thus inhibiting free
`movement of the head. Further, the collar is in?ated only to
`the extent that normal head and neck movements allegedly
`are unimpeded. Accordingly, severe impact forces to the
`crown of the helmet still are transmitted to the cervical
`spine.
`Similar in?atable neck collars have been designed for
`motorcyclists which normally are de?ated but in?ate auto
`matically on a collision. See, for example, European patent
`0,043,990, published Jan. 20, 1982, and German patent
`2,717,712, Oct. 26, 1978. In both, however, the collars are
`not in?ated automatically on impact on the crown of the
`helmet but instead on collision of the motorcycle. Still
`further, the impact sensor, gas generator, igniter and battery
`are not carried by the helmet. Additionally, neither patent
`discloses a construction which will speci?cally protect the
`wearer against serious cervical spine injuries on an impact to
`the crown of the helmet.
`There also has been devised in U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,106 to
`Sha?’er et a1, dated May 26, 1964, a protective football
`helmet arrangement wherein the helmet is rigidly ?xed to
`the shoulder pads so as to allow absolutely no motion of the
`helmet relative to the shoulders, but the head is free to turn
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`2
`therein, however, this arrangement is highly impractical and
`is not in use.
`Gennan Laid-Open Patent Application 3,142,962 to See
`ger et al. describes a motorcycle helmet having an in?atable
`bag on its lower rim and a mechanism for in?ating the bag
`when acceleration sensors detect a sudden change in accel
`eration of the wearer, e.g., in a collision. This helmet is
`designed to prevent injuries caused by lateral and twisting
`forces resulting from the rider's inertia and the sudden stop
`of the motorcycle. The horseshoe shape of the in?atable bag
`in the Seeger et al. device will not prevent injuries resulting
`from axial compressive forces such as those that occur in
`football games. Moreover, studies have shown that injuries
`of this type occur within approximately 30 milliseconds of
`impact, and the 300 to 500 millisecond reaction time of the
`Seeger et al. helmet would therefore be ineffective for this
`purpose.
`All of the above efforts have attempted primarily to limit
`?exion and extension of the spine and also, to some extent,
`axial compression. However, they did not allow full cervical
`range of motion and provide instantaneous cervical support
`when required.
`There have been tremendous advances in helmet design
`and shoulder pad function recently. Helmets now are of
`variable density polycarbonate shells with pneumatic webs
`that are in?atable to ?t a player’s head. Face guards are
`well-designed to give clear and unobstructed vision and
`‘ prevent ?nger-to-face contact. Shoulder pads are equally
`' well engineered to avoid shoulder and clavicle injuries on
`impact. The weakest link, the cervical spine, has had little (if
`any) protection. The only preventive measures to date have
`been education to coaches and players, avoidance of “spear
`ing” i.e. using the head as a battering ram to butt an
`opponent, and strengthening of the neck muscles and the
`cervical spine. In reality, however, there is no currently
`available device to instantaneously stabilize the cervical
`spine on axial impact.
`The mechanism of the typical cervical spine injury in
`football is as follows. A player ?exes his head to spear an
`opponent, the helmet stops and the trunk compresses the
`fragile cervical spine like an accordion. Initially, the disks
`are compressed, followed by the bony vertebrae. The cer
`vical nerve roots are compressed and the player feels “bum
`ers” or “stingers” in his arms. If compressed further, the
`spine ?exes and then fractures, subluxes or dislocates.
`The most catastrophic head and neck injuries in tackle
`football are quadriplegia and death. Detailed analysis has
`determined that most of such serious cervical spine injuries
`in tackle football have been caused by axial loading, i.e.,
`impact directly on the crown of the helmet. This ‘occurs in
`“spearing” . See “Prevention of Cervical Spine Injuries In
`Football" in the periodical “The Physician And Sportsmedi
`cine” Vol 19, No. 10 October 1991.
`
`40
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`45
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a
`protective helmet with an apparatus which will minimize or
`prevent the transmission of damaging axial compressive
`forces to the cervical spine of the wearer from impacts on the
`helmet giving rise to such forces. Thus, the cervical spine is
`protected from repetitive axial trauma which can initially
`cause cervical strain and later lead to microfractures, nerve
`root injuries, fractures and ultimately, quadriplegia.
`It is another object of this invention to provide such
`apparatus which is relatively simple, inexpensive and nei
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`ther impedes normal head and neck movements of the
`wearer nor obscures the wearer’s vision at any time.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide such
`apparatus which will minimize the reaction time in which it
`will be activated to protect the wearer after impact.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide such
`apparatus as a further means for helping absorb impact.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide shoulder
`pads, which are cooperable with a helmet to help minimize
`or prevent the transmission of damaging axial compressive
`forces to the cervical spine of the wearer from impacts on the
`helmet.
`In another embodiment, it is a still further object of this
`invention to provide a helmet with a signal device to sound
`an audible alarm signal or to display a visual indication
`when the helmet wearer experiences an axial compressive
`force above a selected force level such as occurs when the
`wearer engages in head spearing.
`In still another embodiment, it is an object of this inven
`tion to provide a helmet that transmits a signal to a remote
`observer to provide an indication to said observer that the
`wearer of the helmet has participated in potentially self
`injurious activity.
`The above objects are accomplished by providing a
`protective helmet with an attachment in the form of a ring
`fastened to the lower rim or base of the helmet and to the
`lower part of the face guard, if any, and encircling the neck
`of the wearer. The helmet is also provided with an apparatus
`disposed on the exterior surface of the helmet at the crown
`portion thereof to substantially instantaneously deploy or
`extend the attachment downward into engagement with the
`shoulders of the wearer on an impact on the crown area of
`the helmet with a predetermined force. Thus, the impact
`force is transmitted or transferred through the attachment
`mainly to the shoulders and to some extent to the torso in
`front of and behind the neck, thus relieving the cervical
`spine of the damaging compressive forces.
`By providing the helmet with the apparatus disposed on
`the exterior surface of the helmet at the crown portion
`thereof, the reaction time of the deployment of the attach
`ment is greatly reduced over that in the prior art. The
`reaction time is almost instantaneous upon impact on the
`crown area of the helmet with a predetermined force. In one
`embodiment, the attachment is an in?atable bag in the form
`of a ring attached to the lower rim or base of the helmet and
`encircling the neck of the wearer. The attachment extends
`downward into engagement with the shoulders apparatus by
`almost instantaneously in?ating and deploying the bag on
`impact. On such in?ation, the bag ?lls the gap between the
`shoulders of the wearer and the lower rim or base of the
`helmet and the lower part of the face guard, if any, attached
`to the helmet. Thus, the impact force is transmitted or
`transferred through the deployed bag mainly to the shoulders
`and to some extent to the torso in front of and behind the
`neck, thus relieving the cervical spine of damaging axial
`compressive forces. The bag is constructed to automatically
`de?ate immediately following such rapid in?ation so as to
`not further impede normal head .and neck movements. The
`bag is similar to that used in automotive vehicles to provide
`supplemental restraint to occupants in a collision and can be
`deployed in 25 milliseconds or less. Examples of such bags
`are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,430,979, 4,178,016 and
`4,243,248. Once deployed, the air bag can support impact
`forces of 500 lbs or more.
`In another embodiment, the attachment is in the form of
`a rigid padded ring attached to and conforming to the
`
`4
`contour of the lower rim or base of the helmet and the lower
`part of the face guard, if any. The attachment is detachable
`from the helmet and can be driven downward into engage
`ment with the shoulders of the wearer by a gas-operated
`piston and cylinder arrangement carried by the helmet. The
`helmet is also provided with an apparatus to almost instan
`taneously operate the piston and cylinder arrangement and
`drive the attachment down into engagement with the shoul'
`ders of the wearer on an impact to the crown area of the
`helmet with a predetermined force. Thus, the impact force is
`transmitted or transferred mainly to the shoulders of the
`wearer as in the preferred embodiment. This version can
`support greater weights than the air bag version due to its
`ratcheting feature.
`In another embodiment, shoulder pads are provided with
`an attachment similar to that provided on the helmet. The
`shoulder-pad attachment is an in?atable bag in the form of
`a ring attached to the inner rim of the shoulder pad encircling
`the neck of the wearer. The shoulder pad attachment extends
`inwards, just enough to instantaneously broaden the foun
`dation on which the helmet attachment can rest when
`deployed upon impact, and without harming the wearers’s
`neck.
`In another embodiment, the shoulder pads are provided
`with an internal in?atable bag, which, when in?ated upon
`impact at the helmet crown, operates to raise the shoulder
`pads towards the lower rim of the helmet to ?ll the gap
`between the shoulders of the wearer and the lower rim or
`base of the helmet and the lower part of the face guard, if
`any, attached to the helmet. In this embodiment, the helmet
`is provided with its lower rim having an outwardly extend
`ing ?are to contact the shoulder pads when in?ated.
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of a football helmet embodying this
`invention but omitting the usual chin strap for clarity;
`FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the helmet shown in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the helmet shown in
`FIG. 2, including an improved chin strap embodying this
`invention;
`FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the helmet shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is a bottom, partly cutaway, view of the in?atable
`ring module shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the module
`shown in FIG. 6;
`FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a football
`player wearing a helmet embodying the preferred embodi
`ment of this invention but omitting the in?atable ring
`module;
`FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front view of a football player
`wearing conventional shoulder pads and the helmet shown
`in FIG. 1 with the in?atable ring module in?ated and
`deployed;
`FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the player shown in
`FIG. 9;
`FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the player shown in
`FIG. 9.
`FIG. 12 is a frontal cutaway view of an embodiment of
`this invention;
`FIG. 13 is a side cutaway view of the helmet shown in
`FIG. 12;
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`FIG. 14 is a side perspective of a player wearing a helmet
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a detent/ratchet
`mechanism for a cylinder used in an embodiment of the
`present invention; and
`FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the helmet
`shown in FIG. 2, but including the improved sensor patch of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 17a is a front perspective of a player wearing a
`shoulder pad having an attachment, including an in?atable
`bag therein, along the inner rim encircling the neck of the
`wearer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 17b is a front perspective of a player wearing the
`shoulder pad of FIG. 17a wherein the attachment as an
`in?atable bag is in an in?ated condition along the inner rim
`encircling the neck of the wearer according to an embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 18 is a rear cross sectional view of a player wearing
`a shoulder pad having an in?atable bag therein and a helmet
`with its lower rim having an outwardly extending ?are
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but showing an
`embodiment of this invention where a signal device in
`installed in the helmet and a sensor is provided to activate
`. the signal when an axial, compressive impact of a selected
`magnitude is experienced by the wearer.
`FIG. 20 is a view similar to that of FIG. 19, but showing
`an embodiment of this invention wherein a transmitter and
`receiver are provided to transmit a signal to a remote
`location to indicate that the helmet wearer has participated
`in potentially self-injurious activity.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a conven
`tional football helmet 20 preferably made of a strong plastic
`material, e.g., polycarbonate, and having a face guard 22
`' secured thereto by the usual clips or brackets 24. The guard
`22 di?ers from some conventional guards in that the usual
`vertical bar covering the nose and extending between the top
`and bottom bars of the guard is omitted and instead a clear
`plastic eyeshield 26 is attached to side bars of the guard by
`conventional clips or brackets 28. Within the helmet 20 is
`padded webbing 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which
`preferably is in?atable, as in well designed helmets currently
`in use, so as to snugly accommodate the size of the wearer’s
`head.
`Attached to the lower rim or base 32 of the helmet 20 and
`extending along the sides and rear thereof, and to the lower
`transverse bar of the face guard 22, and for the most part
`following the contours of the base and bar, is an in?atable
`ring module 34 of somewhat oval con?guration, as shown in
`FIGS. 5 and 6, which is attached to the face guard and the
`helmet by conventional clips or brackets 36. As best shown
`in FIG. 7, the in?atable ring module 34 has a channel-like
`shell 38 made of light weight plastic material, e.g., polycar
`bonate. The “U” shape of the shell opens in a direction
`opposite the crown of the helmet 20 so that when the helmet
`20 is worn by a player, the opening faces the player’s
`shoulders. Within the shell 38 is packed in a folded con
`?guration an in?atable bag 40 conventionally made of nylon
`or similar material. The shell 38 with the bag 40 therein is
`wrapped with a rupturable membrane 42, e. g. a thin sheet of
`plastic material which will break and rupture when the bag
`
`6
`is in?ated but strong enough to retain the bag folded in the
`shell during normal football activities. Preferably the mem
`brane 42 is perforated with a pattern to direct the exit of
`portions of the bag 40 from the shell 38 in desired directions
`as later described. To in?ate the bag 40, there is provided
`packed within the module 34 at the rear thereof a package 44
`containing a conventional battery, igniter and gas generator,
`as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6. The gas generator has multiple
`perforations, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to insure even
`in?ation of the bag 40. It will be seen that the ring module
`34 allows full, unencumbered rotation and ?exion of the
`neck of a wearer of the helmet 20.
`To operate the igniter and almost instantaneously in?ate
`by bag 40, there is provided an impact-operated switch 46
`located in the webbing 30 in the crown of the helmet 20 and
`connected to the battery and igniter by circuit wires 48, as
`shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The switch 46 preferably is in the
`form of an accelerometer that is adjustable to calibrate the
`amount of impact force on the crown area necessary to close
`the switch and thus trigger the ?ring mechanism, i.e., the
`igniter, to ?rlly in?ate the bag 40 in about 25 or so milli
`seconds.
`On in?ation the bag 40 ruptures the membrane 42 and
`deploys out of the shell 38. The membrane 42 is provided
`with plurality of perforations so that the bag 40 deploys
`downwardly from module 34 and parallel to the cervical
`spine along the front and rear portions of the module, as
`shown in FIGS. 9—11. The reason for this is that the cervical
`spine is very close to the in?atable module 34 along the sides
`thereof but more distant along the front and rear portions
`thereof. Thus, as the bag 40 deploys through the perforated
`membrane 42 downwardly from module 34, it tends to
`in?ate downward and laterally outward along the sides of
`the helmet 20 and away from the cervical spine and down
`ward and inward along the front and downward and outward
`along the rear portions of the helmet generally parallel to the
`cervical spine. The bag 40 also is made wider along its front
`and rear portions on its deployment, again as shown in
`FIGURES 9-11.
`Thus, on deployment as shown in FIGS. 10-11, it will be
`seen that the bag 40 ?lls the gap between the lower rim or
`base 32 of the helmet 20 and the lower bar of the face guard
`22 and the shoulders or shoulder pads 50 of the wearer and
`the torso at the front and rear of the neck. Accordingly, on
`such quick in?ation, most if not all of the force of an impact
`on the crown of the helmet 20 is transferred from the
`cervical spine directly to the shoulders of the wearer or to
`shoulder pads 50, if worn, thus relieving the cervical spine
`of any axial compression due to such impact. Further, the
`engagement of the bag 40 with the torso at the front and rear
`of the neck resists rotational movements of the cervical
`spine. When in?ated, the bag 40 also supports the neck from
`a lateral force such as the elbow or knee of a player in a
`tackle. Still further, in its deployed position, the bag 40
`should prevent excessive ?exion, extension or lateral
`motions of the cervical spine. On its deployment, the bag 40
`also will support the cervical spine posteriorly or at the rear
`of the neck to prevent extension as Well as protecting the
`neck against any direct blow to its posterior and spinous
`processes of the cervical spine.
`As is conventional with protective in?atable bags used in
`automotive vehicles the bag 40 is appropriately perforated
`so it will de?ate shortly after in?ation to allow a wearer to
`regain substantially unencumbered normal head and neck
`movements and permit the helmet 20, with the bag attached
`thereto, to be removed with ease.
`In clipping and many other football actions, there is not
`only a primary impact resulting from the collision of one
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`player with another but also a secondary impact when a
`player falls or is thrown to the ground as a result of the
`primary impact. For this reason, the bag 40 may be designed
`to remain in?ated for eight to ten seconds after the initial
`blow which activates the in?ation mechanism. For this
`purpose, the in?atable bag 40 used in the present invention
`is preferably coated with Neoprene or a similar substance to
`permit the bag 40 to be in?ated for a longer period of time
`than is possible with automobile bags.
`The improved chin strap 52, which retains the helmet 20
`on the head of a wearer, is fastened to the inner sides of the
`helmet by conventional rivets 54 or the like, as shown in
`FIG. 4, instead of by the usual detachable snap fastener. The
`strap 52 may have a single attachment at each end thereof,
`as shown, or be Y-shaped at its ends for two attachment
`locations as is usual with conventional helmets. The strap 52
`includes the usual padded chin support 56, as shown in FIG.
`8. Between one end of the chin support 56 and the helmet 20
`the strap is divided and provided with a readily releasable
`connecting buckle 58 similar to that used for a seat belt in
`vehicles. The buckle 58 is in two parts, one fastened to one
`end of the strap 52 and the other to the other end. One buckle
`part is in the form of a notched tongue which slides into the
`other buckle part and snap locks therein but can be released
`by applying a pinching force on one side of the other part,
`as shown best in FIG. 8. This is much more convenient for
`a wearer and inhibits accidental detachment of the strap 52
`from the helmet 20, as is the case with the usual conven
`tional snap type fasteners between the ends of the strap and
`the helmet. The sides of the in?atable ring module 34 may
`have grooves therein, if necessary, to accommodate the strap
`52 when fastened in place by the buckle 58.
`When bag 40 is in?ated, it must reach from the lower rim
`of helmet 20 over the neck region to the cervical area of the
`player wearing the helmet. Since the length of the neck
`region will vary depending on the individual player, it is
`necessary to design bag to in?ate to the greatest length that
`might be necessary. While this will produce optimal e?ects
`for a player with a long neck, it will cause great discomfort
`to players with shorter necks if the pressure created thereby
`is not otherwise ameliorated. For this reason, chin strap 52
`is preferably made from a dense elastic material similar to
`the one used by the 3M Corporation in their Lenox Hill knee
`brace. This material permits an elastic stretch of three to four
`centimeters. A strap made from a similar material allowing
`extension of the strap and a corresponding displacement of
`helmet 20 away from the head of the player wearing it will
`provide a su?icient “comfort zone” when bag 40 is in?ated
`while preventing accidental removal of the helmet by move
`ment of the player or by in?ation of bag 40.
`Referring now to FIGS. 12-15 of the drawings, which
`illustrate the second embodiment of the invention, there is
`shown a conventional football helmet 20 having a face guard
`22 secured thereto like the helmet and face guard of the ?rst
`embodiment. Attached to the lower rim or base 32 of the
`helmet 20 and to the lower part of the face guard 22 and
`conforming to the contour thereof is an attachment 60
`generally in the shape of a ring of small cross-section and
`preferably made of a strong plastic material, e.g., polycar
`bonate. The attachment 60 preferably is exteriorly padded
`with a soft cushioning material such as foam rubber. Molded
`into the helmet 20 at the rear and opposite sides thereof are
`substantially upright cylinders 62 having closed upper ends
`64 and open lower ends 66 generally ?ush with the edge of
`the lower rim or base 32 of the helmet. The cylinders may
`be made of metal or of the plastic of the helmet shell, i.e.,
`integrally molded therein. The molding is such that the
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
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`50
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`55
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`65
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`8
`interior of the helmet remains smooth to uninterruptedly
`accommodate the head of the wearer but the cylinders may
`cause curved smooth bulges 68 on the exterior of the helmet
`20. In each cylinder 62 is a piston 70 having a rod 72 with
`its outer end rigidly fastened to the ring-like attachment 60.
`The cylinders 62 and rods 72 are long enough so that when
`the pistons 70 are moved downward, as later explained, the
`attachment 60 will move down into engagement with the
`shoulders 50 of the wearer, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
`Also molded within the helmet shell 20 but leaving the
`interior of the latter smooth but with a small exterior smooth
`bulge 76 is a small gas chamber or manifold 78 connected
`to the upper ends 64 of the cylinders 62 above the pistons 70
`by separate conduits 80 molded into the helmet shell 20. To
`supply gas to the chamber 82 and to thus operate the
`cylinders 62 and pistons 70 to drive the attachment 60 down
`onto the shoulders 50 of the wearer, the helmet 20 may be
`provided with a package 84 like the package of the ?rst
`embodiment which contains a conventional battery, igniter
`and gas generator connected to the gas chamber. The pack
`age 84 may be accommodated in an interior depression or
`compartment molded in the helmet shell and creating
`another small smooth exterior bulge 76. Alternatively the
`gas chamber 78 may be large enough to accommodate the
`package 84. To operate the igniter there may be provided an
`impact-operated switch like the switch 46 of the preferred
`embodiment located in the crown of the helmet and con
`nected to the battery and igniter by circuit wires.
`In another arrangement, the gas chamber 78 is located in
`the crown area 86 of the helmet and has a primer, such as
`that used in a shotgun shell, ?xed in the top wall of the
`chamber, i.e., in the crown area 86 of the helmet. The
`exterior of the primer is covered with an impermeable
`membrane with which is engaged a ?ring pin for the primer.
`The pin may be ?ctionally ?tted into the shell of the helmet
`20 or otherwise mounted to be movable to rupture the
`membrane and engage and ignite the primer on impact on
`the crown area 86 of the helmet 20 with a predetermined
`force. The gas created by the primer will substantially
`instantaneously operate the pistons 70 and cylinders 62 to
`drive the ring-like attachment 60 down into engagement
`with the shoulders 50 of the wearer as described above.
`Preferably, within the lower end 74 of each cylinder 62 is
`a ratchet mechanism engaged with the corresponding rod to
`?rmly retain the rod in its extended position when the
`shoulders are engaged by the ring-like attachment to posi
`tively transfer or transmit the force of the impact to the
`shoulders 50 of the wearer without the possibility of retrac
`tion of the pistons 70 and their rods 72 to alleviate such
`transmittal.
`The pistons 70 and rods 72 may be retained in their
`retracted positions to hold the ring-like attachment 60 ?rmly
`against the lower rim or base 32 of the helmet 20 and the
`lower part of the face guard 22, if any, by detents which are
`overcome by the generation of gas to operate the pistons 70
`to extend the rods 72 and the attachment‘ 60 as described
`above.
`One type of ratchet/detent mechanism suitable for use
`with the present invention is shown in FIG. 15. In this
`Figure, a substantially airtight connection between gas
`chamber 78 and the interior 82 of cylinder 62 provides a
`vacuum arrangement preventing piston 70 from being dis
`placed downwardly in normal use. When gas chamber 78
`provides gas to chamber 82, thereby driving piston 70
`downward, spring-loaded ratchets 88 engage with notches
`90 in piston rod 72 to provide a positive engagement
`
`IPR2018-00565
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`mechanism which, due to the downward angle of the ratch
`ets, permits the pistons