Helmet padding systems

Abstract

Padding systems for use with helmets are described. An example padding system includes a pad body having a substantially unitary base portion. The base portion has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side to face an inner surface of a helmet and the second side to face the head of a person when the helmet is worn by the person. The padding system also includes a first plurality of raised portions distributed on the first side of the base portion, at least some of the first raised portions extending beyond a first surface of the first side to fill first spaces between the inner surface of the helmet and the pad body when the padding system is installed in the helmet and the helmet is worn by the person. Additionally, the padding system includes a second plurality of raised portions distributed on the second side of the base portion, at least some of the second raised portions extending beyond a second surface of the second side to engage the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A padding system for use in a helmet, comprising:
 a pad body having a substantially unitary base portion, the base portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side to face an inner surface of a helmet and the second side to face the head of a person when the helmet is worn by the person;   a first plurality of raised portions distributed on the first side of the base portion, at least some of the first raised portions extending beyond a first surface of the first side to fill first spaces between the inner surface of the helmet and the pad body when the padding system is installed in the helmet and the helmet is worn by the person; and   a second plurality of raised portions distributed on the second side of the base portion, at least some of the second raised portions extending beyond a second surface of the second side to engage the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person.   
     
     
         2 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first raised portions are distributed on the first side to fill the first spaces in regions corresponding to portions of the helmet likely to receive an impact. 
     
     
         3 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the second raised portions are distributed on the second side to form second spaces between the pad body and the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         4 . The padding system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the second spaces facilitate ventilation when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         5 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the second raised portions are distributed on the second side to control a distribution of a weight of the helmet on the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         6 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the second raised portions are deformable to facilitate engagement with the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         7 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pad body comprises channels to facilitate ventilation when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         8 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first raised portions extends a different distance beyond the first surface than another one of the first raised portions. 
     
     
         9 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second raised portions extends a different distance beyond the second surface than an another one of the second raised portions. 
     
     
         10 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second raised portions comprises a first material and another one of the second raised portions comprises a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         11 . The padding system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first material is to grip the head of the person and the second material is to absorb moisture from the head of the person. 
     
     
         12 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first raised portions is made of a first material and at least one of the second raised portions is made of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         13 . The padding system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the base portion is made of a third material different than at least one of the first or second materials. 
     
     
         14 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein first raised portions comprise an impact absorbing material. 
     
     
         15 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first raised portions or the second raised portions is thermally fused to the pad body. 
     
     
         16 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first raised portions or the second raised portions is coupled via an adhesive or a mechanical fastener to the pad body. 
     
     
         17 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first raised portions or the second raised portions are integrally formed with the pad body by varying a thickness of the pad body in a region corresponding to the at least one of the first raised portions or the second raised portions. 
     
     
         18 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein base portion has a plurality of arms extending from a central portion of the pad body. 
     
     
         19 . The padding system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the central portion and the arms are shaped to substantially cover the inner surface of the helmet when the padding system is installed in the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . The padding system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the arms is tapered to narrow toward the central portion. 
     
     
         21 . The padding system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of arms comprises four arms, two of the arms lying along a first longitudinal axis and the other two arms lying along a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         22 . The padding system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the two arms lying along the first longitudinal axis are to be positioned adjacent left and right sides of the head of the person, and wherein the two arms lying along the second longitudinal axis are to be positioned adjacent the front and back sides of the head of the person. 
     
     
         23 . The padding system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are disposed along a longitudinal axis of one of the arms. 
     
     
         24 . The padding system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein each of the arms includes a slot and the pad body comprises a plurality of pad portions to slidably engage respective ones of the slots to enable adjustment of the padding system when the padding system is installed in the helmet. 
     
     
         25 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are disk-shaped or cylindrically-shaped. 
     
     
         26 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are disposed in respective recesses in the pad body. 
     
     
         27 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein prior to being installed in the helmet, the pad body has a substantially flat profile. 
     
     
         28 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pad body comprises at least one of a foam material, a vinyl material, a urethane material, a polystyrene material, an elastomeric material, or a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         29 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of raised portions comprises at least one of a foam material, a vinyl material, a urethane material, a polystyrene material, an elastomeric material, or a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         30 . The padding system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a fabric cover encapsulating the pad body, the fabric to wick moisture from the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         31 . A padding system for use in a helmet, comprising:
 a pad body having a base portion, the base portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side to face an inner surface of a helmet and the second side to face the head of a person when the helmet is worn by the person;   a first plurality of inserts distributed on the first side of the base portion and substantially integral with the pad body, the first inserts to engage the inner surface of the helmet when the padding system is installed in the helmet; and   a second plurality of inserts distributed on the second side of the base portion and substantially integral with the pad body, the second inserts to engage the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person.   
     
     
         32 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the inserts extends beyond a first surface of the first side or a second surface of the second side to prevent the direct transfer of kinetic energy between at least one area of the inner surface of the helmet and the head of the person when the helmet is worn by the person. 
     
     
         33 . The padding system as defined in  claim 32 , wherein at least another one of the inserts extends a different distance beyond the first surface or the second surface than the at least one of the inserts. 
     
     
         34 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least some of the inserts are integrally formed with, heat fused to, coupled via an adhesive to, or mechanically coupled to the pad body. 
     
     
         35 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least some of the first inserts comprise an impact absorbing material. 
     
     
         36 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least some of the second inserts comprise a moisture absorbing material. 
     
     
         37 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least some of the second inserts are deformable to facilitate engagement with the head of the person. 
     
     
         38 . The padding system as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the at least some of the second inserts are cylindrically shaped and composed of a foam material to facilitate engagement with the head of the person. 
     
     
         39 . The padding system as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of radially extending arms and the inserts are distributed on the arms. 
     
     
         40 . A padding system for use in a helmet, comprising:
 a pad body having a substantially unitary base portion, the base portion having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side to face an inner surface of a helmet and the second side to face the head of a person when the helmet is worn by the person, the base portion defining a plurality of flexible arms separately extending from a central portion; and   a plurality of raised portions on the pad body and distributed on the first side of the base portion, at least some of the raised portions located on the arms and extending beyond a first surface of the base portion to fill spaces between the inner surface of the helmet and the pad body when the padding system is installed in the helmet and the helmet is worn by the person.   
     
     
         41 . The padding system as defined in  claim 40 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are distributed on the first side to fill the spaces in regions corresponding to portions of the helmet likely to receive an impact. 
     
     
         42 . The padding system as defined in  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the raised portions extends a different distance beyond the first surface than another one of the raised portions. 
     
     
         43 . The padding system as defined in  claim 40 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are disk-shaped and fixed in respective recesses in the pad body. 
     
     
         44 . The padding system as defined in  claim 40 , wherein at least some of the raised portions are formed by varying a thickness of the pad body. 
     
     
         45 . The padding system as defined in  claim 40 , wherein prior to being installed in the helmet, the pad body has a substantially flat profile.