Impact core for insertion inside an outer shell of a helmet

Abstract

The invention relates to an impact core for insertion inside an outer shell of a helmet. The impact core comprises a shock-proof material and is substantially dome-shaped having cut outs to increase the flexibility of the impact core. The cut out makes the impact core deformable and as a result the impact core can be adjusted according to different head shapes and sizes. The impact core comprises a substantially star-shaped cut out at a top and a plurality of elongated edge cut outs near an edge of said impact core. Further, each of a plurality of arms of said star-shaped cut out extends downward between two neighboring edge cut outs at the edge.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an impact core for insertion inside an outer shell of a helmet, wherein the impact core comprises a shock proof material and is substantially dome-shaped having cut outs to increase the flexibility of the impact core, wherein the impact core comprises a substantially star-shaped cut out at a top of the impact core and a plurality of elongated edge cut outs near an edge of the impact core, and wherein each of a plurality of arms of the star-shaped cut out extends downward between two neighboring edge cut outs.   
     
     
         2 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the star-shaped cut out is a cross-shaped cut out. 
     
     
         3 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated cut outs near the edge extend from the edge in a substantially upward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the arms extends from the top of the impact core downwardly towards a respective point located above the edge, and wherein each of the elongated cut outs extends from the edge upwardly towards a respective point located below the top of the impact core. 
     
     
         5 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein each arm extends downwardly to such extent that a lower part of the respective arm is at least partly located between two neighboring elongated edge cut outs. 
     
     
         6 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact core is substantially serpentine-shaped, following a substantially serpentine-shaped path extending in a circumferential direction of the impact core, the path running above upper ends of the elongated edge cut outs and running below lower ends of the arms. 
     
     
         7 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact core comprises expanded polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact core comprises expanded polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The impact core according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact core is molded. 
     
     
         10 . A helmet comprising:
 an impact core for insertion inside an outer shell of the helmet, wherein the impact core comprises a shock proof material and is substantially dome-shaped having cut outs to increase the flexibility of the impact core, wherein the impact core comprises a substantially star-shaped cut out at a top of the impact core and a plurality of elongated edge cut outs near an edge of the impact core, and wherein each of a plurality of arms of the star-shaped cut out extends downward between two neighboring edge cut outs,   the helmet further comprising an outer shell, the impact core being arranged in the outer shell.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein the outer shell comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). 
     
     
         12 . The helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein the outer shell has a thickness of between 0.5-3.5 mm, more preferably between 1.8-2.2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein the helmet further comprises a comfort core comprising a substantially helmet shaped layer arranged at least partly inside the impact core. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet according to  claim 13 , wherein the comfort core comprises EVA rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet according to  claim 13 , wherein the comfort core comprises an upper portion being substantially dome-shaped and a lower portion for surrounding a lower part of the skull of a user. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet according to  claim 15 , wherein the upper portion of the comfort core is less thick than the lower part so as to accommodate the impact core.