Impact reduction helmet

Abstract

An impact reduction helmet and method are disclosed. The helmet and method include an inner frame having interior pads that rest on a person's head and a second frame coupled to the first frame with shock absorbers wherein the shock absorbers are larger in the section of the helmet near the rear of the helmet and shorter in the section closer to the front of the helmet in order to move the rotational center of the helmet closer to the rotational center of the head. The first frame and second frame are also spaced farther apart than prior art helmets to increase the distance available for impact absorption.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a first frame;   a plurality of pads attached to the first frame wherein the pads are configured to rest against a person's head;   a rigid second frame wherein the second frame is external to the first frame; and   a plurality of shock absorption elements that couple the first frame to the second frame wherein:
 the shock absorption elements further comprise a force displacement curve having a displacement of at least 50 millimeters; and 
 the shock absorption elements located at the front of the helmet are shorter than the shock absorption elements at the back of the helmet whereby the center of rotation of the helmet is nearer to the center of rotation of the person's head. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the first frame is rigid. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein one of the first frame and/or the second frame further comprises a material selected from the group comprising:
 silicon carbide, 
 boron carbide, 
 amorphous boron, 
 hafnium carbide, 
 tantalum carbide, 
 magnesium diboride, 
 carbon nanotubes, 
 glassy carbon, 
 diamond-like carbon, 
 single-crystal tungsten, 
 boron nitride, 
 titanium diboride, 
 hafnium diboride, 
 lanthanum haxabromide, 
 cerium hexaboride, 
 molybdenum carbide, 
 tungsten disulfide, or 
 an aramid. 
 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a third frame wherein:
 the third frame is external to the second frame, and 
 the third frame is rigid; and wherein:
 the third frame is coupled to the second frame with couplers that allow the third frame to slide over the second frame in a tangential direction. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4  wherein one of the first frame, the second frame, and/or the third frame further comprises a material selected from the group comprising:
 silicon carbide, 
 boron carbide, 
 amorphous boron, 
 hafnium carbide, 
 tantalum carbide, 
 magnesium diboride, 
 carbon nanotubes, 
 glassy carbon, 
 diamond-like carbon, 
 single-crystal tungsten, 
 boron nitride, 
 titanium diboride, 
 hafnium diboride, 
 lanthanum haxabromide, 
 cerium hexaboride, 
 molybdenum carbide, 
 tungsten disulfide, or 
 an aramid. 
 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the second frame is spherical. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the shock absorption elements further comprise elastically-resilient impressions. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising an inertial sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 8  further comprising an electronic circuit responsive to the inertial sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9  wherein the helmet further comprises a transmitter responsive to the inertial sensor whereby the transmitter can send a signal to a remote location. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a biometric sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein the helmet further comprises a communications module coupled to the sensor wherein the communications module transmits biometric information to the person. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein the helmet wherein the shock absorption elements further comprise a single-use impact material. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein the single-use impact material further comprises a metal foam. 
     
     
         15 . A wearable protection device for a person's head, the device comprising:
 at least one pad configured to rest against a person's head;   a first frame attached to the pad;   a rigid second frame that surrounds the first frame further comprising a gap of at least 50 millimeters at all points between the first frame and the second frame wherein the gap is greater in the part of the device proximate to the rear of the person's head than the part of the device proximate to the front of the person's head; and   at least one energy-absorbing element coupling the first frame to the second frame.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising a third frame wherein:
 the third frame is external to the second frame, and 
 the third frame is rigid; and wherein:
 the third frame is coupled to the second frame with couplers that allow the third frame to slide over the second frame in a tangential direction. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the second frame is spherical. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the shock absorption elements further comprise elastically-resilient impressions. 
     
     
         19 . A method for minimizing the effect of rotational impacts on a person's head, the head protection method comprising:
 configuring a pad to be placed on the person's head;   attaching a first frame to the pad;   attaching a shock-absorbing element externally to the first frame;   attaching a second frame externally to the shock absorbing element in a configuration that provides:
 a minimum gap of at least 50 millimeters between the first frame and the second frame and 
 a greater gap between the first frame and the second frame in the part of the first frame located closest to the rear of the person's head than the gap between the first frame and the second frame in the part of the first frame located closest to the front of the person's head; and 
   coupling at least one rigid third frame element externally to the second frame wherein coupling further comprises a rotational coupler capable of sliding the third frame element over the second frame in a tangential direction.   
     
     
         20 . The head protection method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 mounting a sensor in one of the first frame, the second frame, or the third frame; 
 providing a digital electronic circuit responsive to the sensor wherein the circuit; and 
 further comprises a processor, a battery, and a memory whereby a signal from the sensor may be recorded in the memory. 
 
     
     
         21 . The head protection method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 using a collision sensor to detect an impending collision; and 
 deploying additional padding in response to the collision sensor. 
 
     
     
         22 . The head protection method of  claim 17  wherein the shock absorbing element further comprises a single-use impact material.