Helmet

Abstract

A helmet ( 10 ) formed of a plurality of layers wherein at least one of the layers comprises a plurality of beads ( 16 ) encased within a liner ( 28 ), and a second liner selected from the group consisting of a hard layer ( 36 ) and a soft layer ( 26 ).

I claim: 
     
         1 . A helmet ( 10 ) comprising:
 a plurality of layers;   at least one of said layers comprising a plurality of beads ( 16 ), said beads being encased within a liner ( 28 ); and   a second layer selected from the group consisting of a hard layer ( 36 ) and a soft layer ( 26 ).   
     
     
         2 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said beads ( 16 ) have a uniform size. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said beads ( 16 ) are assorted sizes. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said beads ( 16 ) have a varying configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said liner ( 28 ) is a cloth liner. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  further including an air bladder ( 38 ) containing a gas therein. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 6  further including an inlet valve ( 62 ). 
     
     
         8 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 7  further including a separate outlet valve ( 62 ). 
     
     
         9 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 6  further including a combination inlet/outlet valve ( 62 ). 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 6  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has an outer layer comprising said soft layer ( 26 ), an intermediate layer comprising said beads ( 16 ), and an inner most layer comprising said air bladder ( 38 ). 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has a soft outer layer ( 26 ) and an inner layer of said beads ( 16 ). 
     
     
         12 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has an outer layer comprising said hard layer ( 36 ), an intermediate layer comprising said beads ( 16 ), and an inner most layer comprising said air bladder ( 38 ). 
     
     
         13 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has an outer layer formed of said hard layer ( 36 ) and an inner layer formed of said beads ( 16 ). 
     
     
         14 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has an outer layer formed of said soft layer ( 26 ), a first intermediate layer formed of said beads ( 16 ), a second intermediate layer formed of said hard layer ( 36 ), and an inner most layer formed of said beads ( 16 ). 
     
     
         15 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said helmet ( 10 ) has an outer most layer formed of said soft layer ( 26 ), a first intermediate layer formed of an air bladder ( 38 ), a second intermediate layer formed of said beads ( 16 ), and a third layer formed of said hard layer ( 36 ). 
     
     
         16 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  comprising an inner most layer of a honeycomb structure ( 88 ), and an outer layer comprising said hard layer ( 36 ), and an inner most layer comprising said beads ( 16 ). 
     
     
         17 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said liner ( 28 ) is formed of a material which is expandable. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein said liner ( 28 ) is a rigid liner. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 1  further including an air bladder ( 38 ) containing a gas therein, said air bladder ( 38 ) being enclosed within said layer comprising a plurality of beads ( 16 ). 
     
     
         20 . The helmet ( 10 ) of  claim 6  further including a safety valve ( 62 ) associated with said air bladder ( 38 ), said safety valve ( 62 ) designed to release said gas at a desired pressure to lower internal pressure to a desired value.