Impact reducing protective headgear

Abstract

The present invention provides protective headgear which includes magnetic material configured such that the impact of a collision to the head of a wearer is reduced. In one embodiment, protective headgear, such as a helmet, is provided with a first magnetic material disposed in the helmet in at least one region of the helmet, wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a magnetic repulsive force against a second helmet including a second magnetic material of the same polarity, such that the impact forces of a direct helmet-to-helmet collision are reduced or avoided. The invention additionally provides a system for impact reduction including protective headgear, such as one or more helmets, and optionally one or more neck pads or body armor comprising magnetic material, and a method for reducing the impact from a collision experienced by a wearer of the protective headgear.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a structure configured to at least partially surround a head of a wearer and   a first magnetic material disposed in the helmet in at least one region of the helmet, wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a magnetic repulsive force against a second helmet comprising a second magnetic material of the same polarity, such that the impact forces of a direct helmet-to-helmet collision is reduced or avoided.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the structure further comprises   a pad assembly and   a shell configured to at least partially surround a head of a wearer, the shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic material is adjacent to the outer surface, the inner surface, the pad assembly, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic material is incorporated in the pad assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the shell comprises magnetic material configured to at least partially surround a head of a wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the shell comprises a composite material comprising magnetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the composite comprises a resin and magnetic particles. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetic particles are in powder form. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetic particles are nanoparticles. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises a front region, a crown region, lateral regions, and a back region, wherein at least one of the front region, crown region, lateral regions, and back region comprises the magnetic material. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material comprises neodymium, samarium, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet further comprises at least one sensor configured to collect data regarding force of impact the wearer receives. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the helmet further comprises at least one sensor configured to transfer data regarding force of impact the wearer receives. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the pad assembly comprises crushable foam, pressurized fluid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet further comprises a facemask disposed to at least partially cover the face of the wearer and the facemask comprises magnetic material. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is coated, plated, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetic material is coated with at least one of an epoxy, paralyene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polyisoprene. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetic material is plated with at least one of nickel, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tin, titanium, titanium nitride, and chromium. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a repulsive force greater than 20 pounds force against the second helmet comprising the second magnetic material of the same polarity. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a repulsive force greater than 40 pounds force against the second helmet comprising the second magnetic material of the same polarity. 
     
     
         23 . An impact reduction system comprising a plurality of helmets,
 each of said helmets comprises a structure configured to at least partially surround a head of a wearer and   a first magnetic material disposed in a first helmet of the plurality of helmets in at least one region of the helmet, wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a magnetic repulsive force against a second helmet comprising a second magnetic material of the same polarity, such that the impact forces of a direct helmet-to-helmet collision is reduced or avoided.   
     
     
         24 . The impact reduction system of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of helmets comprise magnetic material of the same polarity. 
     
     
         25 . The impact reduction system of  claim 23 , wherein the impact reduction system further comprises a sensor configured to collect data regarding force of impact a wearer receives. 
     
     
         26 . A method of reducing the impact from a collision, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a helmet comprising a structure configured to at least partially surround a head of a wearer and   a first magnetic material disposed in the helmet in at least one region of the helmet, wherein the first magnetic material is configured to exert a magnetic repulsive force against a second helmet comprising a second magnetic material of the same polarity, such that the impact forces of a direct helmet-to-helmet collision is reduced or avoided.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises providing a plurality of helmets comprising magnetic material of the same polarity. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises deflecting a first helmet of said plurality of helmets by the magnetic material of a second helmet of said plurality of helmets.