Helmet

Abstract

A helmet having an outer shell and an inner shell placed within the outer shell. The inner shell attached to the outer shell by a plurality of elastomeric elements to isolate the inner shell from impacts and rotational forces applied to the outer shell.

1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell with an exterior surface;   an inner shell located within the outer shell, the inner shell having an interior surface opposite the outer shell; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements attaching the inner shell to the outer shell wherein:
 the outer shell has a plurality of bore holes extending through the outer shell; 
   the inner shell has a plurality of bore holes extending through the inner shell arranged such that when the inner shell is located within the outer shell the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell align with the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell; and   the plurality of elastomeric elements is placed through the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell and the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell,   each of the plurality of bore holes has a recess, each of the plurality of bore holes of the outer shell having a recess on the exterior surface of the outer shell and each of the plurality of bore holes of the inner shell having a recess on the interior surface of the inner shell, the recesses being larger in diameter than each of the plurality of bore holes; and   each of the plurality of elastomeric elements has a shank at each end sized to fit within the bore hole and a head at each end that extends through each of the plurality of bore holes and is sized larger than each of the plurality of bore holes to fit within the recesses and to secure the elastomeric element.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein:
 each of the plurality of elastomeric elements have at least one placement strand extending from at least one head of each of the plurality of elastomeric elements, opposite the shank adjacent the at least one head, the placement strands extend through the plurality of bore holes to aid in placement of the elastomeric elements in the bore holes, the placement strands are removed after placement. 
 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein:
 a chinstrap is secured to the inner shell; and 
 a facemask is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein:
 a plurality of pads is secured to the interior surface of the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1  wherein:
 a visor is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         6 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell having a plurality of bore holes through the outer shell;   an inner shell located within the outer shell and having a plurality of bore holes extending through the inner shell arranged such that when the inner shell is located within the outer shell the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell align with the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements placed through the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell and through the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell to form an elastic connection between the outer shell and the inner shell,   each of the plurality of bore holes has a recess opposite the connection formed by the elastomeric elements, the recess being larger in diameter than each of the plurality of bore holes; and   each of the plurality of elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within each of the plurality of bore holes and a head sized larger than each of the plurality of bore holes to fit within the recesses.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6  wherein:
 a chinstrap is secured to the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 6  wherein:
 a plurality of pads is secured to the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 6  wherein:
 a facemask is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 6  wherein:
 a visor is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         11 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell having an exterior surface and a plurality of bore holes that extend through the outer shell;   an inner shell located within the outer shell, the inner shell having an interior surface and a plurality of bore holes extending through the inner shell; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements positioned in the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell and the plurality of bore holes in the exterior shell to form an elastic connection between the outer shell and the inner shell,   the plurality of bore holes of the inner shell are arranged such that when the inner shell is located within the outer shell the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell align with the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell,   each of the plurality of bore holes in the inner shell has a recess on the interior surface of the inner shell that is larger than each of the plurality of bore holes; and   each of the plurality of elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within each of the plurality of bore holes of the inner shell and a head sized larger than each of the plurality of bore holes to fit within the recesses on the interior surface of the inner shell.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein:
 a chinstrap is secured to the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein:
 a plurality of pads is secured to the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein:
 a facemask is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein:
 a visor is secured to the outer shell. 
 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein:
 each of the plurality of bore holes in the outer shell has a recess on the exterior surface of the outer shell, the recesses being larger than each of the plurality of bore holes; and 
 each of the plurality of elastomeric elements has a shank sized to fit within each of the plurality of bore holes of the outer shell and a head sized larger than each of the plurality of bore holes to fit within the recesses on the exterior surface of the outer shell.