Brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method

Abstract

A brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus and method providing pad liners made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis, where, in use, the viscoelastic material will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet, but upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus, comprising:
 (i) a circumferential pad liner adapted to encircle the head of the user from a location above the eyes to the back of the head;   (ii) a longitudinal pad liner adapted to form an arch over the user's head from front to back, with both endpoints in close proximity to said circumferential pad liner;   (iii) two transverse pad liners adapted to form two partial arches from above the user's ears to the top of the user's head, with one endpoint in close proximity to said circumferential pad liner and the other endpoint in close proximity to said longitudinal pad liner; and   (iv) a covering adapted to fit between said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners, and the user's head, adapted to increase the comfort and protection of the user's head and hair;   
       where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis; 
       where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are provided in thicknesses sufficient to fill the space between the user's head and the helmet interior shell; 
       where, in use, said brain-protecting helmet lining will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet; and 
       where, in use, upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material of said brain-protecting helmet lining will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user. 
     
     
         2 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said covering further comprises an air and moisture permeable mesh material. 
     
     
         3 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said covering further comprises a quilted material. 
     
     
         4 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are made from an anelastic solid viscoelastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         7 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic foam-gel combination. 
     
     
         8 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polyether polyol. 
     
     
         10 . The brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus of  claim 1 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). 
     
     
         11 . A brain-protecting helmet lining method, comprising:
 (i) providing a brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a circumferential pad liner adapted to encircle the head of the user from a location above the eyes to the back of the head; 
 (b) a longitudinal pad liner adapted to form an arch over the user's head from front to back, with both endpoints in close proximity to said circumferential pad liner; 
 (c) two transverse pad liners adapted to form two partial arches from above the user's ears to the top of the user's head, with one endpoint in close proximity to said circumferential pad liner and the other endpoint in close proximity to said longitudinal pad liner; and 
 (d) a covering adapted to fit between said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners, and the user's head, adapted to increase the comfort and protection of the user's head and hair; 
   where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are made of a viscoelastic material which deforms in a time-dependent and nonlinear way, and has a capability of storing strain energy when deformed, while dissipating some energy through hysteresis;   where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are provided in thicknesses sufficient to fill the space between the user's head and the helmet interior shell;   where, in use, said brain-protecting helmet lining will deform, under slight pressure applied consistently, to closely fit the user's head and prevent unwanted movement of the head within the helmet; and   where, in use, upon the application of strain over a short pulse of time from a blow or checked momentum, the viscoelastic material of said brain-protecting helmet lining will resist deformation which would loosen the fit to the user's head, and will store and partially dissipate the strain energy, protecting the head and brain of the user; and   (ii) wearing said brain-protecting helmet lining apparatus to protect the head and brain of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said covering further comprises an air and moisture permeable mesh material. 
     
     
         13 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said covering further comprises a quilted material. 
     
     
         14 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners are made from an anelastic solid viscoelastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         17 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic foam-gel combination. 
     
     
         18 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         19 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is a viscoelastic polyether polyol. 
     
     
         20 . The brain-protecting helmet lining method of  claim 11 , where said viscoelastic material making said circumferential pad liner, longitudinal pad liner, and transverse pad liners is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).