Flex Spring Helmet

Abstract

A helmet can include a helmet body formed of a foam energy-absorbing material in which the helmet body includes inner and outer opposing surfaces. A plurality of lower slots can be formed completely through the helmet body and can be open at a lower edge of the helmet body. A plurality of upper slots can be formed completely through the helmet body and be open at a top portion of the helmet body to form a star shape. An S-shaped panel of the helmet body can include an undulating form from the alternating and overlapping positions of the plurality of lower slots and the plurality of upper slots. A reinforcing halo can be disposed within the helmet body to reinforce areas of weakness in the helmet body resulting from the plurality of lower slots and the plurality of upper slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet body formed of a foam energy-absorbing material, the helmet body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface connected to each other at a lower edge of the helmet body; and   a plurality of upper slots formed in the helmet body that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein the plurality of upper slots intersect with each other at a crown portion of the helmet body and do not extend to the lower edge of the helmet body.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing halo disposed within the helmet body to reinforce areas of weakness in the helmet body resulting from the plurality of upper slots. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lower slots formed in the helmet body that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface, the plurality of lower slots being open at the lower edge of the helmet body; wherein a shape of a continuous portion of the helmet body forms an S-shaped panel between a lower end of one of the plurality of upper slots extending from the top portion of the helmet body to between upper ends of two of the plurality of lower slots. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of lower slots and the plurality of upper slots comprises an upper slot crossing a connecting line formed between upper ends of two lower slots by a distance in a range of 2-5 centimeters (cm). 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 3 , further comprising a reinforcing halo disposed within the helmet body, wherein the reinforcing halo comprises an annular shape and is disposed within the S-shaped panel without being exposed by the plurality of lower slots or the plurality of upper slots. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of upper slots comprises at least three slots. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the foam energy-absorbing material comprising EPS, EPP, EPTU, or EPO. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the helmet is configured such that a force in a range of 22-66 Newtons applied to the helmet will reduce a width of one of the plurality of upper slots by a distance greater than or equal to 5 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         9 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet body formed of a foam energy-absorbing material, the helmet body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a lower edge joining the inner surface and the outer surface;   a plurality of upper slots formed in the helmet body that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface, the plurality of upper slots being intersected with each other at a crown portion of the helmet body and terminating above the lower edge of the helmet body; and   an annular shape halo in-molded within the helmet body without the halo being exposed by the plurality of upper slots.   
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , further comprising straps disposed through openings in the helmet body at opposing sides of the lower plurality of slots. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the helmet is formed of a unitary helmet body without an outer shell disposed over the helmet body. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11 , further comprising a bike snap disposed within the helmet body and extending from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the foam energy-absorbing material comprising EPS, EPP, EPTU, or EPO. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of lower slots formed in the helmet body that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface and do not intersect with the upper slots, wherein a shape of a continuous portion of the helmet body between the upper slots and the lower slots forms an S-shaped panel between a lower end of one of the plurality of upper slots to between upper ends of two of the plurality of lower slots. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of lower slots and the plurality of upper slots comprises an upper slot crossing a connecting line formed between upper ends of two lower slots by a distance in a range of 2-5 centimeters (cm). 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the annular shape halo is in-molded within the S-shaped panel of the helmet body without the halo being exposed by the plurality of lower slots or the plurality of upper slots. 
     
     
         17 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet body formed of a foam energy-absorbing material, the helmet body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; and   a plurality of upper slots that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface, the plurality of upper slots intersecting with each other at a crown portion of the helmet body and extending separately away from the crown portion.   
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , a plurality of lower slots formed in the helmet body that extend completely through the helmet body from the outer surface to the inner surface, the plurality of lower slots being open at a lower edge of the helmet body. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of lower slots and the plurality of upper slots comprises an upper slot crossing a connecting line formed between upper ends of two lower slots by a distance in a range of 2-5 centimeters (cm). 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein a shape of a continuous portion of the helmet body forms an S-shaped panel between a lower end of one of the plurality of upper slots to between upper ends of two of the plurality of lower slots, the helmet further comprising an annular shape halo in-molded within the S-shaped panel of the helmet body so that the halo is not exposed by the plurality of lower slots or the plurality of upper slots.