Protective Helmet System and Method

Abstract

An inflatable component for a protective headgear according to various embodiments can include an inner surface facing an outer shell of the protective headgear. One or more inflatable structures may be provided between the inner surface and an outer surface of the inflatable component. A structure of the inflatable structure is designed having a pre-determined cross-sectional profile. The pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the inflatable structure is configured based on a head injury criteria. In various embodiments, the system and method can include an energy absorption component. In other embodiments, the system and method can include a reactive component.

1 . An inflatable component for a protective headgear, comprising:
 an inner surface facing an outer shell of the protective headgear;   one or more inflatable structures provided between the inner surface and an outer surface of the inflatable component;   a structure of the one or more inflatable structures having a pre-determined cross-sectional profile; and   the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the one or more structure is configured based on the Head Injury Criteria or the Gadd Severity Index.   
     
     
         2 . A method of manufacturing an inflatable component, comprising:
 forming an inner surface facing an outer shell of the protective headgear;   forming one or more inflatable structures provided between the inner surface and an outer surface of the inflatable component; and   forming a structure of the one or more inflatable structures having a pre-determined cross-sectional profile;   wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the one or more structure is configured based on the Head Injury Criteria or the Gadd Severity Index.   
     
     
         3 . An inflatable component for a protective headgear, comprising:
 an inner surface facing an outer shell of the protective headgear;   one or more inflatable structures provided between the inner surface and an outer surface of the inflatable component;   a structure of the one or more inflatable structures having a pre-determined cross-sectional profile;   the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the one or more structure is configured based on the Head Injury Criteria or the Gadd Severity Index;   a plurality of air bags coupled with the one or more inflatable structures;   at least one gas flow passage for supplying one or more of the plurality of air bags with gas from an inflator; and   at least one valve positioned between the gas flow passage and the inflator to selectively control the opening and closing of each gas flow passage.   
     
     
         4 . The inflatable component of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a controller for detecting impact signals transmitted from one or more impact sensors for determining a type of impact subjected to the protective headgear during a collision;   the controller selecting one or more of the plurality of air bags to be deployed in response to the detected impact signals; and   the controller operating the valve to deploy the selected air bag.   
     
     
         5 . The inflatable component of  claim 4 , wherein the type of impact comprises at least one of a primary impact and a secondary impact. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable component of  claim 4 , wherein the type of impact is selected from the group consisting of: a moderate collision, a serious collision, a severe collision, a critical collision, and a maximum collision. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable component of  claim 3 , wherein the inflatable structure has a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of holes or cavities, a tubular structure having a tri-dimensional configuration, a solid profile without a cavity, a solid profile configured to resemble an s-configuration, and a truss profile. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable component of  claim 3 , wherein portions of the inflatable structure is configured based on either the Head Injury Criteria or the Gadd Severity Index to protect different parts of a brain of a user wearing the protective headgear during an impact of a collision. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable component of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more sensors for detecting, measuring and quantifying an impact force subjected to the protective headgear during a collision. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable component of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors dynamically adjusts inflation of the one or more inflatable structures in response a detection of the impact force subjected on the protective headgear.