Cranial Protective Hydrogel And Hydrogel-Like Helmet Padding

Abstract

An example embodiment of a helmet employs a hydrophilic porous material as padding in the helmet in an arrangement designed to protect the brain against impacts that can occur in impact sports, such as football. The amount of reduction of the average magnitude of the acceleration of the head due to padding in the helmet as a result of an impact of the helmet with a surface is limited by the thickness of the helmet padding. There is evidence, however, that the peak acceleration rather than the average acceleration is a significant cause of brain injury. Therefore, the helmet may reduce brain injury that occurs as a result of an impact by using the disclosed padding material in the arrangement with the helmet to “tune” the acceleration of the skull so that it is never significantly higher than its average during the impact of the helmet with a surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet as illustrated in the accompanying figures and described herein.