Impact-absorbing headgear liner and skull cap with impact sensing system

Abstract

A protective impact-absorbing headgear liner and impact sensing system for use with various types of helmets and protective gear or clothing. The lining material has unique impact absorbing properties to additionally protect a wearer from impact related injuries. The headgear liner has a band and crown which are variously shaped and positioned to received impact-absorbing pads. The position of the pockets depends on the helmet style. In one example the liner is a stretchable material. Impact absorbing pads as described herein may be used in a variety of clothing and protective gear to protect from impact injury. Examples are football shoulder ads, thigh pads, bicycle helmets and the like. The liner may also be an expanded foam. A preferred pad material is a gel containing a thermoplastic elastomer. The impact sensing system utilizes an impact sensor assembly to sense the force of impact received and transmit the data to a personal electronics device running an application program to process and display sensor data. Other data such as temperature or the like provided by other ancillary sensors may also be processed by the application program.

1 . An elasticized under helmet skull-cap comprising:
 a circular head-encircling band having a crown;   the band and crown each defining at least one pocket;   an impact-absorbing gel pad in the pocket; and   an electronic accelerometer integrated circuit sensor measuring longitudinal, lateral, vertical and resultant acceleration with a memory, disposed in the impact absorbing gel pad to measure impact and whereby an elasticized material in the under helmet skull-cap holds the skull-cap in place on a wearer's head and holds the impact absorbing gel pad in position against the wearer's head so that impact felt by the wearer is accurately measured.   
     
     
         2 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the pads are removable from the pockets. 
     
     
         3 . The liner of  claim 2  wherein the pockets are formed by overlapping pieces of fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the pads are an impact-absorbing gel. 
     
     
         5 . The liner of  claim 4  wherein the gel is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the band and crown are an elasticized, stretchable material. 
     
     
         7 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the impact absorbing gel pad includes an expanded foam disposed on the impact absorbing gel pad. 
     
     
         8 . The liner of  claim 1  wherein the liner has a tail piece formed from impact absorbing gel to adjust a size of the liner. 
     
     
         9 . The liner of  claim 1  in which the sensor includes an accelerometer, a power source, and a wireless transmitter configured such that accelerometer data may be transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         10 . The liner of  claim 1  further comprising an application program disposed on a personal electronic device for receiving information from the sensor wirelessly.. 
     
     
         11 . An under sports helmet liner comprising:
 a circular head-encircling band having a crown made from a breathable material to allow the evaporation of sweat and dissipate heat;   said band and crown each defining at least one pocket, without fasteners, said pocket being stretchable said crown extending across the top of a wearer's head from a forehead area to a back of the neck;   at least one impact-absorbing re-usable gel pad of epoxidized vegetable oil containing a thermoplastic elastomer and a prepolymer and stabilizers to resist fungus and including apertures in the pad for ventilation, in said pocket, said pads are disposed to protect designated areas of a wearer's skull from impact transmitted through a commercially available helmet worn over the helmet liner by further absorbing the impact, and the commercially available helmet may be used due to reduced thickness of the re-usable gel pad having enhanced energy absorbing capabilities, whereby protection provided by the sports helmet is enhanced; and   an electronic acceleration sensor recording longitudinal, lateral, vertical and resultant acceleration, disposed in the least one impact-absorbing re-usable gel pad of epoxidized vegetable oil containing a thermoplastic elastomer and a prepolymer and stabilizers to resist fungus and including apertures in the pad for ventilation.   
     
     
         12 . The liner of  claim 11  wherein the pads are removable from the pockets. 
     
     
         13 . The liner of  claim 11  wherein the pockets are formed by overlapping pieces of fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The liner of  claim 11  wherein the pads are an impact-absorbing gel. 
     
     
         15 . The liner of  claim 14  wherein the gel is a thermoplastic polymer and a prepolymer. 
     
     
         16 . The liner of  claim 11  wherein the sensor is coupled to a portable electronic device through a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . Ahead guard comprising:
 a multi-layered sidewall, the multi-layered sidewall comprising:   a stretchable fabric layer, the stretchable fabric layer comprising an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer, the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer cooperating to define a pocket; and   a side padding layer non-removably positioned within the pocket, the side padding layer being disconnected from each of the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer, the side padding layer comprising a padding material; and   wherein the multi-layered sidewall and the side padding layer form a substantially cylindrical shape, and   wherein the substantially cylindrical shape defines a circular opening for a head of a wearer; and wherein the side padding layer is substantially rectangular and extends circumferentially about the head guard, the side padding layer comprising a first end surface, a second end surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are connected by the top surface and the bottom surface, and wherein the first end surface is circumferentially spaced from the second end surface to define a padding gap therebetween in a rear portion of the head guard, the padding material extending continuously and circumferentially within the pocket about the head guard, between the first end surface and the second end surface, such that the entirety of the padding gap defined by the first end surface and the second end surface is devoid of the padding material.