Impact-dissipating liners and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners

Abstract

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having cavities with sidewalls and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosure may have a central portion and lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. The helmets may include bodies positioned within the cavities of the liner, where, under impact loading, contact between the bodies and the liner absorbs at least some of the energy of the impact loading. Aspects of the invention are particularly adapted for use for head protection, such as, helmets; however, aspects of the invention are also adaptable to provide impact-dissipation for any body or surface that would benefit from such protection.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An impact dissipating helmet liner comprising:
 a flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure having an upper wall, an opposing lower wall, and a sidewall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall;   a plurality of cavities extending between the upper wall and the lower wall, each of the plurality of cavities having a cavity sidewall extending from the upper wall to the lower wall; and   a fluid contained in the enclosure;   wherein the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprises a central portion and a plurality of lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the plurality of lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet liner as recited in claim  10 , wherein the plurality of lobes define radially-extending cavities between adjacent lobes. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the radially extending cavities comprise divergent sidewalls. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet liner as recited in claim  10 , wherein each of the plurality cavities extend through at least one of the upper wall and the lower wall. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of cavities extends through both the upper wall and the lower wall. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein fluid comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         16 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cavities comprises a plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         56 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cavities is distributed about the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure. 
     
     
         57 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cavities comprises a plurality of though holes in the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure. 
     
     
         58 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cavities comprises a plurality of cylindrical cavities. 
     
     
         59 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprises one of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         60 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises a silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         61 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fluid comprises a diol. 
     
     
         62 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 61 , wherein the diol comprises one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         63 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the central portion and the plurality of lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet shell of the helmet. 
     
     
         64 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 63 , wherein helmet liner is mounted to the internal surface of the helmet shell with one of an adhesive and mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         65 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 63 , wherein helmet liner is mounted to the internal surface of the helmet shell with one of webbing and constraints. 
     
     
         66 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fluid contained in the enclosure comprises one of water and an oil. 
     
     
         67 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the helmet liner comprises a liner for at least one of a baseball catcher's helmet, a baseball batter's helmet, a soft ball catcher's helmet, a softball batter's helmet, a hockey helmet, a hockey goalie mask, a motorcycle helmet, a motor cross helmet, a skiing helmet, a snowboarding helmet, a skateboarding helmet, a lacrosse helmet, a bicycle helmet, a jockey helmet, an official's helmet, a medical protection helmet, a rock or ice climbing helmet, a mountain climbing helmet, a football helmet, a construction helmet, and a military helmet.