Impact-dissipating, fluid-containing helmet liners and helmet liner retainers

Abstract

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, helmet liner retainers, and methods of protecting the head from impact are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having internal cavities, and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosures are in fluid communication via passages comprising a restriction between the internal cavities of the enclosures that may restrict flow of the fluid between the enclosures. The helmet liner retainers include a head strap and at least one projection extending from the head strap sized to engage at least one recess in a headgear liner. The engagement of the at least one projection with the at least one recess in the headgear liner at least partially retains the headgear liner. Though applicable to a broad range of protective headgear, the liners and liner retainers disclosed are uniquely adapted for use in construction helmets, that is, “hard hats.”

1 . An impact dissipating helmet liner comprising:
 a plurality of flexible, fluid impermeable enclosures, each of the enclosures having opposing end walls, a sidewall extending between the opposing end walls; and   a fluid contained in each of the plurality of enclosures;   wherein each of plurality of flexible, fluid impermeable enclosures is in fluid communication with at least one of the other enclosures via a passage comprising a restriction between the enclosures.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liner further comprises a plurality of cavities extending between the upper wall and the lower wall of each of the plurality of enclosures. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the liner further comprises a cavity sidewall extending from the upper wall to the lower wall of each of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the restriction at least partially restricts flow of the fluid between the enclosures. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the restriction comprises a width less than a width of the enclosures. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the restriction comprises a width less than 3 times a height of the restriction. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the passage is devoid of cavities extending between the upper wall and the lower wall. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible, fluid impermeable enclosures is cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible, fluid impermeable cylindrical enclosures is circular cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of flexible, fluid impermeable enclosures comprises a central enclosure and at least one of the plurality of the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosures comprises at least one peripheral enclosure in fluid communication with the central enclosure via the passage comprising the restriction. 
     
     
         11 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A headgear liner retainer comprising:
 a head strap adapted to engage the head of a user and mount to a headgear; and   at least one projection extending from the head strap, the at least one projection positioned and sized to engage at least one recess in a headgear liner;   wherein the engagement of the at least one projection with the at least one recess in the headgear at least partially retains the headgear liner in the headgear.   
     
     
         32 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections, each of the plurality of projections positioned and sized to engage at least one recess in a headgear liner. 
     
     
         33 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of cylindrical projections. 
     
     
         34 . The retainer as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the at least one recess in the headgear liner comprises a least one cylindrical recess, and wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical projections are sized to engage the least one cylindrical recess. 
     
     
         35 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the headgear liner comprises a fluid-filled headgear liner and wherein the at least one recess in the fluid-filled headgear liner comprises at least one cavity in the fluid-filled headgear liner. 
     
     
         36 . The retainer as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the at least one cavity in the fluid-filled headgear liner comprises at least one through hole in the fluid-filled headgear liner. 
     
     
         37 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the at least one-projection extending from the head strap comprises at least one projection removably mounted from the head strap. 
     
     
         38 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the at least one recess in the headgear liner comprises at least one recess in an extension of the headgear. 
     
     
         39 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the headgear liner comprises a plurality of enclosures and the at least one recess in the headgear liner comprises at least one recess in each of the plurality of enclosures. 
     
     
         40 . The retainer as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the at least one projection extending from the head strap comprises at least one projection removably mounted to the head strap by one of rotation and translation. 
     
     
         41 - 83 . (canceled)