Impact absorbing apparatus

Abstract

Some embodiments described herein relate to an athletic helmet. The athletic helmet can include a shell, a suspension chassis, and several impact-absorbing pads. The suspension chassis can be disposed within the shell and configured to couple the pads to the shell. Each pad can include a membrane defining an interior volume. A valve can place the interior volume in fluid communication with the exterior of the membrane. In some embodiments, two or more structural members can be disposed within the interior volume. One structural member can be at least partially deformed when the athletic helmet is worn by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pad configured to be disposed within a shell of an athletic protective device, the pad including:
 a first membrane defining an interior volume of the pad, the first membrane having a first valve configured to place the interior volume of the pad in fluid communication with an exterior of the first membrane, the first valve configured to impose a first flow restriction between the interior volume of the first pad and the exterior of the first membrane; 
 a first structural member disposed within the interior volume of the first pad; and 
 a second structural member disposed within the interior volume of the first pad and configured to be disposed between the first structural member and a head when the shell is worn on the head.