Impact dissipating helmet liners with cylindrical retaining posts

Abstract

Impact dissipating helmet liners and protective barriers having internal cylindrical posts or pins are provided. The helmet liners and protective barriers include 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 fluid contained in the enclosure; and cylindrical posts or pins extending from the lower wall to the upper wall, each of the cylindrical posts or pins at least partially restraining deflection of one of the upper wall and the lower wall. The helmet liners provided may include a central portion and lobes radially extending from the central portion and are adapted to conform to the shape of a helmet shell. The protective barriers disclosed may be constructed in any convenient shape compatible with the intended application of the protective barrier. Methods of fabricating helmet liners and protective barriers are also provided.

1 . 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 fluid contained in the enclosure; and   a plurality of cylindrical posts extending from the lower wall to the upper wall, each of the plurality of cylindrical posts at least partially restraining deflection of one of the upper wall and the lower wall.   
     
     
         2 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liner further comprises at least one cavity between the upper wall and the lower wall, the at least one cavity having the sidewall extending from the upper wall to the lower wall. 
     
     
         3 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical posts comprises solid cylindrical posts. 
     
     
         4 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the solid cylindrical posts are devoid of any internal voids or cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the helmet liner further comprises at least one fabric sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fabric sheet comprises one of a woven fabric, an unwoven fabric, and a knitted fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fabric sheet comprises a knitted fabric comprising one of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyester, and an aramid polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprises a central portion and a plurality of lobes extending from the central portion, and wherein the central portion and the plurality of lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. 
     
     
         9 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of lobes defines radially extending cavities between adjacent lobes. 
     
     
         10 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , herein the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprises a silicone rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in claim ii, wherein the liquid comprises one of liquid silicone rubber, a polydimethylsiloxane, and a polyol. 
     
     
         13 . The impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . A helmet having the impact dissipating helmet liner as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The helmet as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the helmet comprises a helmet shell containing the impact dissipating helmet liner. 
     
     
         16 . A protective barrier 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 fluid contained in the enclosure; and   a plurality of cylindrical posts extending from the upper wall to the lower wall, each of the plurality of cylindrical posts at least partially restraining deflection of one of the upper wall and the lower wall.   
     
     
         17 . The protective barrier as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the protective barrier comprises an impact-dissipating protective barrier. 
     
     
         18 . The protective barrier as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the protective barrier comprises at least one of body armor, body padding, a wall padding, and a surface padding. 
     
     
         19 . The protective barrier as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the protective barrier comprises a protective barrier for motor sports. 
     
     
         20 . The impact dissipating liner as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the flexible, fluid impermeable enclosure comprises a thickness ranging from 0.125 inches to 3 inches.