Impact-related acceleration reduction helmet

Abstract

An impact-related acceleration reduction helmet which includes an outer shell with at least one aperture formed therethrough, an insulating layer, at least one cushioning pad, and at least one damper, wherein the at least one damper is secured within the at least one aperture of the outer shell and is configured to reduce at least the linear and/or rotational acceleration of the helmet caused by a force applied to the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell including at least one aperture formed therethrough, an outer surface, and an inner surface;   an insulating layer in communication with the inner surface; and   at least one damper,   wherein the at least one damper is secured within the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the damper further comprises an energy dissipating element and an inertial mass, the inertial mass being retained by the energy dissipating element. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture and the at least one damper is centrally located at or near the top of the outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture and the at least one damper is located at or near the portion of the outer shell which covers the external occipital protuberance of the skull of a user. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the helmet further comprises at least one cushioning pad connected to the insulating layer. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the helmet further comprises at least one sensor mounted to the outer shell or the insulating layer configured to send data to a data acquisition device acceleration and/or biometric data. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet according to  claim 6 , wherein the helmet further comprises at least one alarm mounted to outer shell  102 , inner surface  106 , or cushioning pad, or to another part of helmet  100  and configured to provide output to a user in response to information provided by the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;   an insulating layer in communication with the inner surface; and   at least one damper secured to the outer shell,   wherein the at least one damper is secured to the outer shell and touches the outer surface and the inner surface.   
     
     
         9 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the damper further comprises an upper lip and a lower lip, further defining a groove. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet according to  claim 9 , wherein the helmet further comprises a recessed portion around the at least one aperture, the recessed portion configured to allow the upper lip of the damper to lie below or flush with the outer surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet according to  claim 10 , wherein the helmet further comprises a cover layer which covers the outer surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface further comprises at least one ridge with two ends, wherein the at least one ridge connects one damper on one end to a second damper on the other end and is configured to transfer force between the two dampers. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one ridge is “V” shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet according to  claim 13 , wherein the ridge is thicker at the apex of the “V” shape and thinner at each end. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein the helmet further comprises an airgap between the at least one ridge and the insulating layer. 
     
     
         16 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell comprising at least one aperture formed therethrough,   an insulating layer in communication with the inner surface; and   at least one damper,   wherein the at least one damper is secured within the aperture and configured to reduce at least the linear and/or rotational acceleration of the helmet caused by an impact force applied to the outer shell.