Helmet with protective features

Abstract

The invention relates to a helmet (1) comprising: —an energy absorbing layer (4), —an outer protective layer (2), —an intermediate layer (3) arranged between the energy-absorbing layer (4) and the protective layer (2), —one or more connector elements (5) extending from the energy-absorbing layer (4) through one or more openings in the intermediate layer (3) to the protective layer (2) and fixedly attaching the protective layer (2) with the energy-absorbing layer (4).

1 . A helmet ( 1 - 1 ) comprising:
 an energy absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ),   an outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ),   an intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) arranged between the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ) and the protective layer ( 1 - 2 ),   one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) extending from the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ) through one or more openings in the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) to the protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) and fixedly attaching the protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) with the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ).   
     
     
         2 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) is attached to the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) by means of a substance-to-substance bond between the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) and the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) is attached to the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) by means of an interlocking connection, particularly only by means of an interlocking connection. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) are integrally formed with the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) are configured to fail upon exposure to an impact force on the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) such that the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) disconnects at least partially or area by area from the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ), particularly wherein the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) rupture upon impact. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein upon impact the connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) bend or shift toward an edge of the one or more openings of the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ), such that the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) rupture at the edge of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) are configured to elastically deform upon exposure to an impact force on the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) such that the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) may laterally shift with respect to the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ), particularly wherein upon impact the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) remain attached to the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) and the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) comprise different sizes, such that the connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) extending through the openings differ in terms of a rupturing force at which the connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) fail. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) are of the same material than the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ). 
     
     
         11 . The helmet ( 1 - 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional circumference of each connector element ( 1 - 5 ) between the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) and the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) is greater than a cross-sectional circumference of the connector element ( 1 - 5 ) at the opening through which the connector element ( 1 - 5 ) extends. 
     
     
         12 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for manufacturing a helmet ( 1 - 1 ), particularly according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 forming an intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) with one or more openings;   forming an outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) of the helmet ( 1 - 1 );   from a first material forming an energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ) of the helmet ( 1 - 1 ), wherein the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) is arranged such that the first material extends through the one or more openings while the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ) is formed and wherein the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) is arranged such that the intermediate layer ( 1 - 3 ) is arranged between the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ) and the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ), wherein the first material that extends through the one or more openings forms connector elements ( 1 - 5 ) that attach the outer protective layer ( 1 - 2 ) to the energy-absorbing layer ( 1 - 4 ).   
     
     
         23 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A helmet ( 2 - 10 ) comprising:
 an energy absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ),   an outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ), wherein said outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) is configured to plastically deform relative to the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ) upon exposure to an impact force ( 2 -F) having at least a tangential force component along a surface of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ), such that a deformed portion ( 2 - 101 ,  2 - 102 ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) is formed.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein the deformed portion ( 2 - 101 ,  2 - 102 ) comprises undulations in a direction essentially orthogonal to a surface ( 2 - 13 ,  2 - 14 ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) before the exposure to the impact force ( 2 -F). 
     
     
         33 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) comprises a plurality of fold lines ( 2 - 12 ,  2 - 12 ′,  2 - 12 ″,  2 - 11 ) along which undulations may be formed in the deformed portion ( 2 - 101 ,  2 - 102 ). 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein upon exposure to the impact force ( 2 -F), the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) is configured to deform relative to the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ), such that deformed portion ( 2 - 101 ,  2 - 102 ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) is not congruent with the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ) anymore. 
     
     
         39 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) comprises a plurality of outer protective layer members ( 2 - 1   a ,  2 - 1   b ,  2 - 1   c ) and wherein the outer protective layer members ( 2 - 1   a ,  2 - 1   b ,  2 - 1   c ) are interconnected along the fold lines to form the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ). 
     
     
         40 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 39 , wherein the outer protective layer members ( 2 - 1   a ,  2 - 1   b ,  2 - 1   c ) are at least partially overlapping or stacked to form the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ), wherein at portions in which the outer protective layer members ( 2 - 1   a ,  2 - 1   b ,  2 - 1   c ) are overlapping, the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) may by configured to plastically deform upon exposure to the impact force ( 2 -F). 
     
     
         43 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein the deformation portion ( 2 - 101 ,  2 - 102 ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) comprises undulations exhibiting irregular or varying spatial undulation frequencies ( 2 - x ′,  2 - x ″). 
     
     
         44 .- 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein an intermediate layer ( 2 - 3 ) is arranged between the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ) and the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ), particularly wherein the intermediate layer ( 2 - 3 ) is configured to facilitate a movement of the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) upon exposure to the impact force ( 2 -F) relative to the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ). 
     
     
         47 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The helmet ( 2 - 10 ) according to  claim 30 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 2 - 1 ) is connected to the energy-absorbing layer ( 2 - 2 ) or the intermediate layer ( 2 - 3 ) by means of a tethering connection, by means of a string and/or elastic bands. 
     
     
         51 .- 84 . (canceled)