Impact absorbing helmet

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an impact absorbing helmet design that uses springs oriented in the opposite direction of relative movement between the head and the helmet to absorb linear and rotational impacts. These springs will increase the total amount of work being done by the helmet and increase the time of impact, reducing the acceleration experienced by the brain when compared to current helmets on the market. The helmet is constructed and arranged to effectively absorb rotational forces on the head because of a rotationally independent inner lining and outer shell attached by springs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impact helmet assembly comprising:
 an outer shell,   an inner lining,   a head spring interface assembly attached to said inner lining constructed and arranged for absorption and transference of forces to the head to add protection from brain injury to a user; wherein said head spring interface assembly is further comprised of a plurality of springs and a plurality of head spring interfaces; said interface assembly connects said plurality of springs to said outer shell through a plurality of attachment points.   
     
     
         2 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of springs are connected to said head spring interfaces and said outer shell oriented to displace in tension upon impact thereby reducing the force being transfer to the head. 
     
     
         3 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inner liner and said outer shell are spaced apart at a predetermined distance by said plurality of springs thereby maximizing the distance to increase the time of impact thereby reducing the force to the brain. 
     
     
         4 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of springs are constructed and arranged to displace upon impact when rotational acceleration occurs, wherein said plurality of springs that are in the same direction for rotation to go into slack and said plurality of springs in the opposite direction of rotation displace. 
     
     
         5 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said head spring interfaces are constructed having a breakpoint that allows said plurality of springs to release and travel towards said outer shell plurality of attachment points in the event of failure, thereby preventing an injury to the user's head. 
     
     
         6 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said attachment points are further comprised of broken spring indicators that visually indicate if any of said plurality of springs have broken. 
     
     
         7 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said broken spring indicators are bright colored tabs that will protrude through said outer shell in the event one of said plurality of springs has broken. 
     
     
         8 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bounce reducing springs positioned between said plurality of head spring interface and said outer shell constructed and arranged to further prevent the impact of the skull with said outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a non-elastic material is positioned upon said plurality of springs to provide a predetermined maximum spring extension when said plurality of springs transitions from slack into tension as a result of impact. 
     
     
         10 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said non elastic material is positioned on the outside of said plurality of springs. 
     
     
         11 . The impact assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said non elastic material is positioned on the inside of said plurality of springs. 
     
     
         12 . An impact helmet assembly comprising:
 an outer shell,   an inner lining,   a plurality of springs attached to said inner lining constructed and arranged for absorption and transference of forces to the head to add protection from brain injury to a user; wherein said plurality of springs are attached to said outer shell through a plurality of attachment points.   
     
     
         13 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said inner liner and said outer shell are spaced apart at a predetermined distance by said plurality of springs thereby maximizing the distance to increase the time of impact thereby reducing the force to the brain. 
     
     
         14 . The impact helmet assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of springs are constructed and arranged to displace upon impact when rotational acceleration occurs, wherein said plurality of springs that are in the same direction for rotation to go into slack and said plurality of springs in the opposite direction of rotation displace.