Shock absorbing and cooling structure

Abstract

A shock absorbing structure comprising a foam base defining a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses receiving shock absorbing inserts therein. Each insert includes a generally planar surface made of a foam layer and a flexible plastic layer and including a plurality of upstanding, hollow support members extending therefrom. The support members are made of flexible plastic material and have a plurality of openings therein which define air passages within the shock absorbing structure to allow air to flow therethrough. The shock absorbing structure may be used in helmets, shin pads, kneepads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, chest protectors, gloves, pants and footwear.

1 . A shock absorbing structure comprising: 
 a base;    at least one recess formed in the base;    at least one insert received in the recess, the insert being complementary sized and shaped to the recess; and wherein the insert comprises: 
 a support surface made of a flexible material;  
 a plurality of upstanding, hollow support members extending from the support surface, the support members made of flexible material; with  
   each support member having a sidewall, the sidewall defining at least one opening therein and thereby forming an air passage within the insert to allow air to flow therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a peripheral wall having an interior and exterior surface; and the recess extends to the exterior surface of the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       3 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , in which the base is manufactured from one of an expanded polystyrene foam and an expanded polypropylene foam.  
   
   
       4 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface and the support members of the insert are integrally molded from a flexible plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is retained in the base by one of a friction fit, an adhesive or an overlapping portion from the base.  
   
   
       6 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base is molded to conform to a shape of a helmet.  
   
   
       7 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the base is adapted to be received within a helmet and the base substantially extends across the entire interior surface of the helmet.  
   
   
       8 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 7 , wherein the base includes a plurality of recesses formed therein, and wherein the recesses extend to an outer rim of the base; and the shock absorbing structure includes a plurality of inserts, each of which is complementary sized and shaped to be received into one of said recesses; whereby the inserts extend to the rim of the base.  
   
   
       9 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , in which the support surface of the insert is generally planar.  
   
   
       10 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 9 , in which the support surface comprises a layer of foam and a planar surface.  
   
   
       11 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support members have a shape that is a generally one of frustoconical with straight sidewalls; frustoconical with concave sidewalls; frustoconical with convex sidewalls and frustoconical with tiered sidewalls.  
   
   
       12 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 11 , wherein the support surface includes surface openings that allow air to flow into the hollow support members.  
   
   
       13 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 12 , wherein each support member includes an opening in at least one of an end distal from the support surface, and the sidewalls of the support member.  
   
   
       14 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 13 , wherein the support members flex when a force is applied to the support members.  
   
   
       15 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible plastic material is a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       16 . The shock absorbing structure of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyethylene.  
   
   
       17 . An accessory for providing protection to a part of the human body, the accessory comprising: 
 a rigid outer protective shell defining an interior surface;    a base molded to conform to the interior surface of the shell;    at least one recess formed in the base;    at least one shock absorbing insert received in the recess; and wherein the insert comprises: 
 a support surface made of a foam layer and a flexible layer;  
 a plurality of upstanding, hollow support members extending from the flexible layer of the support surface, the support members being made of flexible material; and  
 the support members each having a sidewall and defining at least one opening therein, thereby providing an air passage within the insert to allow air to flow therethrough.  
   
   
   
       18 . The accessory as defined in  claim 17 , in which the base is manufactured from one of an expanded polystyrene foam and an expanded polypropylene foam.  
   
   
       19 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible layer and the support members of the insert are integrally molded from a flexible plastic material.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory of  claim 19 , wherein each support member has a shape that is generally frustoconical and defines a plurality of openings therein and the support surface includes a plurality of openings that allow air to flow into the hollow support members  
   
   
       21 . The accessory of  claim 20 , wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of helmets, shin pads, knee pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, chest protectors, gloves, pants and footwear.  
   
   
       22 . The accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the accessory is a helmet and the recess in the base extends from a first part of a rim of the helmet through to a second part of the rim of the helmet; and the insert is retained within the recess and extends from the first part of the rim through to the second part of the rim.