Liner for a protective helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes an outer shell, an energy-absorbing layer disposed inside the outer shell, and a liner disposed inside of the energy-absorbing layer. The liner includes a central portion configured to extend along a longitudinal axis that runs between a front portion of the helmet and a rear portion of the helmet, a first side portion releasably coupled to the central portion, and a second side portion releasably coupled to the central portion.

1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell;   an energy-absorbing layer disposed inside the outer shell; and   a liner disposed inside of the energy-absorbing layer, the liner including a central portion configured to extend along a longitudinal axis that runs between a front portion of the helmet and a rear portion of the helmet, a first side portion releasably coupled to the central portion, and a second side portion releasably coupled to the central portion.   
   
   
       2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer, the liner having a plurality of fasteners corresponding to the plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer for releasably attaching the liner to the energy-absorbing layer. 
   
   
       3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fasteners of the liner includes a pair of front fasteners adjacent a front end of the central portion of the liner, the pair of front fasteners configured to attach to a pair of complementary fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer, wherein the first and second side portions are releasably coupled to the central portion at the pair of front fasteners. 
   
   
       4 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the liner includes an alternate central portion having a plurality of fasteners corresponding to the plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer for releasably attaching the alternate central portion to the energy-absorbing layer in place of the original central portion, the alternate central portion having at least one of a different size and a different shape compared to the original central portion to customize the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of a wearer, the first and second side portions being configured to releasably attach to the alternate central portion. 
   
   
       5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are pivotally coupled to the central portion. 
   
   
       6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side portion and the second side portion includes a pocket, the helmet further comprising a pair of inserts, each insert of the pair of inserts insertable into a respective pocket of the first and second side portions to increase the thickness of the side portions to customize the size of the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of a wearer. 
   
   
       7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a third side portion and a fourth side portion, the third and fourth side portions being interchangeable with the first and second side portions and having at least one of a different size and shape to customize the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of a wearer. 
   
   
       8 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell;   an energy-absorbing layer disposed inside the outer shell; and   a liner disposed inside of the energy-absorbing layer, the liner configured to contact the head of a wearer when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the liner including
 a central portion configured to extend along a longitudinal axis that runs between a front portion of the helmet and a rear portion of the helmet, 
 a first side portion coupled to the central portion and defining a first pocket, 
 a second side portion coupled to the central portion and defining a second pocket, and 
 a pair of inserts, each one of the pair of inserts being insertable into one of the first and second pockets to increase the thickness of the corresponding side portion to customize the size of the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer. 
   
   
   
       9 . The helmet of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer, the liner having a plurality of fasteners corresponding to the plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer for releasably attaching the liner to the energy-absorbing layer. 
   
   
       10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fasteners of the liner includes a pair of front fasteners adjacent a front end of the central portion of the liner, the pair of front fasteners configured to attach to a pair of complementary fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer, wherein the first and second side portions are releasably coupled to the central portion at the pair of front fasteners. 
   
   
       11 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the liner includes an alternate central portion having a plurality of fasteners corresponding to the plurality of fasteners on the energy-absorbing layer for releasably attaching the alternate central portion to the energy-absorbing layer in place of the original central portion, the alternate central portion having at least one of a different size and a different shape compared to the original central portion to customize the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of a wearer, the first and second side portions being configured to releasably attach to the alternate central portion. 
   
   
       12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are pivotally coupled to the central portion. 
   
   
       13 . The helmet of  claim 8 , further comprising a second pair of inserts, wherein each insert of the second pair of inserts has a thickness greater than each insert of the first pair of inserts, the second pair of inserts being insertable into the first and second pockets to replace the first inserts and provide the corresponding side portions with a thicknesses greater than that provided by the first pair of inserts. 
   
   
       14 . The helmet of  claim 8 , further comprising a third side portion and a fourth side portion, the third and fourth side portions being interchangeable with the first and second side portions and having at least one of a different size and shape to customize the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer, each one of the pair of inserts further being insertable into respective pockets of the third and fourth side portions to increase the thickness of the third and fourth side portions to further customize the size of the liner and the fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer. 
   
   
       15 . A method of customizing the fit of a helmet for a particular wearer comprising:
 providing an outer shell;   providing an energy-absorbing layer disposed inside the outer shell;   providing a liner releasably coupled to the energy-absorbing layer, the liner configured to contact the head of a wearer when the helmet is worn by the wearer, the liner including a central portion configured to extend along a longitudinal axis that runs between a front portion of the helmet and a rear portion of the helmet, the liner further including first and second side portions releasably coupled to the central portion; and   adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner to adjust the fit of the helmet for the head of the wearer.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner includes detaching the first and second side portions from the central portion, and releasably coupling a third side portion and a fourth side portion to the central portion, the third and fourth side portions having thicknesses different from the first and second side portions. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner includes placing inserts into respective pockets of each of the first and second side portions to increase the thicknesses of the first and second side portions. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the helmet is provided with removable inserts in pockets of the first and second side portions, the step of adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner including removing the inserts from the pockets to reduce the thickness of the first and second side portions. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner includes detaching the central portion from the energy-absorbing layer, and releasably coupling an alternate central portion to the energy-absorbing layer, the alternate central portion having a thicknesses different from the original central portion. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the thickness of at least a portion of the liner further includes adjusting the thickness of the first and second side portions.