Helmet using shock absorbing material

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a safety helmet is provided that includes an outer shell and at least one layer of a sheet of shock absorbing material located therein, the shock absorbing material having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of ribs extent through the material so as to create a plurality of channels therein, the layers having a plurality of perforations therein that communicate with the plurality of channels and that align with the holes in the helmet, each of the plurality of channels having an opening on an end of the material for air to pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the perforations in the material.

1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell with holes located therein; and   at least one layer of a sheet of shock absorbing material located therein, the shock absorbing material having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of ribs extent through the material so as to create a plurality of channels therein, the layers having a plurality of perforations therein that communicate with the plurality of channels and that align with the holes in the helmet, each of the plurality of channels having an opening on an end of the material for air to pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the perforations in the material.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the material is installed in an upper hemisphere of the helmet to protect the top of a user's head. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the ribs extend radially outward from the top of the helmet. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein material is installed as a band circumferentially around a rim line of the helmet to cover temple, forehead, and the back of a user's head. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of layers of the shock absorbing material. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the layers of shock material are located so that channels of respective layers of the material extend in different directions. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the layers of the material extend from a front to a back of the helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the layers of the material extend from a first side of the helmet to a second side of the helmet opposite the first side. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs of the pair of ribs is bowed oppositely with respect to another of the pair of ribs, therewith creating alternating shaped channels. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein at least one channels of the alternating shaped channels has a circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the top and the bottom layers include perforations therein that align with the holes in the shell of the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the top and bottom layers include perforations therein that do not align with holes in the shell of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the top and bottom layers include perforations therein and wherein a number of perforations in the top layer is less than a number of perforations in the top layer. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of top to bottom layer perforations is from about 8 to about 9. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein a size of top layer perforations is greater than a size of the bottom layer perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 1 , comprising foam sections to mirror feel of conventional bicycle helmets.