Helmet padding system

Abstract

Helmet padding systems and apparatuses are disclosed. A helmet padding system includes a helmet shell, a spacing pad, and a plurality of absorption pads. The helmet shell is configured to be positioned on a user's head. The spacing pad is coupled to an interior of the helmet shell. The spacing pad includes a layer of elastomeric material. The spacing pad comprises a central portion coupled to a central region of the helmet shell and a plurality of extending portions projecting outward from the central portion. The absorption pads are coupled to the spacing pad. The absorption pads comprise a first absorption pad coupled to the central portion of the spacing pad and remaining absorption pads coupled to ends of the extending portions of the spacing pad. The padding apparatus includes a spacing pad and a plurality of absorption pads configured to be coupled to an interior of a helmet.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a helmet shell configured to be positioned on the head of a user;   a spacing pad coupled to an interior of the helmet shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material, the spacing pad comprising a central portion coupled to a central region of the interior of the helmet shell and a plurality of extending portions projecting outward from the central portion; and   a plurality of absorption pads coupled to the spacing pad, the plurality of absorption pads comprising a first absorption pad coupled to the central portion of the spacing pad and remaining absorption pads coupled to ends of the extending portions of the spacing pad.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption pads are shaped such that they do not directly contact the helmet shell. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extending portions project outward at regular intervals from the central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the regular intervals are approximately every 45°. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each extending portion has an end portion with a greater width than a remainder of the extending portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extending portions are arranged axially asymmetrically relative to the central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extending portions having varying lengths. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of extending portions have lengths corresponding to a peripheral contour of the helmet shell. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the extending portions has a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction different from the first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         13 . A padding apparatus for use with a helmet comprising:
 a spacing pad configured to be coupled to an interior of the helmet, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material, the spacing pad comprising a central portion and a plurality of extending portions projecting outward from the central portion; and   a plurality of absorption pads coupled to the spacing pad, the plurality of absorption pads comprising a first absorption pad coupled to the central portion of the spacing pad and remaining absorption pads coupled to ends of the extending portions of the spacing pad.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the absorption pads are shaped such that they do not directly contact the helmet when the spacing pad is coupled to the interior of the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of extending portions extend outward at regular intervals from the central portion. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the regular intervals are approximately every 45°. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each extending portion has an end portion with a greater width than a remainder of the extending portion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of extending portions are arranged axially asymmetrically relative to the central portion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of extending portions having varying lengths. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of extending portions have lengths corresponding to a peripheral contour of the helmet. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the extending portions has a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction different from the first direction. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the spacing pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         25 . A protective headgear system comprising:
 an impact-resistant pad comprising:   a top portion configured to be positioned covering a top of a user's head; and   first and second side portions extending downward from the top portion; and   a helmet unconnected to the impact-resistant pad, the helmet configured to be positioned overtop of the impact-resistant pad when the impact-resistant pad is positioned on the user's head.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second side portions comprise a front portion and a rear portion. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the back portion extends a greater distance from the top portion than the front portion. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second side portions are not directly connected to each other. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein a circumferential gap is formed between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the helmet covers the circumferential gap when it is positioned overtop of the impact-resistant pad. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of openings for providing ventilation to the user's head. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of openings are formed around the periphery of the top portion. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the impact-resistant pad includes a layer of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the impact-resistant pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the impact-resistant pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the impact-resistant pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the impact-resistant pad has a thickness of no greater than approximately 13 mm. 
     
     
         38 . An impact-resistant pad for a protective headgear system comprising:
 a top portion configured to be positioned covering a top of a user's head; and   first and second side portions extending downward from the top portion,   wherein the impact-resistant pad is unconnected to any supporting structure, and is configured to be worn under a helmet.   
     
     
         39 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second side portions comprise a front portion and a rear portion. 
     
     
         40 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 39 , wherein the back portion extends a greater distance from the top portion than the front portion. 
     
     
         41 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second side portions are not directly connected to each other. 
     
     
         42 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 41 , wherein a circumferential gap is formed between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         43 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 38 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of openings for providing ventilation to the user's head. 
     
     
         44 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of openings are formed around the periphery of the top portion. 
     
     
         45 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 38 , wherein the impact-resistant pad includes a layer of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         46 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 45 , wherein the impact-resistant pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         47 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 45 , wherein the impact-resistant pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         48 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 47 , wherein the impact-resistant pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         49 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 38 , wherein the impact-resistant pad has a thickness of no greater than approximately 13 mm. 
     
     
         50 . A helmet padding system comprising:
 a helmet shell configured to be positioned on the head of a user;   a spacing pad positioned within an interior of the helmet shell and unconnected to the helmet shell, the spacing pad including a layer of elastomeric material, the spacing pad comprising a central portion and a plurality of extending portions projecting outward from the central portion; and   a deflection layer positioned between the helmet shell and the spacing pad, the deflection layer less flexible than the spacing pad.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a plurality of absorption pads coupled to the spacing pad opposite the deflection layer, the plurality of absorption pads comprising a first absorption pad coupled to the central portion of the spacing pad and remaining absorption pads coupled to ends of the extending portions of the spacing pad. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of extending portions project outward at regular intervals from the central portion. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the regular intervals are approximately every 90°. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein each extending portion has an end portion with a greater width than a remainder of the extending portion. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the end portions of adjacent extending portions overlap with each other when the spacing pad is positioned within the helmet shell. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the spacing pad consists of a single layer of the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a plurality of layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the spacing pad further comprises a layer of high tensile strength fibrous material between two layers of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the spacing pad comprises an array of raised portions formed on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the raised portions have a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the raised portions have a square shape. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the raised portions have a diamond shape. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the spacing pad comprises a top portion configured to be positioned covering a top of a user's head, and first and second side portions extending downward from the top portion. 
     
     
         64 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 63 , wherein the first and second side portions comprise a front portion and a rear portion. 
     
     
         65 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 63 , wherein the first and second side portions are not directly connected to each other. 
     
     
         66 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 65 , wherein a circumferential gap is formed between the first side portion and the second side portion. 
     
     
         67 . The impact-resistant pad of  claim 63 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of openings for providing ventilation to the user's head. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the deflection layer has a shape corresponding to the shape of the spacing pad. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the deflection layer comprises a polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a deformation layer positioned between the deflection layer and the spacing pad, the deformation layer configured to deform upon experiencing a force from an impact. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the deformation layer has a shape corresponding to the shape of the spacing pad. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the deformation layer comprises corrugated plastic material. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the deformation layer is configured to plastically deform upon experiencing the force from the impact. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a plurality of deflection plates coupled to the helmet, the deflection plates positioned to slidably abut the deflection layer, the deflection plates being formed from the same material as the deflection layer.