Head protective insert technology for significantly reducing subconcussive level impacts to protective headgear used in contact and collision sports

Abstract

Head protective inserts are designed to be removably fitted within helmets such as, but not limited to, bicycle helmets, ski helmets, equestrian helmets, lacrosse helmets and football helmets. The inserts include an impact absorbing material formed of one or more polymeric materials having full elastic memory and, in some embodiments, may further include a thin polycarbonate outer layer adhered to the inner surface of the helmet. When fitted within a helmet, the inserts provide a significant increase in absorption and dissipation of impact forces beyond those forces absorbed by the structure and design of the helmet, without the need to change the size of the helmet. The inserts also provide increased comfort to the wearer and, in at least some embodiments, absorb and dissipate perspiration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head protective insert system for installation within protective headgear, comprising:
 at least one insert structured and disposed for removable attachment to an inside surface of the headgear, and said at least one insert being formed of one or more polymeric materials having elastic memory, and said at least one insert being structured and disposed to significantly increase absorption and dissipation of impact forces to the headgear beyond those forces absorbed by a structure of the headgear.   
     
     
         2 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the one or more polymeric materials have a Shore A hardness ranging between 20 and 80. 
     
     
         3 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one insert is structured and configured to engage a user's forehead, left and right temporal regions, and at least a portion of a top and back of the user's head when installed in the headgear and with the headgear worn on the user's head. 
     
     
         4 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of the inserts each structured and disposed for removable attachment to the inside surface of the headgear. 
     
     
         5 . The head protective insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one insert includes a fabric jacket covering the one or more polymeric materials, and the fabric jacket being structured and disposed for absorbing perspiration of a user wearing the headgear. 
     
     
         6 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 5  wherein the at least one insert includes ventilation holes formed through the one or more polymeric materials for allowing perspiration absorbed on an inner facing side of the fabric jacket to pass through the at least one insert so that the perspiration is absorbed into an outer side of the fabric jacket where the perspiration can be dissipated by wicking. 
     
     
         7 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one insert includes a first layer formed of a polycarbonate material having an outer facing surface for engaging an inner surface of the headgear, and a second layer formed of one or more polymeric materials and having an inner facing surface for engaging a user's head, and the polycarbonate material of the first layer being structured and disposed for dissipating impact forces that are not absorbed by the headgear, and the one or more polymeric materials of the second layer being structured and disposed for absorbing at least a portion of the dissipated impact forces. 
     
     
         8 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one insert includes a hook or loop component of a hook and loop releasable fastening system for attachment to a corresponding hook or loop component on an inner surface of the headgear. 
     
     
         9 . The head protective insert system as recited in  claim 5  wherein the fabric jacket includes a hook or loop component of a hook and loop releasable fastening system for attachment to a corresponding hook or loop component on an inner surface of the headgear. 
     
     
         10 . A method for significantly reducing subconcussive level impacts to existing protective headgear used in contact and collision sports, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one insert structured and disposed for removable attachment to an inside surface of the headgear, and the at least one insert being formed of one or more polymeric materials having elastic memory;   attaching the at least one insert to an interior of the headgear for engagement with a user's head when the headgear is worn on the user's head; and   absorbing and dissipating impact forces to the headgear by the at least one insert that are not absorbed by the structure of the headgear.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 attaching the at least one insert to an interior of the headgear for engaging the user's forehead, left and right temporal regions and at least a portion of a top and back of the user's head. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising the steps of:
 covering the at least one insert with a fabric jacket; 
 absorbing perspiration of the user on an inner facing side of the fabric jacket engaging the user's head; 
 allowing the absorbed perspiration to travel to an outer facing side of the fabric jacket; and 
 dissipating the perspiration on the fabric jacket by wicking. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising the step of:
 providing a plurality of holes formed through the at least one insert to allow the absorbed perspiration on the inner facing side of the fabric jacket to pass through the insert to the outer facing side of the fabric jacket for dissipation by wicking. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 providing at least one insert having a first layer formed of a polycarbonate material and having an outer facing surface for engaging an inner surface of the headgear, and a second layer formed of one or more polymeric materials and having an inner facing surface for engaging the user's head; 
 dissipating impact forces by the polycarbonate first layer that are not absorbed by the headgear; and 
 absorbing at least a portion of the dissipated impact forces by the second layer; and, thereby significantly increasing the absorption and dissipation of impact forces beyond those impact forces absorbed by the structure of the headgear. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 removing an existing pad from the headgear; and 
 placing the at least one insert in the headgear in replacement for the removed pad.