Multi-layer progressive padding

Abstract

A helmet includes a shell having an interior surface and a padding configured to provide progressive impact resistance. The padding includes a first padding layer and a second padding layer. The first padding layer has a first side configured to conform to the interior surface of the shell and an opposing second side that defines a plurality of first continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of first recesses therebetween. The second padding layer has a third side configured to conform to a head of a wearer of the helmet and an opposing fourth side that defines a plurality of second continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of second recesses therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet, comprising:
 a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a helmet padding configured to provide progressive impact resistance to an impact force experienced by the exterior surface of the shell, the helmet padding including:
 a first padding layer having a first side configured to conform to the interior surface of the shell and an opposing second side defining a plurality of first continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of first recesses therebetween; and 
 a second padding layer having a third side configured to conform to a head of a wearer of the helmet and an opposing fourth side defining a plurality of second continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of second recesses therebetween. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of first continuous extensions; and wherein the plurality of first recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of second continuous extensions. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first padding layer has a first density and the second padding layer has a second density, wherein the first density is greater than the second density. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the helmet padding further includes a third padding layer positioned between the first padding layer and the second padding layer, wherein the third padding layer has a third density that is different than the first density and the second density. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the third padding layer is elastic such that the third padding layer follows along the opposing second side of the first padding layer and the opposing fourth side of the second padding layer, and wherein the third padding layer has a constant thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the third padding layer has a fifth side defining a plurality of third continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of third recesses therebetween and an opposing sixth side defining a plurality of fourth continuous extensions arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of fourth recesses therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of first recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of third continuous extensions, the plurality of second recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of fourth continuous extensions, the plurality of third recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of first continuous extensions, and the plurality of fourth recesses are shaped to receive the plurality of second continuous extensions. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first continuous extensions have a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface extend from the first padding layer at an angle defining a non-uniform width along a height of a cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of first continuous extensions. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of second continuous extensions have a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein at least one of the third surface and the fourth surface extend from the second padding layer at an angle defining a non-uniform width along a height of a cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of second continuous extensions. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the non-uniform width of the plurality of first continuous extensions and the plurality of second continuous extensions facilitates providing an analog impact resistance as the impact force propagates through the helmet padding. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of a cross-sectional shape of at least one of the plurality of first continuous extensions and at least one of the plurality of second continuous extensions are varied to provide a desired progressive impact resistance to certain regions of the helmet corresponding to certain anatomical regions of the head of the wearer of the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first continuous extensions and the plurality of second continuous extensions each extend continuously from a respective point configured to be positioned at a top of the interior surface of the shell to a lower edge of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first continuous extensions extend continuously from a first concentrically located extension member to a lower edge of the shell and the plurality of second continuous extensions extend continuously from a second concentrically located extension member to the lower edge of the shell, wherein the first concentrically located extension member and the second concentrically located extension member are configured to be positioned at a top of the interior surface of the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first continuous extensions and the plurality of second continuous extensions extend continuously from a front portion of the shell to a rear, lower edge of the shell. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first continuous extensions and the plurality of second continuous extensions define channels that extend at least a portion of a length of the least one of the plurality of first continuous extensions and the plurality of second continuous extensions. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 15 , further comprising intake vents and exhaust ports positioned to correspond with the channels. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the channels, the intake vents, and the exhaust ports are configured to facilitate at least one of aerodynamic ventilation and cooling through the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . A helmet padding, comprising:
 an outer layer having a first density, the outer layer including a first surface configured to conform to an interior surface of a helmet and an opposing second surface defining a plurality of first extensions that extend continuously along an entire length of the outer layer, wherein the plurality of first extensions are arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of first channels therebetween; and   an inner layer having a second density less than the first density, the inner layer including a third surface configured to conform to a head of a wearer of the helmet and an opposing fourth surface defining a plurality of second extensions that extend continuously along an entire length of the inner layer, wherein the plurality of second extensions are arranged in a spaced configuration defining a plurality of second channels therebetween;   wherein the plurality of second channels are shaped to receive the plurality of first extensions;   wherein the plurality of first channels are shaped to receive the plurality of second extensions; and   wherein the outer layer and the inner layer are configured to cooperatively provide progressive, analog impact resistance to mitigate an impact force experienced by an exterior surface of the helmet as the impact force propagates through the helmet padding.   
     
     
         19 . The helmet padding of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions extend from the outer layer and the inner layer, respectively, in a radial direction approximately orthogonal to a plane tangent to a curvature of the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . A multi-layer padding, comprising:
 a first layer having a first density; and   a second layer having a second density less than the first density;   wherein the first layer and the second layer define at least one of (i) opposing, interlocking wedges that extend continuously along an entire length of the multi-layer padding and are configured to provide progressive, analog impact resistance to attenuate an impact force experienced by the multi-layer padding as the impact force propagates through the multi-layer padding and (ii) air flow channels that extend at least a portion of a length of the multi-layer padding and are configured to facilitate at least one of aerodynamic ventilation and cooling through the multi-layer padding.