Outer padding assembly for biomechanics aware headgear

Abstract

Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. A padding assembly can be provided over the outer shell layer. The padding assembly can include a padding layer configured to absorb forces normal to the outer shell. The padding assembly can be coupled to the outer shell via an interface layer that allows the padding layer to slide over the outer shell layer in response to tangentially applied forces. The interface layer and associated sliding motion can reduce the tangential forces transmitted through the padding layer to the outer shell while still allowing normal forces to be absorbed. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a first shell layer;   a second shell layer connected to the first shell layer through a first energy transformer layer, the first energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the first shell layer, wherein the first energy transformer layer includes an absorptive/dissipative a material to allow the first shell layer to slide relative to the second shell layer; and   a padding assembly, disposed above the first shell layer, including a padding layer and an interface layer which contacts the first shell layer.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer is formed from an open-celled foam. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer is between 1 to 5 mm thick. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the interface layer is an adhesive which bonds the padding layer to the first shell layer. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the interface layer which contacts the first shell layer and is configured to slide relative to an outer surface of the first shell layer in response to tangential forces applied to the padding assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a lining layer connected to the second shell layer, wherein the lining layer is configured to conform to a human head. 
     
     
         7 . A helmet comprising:
 a first shell layer;   a second shell layer connected the first shell layer through a first energy transformer layer, the first energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the first shell layer, wherein the first energy transformer layer includes an absorptive/dissipative a material to allow the first shell layer to slide relative to the second shell layer; and   a padding assembly, disposed above the first shell layer, including a padding layer coupled to an interface layer wherein the interface layer contacts the first shell layer and is configured to slide relative to an outer surface of the first shell layer in response to tangential forces applied to the padding layer.   
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the padding layer is formed from an open-celled foam. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the padding layer is between 1 to 5 mm thick. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the interface layer is formed from a hard plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein a coating is added to the padding layer to form the interface layer. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the interface layer is bonded to the padding layer. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the padding layer is formed from a plurality of pieces. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pieces are bonded to a contiguous interface layer. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the interface layer is formed from an elastic material which allows gaps between the plurality of pieces to dynamically increase in response to the application of the tangential forces and to dynamically decrease when the tangential forces are removed. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the padding assembly is formed from a plurality of pieces each of the plurality of pieces including the padding layer and the interface layer. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , further comprising linkages separate from the padding layer and the interface layer which couple the plurality of pieces to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the linkages are formed from an elastic material which, in response to the application of the tangential forces, is configured to stretch to store energy and allow gaps between the plurality of pieces to dynamically increase and which, in response to a removal of the tangential forces, is configured to shrink, to release energy and cause the gaps between the plurality of pieces to dynamically decrease. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of members attached to the padding assembly around an outer perimeter of the padding assembly wherein the members secure the padding assembly to the helmet. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of members are formed from an elastic material which, in response to the application of the tangential forces, is configured to stretch to store energy while allowing the padding assembly to move relative to the first shell from a first position to a second position and which, in response to the removal of the tangential forces, is configured to shrink, to release energy and return the padding assembly from the second position towards the first position. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 7 , further comprising an elastic mesh including a plurality of attachment points extending from an outer perimeter of the padding assembly wherein the attachment points secure the padding assembly to the helmet. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the elastic mesh, in response to the application of the tangential forces, is configured to stretch to store energy while allowing the padding assembly to move relative to the first shell from a first position to a second position and, in response to the removal of the tangential forces, is configured to shrink, to release energy and return the padding assembly from the second position towards the first position.