Critically Damped Fluid Flow Protective Helmet

Abstract

A protective helmet system for protecting a user's head including outer and inner shells; a mat including a plurality of cells and a plurality of channels collectively defining a fluid flow system wherein each of the plurality of channels is structured and disposed for connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of cells such that each of the plurality of cells is in fluid flow communication; a fluid in the fluid flow system; and wherein a critical dampening occurs when a force impacts the outer shell at a point of impact causing the fluid to flow away from the point of impact thereby dampening at the point of impact as the fluid flows through the fluid flow system causing each of the plurality of cells on the opposing end of the mat to fill such that motion of the user's head away from the point of impact is decelerated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective helmet system for protecting a user's head, the protective helmet comprising:
 an outer shell and an inner shell, the inner shell being integrally secured within an interior cavity of the outer shell;   a mat located between the outer and inner shells, the mat comprising a plurality of cells and a plurality of channels, the plurality of cells and the plurality of channels collectively defining a fluid flow system wherein each of the plurality of channels is structured and disposed for connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of cells such that each of the plurality of cells is in fluid flow communication with opposing ones of the plurality of cells;   a fluid in the fluid flow system; and   wherein a critical dampening occurs when a force impacts the outer shell at a point of impact causing the fluid to flow away from the point of impact thereby dampening at the point of impact as the fluid flows through the fluid flow system causing each of the plurality of cells on the opposing end of the mat, relative to the point of impact, to fill such that motion of the user's head away from the point of impact is decelerated.   
     
     
         2 . The protective helmet system for protecting a user's head as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The protective helmet system for protecting a user's head as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         4 . A protective helmet system for protecting a user's head and neck, the protective helmet comprising:
 an outer shell and an inner shell, the inner shell being integrally secured within an interior cavity of the outer shell;   a mat located between the outer and inner shells and extending therefrom down the user's neck, the mat comprising a plurality of cells and a plurality of channels, the plurality of cells and the plurality of channels collectively defining a fluid flow system wherein each of the plurality of channels is structured and disposed for connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of cells such that each of the plurality of cells is in fluid flow communication;   a fluid in the fluid flow system; and   wherein a critical dampening occurs when a force impacts the outer shell at a point of impact causing the fluid to flow away from the point of impact thereby dampening at the point of impact as the fluid flows through the fluid flow system causing each of the plurality of cells on the opposing end of the mat, relative to the point of impact, to fill such that motion of the user's head away from the point of impact is decelerated.   
     
     
         5 . The protective helmet system for protecting a user's head as recited in  claim 4  wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The protective helmet system for protecting a user's head as recited in  claim 4  wherein the fluid is a gas.