Protective Helmet

Abstract

The protective helmet may comprise a flexible protective helmet that includes a plurality of impact zones that could be particularized to a specific occupation, sport, player-position and/or the individual behavior of a specific player. The protective helmet comprising a plurality of impact mitigation pads coupled to a flexible liner may easily conform to a head of wearer. The different embodiments comprise elements to provide a padded protective helmet that is flexible or semi-flexible, light-weight and adapted to reduce the risk of head trauma due to the multi-layered padded configuration.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An impact mitigation structure comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart elongated walls, each of the plurality of elongated walls having a wall height and a undulated pattern, each of the plurality of elongated walls having a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape including a first lower portion and a second upper portion, the first lower portion comprising a base having a cross-sectional base width and a base height, the second upper portion comprising an upwardly extending longitudinal member, the upwardly extending longitudinal member extending generally perpendicular from the base and having a cross-sectional longitudinal member width and a longitudinal member height, the base width is greater than the longitudinal width and the base height is less than the longitudinal member height; and   at least one support member, the at least one support member extending perpendicular from at least a portion of a length of the plurality of spaced apart elongated walls.   
     
     
         2 . The impact mitigation structure of  claim 1 , wherein the undulated pattern comprises a zig-zag pattern, a herringbone pattern, or a chevron pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The impact mitigation structure of  claim 1 , wherein the impact mitigation structure further comprises a border, the border having a border height, the border surrounding the perimeter of the plurality of spaced part elongated walls, the border height is at least a portion of the elongated wall height. 
     
     
         4 . The impact mitigation structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having a uniform or non-uniform wall height. 
     
     
         5 . The impact mitigation structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having an aspect ratio between 3:1 to 1,000:1. 
     
     
         6 . The impact mitigation structure of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having an aspect ratio between 3:1 to 1,000:1 buckles after an impact, the buckling being a sudden lateral deflection of a portion of the plurality of elongated walls. 
     
     
         7 . An impact mitigation pad comprising:
 a base material layer, the base material layer having a first surface and a second surface, a recess disposed onto a first surface extending towards the second surface; and   an impact mitigation structure, the impact mitigation structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated walls, the plurality of spaced apart walls disposed within the recess, the recess having a recess height, each of the plurality of elongated walls having an elongated wall height, an elongated wall width and a undulated pattern, each of the plurality of elongated walls having a cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         8 . The impact mitigation pad of  claim 7 , wherein the undulated pattern comprises a zig-zag pattern, a herringbone pattern, or a chevron pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The impact mitigation pad of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having a uniform or non-uniform wall height. 
     
     
         10 . The impact mitigation pad of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having an aspect ratio between 3:1 to 1,000:1. 
     
     
         11 . The impact mitigation pad of  claim 7 , wherein the impact mitigation pad further comprises a first material layer and a second material layer. 
     
     
         12 . The impact mitigation pad of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated wall height is equal to, less than or greater than the recess height. 
     
     
         13 . A helmet comprising:
 a liner, the liner having an external surface and an internal surface; and   a plurality of impact pads, at least a portion of the plurality of impact pads comprising base material layer, an impact mitigation structure, a first material layer and a second material layer,   the base material layer having a first surface and a second surface, a recess disposed onto a first surface extending towards the second surface, the impact mitigation structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated walls, the plurality of spaced apart walls disposed within the recess, the recess having a recess height, each of the plurality of elongated walls having an elongated wall height, an elongated wall width and a undulated pattern, each of the plurality of elongated walls having a cross-sectional shape,   the plurality of impact pads being coupled to the liner external surface.   
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the undulated pattern comprises a zig-zag pattern, a herringbone pattern, or a chevron pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having a uniform or non-uniform wall height. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated walls having an aspect ratio between 3:1 to 1,000:1. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the impact mitigation pad further comprises a first material layer and a second material layer. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated wall height is equal to, less than or greater than the recess height. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 19 , wherein the first material layer or the second material layer comprises a foam layer or a polycarbonate material.