Adjustable Helmet Assembly

Abstract

The adjustable helmet assembly disclosed within in comprises a front shell, a back shell and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism allows sliding movement of the front shell relative to the back shell for adjustment to a desired length for a specific wearer. The locking mechanism is movable from an unlocked position allowing the front shell to move relative to the back shell, and a locked position prohibiting the front shell to move relative to the back shell. The locking mechanism may be a clamp or lever function, and/or a cam function. Accordingly, the adjustable helmet may further comprise crumple zones to further reduce and/or dissipate impact forces.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable helmet comprising:
 a first shell, the first shell including an external surface, an internal surface, and a tongue, the tongue having a first end and a second end, the first or second end affixed to the first shell and the tongue extending away from the first shell, a portion of the tongue having a plurality of recesses;   a second shell, the second shell including an external surface and an internal surface, at least a portion of the internal surface having a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth being sized and configured to engage within a portion of the plurality of recesses;   a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being movable between an unlocked position that disengages the portion of the plurality of teeth from the portion of the plurality of recesses and allows the first and second shells to slide relative to each other, and a locked position that allows the a portion of the plurality of teeth and a portion of the plurality of recesses to engage and inhibits the first and second shells from sliding relative to each other; and   an impact mitigation layer, at least a portion of the impact mitigation layer disposed on a portion of the first shell internal surface and a portion of the second shell internal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the impact mitigation layer comprises a plurality of laterally supported filament (LSF) structures coupled to at least one base membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of LSF structures are spaced apart, the LSF structures comprises a plurality of filaments and a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls extend between the plurality of filaments. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable helmet further comprises an inner shell. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustable helmet further comprises a supplemental layer, the supplemental layer disposed onto an inner surface of the inner shell. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the supplemental layer comprises a plurality of pod assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . An adjustable helmet comprising:
 a first shell;   a second shell, the second shell being slidably attached to the first shell; and   a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprises
 a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses being disposed on a portion of the first or second shell, 
 a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth disposed on a portion of the first or second shell, at least a portion of the plurality of teeth sized and configured to engage with a portion of the plurality of recesses, 
 a clamp assembly, the clamp assembly being movable between an unlocked position that disengages the portion of the plurality of teeth from the portion of the plurality of recesses and allows the first and second shells to slide relative to each other, and a locked position that allows the portion of the plurality of teeth and the portion of the plurality of recesses to engage and inhibits the first and second shells from sliding relative to each other; and 
   an impact mitigation layer, the impact mitigation layer positioned adjacent to a portion of an inner surface of the first and second shells.   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the adjustable helmet further comprises an inner shell, the inner shell disposed on an inner surface of the impact mitigation layer. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the adjustable helmet further comprises an inner shell and a supplemental layer, the supplemental layer disposed onto an inner surface of the inner shell. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 9 , wherein the supplemental layer comprises a plurality of pod assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the impact mitigation layer comprises a plurality of laterally supported filament (LSF) structures coupled to at least one base membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of LSF structures are spaced apart, the LSF structures comprises a plurality of filaments and a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls extend between the plurality of filaments. 
     
     
         13 . An impact mitigation helmet comprising:
 an impact mitigation layer; the impact mitigation layer having a first portion and a second portion; and   an outer shell, the outer shell having a first region and a second region, at least a portion of the outer shell first region being in contact with the impact mitigation layer first portion, the outer shell second region being in contact with the impact mitigation layer second portion, at least a portion of the outer shell first region being offset from a portion of the outer shell second region, at least a portion of the outer shell second region being independently and locally deflectable relative to at least a portion of the outer shell first region.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the outer shell comprising a front shell and a back shell. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the impact mitigation layer first portion is a foam pad and the impact mitigation layer second portion are a polygonal laterally supported filament structure. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the offset comprises one or more elongated openings. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the offset comprises one or more tabs.