Biomimetic and inflatable energy-absorbing helmet to reduce head injuries and concussions

Abstract

A helmet for protecting the head of a user. The helmet includes an outer shell, an inner shell having padding that contacts the head and a cavity formed between the inner and the outer shells, wherein the cavity is filled with a fluid such as air. The helmet also includes a plurality of resilient strands located in the cavity and affixed between the outer and inner shells, wherein an impact force on the outer shell causes the head to impact the padding with a reaction force that compresses the cavity. Compression of the cavity pushes fluid through the strands to increase fluid friction and alter a velocity of the fluid. This decreases the energy of impact and consequently reduces an amount of force transferred to the head thereby protecting the head from normal and shear force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet for protecting the head of a user, comprising:
 an outer shell having an inner surface that includes a first plurality of protrusions;   an inner shell having padding that contacts the head, wherein the inner shell includes an outer surface having a second plurality of protrusions, wherein the first plurality of protrusions is not aligned with the second plurality of protrusions;   a cavity formed between the inner and outer surfaces; and a plurality of liner sections located between the first and second plurality of protrusions, wherein a liner section is connected to an adjacent liner section by a connector element that enables fluid communication between the liner sections wherein the liner sections are filled with a fluid and wherein an impact force on the outer shell causes the head to impact the padding with a reaction force that compresses the cavity wherein compression of the cavity compresses at least one liner and pushes fluid from the liner and subsequently through at least one connector element to increase fluid friction and reduce a velocity of the fluid and an amount of force transferred to the head.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a semi-spherical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air, oil or a jell. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector element is a tube having an interior channel wherein the interior channel has a constant or variable inner diameter along its length to reduce the flow of fluid from a liner section to an adjacent liner section.