Impact absorbing and dispersion helmet system

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally related to systems, devices, and methods for mitigating energy propagation through helmets during a collision, thereby reducing the risk of brain damage from a traumatic brain injury. For example, an impact absorption system may be utilized to increase energy absorption of forces propagating through a helmet. In a particular configuration, the absorption system includes an external shell, a plurality of impact absorbing elements, one or more liners, and/or a foam layer to mitigate the resulting forces from an impact that reach a user's brain.

1 . A headgear impact dispersion system comprising:
 a helmet having an external shell that defines a cavity; and   a plurality of impact absorbing elements coupled to the external shell, each element:
 comprising a viscoelastic polymer; and 
 extending radially away from the external shell in a direction opposite of the cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each impact absorbing element:
 comprises an upper lip and a lower lip; and   extends though the external shell.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the external shell of the helmet comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and   the plurality of impact absorbing elements are coupled to the helmet such that the lower lip of each element is disposed on the interior surface and the upper lip is disposed on the exterior surface.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a plurality of covers coupled to the external shell, each cover comprising a pliable material disposed over at least one impact absorbing element of the plurality of impact absorbing elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of impact absorbing elements may be cylindrical or toroid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of impact absorbing elements comprises a viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         7 . An impact absorption system for protecting a user from an impact, the system comprising:
 an outer shell that defines a cavity configured to be positioned over a user's head;   a foam layer coupled to the outer shell; and   an absorption layer positioned between the foam layer and the outer shell, the absorption layer comprising:
 one or more inner liners; and 
 a plurality of impact absorbing elements coupled to the inner liner(s), each element comprising a viscoelastic polymer. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the impact absorbing elements comprise an absorbent body and a cover. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the absorbent body is cylindrical; and   the cover comprises a pliable material configured to be disposed over and surround at least a portion of the absorbent body.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more inner liner(s) are coupled to a top surface of the foam layer such that the inner liner covers at least a portion of the foam layer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein, the plurality of impact absorbing elements extend from the inner liner(s) toward the outer shell without contacting the outer shell. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of connectors; and   wherein:
 the one or more inner liner(s) comprise:
 a first inner liner; and 
 a second inner liner; and 
 
 the plurality of connectors are configured to couple the first inner liner to the second inner liner. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of posts configured to be coupled to the one or more inner liner(s); and   wherein the plurality of posts comprise a first post coupled to the first inner liner and a second post coupled to the second inner liner.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a first connector of the plurality of connectors extends from the first post to the second post to couple the first inner liner to the second inner liner. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a second connector of the plurality of connectors extends from the outer shell to the first inner liner to couple the absorption layer to the outer shell. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each post comprises:
 a post platform configured to be coupled to the inner liner(s), and   a post body extending away from the post platform, the post body comprising an upper lip.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each post comprises a laminate. 
     
     
         18 . A helmet for protecting a user from an impact, the helmet comprising:
 an outer shell defining a cavity configured to be positioned over a user's head;   a foam layer coupled to the outer shell;   a plurality of sandwich layers coupled to the foam layer, each sandwich layer comprising:
 an inner liners, 
 an outer liners; and 
 a plurality of impact absorbing elements extending from the outer liner to the inner liner, each element comprising a viscoelastic polymer; and 
   a connection assembly configured to couple the plurality of sandwich layers together, the connection assembly comprising:
 a plurality of posts coupled to the inner liner and the outer liner of each sandwich layer; and 
 one or more fasteners configured to connect at least two posts of the plurality of post together. 
   
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein the foam layer is positioned between the outer shell and the plurality of sandwich layers. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein a top surface of the outer liner of each sandwich layer is coupled to the foam layer. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 18 , wherein each post comprises:
 a post platform; and   a post body coupled to, and extending away from, the post platform.   
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the post body is be moveable relative to the post platform. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a first post of the plurality of posts is coupled to a first inner liner;   a second post of the plurality of posts is coupled to a second inner liner; and   a first fastener of the one or more fasteners extends from the first post to the second post to couple the first and second inner liners together.   
     
     
         24 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the post body comprises an upper lip. 
     
     
         25 . An impact absorbing element for dispersing force from an impact on a helmet, the element comprising:
 a cylindrical body extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, the cylindrical body:
 comprises a viscoelastic polymer (sorbothane); and 
 defines one or more protrusions; and 
   a concave protective cover configured to be disposed over the top surface of the cylindrical body such that a portion of the cover surrounds the top surface of the cylindrical body;   wherein the bottom surface of the cylindrical body is configured to be coupled to an external shell of a helmet such that the external shell is disposed between one of the protrusions and the top surface.