Helmet

Abstract

A helmet has an outer shell, an impact absorbing liner inside the outer shell to receive loads from the outer shell and an inner liner disposed inside the impact absorbing liner, with the inner liner configured to slide relative to the impact absorbing liner. The inner liner defines a number of apertures and a deflector inside each aperture. Each deflector has a body that is connectable to the impact absorbing liner; a peripheral border that is connectable to the aperture in which it is received; and a number of deformable spokes extending between the body and the border.

1 . An impact absorbing element for use with a helmet having a first liner connected in a load transferring manner to an outer shell to receive loads from an external source; and a second liner disposed inside the first liner, said second liner being configured to move relative to the first liner in a tangential direction, wherein said second liner defines at least one receiving formation, said impact absorbing element comprising:
 a central body in the form of a hub that is connectable to a first liner of a helmet to extend from the first liner by a first height; and   a flexible element extending outwardly from the hub, said flexible element being configured to be deflected in an axial direction relative to the hub under a force in the tangential direction, to thereby transfer force in the axial direction and apply the force to the second liner, said flexible element extending from the first liner by a second height, that is more than the first height.   
     
     
         2 . The impact absorbing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible element comprises a plurality of deformable elements expandable and/or compressible in the axial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The impact absorbing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the hubs of at least some of the impact absorbing elements are releasably connectable to the first liner. 
     
     
         4 . The impact absorbing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the hubs of at least some of the impact absorbing elements are connectable to the first liner by way of anchor formations that extend, at least in part, into the first liner. 
     
     
         5 . The impact absorbing element according to  claim 1 , which is disposed between:
 a first liner disposed inside an outer shell of a helmet and connected in a load-transferring manner to the outer shell to receive loads from the outer shell; and   a second liner disposed inside the first liner, said second liner being configured to move in a tangential direction relative to the first liner.   
     
     
         6 . The helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein the second liner defines at least one receiving formation in which the flexible element of the impact absorbing element is at least partly receivable. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet according to  claim 6 , wherein the receiving formation is a recess defined in the second liner. 
     
     
         8 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell;   a first liner disposed inside the outer shell and connected in a load transferring manner to the outer shell to receive loads from the outer shell; and   a second liner disposed inside the first liner, said second liner being configured to move in a tangential direction relative to the first liner;   wherein said helmet includes at least one impact absorbing element disposed between the first liner and the second liner, said impact absorbing element comprising:
 a central body in the form of a hub that is connectable to the first liner to extend from the first liner by a first height; and 
 a flexible element extending outwardly from the hub, said flexible element being configured to be deflected in an axial direction relative to the hub under a force in the tangential direction, to thereby transfer force in the axial direction and apply the force to the second liner, said flexible element extending from the first liner by a second height, that is more than the first height. 
   
     
     
         9 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the second liner defines at least one receiving formation in which the flexible element of the impact absorbing element is at least partly receivable. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet according to  claim 9 , wherein the receiving formation is a recess defined in the second liner. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexible element comprises a plurality of deformable elements expandable and/or compressible in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the hubs of at least some of the impact absorbing elements are releasably connectable to the first liner. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein the hubs of at least some of the impact absorbing elements are connectable to the first liner by way of anchor formations that extend, at least in part, into the first liner.