Air cooled helmet

Abstract

A protective helmet adapted for distributing cooled air to the head of a son comprising an outer shell and an inner lining of open cell foam. A cool air inlet conducts cooled air into the capillary system of the open cell foam where it is distributed throughout the volume of the foam. The cool air exits a multiplicity of pores in the surface of the foam in a randomly oriented fashion, providing cooled air substantially evenly distributed over the head.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective helmet for applying cooled air to the head of a person, comprising: an outer shell;   an open cell foam liner, said foam liner having an edge and first and second principal surfaces, said first principal surface affixedly attached to the internal periphery of said outer shell and said second principal surface juxtaposed the normal position of the head of said person when wearing said helmet, said foam liner further having an internal capillary system, said capillary system in fluid communication with a multiplicity f pores opening along said second principal surface; and,   at least one cool air inlet duct affixedly attached to said outer shell, said cool air inlet duct in fluid communication with the internal capillary system of said open cell foam liner.   
     
     
       2. A protective helmet for applying cooled air to the head of a person as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary liner having pores in fluid communication with the pores of said open cell foam liner, said auxiliary liner interposed between said second principal surface of said open cell foam liner and the normal position of the head of said person when wearing said helmet. 
     
     
       3. A protective helmet for applying cooled air to the head of a person as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pores in said liner are manufactured pores. 
     
     
       4. A protective helmet for applying cooled air to the head of a person as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of the edge of said open cell foam liner is sealed to prevent fluid communication through said portion of said edge. 
     
     
       5. A protective helmet for applying cooled air to the head of a person as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cool air inlet duct fluidly communicates with the internal capillary system through at least one orifice in said outer shell, said orifice at an effective angle with the local tangent of the exterior of said shell.