NZ214128A

NZ214128A - Inflatable baffled liner for protective head gear

Info

Publication number: NZ214128A
Application number: NZ21412885A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Elwyn R Gooding
Original assignee: Elwyn R Gooding
Priority date: 1985-11-08
Filing date: 1985-11-08
Publication date: 1988-03-30

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> / 214128 Priority D3te{si: Complete Specification ritea. • • ■ Cfass: L N.Z. PATENT CP KE -8 MOV 1935 ."*'T " DM" 3 RECEIVED 1 on in„nA. p,0. NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: Date COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "INFLATABLE BAFFLED LINER FOR PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR AND OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT" l/HWt ELWYN R. GOODING, a citizen of the United States of America, of 2983 West North Territorial Road, Ann Arbor, State of Michigan, United States of America, hereby declare the invention for which I / WW* pray that a patent may be granted to me/x*s^ and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - - 1 - (followed by Page la) \a 1 BACKGIIOUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to protective equipment, and, more particularly to liners for protective headgear and other protective equipment. There liave been many kinds of Inflated liner3 for head protection 5 helmets with pre-formod ch;miljers or compartments interconnected by small air passages, hi some lnstunces^foam plaBtlc pads of combinations of densities have been enclosed within the compartments to assist in attenuating the force of an impact to the helmet when worn. In other doslgns, means to rcgulatd tho-flow or air between the 10 .chambers have been employed, such as, the size of the intercommunicating orflcu, valves und plastic plugs with filters. The above concepts are shown and described in U.S. Patents: to Nichols 2,Gti4,5G7; to Simpson 3,039,109; to Cade 3,GOO,714; to Morgan 3,G09,7G4; to Dunning 3,7G1,95D; to Larcer 3,787,893; to Rovani 4,023,213; 15 to Gyory 4, 038, 700; to Schulz 4, 287,G33; and to Gooding 4,375,108. The prior art-types of shock-absorbing headgear inflatable liners with multiple compartments have been only partially effective. The types with layers of resilient foam plastic within the compartments do not distribute the force of an impact to the helmet over a very large area of the head of the 20 wearer. The typos with only air within the multiple compartments have of necessity been very thick compartments so as not to "bottom-out,"I.e. instantaneously be completely compressed, to thereby transmit a large portion of the force of the impact to the head of the wearer. The types with valves or inserts with filters to control the flow of air through the intercommunicating 25 air channels have been t^iiite complicated for manufacturing. The unique construction of this invention provides an inflatable liner with a thin profile to attenuate the,force of an impact over as large an area as possible and the longest period of time with strength, durability and reliability to a high degree, together with inexpenslveness of construction. 2 1 7 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an inflatable impact attenuating liner for protective headgear and other protective equipment comprising a plurality of pre-formed compartments with co-acting bafflements which 5 regulate the outward flow of air to adjacent compartments through interaction of integral protrusions at the entrances of intercommunicating air channels in response to a sudden compression of a compartment. Another object of the invention is to provide alternate bafflement means to control the flow of air from an air compartment in 10 response to a sudden compression of the compartment. A further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby two liners having different co-acting bafflements may be stacked one atop the other to attain optimum attenuation of an Impact force to the head and brain of the wearer of a protective helmet in which the liners are used. 15 A still further object of the invention is to provide a single stage bafflement means to control the rate of flow of air from an air compartment in response to a sudden compression of the compartment. Yet another object and advantage of the invention is to provide a new and novel bafflement means to control air flow in an air compartment of 20 a liner used with protective headgear such as football helmets. Still another object and advantage of the invention is to provide an improved protective baffled liner for use with various equipment such as hockey equipment, space equipment, body protective pads and other applications. 25 Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like components in the various views. -2- 2 141 2 l BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan of the protective helmet incorporating the liner of the invention. FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the protective helmet 5 with the chin cup/strap removed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the preferred embodiments incorporated in the liner of the invention shown assembled in the protective helmet. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-soctional view taken along 10 line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the preferred form of the liner assembled in the protective helmet. FIG. 5 is a bottom plan of the protective helmet with the liner of the invention assembled therein. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-soctional view taken along 15 line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing sizing cushions and the liner assembled in the protective helmet. FIG. 7 is a top plan taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 of a typical trapazoidal shaped air compartment with co-acting outer and inner bafflements. 20 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing an air compartment with outer and inner bafflements and their relationship to each other and to the intercommunicating air channels to adjacent air compartments. 25 Fig. 7 showing the relationship of the outer bafflement, convoluted inner bafflement, the pre-formed air compartment and the bottom panel of the air compartment. bafflements and integral intercommunicating air channels of the liner with 30 preferred embodiments of this invention. The liner is shown removed from the helmet shown in Figs. 1-6. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 10 is a top plan of the multi-air compartments with FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10 showing the bafflements and inflation valve means. FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of an 35 intercommunicating air channel taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 10. -3- 2 14 1 2 1 FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a recess for attachment of a VELCRO disc taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 10. FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along the center-line of the intercommunicating air channels 50 5 of Fig. 11 adjacent air compartments of the liner of the invention showing the "at-rest" relationship of the air compartment bafflements to the intercommunicating air channel. FIG. 15 is the same cross-sectional view as Fig. 14 showing the relationship of the air compartment bafflements to the 10 intercommunicating air channel when the protective helmet is properly fitted to a person's head. FIG. 16 is the same cross-sectional view as Fig. 15 showing the relationship of the air compartment bafflements to the intercommunicating air channel when the wearer's head decelerates into the 15 liner at the time of an impact. FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the centerline of a typical air compartment with intercommunicating air channels to adjacent air compartments illustrating modified construction of the co-acting outer and inner bafflements. 20 FIG. 18 is a plan taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 of a typical trapazoidal shaped air compartment with another modified construction of the inner bafflement. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 18. 25 FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 18. FIG. 21 is a fragmentary front elevation view taken along line 21-21 of Fig. 6 of an air compartment as it might be assembled in a helmet illustrating a means for stacking two independent liners. 30 FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Fig. 21 with a second independent liner stacked in front of the liner shown in Fig. 21. FIG. 23 is a top plan taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 of a modified typical trapazoidal shaped air compartment with a single stage 35 bafflement. -4- 214128 1 FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 of Fig. 23 showing a single stage bafflement and relationship to intercommunicating air channels. FIG. 25 is a greatly enlarged partial cross-sectional view, 5 similar to Fig. 14, taken along the center-line of the intercommunicating air channels between the adjacent air compartments of the modified liner of the invention showing the "at-rest" relationship of the air compartments with single stage bafflements to the intercommunicating air channel. FIG. 26 is the same cross-sectional view as Fig. 25, 10 similar to Fig. 15, showing the relationship of the air compartments with modified single stage bafflements to the intercommunicating air channel when the protective helmet is properly fitted to a person's head. FIG. 27 is the same cross-sectional view as Fig. 26, similar to Fig. 16, showing the relationship of the air compartments with 15 modified single stage bafflements to the intercommunicating air channel when the wearer's head decelerates into the liner at the time of an impact. 3 i i i D I -5- 2 14 12 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figs. 1-G, reference nuiner-nl 5 indicates generally a football helmet of the type which has a liner that incorporates the improvements of the invention. The helmet includes a shell 6 composed 5 of a high impact-i-esistant plastic resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadinc-styrene) or polycarbonate. It has a front edge bumper 14 of a resilient material as synthetic rubber or polyurethane and a nock bumper 15 of similar material secured to the back edge. Ear holes 8 and 9 ars provided on the sides of the helmet, a liner inflation valve hole 10 and ventilation holes 11 are 10 in the crown portion. sizing cushions 20-26 of a resilient foam plastic are positioned between the inside of the outer shell and the liner. The sizing cushions are attached to the outer shell with releasable fabric fastening strips commercially sold under 15 the trade name VELCRO as disclosed in prior U. S. Patent Nos. 2, 717,437, 3,009,235, 3,083,737 and 3,154,837. The sizing cushions 20-26 have recesses to accommodate the VELCRO 18 so that the sizing cushions 20-26 fit in surface-to-surface contact with the inside surface of the outer shell G and the inner liner 30 fits in surface-to-surface contact with the inner 20 surfaces of the sizing cushions 20-26. In a similar way of mounting, a larger sizing cushion 27 is used at the front of the helmet 5 for the forehead area of the wearer and another large sizing cushion 29 is used at the back of the helmet 5 for the occiput of the wearer. The combination of sizing cushions and proper inflation of the liner will provide a very wide range of sizes and shapes 25 of heads of wearers of the helmet. a typical trapazoidal shaped air compartment of the liner of the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 30 in Figs. 3 and 10. An air compartment and components, shown in cross-sectional views in Figs. 8 "*0 and 9 include a bottom panel 31, a pre-formed top panel 32 with integral formed intercommunicating air channels 50, with an outer bafflement GO and inner bafflement 70 positioned between the panels. The top panel 32 and bottom panel 31 are heat bonded together around the perimeter of the pre-formed air compartment in the area generally indicated by the numeral 55 leaving 35 only the intercommunicating air channel 50 areas unbonded. The outer To assist in fitting a helmet with the liner of this invention, Shown in Fig. 7 is a top plan taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 at -6- 2 14 1 bafflement 60 is thermoformcd of resilient foam cross-linked polyethylene. It is dimensioned and trimmed so that the outer surface 01 is in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface 142 of the pre-formed top panel 32 of the air compartment with integral formed small protrusions G5 at the 5 entrances to the corresponding intercommunicating air channels 50. The small protrusions 65 are compressed to the proper thickness during the thermoforming operation and sized to width and length during the trimming operation so that they will match the size of the intercommunicating air channels 50. The inner bafflements generally indicated by reference numeral 10 70 are thermoformed of the same material as the outer bafflements 60 and have convolutions which are generally parallel to the contour of the outer bafflement. The reference numeral 48 in Figs. 7 and 10 generally indicates the top plan of the apexes of the convolutions of the various inner bafflements 70 which apex surfaces are in surface-to-surface contact with the inner 15 surfaces 62 of the outer bafflements 60. Referring now to Figs. 10-13, shown is the liner 30 removed from the helmet 5. The liner 30 consists of a plurality of pre-formed air compartments 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 with co-acting bafflements 60 and 70 and have intercommunicating air channels 50 20 between the air compartments. At the center of the liner is a hexagon shaped thermoformed air compartment 33 in the top panel 32 and an inflating valve means 100 heat bonded at the center of the bottom panel 31. There are three sets-of-two compartments 34/36, 40/42, 44/40 arranged angulately to three sides of the central hexagon-shaped air compartment 33 and three set-of-two 25 air compartments 35/37, 41/43, 45/47 arranged angulately in a mirror image to the opposite three sides of the hexagon shaped air compartment 33. The outermost air compartments 36 and 3T have clearance flange areas 56 shown cross hatched are heat bonded as are the areas around all of the air compartments generally indicated by the numeral 55, leaving only the 30 intercommunicating air channels 50 unbonded. The relationship of the bafflements to the intercommunieating air channels 50 is the same in all air compartments. The outside perimeter of the liner 30 and the inside perimter of the ear clearance openings 38 and 39 are heat bonded and steel rule die trimmed to the desired contour. Fig. 11, which is across-sectional 35 view of the liner taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10, shows the relationship of -7- | % 1 the pre-formed top panel 32 or the air coinpartmcnLs, the outer bafflements GO, imier bafflements 70, intercommunicating air channels 50, and the r bottom panel 31 of the air compartments with integral bonded liner inflation valve means 100 at Lhe center. All air compartments arc Inflated through 5 the single valve means 100. When assembled in the outer shell G, Lhe inflation valve means 100 is positioned In the hole 10 hi the crown section. This permits the liner 30 to be Inflated as desired from the outside of tho helmet. A typical intercommunicating air channcl GO Is shown in enlarged cross-section in Fig. 12. A typical recess 19 for VELCRO 13 for attaching the \ . 10 liner to the sizing pads or in some instances to the inside surface of the helmet shell G is shown In enlaiged cross-section in Fig. 13. The method whereby the outer bafflements GO and Inner bafflements 70 co-act to control tho flow of air through the Intercommunicating air channels 50 is more readily undorslood by the explanations of Figs. 14, 15 16 and 1G which illustrate tho relationship of these components "at-rest," I.e. with tho liner partiully inflated prior to tho helmet being positioned on tho wearer's head, when properly inflated and positioned on head, and upon an impact respectively. Referring now to Fig. 14, the greatly enlarged cross-sectional view is taken along the ccnterlinc of the intercommunicating air 20 channel 50 between adjacent air comparLments or Fig. 11 to illustrate the relationship of the air compartments, the inner bafflement 70, and the outer bafflement GO with integral protrusion G5 to the corresponding intercommunicating air channcl 50. When properly inflated the air pressure within all of the air compartments will be the same and all of the surfaces 25 will be slightly convex. The outer surface G1 of the outer bidflement GO will be in surface-to-surface contact with tho inner surface 142 of tho top panel 32 of the air compartment and the surface G3 of the outur bafflement GO will be in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface 131 of the bottom panel 31 of the air compartment. The protrusions fi!3 on the outer bafflement 30 GO will be at the enti-ances of the corresponding intercommunicating air channels 50. The apex surface 48 of the convolutions of the inner bafflement 70 will be in surface-Lo-surfaco contact with the inner surface G2 of the outer bafflement-.G0 with the apex surfaces 49 of tho reverse convolutions in surface-to-surface contact with the Inner surface 131 of the bottom panel 31 35 of the air compartment. The peripheral edge surface 74 of the inner o'v« '*8FEBI9M 2 1412 1 bafflement 70 will bo in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface 62 of the outer bafflement 60. With the helmet properly fitted to the head of a wearer as illustrated in Fig. 15, the outside surface of the wearer's head 105 5 compresses the air compartments so that the top panel 32 of the air compartment and the outer bafflement GO are now slightly concave. The pressure within all air compartments will be the same witli but slight pressure of the protrusion G5 against the end of the intercommunicating air channel 50. The inner bafflement 70 is compresscd slightly with the resultant 10 radially outward edgewise movement of the peripheral surface 74 against the inner surface 62 of the sidewall of the outer bafflement GO whose surface 63 has been pressed more firmly against the inner surfacc 131 of the bottom panel 31 of the air compartment. As a result, the protrusion 65 of the outer bafflement GO is pressed more firmly into the end of the intercommunicating 15 air channel 50 thereby creating a greater resistance to the flow of air through the channel at the time of impact to the helmet. Upon an impact to the outer shell G as illustrated in Fig. 16, there will be an additional compression of the sidcwalls of the outer bafflement 60, pressing the surface 63 more firmly against the inner surface 20 131 of the bottom panel 31 of the air compartment. There will be additional compression of the air compartment top panel 32 and both the outer 60 and inner 70 bafflements with resultant outward edgewise movement of the peripheral surface 74 thereby pressing the protrusion 65 more firmly into the end of the intercommunicating air channel 50 thus controlling the rate of 25 flow of air from the air compartment opposite the site of the impact. Inasmuch as all components of the liner are resilient, there will always be a flow of air through the intercommunicating air channels 50 from the air compartments with the greatest internal pressure toward the air compartments with less internal pressure. However, the rate of flow will be regulated by 30 the afore described co-acting bafflements 60 and 70 with integral air channel 50 engaging protrusions 65. Thus the force of an impact is attenuated and distributed over a very large area of the head of the wearer and the time to complete deceleration in the given distance is greatly increased through the embodiments of the co-acting bafflements 60 and 70 within the air 35 compartments and interaction of the protrusions (55 with the corresponding -9- 214128 '? 4* 1 intercommunicating air channels 50. Illustrated in Fig. 17 are modifications which will enhance the control of the outward flow of air from an air compartment upon impact. The outer bafflement GO and inner bafflement 70 are pre-molded to more 5 precise configurations and dimensions to cffect a more efficient control of the rate of flow of air through the intercommunicating air channel 50. The side walls of the outer bafflement GO are tapered witli the edge portion GG thinner than the main portion so that it will flex edgewise more easily. The inner bafflement 70 has the outer walls of the convolutions tapered as shown 10 with the peripheral edge portion 74 being thinner than Die main portion so as to exert a greater localized edgewise pressure at Lhe end of the intercommunicating air channel 50 when the pre-formed air compartment is compressed toward the outer shell. Referring now to Figs. 18, 19 and 20, shown is a typical 15 trapazoidal shaped air compartment taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 illustrating another set of bafflements that can be used for special applications. This type of bafflement could be used in combination with other bafflements when two liners are arranged in a tier as illustrated in Fig. 22. In some instances it may be desirable to use two liners witli air 20 compartments with different outer GO and inner bafflement 70 configurations to accomplish attenuation of impact forces of various degrees. In some applications it may bo desirable to have tho bafflements within the pre-formed air compartments of the liner next to the outer shell quite firm to thereby respond to a very high mass - high velocity impact at the onset 25 and have bafflements within the liner next to the wearer's head somewhat softer to thereby further attenuate and redistribute the force of the impact over a much greater area of the head and in a longer period of time. The two liners could be readily stacked or tiered as illustrated in Figs. 21 and 22 using releasable VELCRO 18. Matching recesses 19 of Lhe type shown in Fig. 30 13 to accommodate the VELCRO 18 would be provided in tho innermost surface of the liner adjacent the shell and on the outermost surface of the inner liner. Referring to Figs. 23 and 24, shown is a typical trapazoidal shaped air compartment taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3 of an alternate 35 construction with a single stage bafflement as used in a liner 30. In the -10- 2 14 128 $ 1 modification as shown in Figs. 23-27, the inner bafflement 70 has been f eliminated and the applicant's device functions with Llic o-.iter bafflement GO | as hereinafter modified. The bottom panel "JO of the Mir compartment f consists of a fine weave fabric which has been coaled to be impervious to air | 5 and be dielectrically heat bonded to the pre-formed air compartment flexible ' plastic top panel 32. When the fabric bottom panel !)0 is coated it becomes firmer but remains flexible. The modified single stage outer bafflement GO is the same shape as the pre-formed cavity in top panel 32 but is purposely formed slightly oversize except the protrusions G5 which are sized to the 10 dimensions of the corresponding intercommunicating air channels 50. The outer surface 61 of bafflement GO is therefore in tight surface-to-surface I ! contact with the inner surface 142 of the top panel 32 of the pre-formed air compartment and perimeter surface 63 is in tight surface-to-surface contact to the inner surface 91 of the bottom panel 90. The integral protrusions 65 15 of bafflement GO extend slightly into the intercommunicating air channels 50. The method whereby the single stage bafflement GO responds to an impact to an air compartment to control the rate of flow of air through the intercommunicating air channel 50 is more readily understood by tho explanations of Figs. 25, 26 and 27. Referring to Fig. 25, similar to Fig. 20 14, the greatly enlarged cross-sectional view is taken along the ccnterline of the intercommunicating air channel 50 between adjacent air compartments to illustrate the relationship of the air compartment, tho single stage bafflement 60 with integral protrusion 05 to the intercommunicating air channel 50 when the liner is partially inflated prior to the helmet being positioned on 25 the wearer's head. In this "at-rest" state and properly inflated, the surfaces of the top panel 32 of the air compartments and single stage bafflements GO are slightly convex. The relationship of the surfaces of the bafflements GO to the pre-formed air compartments will be as afore described. When positioned on the wearer's head and properly inflated as illustrated in Fig. 26, 30 similar to Fig. 15, the air compartments will be slightly compressed so that the surfaces of the top panel 32 in contact with tho wearer's head 105 will be slightly concave. The side walls of bafflement 60 will compress very little so that there will be but slight pressure of protrusion 65 into the end of the intercommunicating air channel 50. 35 As illustrated in Fig. 27, similar to Fig. 1G, with an impact to -11- 2 14128 1 the outer shell G, the head 105 of the wearer compresses the air compartment more. There will be a resultant greater pressure of lhe protrusion G5 into the end of the intercommunicating air channel due to the edgewise outward movement of the protrusion G5 as the side walls of lhe single stage 5 bafflement GO are compressed. Thus the rate oT flow of air through the intercommunicating air channel is controlled by Iho pressure of the integral protrusion 65 into the end of the intercommunicating air channel 50. However, as all of the components are resilient there will always be a flow of air from the air compartment with the greatest pressure to the air compartment with 10 less pressure. After the impact, the air compartment with the single stage bafflement GO will return to its previous configuration. This construction permits repeated impacts at very short intervals as restitution is almost ,^v, instantaneous. The applicant's new and novel invention may be used with an 15 inner bafflement 70 and an outer bafflement GO which may be used singly or stacked as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. The inner bafflement 70 may be eliminated and the outer bafflement GO used by it.seir as shown and described when referring to Figs. 23-27 of the drawings. The above described liners by their unique construction lend 20 themselves to be adapted to be used in every conceivable kind of protective headgear and other protective equipment where there is a need for maximum attenuation of the force of an impact utilizing a thin prattle, light weight structure. It may be used with inexpensive resilient foam plastic sizing 25 pads in hebnets to reduce the number of different outer shells to fit a greater span of head sizes. It may be used in body protective pads to rcduce bulkincss and weight of solid foam pads and increase protection for the area where used. While the construction of the liner a fore-described has 30 particular application to football helmets, it is by no moans limited thereto and helmets and other protective equipment incorporating the claimed design of the liner may be advantageously used in all kinds of activities where it is desirable to prevent injury by an impact. From a study of the drawings and a reading of the specification, 35 it is apparent that other changes may be made in the applicant's invention -12- 2 14128 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The applicant is not to be limited to the exact configuration shown and described which have been given by way of illustration only. Having described my invention, I claim: J -13- </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> / | -M4l. >4 WHAT l/^ CUlH IS;

1. A liner for use in a protective helmet and other protective equipment, comprising: (a) A first flexible plastics sheet; (b) a second flexible plastics sheet fixedly attached to the first plastics sheet, the first and second attached sheets forming at least two spaced apart pre-formed air compartments with an integral pre-formed intercommunicating air channel therebetween; (c) at least one resilient bafflement positioned within the air compartments and in contact with at least one of the plastics sheets, the bafflement having formed thereon side-wall edges with protrusions sized to engage open ends of the corresponding intercommunicating air channel; and (d) valve means associated with one of the flexible sheets through which the at least t**> ccnpartnents can be inflated > to a similar desired pressure through the intercommunicating air channel.

2. The liner as defined in Claim 1 further comprising the first and second sheets being dielectrically-heat bonded and the resilient bafflement is formed of foam plastics material.

3. The liner as defined in Claim 1 wherein the valve means comprises a resealable valve positioned in an opening formed in -one of the flexible plastics sheets. - 14 \S

4. The liner as defined in Claim 1 further comprising two liners similarly constructed positioned on top of each I other and held together by attaching means to thereby provide { increased protective padding.

5. The liner as defined in Claim 1 further comprising an additional four air compartments similarly constructed and integrally pre-formed with a central section formed from the first and second flexible sheets, the central section having one pre-formed air compartment and having an additional four integral pre-formed intercommunicating air channels with the additional four air compartments.

6. The liner as defined in Claim 5;wherein the valve means comprises a resealable valve fixedly attached to the central section.

7. A protective equipment comprising the combination of: (a) an outer covering; (b) a liner fixedly attached to the inside of the outer covering, the liner comprising: (1) a first flexible plastics sheet; (2) a second flexible plastics sheet fixedly attached to the first plastics sheet, €he first and second attached sheets forming at least two spaced apart pre-formed air compartments with an integral pre-formed intercommunicating air channel therebetween; (3) at least one resilient bafflement .• positioned within the air compartments and in 7 °\ ' 'g A f-8FEBI988Zr> 0 / lb contact with at least one of the plastics sheets, the bafflement having formed thereon sidewall edges with protrusions sized to engage open ends of the corresponding intercommunicating air channel; and (4) valve means associated with one of the flexible sheets through which the at least two compartments can be inflated to a similar desired pressure through the intercommunicating air channel. .

8. The protective equipment as defined in Claim 7 wherein the outer covering is a football helmet.

9. The protective equipment as defined in Claim 7 wherein the outer covering is a unit of sporting" attire.

10. The protective equipment as defined in Claim 7 wherein the outer covering is a space suit.

11. A liner for a protective • helmet for activities such as football which comprises: (a) a first flexible plastics sheet to which is dielectrically heat bonded a second flexible plastics sheet with multiple pre-formed air compartments with integral preformed intercommunicating air channels; (b) pre-formed resilient foam plastics outer bafflements with outer surfaces in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surfaces of the pre-formed air compartments of said second flexible plastics sheet; (c) protrusions on sidewall edges of said outer bafflements and sized to engage open ends of corresponding intercommunicating air channels of said second plastics sh'eet -' 1 '1 J I n k± (d) pre-formed convolution resilient foam plastics inner bafflements positioned within the aforesaid outer baffle- i ments with apex surfaces of inward facing convolutions in I surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface of said outer bafflement, with apex surfaces outward facing convolutions in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface of said first flexible plastics sheet and with edge surfaces in juxtaposition to the sidewall inner edge surfaces of said outer bafflements; and (e) a resealable valve means, associated with one of the flexible plastics sheets, for inflating to a similar pressure in said multiple pre-formed air compartments through said intercommunicating air channels. . .

12. The liner as described in Claim 11 in'which the outer and inner bafflements are of resilient cross-linked polyethylene foam.

13. The liner as described in Claim 12 in which the resilient cross-linked polyethylene foam is of different densities in said outer and inner bafflements to attain optimum response to various anticipated impact forces.

14. The liner as described in Claim 11 in which said bafflements of resilient foam are geometrized to attain optimum control of the rate of flow of air through said intercom-' municating air channels.

15. The liner as described in Claim 11 in which said first and second flexible plastics sheets have recesses therein-for mounting mutually releasable fabric fastener means for stacking one said liner abop_ another said liner. t v -i4± YS

16. The liner as described in Claim 14 in which said bafflements in said one liner are a different configuration to co-act with the bafflements in said another liner to meet the i anticipated impact foirce response requirements of specific applications. < »

17. The liner as described in Claim 16 in which the density of said bafflements in the outer tiered liner is firmer than the density of said bafflements in the inner tiered liner to attain optimum response to anticipated forces of very.high-mass high-velocity impacts.

18. The liner as described in Claim 11 in which said t multiple pre-formed air compartments are arranged with a mutual central air compartment and sets of at least two of said air compartments are arranged, angularly to the sides of the mutual central air compartment with said integral intercommunicating air channels between said adjacent air compartments.

19. A liner for protective headgear and other protective equipment comprising: (a) a first panel of flexible fabric coated to be impervious to.air and is dielectrically heat bonded to a second flexible plastics panel with multiple pre-formed air compartments with integral pre-formed intercommunicating air channels; (b) pre-formed resilient foam plastics single stage bafflements slightly oversize so that the outer surfaces are in tight surface-to-surface contact to the inner surfaces of the pre-formed air compartments of said second flexible plastics panel; °\ //v ' ■i3*-8FEB1988" (c) protrusions on sidewall edges of said single » stage bafflements and Sized to engage open ends of corresponding intercommunicating air channels of said second plastics panel; and • • \ (d) a reseaiable valve means associated with one of i • ' the flexible plastics Sheets for inflating said multiple pre- • formed air compartments to a similar pressure through said* intercommunicating air channels.

20. The liner as defined in Claim 19 in which said single stage bafflement is resilient cross-linked polyethylene foam.

21. The liner as claimed in any one of claims 1-6.and 11-20 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the *" i accompanying drawings.

22. lhe protective equipment as claimed in any one of rlaimg 7-10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

23. Headgear including a liner as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 and 11-21. DATED THiS"'0 DAY OF • A. J. PARK SON PER fado sjttiet le.fcu AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS ^ EN ^ IN -8PEBI988' </div>