US2664567A

US2664567A - Pneumatic boxing helmet

Info

Publication number: US2664567A
Application number: US203421A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Nichols
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-12-29
Filing date: 1950-12-29
Publication date: 1954-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-05

Description

Jan. 5, 1954 J, W, NlCHOLS 2,664,567

PNEUMATIC BOXING HELMET Filed Dec. 29, 1950 Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC BOXING HELMET John W. Nichols, San Diego, Calif. Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,421

13 Claims.

This invention relates to protective helmets for boxers.

One object of the invention is to provide a helmet which may be advantageously used in boxing contests, and also in training, to protect the boxers head from serious injuries, its training usage being especially intended for application in preparing recruits in the armed services in the art of personal defense.

In boxing in the ring, and also in training armed service recruits in boxing, many very serious injuries have been encountered which have resulted in permanent damage to the head and in some instances in death.

As a consequence, it is one important object of this invention to prevent serious injuries of the nature indicated.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to prevent injuries to the eyes, such as cuts over the eyes that have resulted eventually in blindness. Another object is to prevent skull fractures, as when the head cornes in violent contact with the floor in a knockdown. Similarly, itis an object to prevent concussions and other brain injuries, such as have been the result of devastating head punishments often incurred by participants in boxing contests. A further object is to prevent disiigurement of the ears and nose so well known in the case of professional boxers and heretofore long considered the badge of the profession. Avoidance of ruptured ear drums and kindred hearing impairment or complete deafness is another object of the invention. Even apart from these latter objects, the present invention possesses important value merely from the standpoint of preventing deaths and brain injuries.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a helmet structure for boxers and for other sports contestants and for similar uses, which, considering the value of the device for protecting the head, is comparatively easy to construct, assemble, and use.

u It is another object of the invention to providea Ahelmet construction adaptable to the employment of pneumatic means as the most satisfactory method of cushioning against the impact of blows struck by another boxer or suffered by the head striking the floor when the wearer is knocked down.

Other objects of the invention, and the various features of construction thereof, will become apparent to those familiar with the boxing art and to those skilled in helmet manufacture, especially upon reference to the following specication and the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is principally a side view of a boxers helmet constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion of the head member being broken away to illustrate the internal construction, and the location upon a wearers head and about his face being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the helmet of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a median vertical section from front to back, the showing being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, to illustrate a possible structural feature at the ear openings. whereby to provide for the installation or removal of a pneumatic envelope which constitutes an important element of the helmet;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail indicating a construction and location of the pneumatic envelope;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail of a possible form of construction employed adjacent the nose;`

and

Fig. 7 indicates employment of a plurality of pneumatic envelopes rather than a single envelope.

The form of invention illustrated in the drawing comprises an upper member or head member I0 adapted to enclose the forehead, top, back and sides of the wearers skull, and a nose mem-.

ber I2 which extends forward from the sides of the head member to cover all of the lower portion of the wearers nose and preferably extends about one-half inch below the wearers nostrils to make a stronger pneumatic bridge. The forward portions of the head member and the nose member are separated by a comparatively narrow, transverse vision opening I4, provided between a sloping yunder face I5 of the head member and a sloping upper face I6 of the nose member. These sloping faces I5 and I6 diverge outwardly from positions slightly above and below the eyes so that adequate vision both upward and downward is assured, as indicated by the dotted lines at the left of Fig. 1.

In practice the head member I0 and the nose member I2 are constructed as a single unit separated by the vision opening I4. These members of the helmet are produced from a strong, durable, outer covering 20 appropriately connected to a strong inner lining 22. Between the outer covering 20 and the lining 22 is disposed a sealed or air-tight, inflatable pneumatic envelope 24.

The outer covering may be formed from an adequately heavy leather such as three-ounce calf-belly leather, being made up in segments with welted seams 25 approximately as indicated. At the inner edges of the opposing sloping walls ii I5 and I6 at the sides of the vision opening I4, and preferably just within that opening I4, the adjacent edge of the lining 22 is suitably secured to the inner. edge oi lthe outer covering 2g, as by cemeri'tingr in overlapping relation asnsho'wn; io Since it is necessary that the pneumatic envelope 24 be installed within the chamber provided be- Y tween the covering and the lining c22,thewlovver lining edge at the bottom opening 2e, which extends across from the under side of the nose. f to the base of the skull, is detachably yc'oni'ec'ted to the adjacent lower edge portion 'f theuter covering 20, as by lacing 21 as shown. Since it is desirable to provide a small Ventilating 'open ing 28 at the top ofvtheheadmember ID, as well esy sin" 1 hearing epeiiihgsnze 'opposite- 'the ears, the adjacent ledges or tine outer' ov'ering 2B and the lining 22 are similarly detach A coniieted e:sj1e"y' 4iaeiiigs et ,arie si respeeiiv'eiy. envelope "ze, 'which is er ree ei- I termed' ci `euter and.

Aor similar Walls 315i Y jiereiif een'n e 'or ceinentingy, or othe're od in -he art. In 'order to v indicated '30 g partition meinbersji are secured rig wallsfand i. Y These partitions "n, be 'orrri'e'i integraily with one 2.4, @Tessin te the ci meer esimiieii es it is 'desiree veel lapse 'Somewhat more than e i by "there nipressior'i oi air under pressure con'- t ed 'e iii; sf ail bieeder ports pro'- vi'ded in tlie partitions Sii', so thatceils adjacent the point of irripactmay gradually bleed out their air to fdjent cells, whereby to provideuaddh tional'cushioning. Appropriate air pressi-ire `is s'uvi' V'fo fthe 'pneumatic Verivei'opfe 24, in am si'table 'iin'ieig suehV as lthrough any -conv'eiitional type of valve al@ (Fig. 1). such as rasei'is'eag "valve made aeeessibie thi-eeen eine peter covering' 'fiifor'the'lile Thus, appropriate prefs? sure having been produced in all oi the celisflia oftiie e'veilee ii severeirepaei wir @fredda-ny be iiriier iii- 'ip et Aby eieeiiiie of the air in "t rough the ports 39 to ad 'ove indicated. y u i .Y 'se oi 'fiirth'er protecting the bereit "`s'"S"C liae. s, "esp 'orally freni pact with a vbin-mig' f f ded around the ir ei" v 4 and'odtsde tneA'pneurea l y 2t.. "rifas, 'e bane d2 tme. in from trie mieeiie jor the 'nose 'member "i2 reV ward around the hea-d heetste trie rie-eerie openings -29 tetue seiei; r, asin r;-

will particularly guard against'ubasal fracture of the 'sie'ii steh steer eef-nes rz 'sind' iiieyte, for Verrinple, half-i'eh, vii'at, g' steel bands 'aerien-'s 'e thickness, i i 1e eze 76. to .'o's'iiie'ii. The' tviiipreviiie desir. iejspijirigy iiii'ier 'guards te presser nei dri'iy u ser irre head butv also the nose and eyes. "Siici ring bands' seri/fe 'the further se "of preventie-g iipverd'es'iedeiiiet er tire nose merisier lr, es

by a grazing upper-cut, which dislodgment would obstruct vision.

For proper retention of the helmet upon the wearers head, any suitable form of retainer band 5E, adapted to pass under the Wearers chin, may be used. This may, for example, be a leather strap Whose ends are affixed in tabs 52 secured to the lining 22 as illustrated. Y n Instead of employing. the form of `construction at the front of the no'selmerrrfloer in Fig. 3, Where the nose member is relatively thick, the immediate forward portion may be made relatively thinuby tapering ofi the air cells 24a at the 'sides' f the-rise as shown in Fig. 6, and relying (upon the

spring band

42 or 44 to protect the nose further, especially the bridge.

To assemble the helmet described, or to remove the pneumatic envelope 24, the lacings 21,

39; :and 32 will be removed, and the portions of the lining 22 at the Ventilating and hearing openings 2e wili be drawn inward', sothat the 24 may bev moved 'upward' through the botto "opening 2'6 and the'v upeer vlote thereof es d fever trie imi/'army iiitm iiiiiiig. pertio'ns, 'the iower ieee being passed new -rd-betwee' 'the lower portions ci the lining 22e-arie the cove' iig 2a. 'rrii'sf'resuits ifi proper in"- sraiiatien 'or the lrenvelope ifi,v whereupon trie' irri*-

ing

2,2 pressed out mio cperaitiveipos 7iny siioivn, 'th-'e corresponding 'portions being Iforded out th"- hgh the Ventiiatingfai'id hearing been# ings and lniieiaiif of tri-e ieeiirgsz, es 32' being in'staile'd 'as illustrated. illis'tr te theope i--igs 28 and 2'9 preierahlyhave .iraii widths notgreatly Tei'cee'diigtviieth thickness of the lh'elrr'ie't in 'order 'to'fisure afdeq'iiate protect-l tion tc the corresponding exposed portions f the head.

yvarious appropriate materials, einer tn'anftrise fdicated may be ein playedy iii :the construct tire fdiirerent-psrts or the neiinetga-s seein best suites for the respective "rpeses,

The eh'velopefa'ndy outer ndih'rcove'rig-s .will be fermes in 'appropriate sizes '1e-iid =s`iia,es necessary toiaecmmodatevarius `vearers. If desired, mee'nveiepewra rality or :separate '"sct hated-such `asia'ii'-'11" r section Ia d a lower set'-V tiori, er a ieri/'aiA afa fseitio'irfe rearward neemI Sec'tiqmand a v'lower section, as 'i 4 in Fig-- 7 the dotted -liri'ee (earch s'c ion having' its' own inflationl value es 'erre' providing rer s aiier; ent'` pressure 'therein if required.

It is therefore intended -to co'ver yall -firiodi'ations which 'fallv Within the scope "of the patent claims.

I claim as my invention:

y1. in athletic heinet: 'a epp'ei e'ushiniig head r'rl'riflloe-r hav'ng forward, top, back iandlsd. portions to prtect the fforelieadtop, back and sidesof a 'wearers skull; acushiniri'g's I'n'ilbe'r s'ec'urd to 'the side portions df said' head? member and extending forward to l'ie alongside thejweereifs cheek tenes nd eX'tei-ie across in front or such cheek fb' --pesiiiensin Yfrom: ff

erfreuen seis iiese member 2eine siti-e ena beirf acogen? portions of said head member shock.

3. A helmet as in claim l wherein said vision opening is narrow, said nose and head members are of substantial thickness to afford cushioning effects, said members having, at opposite sides of said vision opening, opposed inclined walls which diverge outward to avoid closely overhanging and underlying outer portions of said members and alfor'd clear vision upward and downward.

4. In combination in a helmet: a head member having forward, top, back and side por-tions to protect the forehead, top, back and sides of a wearers skull; a nose member secured to the side portions of said head member and extending forward therefrom to a position below said forward portion of the head member and to lie at the front of a wearers nose to protect the nose, said members thereby providing between them a transverse vision opening above the nose member, said head and nose members having inner and outer wall elements providing between them a chamber; and a separate pneumatic envelope disposed in said chamber between said wall elements to provide a cushion for protecting the wearers skull and nose against impact.

5. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said pneumatic envelope is provided with a plurality of partitions dividing it into a plurality of air cells.

6. A combination as in claim 5 wherein said partitions are provided with bleeder passages between adjacent cells for retarded iiow of air to assist cushioning of impacts.

7. A combination as in claim 4 wherein the bottom edges of said inner and outer wall elements are detachably connected to provide for passage of said envelope to and from said chamber.

8. A combination as in claim 4 wherein the bottom edges of said inner and outer wall elements are detachably connected to provide for passage of said envelope to and from said chamber, and openings are provided in the top and sides of said head member for ventilation and hearing, and said inner and outer wall elements are detachably connected at the openings to provide for installation of said envelope in said chamber and removal therefrom.

9. A combination as in claim 4 wherein ventilation and hearing openings are provided in said head member which do not greatly exceed in width twice the thickness of said head member with its pneumatic envelope whereby to protect adjacent parts of the wearers head from impacting objects.

10. A combination as in claim 4 including a cushioning resilient metal band extending through said nose member and around the sides and back of said head member.

11. In a helmet: a cushioning head member to protect a wearers skull; a transverse nose member solidly connected to side portions of said head member against upward and downward to cushion impact movement relative to said head member and extending forward therefrom and having a portion positioned to lie in front of and protect the wearers nose and portions positioned to lie alongside and protect the wearers cheek bones, such nose portion lying below an overhanging portion of said head member to provide a transverse vision opening, and cushioning resilient metal means extending through said nose member and around the sides and back of said head member for maintaining the position of said nose member and guarding the back of the wearers skull against impact on knockdowns.

12. In a helmet: a cushioning head member to protect a wearers skull; a transverse nose member connected to side portions of said head member and extending forward therefrom and having a portion positioned to lie in front of and protect the wearers nose and portions positioned to lie alongside and protect the wearers cheek bones, s'uch nose portion lying below an overhanging portion of said head member to provide a transverse vision opening; cushioning resilient metal means extending through said nose member and around the sides and back of said head member for maintaining the position of said nose member and guarding the back of the wearers skull against impact on knockdowns, said head member and nose member having inner and outer wall means providing a chamber between them; and a separate sealed cellular, pneumatic envelope disposed between said inner and outer wall means and serving to cushion impact.

13. In a helmet: a cushioning head member to protect a wearers skull; a transverse nose member connected to side portions of said head member and extending forward therefrom and having a portion positioned to lie in front of and protect the wearers nose and portions positioned to lie alongside and protect the wearers cheek bones, such nose portion lying below an overhanging portion of said head member to provide a transverse vision opening, said head member and nose member having inner and outer wall means providing a chamber between them; and a separate, sealed, cellular, pneumatic envelope disposed between said wall means and serving to cushion impact on said head member and on said nose member at said nose and cheek bone positions.

JOHN W. NICHOLS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,887,636 Hamby Nov. 15, 1932 2,194,903 Holstein Mar. 26, 1940 2,364,571 Turner Dee. 5, 1944 2,525,389 Zeller Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 142,987 Great Britain May 20, 1920