Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
  • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
  • A42B3/10—Linings
  • A42B3/12—Cushioning devices
  • A42B3/124—Cushioning devices with at least one corrugated or ribbed layer
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/0512—Neck or shoulders area
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/0543—Legs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/06—Knee or foot
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
  • A41D13/08—Arm or hand
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
  • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
  • A42B3/06—Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
  • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
  • A42B3/06—Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets
  • A42B3/062—Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets with reinforcing means
  • A42B3/063—Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets with reinforcing means using layered structures
  • A42B3/064—Impact-absorbing shells, e.g. of crash helmets with reinforcing means using layered structures with relative movement between layers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
  • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
  • A42B3/10—Linings
  • A42B3/12—Cushioning devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
  • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
  • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
  • A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
  • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
  • A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
  • A63B71/1225—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet

Definitions

• the present invention relates to body protecting devices.
• the invention relates to the energy absorbing materials used in devices having a relatively large curvature such as safety helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, shoulder pads and the like.
• Safety helmets conventionally comprise a substantially ' spheroidal outer skin of tough plastics material and an inner skin of resilient material such as a hard foam.
• the rigid outer skin acts as an impact surface to transmit an impact load more evenly to the inner skin which absorbs the energy imparted by the impact load.
• any body protecting device is firstly to reduce the initial impact load transmitted to the user and secondly to absorb all of the impact energy in a controlled and steady manner. It is often highly desirable that the stiffness or energy absorbing response of the device varies throughout the device.
• the liner of a crash helmet can have between two and ten portions of varying density. It is desirable to provide a device, or material for the device, in which the stiffness or swirl energy absorbing response can be easily varied. It is not known to provide a liner which uses different materials or different geometrical arrangements at different locations.
• body protecting devices in particular motorcycle safety helmets, are often subject to impacts more frequently at particular areas or locations of the device. Also, some parts of the body of a user are more prone to injury, or the effects of injury are more severe, than others. It is therefore desirable to provide a device which has the highest level of protection at these respective areas. However, a device which provides this high level of protection at all locations is more difficult or costly to produce.
• a body protecting device which includes an array of energy absorbing tubes is disclosed in WO 2005/060778.
• the tubes are arranged such that in use they are axially loaded.
• the device outperforms conventional devices using a hard foam material to absorb impact energy.
• Axially loaded columns have been used for some time to improve the structural crashworthiness of vehicles, roadside furniture and the like.
• the columns of each of these known systems are typically unconnected and function independently.
• metal columns exhibit a multiple local buckling and folding failure mode which is effective in absorbing impact energy.
• Plastic and composite columns have a number of failure modes which are efficient for absorbing impact energy but all of the modes typically involve progressive crushing of one end of the column.
• the performance and failure mode of plastic and composite columns depends on a complex interaction of a number of different parameters including the material used, the geometry (shape and thickness), fibre alignment in composites, the use of triggers, and the loading conditions. However, a careful selection of these parameters can result in a safety device which outperforms the metal equivalent.
• arrays of independent columns arranged parallel or coaxial to the load have generally been found to provide efficient energy absorbing performance and improve the stability of the safety device. Columns tend to produce a relatively constant level of energy absorption as the column is progressively buckled or crushed.
• a body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: an impact surface; an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each of said cells comprises a tube, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface.
• tube is used to denote a hollow structure having any regular or irregular geometry.
• the tube has a cylindrical or conical structure, most preferably a circular cylindrical or circular conical structure.
• the longitudinal axis of the tubes is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface, most preferably at an angle of between 5° and 30° to a line normal to the impact surface.
• the oblique arrangement of tubes is adapted to provide deflecting means for causing lateral deflection of the impact of an impacting object at the impacting surface.
• the impact surface is convex.
• the impact surface is planar or concave.
• the body protecting device has an outer layer providing the impact surface.
• the body protecting device has an inner surface and the axis of the one or more tubes extend from the impact surface towards the inner surface.
• the body protecting device includes an inner layer providing the inner surface.
• the body protecting device includes an intermediate layer providing the array of energy absorbing cells.
• the array is localised at a particular area in the plane of the body protecting device.
• a plurality of arrays are provided at discrete locations of the body protecting device.
• the intermediate layer comprises a plurality of arrays provided at discrete locations below the impact surface.
• one or more of the plurality of arrays include tubes which are orientated at a different oblique angle to the tubes of the other of the plurality of arrays .
• the device also includes one or more arrays of tubes in which the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle which is normal to the impact surface.
• each of the plurality of arrays comprises an insert provided at a spacing member.
• the spacing member is formed from at least a foam material.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety helmet.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety pad or a liner for a garment.
• the term "body protecting device” is also intended to include a liner for a safety helmet, safety pad or the like.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which abuts the side wall of at least another tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which irs connected to the side wall of at least another tube by an adhesive.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube substantially along the length of the tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is welded or fused to the side wall of at least another tube.
• One or more tubes may be formed from an inner core comprising a first material and an outer core comprising a second material.
• each of the first and second material is a polymer.
• the second material has a lower melting temperature than the first material.
• each tube is near or adjacent to at least three other tubes.
• Preferably substantially' each tube is near or adjacent to six other tubes.
• each tube has a diameter of between 2 and 25 mm.
• each tube has a diameter of about 8 mm.
• the thickness of the side wall of each tube is less than 0.5 mm.
• the thickness of the side wall of each tube is between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.
• the length of each tube is between 10 and 50 nun.
• the array of energy absorbing cells is provided as an integral material .
• the density of the material is between 60 and 100 kg/m 3 , most preferably around 80 kg/m 3 .
• the integral material comprises polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyetherimide, polyethersulphone, polyphenylsulphone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl acetate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
• the material comprises Tubus HoneycombsTM.
• a body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: an impact surface; an array ' of energy absorbing cells, wherein each cell comprises a tube; and deflecting means adapted to cause lateral deflection of- the -impact of an impacting object at the impacting surface.
• the deflecting means is provided by arrangement of the axis of one or more tubes at an oblique angle to the impact surface.
• the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface, most preferably at an angle of between 5° and 30° to a line normal to the impact surface.
• the array is localised at a particular area in the plane of the device.
• a plurality of arrays are provided at different locations of the device.
• one or more of the plurality of arrays include tubes which are orientated at a different oblique angle to the tubes of the other of the plurality of arrays.
• the liner also includes one or more arrays of tubes in which the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle which is normal to the impact surface.
• the deflecting means may be adapted to cause lateral deflection of the impact of an impacting object in more than one direction depending on the location where the object impacts the device.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety helmet.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety pad or a liner for a garment.
• the term "body protecting device” is also intended to include a liner for a safety helmet, safety pad or the like.
• a method of absorbing energy imparted by an impact load applied in a first direction comprising: providing an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein- ' each of said cells comprises a tube; orientating the array such that the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is at an oblique angle to the first direction.
• a body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: ⁇ a spacing member formed from a first material and defining one or more receptacles in the plane of the spacing member; and one or more inserts formed from a second material, the or each insert located at a receptacle of the spacing member.
• the plane of the spacing member may be flat or arcuate.
• the or each receptacle may be an aperture, recess or cavity.
• the spacing member defines a plurality of receptacles at selected locations in the plane of the spacing member.
• the first material comprises a foam.
• the first material comprises expanded polystyrene.
• the or each insert comprises an array of energy "absorbing cells, wherein each cell comprises a tube.
• the body protecting device has an impact surface and the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface. Alternatively or in addition, the axis of one or more tubes may be arranged at an angle which is normal to the impact surface.
• the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface, most preferably at an angle of between 5° and 30° to a line normal to the impact surface.
• the oblique arrangement of tubes is adapted to provide deflecting means for causing lateral deflection of an impacting object.
• the impact surface is convex.
• the impact surface is planar or concave.
• the body protecting device has an inner surface and the axis of the one or more tubes extend from the impact surface towards the inner surface.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety helmet.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety pad or a liner for a garment.
• the term “body protecting device” is also intended to include a liner for a safety helmet, safety " pad or the like.
• each tube has a side wall which abuts the side wall of at least another tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube by an adhesive.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube substantially along the length of the tube.
• substantially each tube has a side wall which is welded or fused to the side wall of at least another tube.
• substantially each tube is near or adjacent to at least three other tubes.
• substantially each tube is near or adjacent to six other -tubes .
• each tube has a diameter of between 2 and 25 mm.
• each tube has a diameter of about 8 mm.
• the thickness of the side wall of each tube is less than 0.5 mm.
• the thickness of the side wall of each tube is between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.
• each tube is between 10 and 50 mm.
• the array of energy absorbing cells is provided as an integral material .
• the density of the material is between 60 and 100 kg/m 3 , most preferably around 80 kg/m 3 .
• the second material comprises polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyetherimide, polyethersulphone, polyphenylsulphone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl acetate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
• the second material comprises Tubus HoneycombsTM.
• the array defines a first and second discontinuous ' surface.
• a sealing material is provided at one or both of the first and second discontinuous surfaces.
• a method of forming a body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: forming a spacing member from a first material, the spacing member defining one or more receptacles in the plane of the spacing member; forming one or more inserts from a second material; and locating the or each insert at a receptacle of the spacing member.
• the plane of the spacing member may be flat or arcuate.
• the spacing member defines a plurality of receptacles at selected locations in the plane of the spacing member.
• the method includes locating the or each insert at the receptacle before or during forming the spacing member.
• the method includes encapsulating the or each insert within the spacing member.
• the first material comprises a foam.
• the first material comprises expanded polystyrene .
• the .body protecting device comprises a safety helmet.
• the body protecting device comprises a safety pad or a liner for a garment.
• the term “body protecting device” is also intended to include a liner for a safety helmet, safety pad or the like.
• the or each insert comprises an array of energy "absorbing cells, wherein each cell comprises a tube.
• the array of energy absorbing cells is provided as an integral material .
• the density of the material is between 60 and 100 kg/m 3 , most preferably around 80 kg/m 3 .
• the second material comprises polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyetherimide, polyethersulphone, polyphenylsulphone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl acetate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
• the second material comprises Tubus HoneycombsTM.
• the array defines a first and second discontinuous surface.
• the method includes providing a sealing material at one or both of the first and second discontinuous surfaces.
• Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective view of a safety helmet in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
• Fig. 1 (b) is a sectional side view of a portion of the safety helmet of Fig. 1 (a);
• Fig. 2 ⁇ is a plan view of a tubular array of cells used in the safety helmet of Fig. 1 (a) ;
• Fig. 3 is a side view of a tubular array of cells used in the safety helmet of Fig. 1 (a) ;
• Fig. 4 is a selection of graphs of test results for an arrangement of cells at 5° to the loading under various test conditions
• Fig. 5 is a selection of graphs of test results for a.n arrangement of cells at 30° to the loading under various test conditions
• Fig. 6 is graph of a summary of test results for an arrangement of cells at various angles to the loading and at three impact velocities and for a material at a cold temperature;
• Fig. 7 is graph of a summary of test results for an arrangement of cells at various angles to the loading and at three impact velocities and for a material at an ambient temperature;
• Fig. 8 is graph of a summary of test results for an arrangement of cells at various angles to the loading and at three impact velocities and for a material at a hot temperature
• Fig. 9 is a cross sectional side view of a portion of a sa ' fety helmet in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention
• Fig. 10 is a plan view of the portion of the safety helmet of Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 is a side view of a safety helmet showing testing locations.
• Fig. 12 is a front view of the safety helmet of Fig. 11.
• Fig. 1 (a) and (b) shows a first embodiment of a body protecting device in the form of a safety helmet 10.
• the helmet 10 comprises a first material or core 20 which is sandwiched between a second material or outer layer 30 and a third material or inner layer 40.
• the outer layer 30 provides an impact surface.
• Each of the outer 30 and inner 50 layer are bonded to the core using an adhesive.
• each of the first, second and third materials are continuous throughout the (arcuate) major plane of the helmet 10.
• the core has a tubular structure which may be a cylindrical arrangement as shown in Fig. 2.
• the tubes 22 are arranged in a close packed array such that the gap between adjacent tubes is minimised.
• Fig. 3 (a) shows a first arrangement of tubes 22 according to the invention when subject to a load 50.
• the load 50 is normal to the plane of the core 20.
• Each tube 22 has a longitudinal axis 24 which is at an oblique angle 26 to the direction of the load 50.
• the longitudinal axis 24 of each tube 22 is also at a reciprocal oblique angle 26 to the plane of the core.
• Fig. 3 (b) shows a second arrangement of tubes 22 according to the invention when subject to a load 50 which is applied in a first direction.
• each tube 22 has a longitudinal axis 24 which is normal to the plane of the core 20.
• the core 20 is arranged such that the plane of the core 20 is at an oblique angle 26 to the first direction. This arrangement represents another method of absorbing the energy imparted by an impact load.
• FIG. 3 (a) and (b) shows a planar arrangement of tubes 22, it is to be appreciated that an impact loading to a spherical structure such as a crash helmet or safety pad tends to be in a direction normal to a tangent of the sphere. Therefore, the same oblique arrangement would be present when the tubes are curved to form the core of a crash helmet or safety pad.
• Each tube has a diameter of 8 mm, a thickness of between 0.1 and 0.3 mm, and a length of around 35 mm. This results in a slenderness ratio (the ratio of the length to the diameter) of around 4, and an aspect ratio (the ratio of the diameter to the thickness) of between 25 and 80.
• the use " of these geometric values, particularly the low thickness used, results in a stable failure mode of progressive buckling being achieved, even though the tubes are at an angle to the loading. Instability, which could lead to a global buckling failure mode, is avoided since the tubes are connected to, and supported by, adjacent tubes. Being connected to six other tubes which are circumferentially spaced around the tube provides such support in any direction normal to the axis of the tube.
• the tubes may be bonded together using an adhesive.
• Another suitable method is to form the tubes from an inner core of a first material and an outer core of a second material, the cores being co-extruded.
• the second material can be selected to have a lower melting temperature than the first material. Typically, a difference of between 15° and 20° Celsius can be used.
• the tubes can be heated to a temperature between the melting temperature of the first and second material. This causes the side walls of the tubes to become welded or fused together. This method allows easier forming of shapes and gives better consistency during forming.
• the tubes need not be connected to provide support to each other, or even be abutting, as long as the tubes are in close proximity such that they come into contact following a small " amount of deformation.
• the present invention can ' outperform arrangements in which the tubes are parallel or normal to the loading. It is believed that the main reason for this is that the angled arrangement of tubes produces a reaction load which has both a parallel and a normal component relative to the loading.
• the normal component causes lateral deflection of the impacting object relative to the ' body protecting device during deformation of the tubes.
• the overall angled displacement of the head form results in a longer total time period for the impact event.
• deflection of the impacting object reduces the magnitude of the loading in the parallel direction. Thus, the total impact energy is absorbed at a lower magnitude over a longer time period.
• Another reason for the superior performance of the invention may be the contribution of bending of the tubes without buckling. There is therefore another mode of absorbing energy in addition to the mode of progressive buckling exhibited by both a conventional arrangement and the invention.
• Pigs. 4 and 5 are representative samples of test results for a material according to the invention which is impacted at two different impact velocities: 4 and 6.7 m/s. Also, three different temperatures of the material were used: a relatively cold temperature of -30 0 C, an ambient temperature of 20 0 C, and a relatively hot temperature of HO 0 C. In Fig. 4, a tube angle of 5° to the loading was used. In Fig. 5, a tube angle of 30° to the loading was used.
• the test results of Figs. 4 and 5 measure the acceleration of the impacting object during the impact event.
• the impact force is directly proportional to the acceleration of the impacting object since the impact force is simply the product of the mass of the impacting object and its acceleration. In each of the tests, the force increases and then decreases in a steady manner. Therefore, the impact energy is absorbed in a controlled and steady manner.
• High speed video playback of an impact event shows the impacting object being deflected laterally as the tubes are deformed.
• Fig. 9 shows a body protecting device for wearing hy a user, again a safety helmet 100, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention.
• the helmet 100 comprises a spacing member 110 formec from a first material, which is an expanded polystyrene foam.
• the spacing member 110 defines a number of receptacles or cavities 112 at selected locations in the (arcuate) major plane of the spacing member 110.
• An insert 120, 122, 124 formed from a second material, is 'encapsulated within each cavity.
• apertures or recesses can be formed in the spacing member 110. Methods of providing such formations in foam materials are well known.
• the inserts 120, 122, 124 may be positioned during forming of the spacing member 110 or inserted afterwards, such as by forming pockets in the spacing member 110.
• Each insert 120, 122, 124 comprises an array of energy absorbing tubes as described for the first embodiment of the invention.
• the axis of the tubes are arranged at an oblique angle to an impact surface 102 of the helmet 100.
• the specific oblique angle may differ for these inserts 122, 124.
• the axis of the tubes are arranged at an angle which is normal to the impact surface 102.
• Fig. 10 is a plan view of the helmet 100 with the arrow 140 pointing outwards from the front of the helmet 100.
• the helmet 100 is more stiff and using an insert 120 with an angle of 90° to the impact surface 102 is beneficial.
• the helmet 100 is more flexible and using an insert 124 with an angle of 30°, and even up to 45°, to the impact surface 102 is beneficial.
• the top of the helmet 100 has a section of intermediate radius and using an insert 120 with an angle of 15° to the impact surface 102 is beneficial.
• Helmet stiffness at any particular location can vary depending on the stiffness or thickness of the materials used, as well as the radius of curvature.
• the tube angle can be varied to meet these requirements and optimise the overall energy absorbing performance of the helmet 100.
• the arrays of the inserts are provided as an integral material .
• the inserts may be of any geometric shape. Typical dimensions of the inserts are 75 mm 2 for a square insert and a diameter of 90 mm for a circular insert.
• Each array defines a first 130 and second 132 discontinuous surface.
• a sealing material (not shown) is provided at both of these discontinuous surfaces. This prevents the foam material from entering the open ends of the tubes .
• the inserts 120, 122 provide a high level of protection from impact loads.
• the arrays are located at particular predetermined areas where impacts occur more frequently or which are adjacent to parts of the body of a user which are more prone to injury, or the effects of injury are more severe.
• the orientation of the tubes can be arranged to provide the optimum protection for a particular location.
• Figs. 11 and 12 show the testing locations 151 - 155 for EC R22-05.
• the distance to the testing locations 151 - 155 is taken from a reference point 160 located at the top and centre of the visor aperture 162. These distances are given in the standard. Inserts can be provided at each of these locations 151 - 155.
• the level of protection is at least equal to that of conventional helmets which use only a foam core.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Otolaryngology (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Registering, Tensioning, Guiding Webs, And Rollers Therefor (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Vibration Dampers (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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Cited By (2)

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• 2005
  • 2005-10-31 GB GB0522148A patent/GB2431859A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2006
  • 2006-10-31 CN CN2006800409746A patent/CN101299938B/zh active Active
  • 2006-10-31 WO PCT/GB2006/004065 patent/WO2007052015A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-10-31 AT AT06808377T patent/ATE523102T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-10-31 US US12/091,979 patent/US20080307568A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-10-31 JP JP2008538406A patent/JP5086268B2/ja active Active
  • 2006-10-31 EP EP06808377A patent/EP1942759B1/en active Active
  • 2006-10-31 ES ES06808377T patent/ES2372867T3/es active Active

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