Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-07
2002-04-30
Lindsey, Rodney M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S425000, C002S459000, C002S463000, C002S465000, C002S467000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06378140
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is an impact and energy absorbing product for helmets and protective gear. More particularly, the invention teaches the usage of coiled springs in conjunction with polymeric materials or metals such as titanium, to absorb and dissipate forces of humans and other objects coming in contact with helmets and a variety of sporting equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for helmet devices have been provided in the prior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted. The following is a summary of those prior art patents most relevant to the invention at hand, as well a description outlining the differences between the features of the present invention and those of the prior art.
1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,870, invented by Pinsen, entitled “Football Helmet And Shoulder Pad Combination”
The patent to Pinsen describes a football helmet and shoulder pad combination designed to prevent head and neck injuries. An outer helmet is connected to a neck assembly which permits but limits head turning mobility as well as up-down and left and right head tilt. The neck mechanism which is mounted about the neck comprises substantially circular inner and outer spherical guides and a concentric movable inner element therebetween with an upwardly extending member on each side of the neck. The guides contain stops to limit the motion permitted by the helmet and the lower portion of the mechanism is mounted on the shoulder pads to distribute the load during impact. The helmet portion with a resilient coupling joining the portions. The upwardly extending members on the inner element are mounted to respective sides of the outer helmet. The helmet may also be retrofitted to existing equipment.
2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,777, invented by Popovich, entitled “Helmet”
The Popovich invention describes a helmet assembly for protecting a head and neck by laterally displacing impact forces. The helmet assembly has a helmet and a face guard. The helmet has a rigid inner shell, a resilient spacing layer outside of and in contact with the inner shell, an articulated shell having a plurality of discrete rigid segments disposed outside of and in contact with the resilient spacing layer, and a resilient outer shell made of foam covered by an flexible protective layer. The face guard has a plurality of transverse bars with a longitudinal bar down the center. The face guard has shock absorbers integrated on the lowermost transverse bar.
3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,409, invented by Lee, entitled “Helmet Provided With Shockproof And Ventilative Device”
The Lee invention relates to a helmet provided with shockproof and ventilative devices, the helmet being encircled with a plurality of plastic strips along its outer wall, and a plurality of corresponding plastic or rubber tubes along its inner wall, the upper portion of the helmet being filled with sponge material, thereby to give a wearer protection against shock.
4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,442, invented by Hoyaukin, entitled “Safety Apparel”
The patent to Hoyaukin describes safety apparel, particularly for motorcyclists, equestrians and other unprotected persons which comprises inflatable, shock-absorbing pads. Inflation of the pads is effected with the aid of a gas-delivering arrangement which includes a container sealed by a sealing plate and which contains compressed or liquefied gas, a small explosive charge, means for detonating the charge in the event of an accident, and a device activated by the explosive charge to penetrate the sealing plate. The explosive charge is intended to be detonated by means of a striking pin operated by a spring. Means are arranged for storing the energy required in the spring as a result of a relative motion between the wearer of the apparel and a motorcycle, horse or the like.
5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,699, invented by Abraham, II, entitled “Devices For Preventing Cervical Spine Injuries In Contact Sports”
In the patent to Abraham, II, helmet accessory devices are provided for protecting a wearer from cervical spine injuries. The devices comprise a shoulder assembly to which at least one leaf spring has its first end rigidly connected. A post is formed on the leaf spring to carry a hood superposed above a helmet worn by the wearer. Axially compressive forces sustained by the hood are opposed by the post and the shoulder assembly.
6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,914, invented by James, entitled “Protective Helmets”
The patent to James describes a protective helmet which incorporates a visor retractable therewithin, a fan for providing filtered airflow through a duct within the shell to the visor, and ear defenders mounted substantially within the profile of the shell.
7. U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,621, invented by Flosi et al., entitled “Chest Protector”
In the patent to Flosi et al., an upper body chest protector is provided for use particularly in off-road motorcycle and bicycle racing which features spring-biased epaulets, so that as the upper arm is raised, the respective epaulet will be raised against the spring bias to permit movement of the upper arm, but upon lowering of the arm, the epaulet is forced down into its lowered position to assure that the shoulder will be protected thereby after the upper arm is lowered.
8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,270, invented by Howat, entitled “Protective Headwear”
The patent to Howat describes protective headwear comprising: a first head covering for covering at least one portion of a person's head; a second head covering for covering at least one portion of the person's head, at least one portion of said second head covering being within, or adapted to be at least partly within said first head covering, such that the first and second head coverings are in a joint relationship whereby the second head covering is movable relative to the first head covering.
9. U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,814, invented by Godfrey, entitled “Athletic Padding”
The Godfrey invention is an improved padding used by athletes and others to prevent or greatly reduce the instances of injury due to blows to the body and its appendages, particularly to the more boney parts thereof such as knees, elbow, shoulders, thighs, hips, and the like. This is accomplished through the utilization of non-metallic spring means encapsulated in a vinyl type material with air pockets formed therebetween with cross-stress means for additional protection.
10. U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,500, invented by Mason et al., entitled “Knee Protector”
In the patent to Mason et al., an athletic knee protector is disclosed wherein a bowed leaf spring hinge structure is supported on load distribution pads or cuffs attached to the thigh and shin of the wearer and is spaced laterally from the lateral side of the knee to protect the knee of an athlete against injury from lateral forces and impacts such as are likely to occur in football. The bowed leaf spring hinge structure absorbs such forces and impacts and redistributes them at locations spaced substantially above and below the knee proximate the strong bones of the leg. Preloading of knee ligaments in the lateral/medial direction is avoided, and lateral forces and impacts are better distributed, by connecting the pads or cuffs to the hinge structure with a free rocking or pivoting action in the lateral/medial direction. Also, the pads or cuffs are made more adaptable to the curvature of the leg by a variable flexibility in the anterior/posterior direction so that attachment and working loads applied to the leg are spread out more uniformly.
The aforementioned prior art patents illustrate various enhanced equipment designs, including: shock absorbers for face masks of helmets; sponge materials in combination with plastic or rubber tubing within helmets; padding that may be tailored to particular activities through usage of inflatable materials; and usage of leaf springs in equipment to prevent sp
Abraham Carl J.
Cross Henry D.
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