Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2002-09-10
Vanatta, Amy B. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S425000, C264S046500, C264S046600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06446270
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to head protection and in particular to an improved sports helmet having an externally cushioned facade providing improved impact protection at a reduced weight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The potential for an individual suffering a head injury while participating in a sporting activity depends upon the type of sport as well as the skill of its participants. High impact sports necessitate the use of the headwear, however, head injuries still occur despite participant skill. Headwear protection must also be capable of withstanding repeated impacts without imparting injury to the individual.
Headwear designed to protect an individual's head from injury is commonly referred to as a helmet. Proper helmet construction cannot be emphasized enough when used in such sports as football. in fact, it is a requirement that high school, college, and professional football players wear a helmet during play. Conventional football helmets include a hard outer casing which encompasses padding as placed against the user's head. As a result, when the user's head impacts a hard object the energy is absorbed and displaced by the padding as it compresses against and between the user's head and the outer casing. However, despite the mandated requirement for helmet use and construction, head injuries are now occurring in notable numbers.
For this reason, numerous helmet manufacturers have patented various helmet designs and materials of construction in an effort to reduce head injury. U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,242 discloses a helmet manufacturing process which consists of textile reinforcement for the use of an impact resistant resin structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,009 discloses a protective helmet and liner which consists of a force absorbing pad structure disposed upon the interior liner of a conventional helmet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,203 discloses an inflatable liner that is placed within the inner surface of a helmet and allows an individual to inflate the liner to meet the individual's requirements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,562 discloses a helmet construction having an interior padding and associated neckbrace for protection of the individual's head and cervical spine against axial impact forces. The common element in all such helmets is that the outer skeletal shell is constructed of an impact resistant hard plastic shell which operates as an offensive weapon should the individual wearing such a helmet impact another person's body at any portion where the body is unprotected. For instance, should an individual wearing one of the above helmets run into a person's knee the rigid shell may cause irreparable damage as it is uncommon for an individual to wear knee protection. However, should an individual be wearing the protection in the form of foam padding such an impact may be reduced or even eliminated.
In an effort to reduce head injuries, various protection groups are established for evaluating the safety of helmets and related accessories. The most notable is the nonprofit group National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, NOCSAE. The members of NOCSAE include the American College Health Association, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Athletic Equipment Managers' Association, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners' Association, National Athletic Trainers Association, National High School Athletic Coaches Association, Sporting Goods Manufacturers' Association and the College Football Association. NOCSAE was formed in 1969 in response to the need for a performance test standard for football helmets. Since then, standards have been developed for football, baseball, softball and lacrosse, with additional standards for other equipment currently being evaluated.
Since the 1960's media technology has increased coverage to bring about a greater exposure to sports. This in turn caused athletes to become involved at a younger age where they trained to perform more aggressively with goals such as athletic scholarships or lucrative professional contracts after college. Unfortunately, with the increased attention and involvement, serious injuries also became more prevalent. This was particularly evident in the sport of football where there were 32 fatalities in 1968 directly due to participation in organized competition, plus 4 more fatalities resulting from sandlot play.
Several problems confronted the NOCSAE, and other advocates, in their attempt to reduce football injuries. One of the problems in reducing injuries was the increased use of the head as the initial point of contact in blocking and tackling. It is a continuing concern that any improvements to equipment might lead to more and harder hits involving the head and the helmet. In other words, a competitive player—when given a helmet offering more internal protection for himself—might be more inclined to hit his opponent harder with this helmet. Safer internal padding results in a potentially more violent weapon in the hands of the user, particularly because of the hard outer casing being applied now with an even greater force.
While a downturn in head injury fatalities has been observed over the years due to the use of helmets, death and disabilities still continue to occur. The rule makers f or football (e.g. the NCAA and NFL) have recognized that the helmet and face mask combination now play a dual role: while it reduced serious injuries, it has invited the use of the head as an offensive weapon. In 1976, rule-making committees were responsible for initiating changes which prohibited initial contact of the head in blocking and tackling (e.g. no “spearing” rules). While these rules have helped to reduce injuries, a rule in itself cannot prevent injury and/or maiming of a player. Such a rule can only invoke a yardage penalty, a fine, or at worst a suspension of a player. The injury and associated damage, however, will have still occurred to the victim player.
In response, groups such as the NOCSAE, NCAA, and NFL have also encouraged the application of warning labels on helmets and other equipment which warn the user of the potential dangers involved with playing a certain sport. Moreover, extra training regarding injury free methods of carrying the ball, blocking, and tackling have also been practiced. Together, such efforts to educate the players and coaches can only go so far to prevent injuries. If a piece of equipment, such as the helmet and/or face mask, continue to present a hard and injurious surface, then the injuries will invariably continue to occur as this surface is naturally brought into contact with other helmets, attached necks, and fragile body parts. Other contact sports such as hockey, lacrosse, and baseball will also continue to sustain such injuries under the present state of the equipment for similar reasons mentioned above.
Accordingly, a helmet is needed which provides superior comfort, padding, and weight advantages for the user, while simultaneously offering more resilient external surfaces for contact with opposing objects. This resilient external surface will, in itself, absorb energy and yet offer a softer impact surface. Hence, all players are protected from injurious impacts through the use of such equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention teaches an improved sports helmet which incorporates a unique energy absorbent material secured to the outer surface of a rigid shell. A face mask can also be utilized that incorporates the energy absorbent material for either coating of the mask or limiting movement of the mask. The shell and material coating provides for a helmet that can be less than half the weight of a solid plastic shell helmet.
The helmet can be made of a conventional shape for its desired application such as football, lacrosse, and hockey. The energy absorbent material is preferably a memory rubber such as vinyl nitrile sponge (VNS) being a combination of thermoplastic poly vinyl chloride and synthetic elastomer
McHale & Slavin
Vanatta Amy B.
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