Riddell, Inc.

Southern Impact Research Center, LLC

Lexington Safety Products, Inc.

Thad M Ide

Vittorio Bologna

Nelson Kraemer

Ralph J Infusino

Murphy Gillogly

Timothy D Bayne

Christopher R P Withnall

P David Halstead

Chris Withnall

Michael Wonnacott

Richard Mark Greenwald

Jeffrey J Chu

Andrew K Tryner

Cherie F Alexander

Christopher D Oby

Timothy J Sutherland

Joseph J Crisco, Iii

David W Bertoni

Michael C Pereira

Daniel Patrick Smith

Joseph John Crisco, Iii

Bradshaw Baldonado

Joseph Levene

Vitorrio Bologna

Andrew Tryner

Christopher R Withnall

The invention relates to a protective sports helmet purposely designed for a selected group of helmet wearers from amongst a larger population of helmet wearers. A multi-step method for helmet design starts by collecting information from a population of players that may include information about the shape of a player's head and the impacts the player has sustained. This information is then processed to create player population information that is sorted to create categories. Advanced mathematical techniques are utilized to further sort these categories into player groups or data sets based on player attributes. Once the player groups are identified, another multi-step process is utilized to design optimized helmet prototype models for each player group. These optimized helmet prototype models are then further processed into complete helmet models by determining a structural design and chemical composition that is manufacturable and has mechanical properties that are substantially similar to the optimized helmet prototype model. Physical helmet prototypes are then created and tested using a unique helmet standard derived from information associated with each player group. Once the prototypes pass testing, the complete helmet models can be manufactured to create actual stock helmets or stock helmet components for future players whose characteristics and attributes place them within the selected player group.

System and method for testing a football helmet

The invention relates to a multi-step method with a number of processes and sub-processes that interact to allow for the selection, design and/or manufacture of a protective sports helmet for a specific player, or a recreational sports helmet for a specific person wearing the helmet. Once the desired protective sports helmet or recreational sports helmet is selected, information is collected from the individual player or wearer regarding the shape of his/her head and information about the impacts he/she has received while participating in the sport or activity. The collected information is processed to develop a bespoke energy attenuation assembly for use in the protective helmet. The energy attenuation assembly includes at least one energy attenuation member with a unique structural makeup and/or chemical composition. The energy attenuation assembly is purposely engineered to improve comfort and fit, as well as how the helmet responds when an impact or series of impacts are received by the helmet.

Protective sports helmet with additively manufactured components

The invention relates to a protective sports helmet purposely designed using a multi-step method for a selected group of helmet wearers from amongst a larger population of helmet wearers. The protective sports helmet can be a position specific American football helmet that includes a shell, a facemask coupled to the shell, and an energy attenuation assembly configured to be positioned within the shell. The specific playing position can be a football quarterback such that the football helmet absorbs a larger amount of force from an impact applied to a rear portion of the inventive helmet as compared to the amount of force absorbed by a frontal portion of that helmet from the same impact applied thereto. Alternatively, the specific playing position can be a football lineman such that the football helmet absorbs a larger amount of force from an impact applied to a front portion of the helmet as compared to the amount of force absorbed from the same type of impact applied to a front portion of a non-position specific American football helmet.

Position specific protective sports helmet

An innovative protective football helmet includes a durable shell having an impact attenuation system, a visor system with a visor, a lower chin bar assembly, and internal impact attenuation assembly. The connection of the visor to the shell is 'tool-less,' meaning that no unique tool is required for coupling or removing the visor system. The visor system is not coupled to the lower chin bar assembly, which allows the visor to independently flex and independently elastically deform relative to the chin bar assembly. The visor is configured to match a substantial extent of the frontal shell region, thus the visor does not need to be substantially deformed during the installation process, which eliminates the introduction of additional stresses on the visor during the installation process. The visor also replaces a significant upper extent of a conventional facemask that is both heavy and costly to manufacture. Due to the design of the helmet and visor system, there is a significant increase in the player's field of view through the frontal helmet opening and the visor. This increase in the field of view provides greater situational awareness for the player and allows the player to reduce the amount of head rotation necessary to see objects or other players when the player is engaged in playing the sport.

Protective sports helmet with advanced visor system, lower chin bar assembly and energy attenuation system

A system for monitoring a physiological parameter of player wearing protective sports equipment. The monitoring system includes a monitoring unit configured to be positioned within a piece of protective sports equipment worn by a player and transmit physiological parameter data to a database. A database is configured to receive and store the transmitted physiological parameter data. A server is configured to automatically generate a report after a predetermined time interval, where the report has at least one training opportunity indicator and a portion of the received and stored physiological parameter data. The training opportunity indicator is generated when the transmitted physiological parameter data exceeds a predetermined threshold that is based on a previously recorded collection of physiological parameter data. That physiological parameter data can be: the player's own historical data, a team's historical data, a sum of alertable impacts from other similarly situated players, and/or a sum of alertable impacts the player has received over the alertable time period.

System for monitoring a physiological parameter of a person wearing protective sports equipment while engaged in physical activity

System and method for designing and manufacturing a protective sports helmet

A protective football helmet is provided having a one-piece molded shell with an impact attenuation system. This system includes an impact attenuation member formed in an extent of the front shell portion by removing material from the front portion. The impact attenuation member is purposely engineered to change how the front portion responds to an impact force applied substantially normal to the front portion as compared to how other portions of the shell respond to that impact force. In one version, the impact attenuation member is a cantilevered segment formed in the front portion of the shell.

Football helmet with impact attenuation system

Front pad of an internal padding assembly of a football helmet

A partial bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The partial bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the partial bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the partial bespoke protective equipment with a partially custom formed internal padding. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of partial bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to substantially match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

System and method of assembling a protective sports helmet

The protective sports helmet disclosed herein including a crown energy attenuation assembly positioned within a crown region of the helmet shell and includes: a first energy attenuation element with a plurality of sidewalls arranged to form a hexagonal housing, wherein a first sidewall has a substantially planar configuration; a second energy attenuation element with a plurality of sidewalls arranged to form a hexagonal housing, wherein a first sidewall has a substantially planar configuration; and, a third energy attenuation element with a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged to form a hexagonal housing. A first crown gap is formed between the first and second energy attenuation elements. A second crown gap is formed between the second and third energy attenuation elements. A third crown gap is formed between an extent of the third and first energy attenuation elements. The crown energy attenuation assembly further includes a layer positioned adjacent to the plurality of sidewalls of the energy attenuation elements.

Protective sports helmet

A pad assembly is provided for use with a protective sports helmet in a contact sport, the helmet having an opening. The pad assembly includes a pad member within a pad housing, and a retainer having a projection that fits within the helmet opening. The pad assembly also includes a cap detachably coupled to the retainer, the cap including a base portion that fits within the helmet opening and a flange portion that fits within a countersunk recess disposed around the helmet opening, the cap detachably receiving the projection of the retainer. A protective sports helmet having a pad assembly is also provided.

Pad assemblies for a protective sports helmet

System and method for designing and manufacturing a protective helmet tailored to a selected group of helmet wearers

The present invention is directed to a protective sports helmet including a helmet shell, a face guard and an internal padding assembly positioned within the helmet shell. The internal padding assembly includes a brow pad having a first peripheral connection portion and a second peripheral connection portion. The internal padding assembly also includes a first jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the first connection portion of the brow pad, and a second jaw pad having an upper connection portion that mates with the second connection portion of the brow pad. The internal padding assembly also includes a crown assembly with pad elements that include an internal separation layer that partitions the element into a first inflatable section and a second un-inflatable section. The connection portion of the jaw pads also mates with frontal pad elements of the crown assembly. The internal padding assembly further includes an occipital pad assembly that engages the helmet wearer's head below the occipital bone.

A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Thad M Ide