The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2003
Charles M. Milliren, Chesterland, OH (US);
Hayden L. Leon, Iii, Rolling Meadows, IL (US);
Jason R. Brand, Jefferson, OH (US);
Randy Bryan Collins, North Ridgeville, OH (US);
R. Craig Virnelson, Chesterland, OH (US);
Charles M. Milliren, Chesterland, OH (US);
Hayden L. Leon, III, Rolling Meadows, IL (US);
Jason R. Brand, Jefferson, OH (US);
Randy Bryan Collins, North Ridgeville, OH (US);
R. Craig Virnelson, Chesterland, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
A protective foam layer is provided. The protective layer has a foam substrate that is at least partially enclosed by a formed skin adjacent the outer surface of the foam substrate. The formed skin is substantially non-porous. The combination of the foam substrate with the formed skin results in a protective layer that is effective to absorb and/or dissipate impact force for both high- and low-speed impacts that can be experienced during a sporting event such as cycling. The formed skin can also be provided with a plurality of protective zones having vent holes through the formed skin to regulate the degree of energy absorption in the respective zones. In this manner, a single continuous protective foam layer can be provided having multiple protective zones having distinct energy absorption characteristics instead of providing discrete protective layers that must be joined or meet at a seam. According to the invention, by providing such a continuous protective layer with no such seams, a known failure mode in protective equipment is eliminated.