US 12,004,584 B2
Protective headgear with integrally-formed layer
Whitman Kwok, Emerald Hills, CA (US); David Stoutamire, Menlo Park, CA (US); and Michael Lowe, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to ZAM Helmets Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed by ZAM Helmets Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/671,770.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,115, filed on Mar. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,666, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0138141 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. A42B 3/06 (2006.01); A42B 3/04 (2006.01); A42B 3/12 (2006.01); A42B 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC A42B 3/063 (2013.01) [A42B 3/0486 (2013.01); A42B 3/061 (2013.01); A42B 3/125 (2013.01); A42B 3/20 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A helmet configured to be worn on a head of a wearer, the head having a shape and a contour, said helmet comprising:
a plurality of layers coupled together including an energy management layer and an outer shell layer disposed over the energy management layer,
wherein the energy management layer comprises an integral structure formed by additive manufacturing and comprising closed cells, in which a size of the closed cells varies spatially within the helmet to absorb and dissipate energy received by the helmet during an impact by an external force, the size of the closed cells being smaller closer to the outer shell layer and larger further from the outer shell layer, wherein the size of the closed cells forming the integral structure are formed in a pattern that is the same shape and varies in the size from a front to a back of the helmet or from a side to side of the helmet,
wherein the outer shell layer is configured to disperse and dissipate impact energy from the external force, and
wherein each of the plurality of layers has a density and a geometry, and wherein the density or the geometry of at least one layer differs from the density or the geometry of at least another layer.