Fitting and comfort system with inflatable liner for helmet

摘要

A helmet fitting and comfort system includes an inflatable liner assembly attached to the inside of a shock attenuating member forming the inner surface of the helmet. The liner assembly is in the form of a low wave-like shape and extends between the sides of the head below the crown and around the rear. A substantially continuous upper elongated cell is formed by a liner membrane to engage the head along an engagement band in a snug fit when inflated. A lower cell extends substantially parallel to the upper cell and forms a lower band of engagement. The cells form a continuous inflation path around their ends where they are connected so that a center, inflated cross-over cell that can cause the helmet to lift up is eliminated. The bands are substantially uninterrupted to increase the holding forces on the user's head. A valve connected to one of the cells is used to activate the liner. The lower cell may include a divider with the valve positioned adjacent thereto. The system is fabricated by heat sealing the liner to a backing sheet in a line to form a bead around its perimeter and along the center line. Fasteners span the center line bead and restricted bleed passages are formed to allow controlled fluid transfer as needed in the event of impact.