TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates generally to protective helmets, and, more particularly, to liner assemblies for such protective helmets.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Protective helmets used in contact sports such as hockey may include different types of internal padding to protect the head of the wearer from injury related to impacts. Various standards can be applied to certify such a helmet with respect to impact protection, each having different pass/fail criteria related to the capacity of the helmet to reduce the risk of catastrophic head injury.

As research into the effects of impacts on head injuries progresses, the test standards and related test criteria evolve to reflect such progress. Helmets which may have been certifiable under previous test standards may not qualify for certification on newer tests standards updated in light of such research.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a protective helmet comprising: an outer shell; a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion configured to overlay a top of the head of the wearer, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer; wherein each of the front, rear, side and top portions includes at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers, each of the layers being made from one of first, second, third and fourth materials, where the first material has a greater density than that of the second, third and fourth materials, the second material has a greater density than that of the third and fourth materials, and the third material has a greater density than that of the fourth material, and: the at least one zone of the front portion includes at least one of the zones F1, F2and F3where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; the at least one zone of the rear portion includes at least one of the zones R1and R2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; the at least one zone of the side portions include at least one of the zones S1and S2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; and the at least one zone of the top portion includes at least one of the zones T1and T2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4.

In another aspect, there is provided a protective helmet comprising: an outer shell; a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly having at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers, each of the layers being made from one of first, second, third and fourth materials, where the first material has a greater density than that of the second, third and fourth materials, the second material has a greater density than that of the third and fourth materials, and the third material has a greater density than that of the fourth material, and wherein the at least one zone includes at least one of the zones F1, F2, F3, R1, R2, S1, S2, T1and T2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4.

In a further aspect, there is provided a protective helmet comprising: an outer shell; a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion configured to overlay a top of the head of the wearer, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer; wherein each of the front, rear, side and top portions includes at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers, each of the layers being made from one of first, second, third and fourth materials, where the first material has a greater hardness than that of the second, third and fourth materials, the second material has a greater hardness than that of the third and fourth materials, and the third material has a greater hardness than that of the fourth material, and: the at least one zone of the front portion includes at least one of the zones F1, F2and F3where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; the at least one zone of the rear portion includes at least one of the zones R1and R2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; the at least one zone of the side portions include at least one of the zones S1and S2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4; and the at least one zone of the top portion includes at least one of the zones T1and T2where the layers are made of the material and have a respective thickness of at least the thickness set forth in Table 4.

In another aspect, there is provided a protective helmet comprising: an outer shell; and a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion disposed above and out of contact with a top of the head of the wearer when the helmet is worn, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer; and wherein each of the front, rear, side and top portions includes at least one zone where the liner assembly includes a plurality of overlapping layers.

In another aspect, there is provided a protective helmet comprising: an outer shell; and a liner assembly received in the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the liner assembly defining a front portion configured to overlay a front of a head of a wearer, a rear portion configured to overlay a rear of the head of the wearer, a top portion above the head of the wearer when the helmet is worn, and two opposed side portions each configured to overlay a respective side of the head of the wearer; and wherein the front portion consists two layers of energy absorption foam, and the rear portion includes at least three layers of energy absorption foam.

