LIGHTWEIGHT BALLISTIC PROTECTION HELMET
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to helmets, and, more particularly,
to a method for making a ballistic protection helmet and to the ballistic protection helmet made by the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Helmet is a protective gear worn on a head portion of a user to protect it
from injuries. The helmet may be used for various purposes such as recreational activities, sports, construction, mining, police and military applications. The Police, military and other law enforcement agencies personnel wear the helmet, such as a ballistic helmet, to protect their head from hand held firearms and high velocity fragments.
[0003] Generally, the ballistic helmet is composed of Aramid or para-Aramid
fabrics. The Aramid or p-Aramid fabrics offer good ballistic protection. However weight is a problem with the Aramid and p-Aramid fabrics. Police, military and other law enforcement agencies personnel are required to carry lot of equipments while on missions; every extra ounce can hamper their mobility and reduce their combat performance. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to keep the overall weight of the equipments including the ballistic helmet as low as possible without compromising protection and performance.
[0004] Accordingly, based on the foregoing, there exists a need for a helmet
which is capable of being protecting a head portion of a user from injuries. Further, there is a need for a helmet, which is light in weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the
general purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of making a helmet configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of
making a helmet that is capable of protecting a head portion of a user from injuries.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making a
helmet that is light in weight.
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of making a
helmet. The method includes cutting a plurality of helmet pre-forms from a ballistic sheet material, positioning the plurality of helmet pre-forms in a mold cavity, the mold cavity configured to have a shape of a helmet shell, subjecting the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity to a pressure in a range of about 300 to 500 tonnes and heating the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity to a temperature in a range of about 100 to 130 degree Celsius for a time period of about 5 minutes to 20 minutes.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the ballistic sheet material and
accordingly and accordingly the plurality of helmet pre-forms is composed of a polyethylene fabric material.
[0010] These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the
various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better
understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a helmet, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a helmet pre-form of the plurality of helmet
pre-forms, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the plurality of helmet pre-forms to
form a shell of the helmet, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of
several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative
purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized,
however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular method of making a helmet, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
[0017] The terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but
rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
[0018] Referring to FIG.l to FIG. 3, a method of making a helmet 100 is
illustrated. More specifically, FIG.l illustrates a perspective view of the helmet 100; FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a helmet pre-from of the plurality of helmet pre-forms and FIG.3 illustrates a perspective view of the plurality of helmet pre-forms positioned in a mold cavity.
[0019] The helmet 100 (shown in FIG. 1) is composed of a plurality of helmet
pre-forms, such as a helmet pre-form 102 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The plurality of helmet pre-forms is cut from a ballistic sheet material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ballistic sheet material and accordingly the plurality of helmet pre-forms is composed of a polyethylene fabric material. More specifically, the polyethylene fabric material used is a high strength polyethylene fabric. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the ballistic sheet material and accordingly the plurality of helmet pre-forms may also be composed from various others materials known for making helmets. Accordingly the present invention is not limited to the polyethylene fabric material. The number of the plurality of helmet pre-forms is based on the degree of protection required from the helmet 100. Further, each of the plurality of helmet pre-forms, such as the helmet pre-form 102, may be configured to have a variety of shapes. In one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 and 3, each of the plurality of helmet pre-forms is configured to have a shape of a flower.
[0020] Further, each of the plurality of helmet pre-forms, such as the helmet pre-
form 102, is positioned in a mold cavity 104 (shown in FIG. 3) with the centers of the plurality of helmet pre-forms aligned. The mold cavity 104 is configured to have a shape of a helmet shell 106 (shown in FIG. 1). Further, the each of the plurality of helmet pre-forms is positioned over
the other in a way such that each subsequent helmet pre-form is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to previous helmet pre-form. More specifically, the each subsequent helmet preform is rotated by the predetermined angle with respect to previous helmet pre-form of the plurality of helmet pre-forms for configuring uniform thickness of the helmet shell 106. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of helmet pre-forms is positioned manually in the mold cavity 104 (shown in FIG. 3).
[0021] Furthermore, the plurality of helmet pre-forms positioned in the mold
cavity 104 is subjected to a pressure in a range of about 300 to 500 tonnes. Concurrently, the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity 104 is heated to a temperature in a range of about 100 to 130 degree Celsius for a time period of about 5 minutes to 20 minutes. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of helmet pre-forms positioned in the mold cavity 104 is heated to a temperature of about 120 degree Celsius and subjected to a pressure of about 400 tonnes for about 10 minutes. The plurality of helmet performs may be subjected to the above mentioned pressure by means of various means known in the art. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure may be applied by means of a complimentary die (not shown). Further, the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity 104 may be heated to the above mentioned temperatures by various means known in the art. Accordingly, after subjecting to the above mentioned heat and pressure, the plurality of helmet pre-forms is allowed to cool. After subjecting to above mentioned procedure including positioning in the mold cavity 104, heating, applying pressure and cooling the plurality of helmet pre-forms results into the helmet shell 106.
[0022] Further, the edges of the helmet shell 106 may be trimmed to get the final
shape as shown in the FIG. 3. The shape of the helmet shell 106 as shown in the FIG. 1 is commonly known as the Advance Combat Helmet shape since it offers compatibility with Night Vision Devices and Communication headsets. Furthermore, the helmet shell 106 may undergo a surface preparation process before final painting. Still further, a chin strap mechanism 108 (shown in FIG. 1) may be disposed on the helmet shell 106 for releasably securing the helmet 100 to a head portion of a user. In one embodiment of the present invention, the chin strap mechanism 108 may include a nape strap (not shown).
[0023] Although the exemplary embodiments described herein describe the
helmet 100, particularly for ballistic protection helmets, the present invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to a ballistic protection helmet. The principles of the present invention may be equally applied to helmets utilized in various fields such as recreational activities, sports, construction, mining and the like.
[0024] Various embodiments of the present invention offer following advantages.
The method of making a helmet, as described herein, is capable of being protecting a head portion of a user from injuries. Further, the helmet prepared by a method, as described herein, is capable of decreasing the weight of the Ballistic protection helmet by approximately 20%.
[0025] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
1. A method of making a helmet, the method comprising:
cutting a plurality of helmet pre-forms from a ballistic sheet material;
positioning the plurality of helmet pre-forms in a mold cavity, the mold cavity configured to have a shape of a helmet shell;
subjecting the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity to a pressure in a range of about 300 to 500 tonnes; and
heating the plurality of helmet pre-forms in the mold cavity to a temperature in a range of about 100 to 130 degree Celsius for a time period of about 5 minutes to 20 minutes.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of helmet pre-forms is configured to have a flower shape.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ballistic sheet material is composed of a polyethylene fabric material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of helmet pre-forms positioned in the mold cavity is heated to a temperature of about 120 degree Celsius and subjected to a pressure of about 400 tonnes for about 10 minutes.