Apparatus and method for dissipating force
AssigneeHelmet Technologies LLC
InventorsJustin B. Wenner, Christopher J. Falkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (30) that dissipates a force (44). The apparatus (30) can be implemented in a wearable embodiment (31) such as a helmet (50) as well as non-wearable embodiments (32). Elastic structures (210) within the apparatus (30) dissipate the force (44) striking a shielded mass (39).
Claims20
An apparatus (30) that is adapted to protect a shielded mass (39) from an application of force (44), said apparatus (30) comprising:
- a plurality of surfaces (60), said plurality of surfaces (60) including:
- an internal surface (62);
- and
- an external surface (64);
- a plurality of elastic structures (210) positioned between said internal surface (62) and said external surface (64), wherein said plurality of elastic structures (210) are a plurality of hollow elastic structures (230);
- wherein said plurality of elastic structures (210) include a plurality of holes (232);
- wherein said application of force (44) compresses at least one said elastic structure (210);
- and
- wherein at least one said elastic structure (210) is not fixed to any of said surfaces (60).
An apparatus (30) that shields a shielded mass (39) from an application of force (44), said apparatus (30) comprising:
- a plurality of elastic structures (210), wherein said plurality of elastic structures (210) are a plurality of hollow elastic structures (230);
- said plurality of hollow elastic structures (230) including a plurality of holes (232) and a gas (236);
- wherein said application of force (44) compresses said plurality of elastic structures (210), forcing said gas (236) to move outside said plurality of hollow elastic structures (230);
- wherein said plurality of elastic structures (210) are not fixedly attached to any of said surfaces (60).
A method (400) for protecting a shielded mass (39) from an application of force (44), said method (400) comprising:
- receiving (410) the application of force (44) hitting an external surface (64), wherein a plurality of hollow elastic structures (230) are positioned between said exterior surface (64) and an internal surface (62), wherein said internal surface (62) is closer to the shielded mass (39) than said exterior surface (64), wherein said plurality of hollow elastic structures (230) include a plurality of holes (232), wherein at least one of said plurality of elastic structures (230) is not fixedly attached to exterior surface (64) or to said interior surface (62);
- compressing (420) at least one of said hollow elastic structures (230);
- and
- moving (430) a gas (236) out of the one or more said hollow elastic structures (230) that are compressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.