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US 11,950,652 B2Granted
Energy absorbing systems
AssigneeRheon Lbas Ltd
InventorDaniel James Plant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to flexible energy absorbing systems and body armor, helmets and protective garments incorporating flexible energy absorbing systems. A flexible energy absorbing system may comprise a first plurality of cells having a first re-entrant geometry and a second plurality of cells having a second, different geometry. The first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells may comprise an elastomeric material.
Claims18
A flexible energy absorbing system, comprising:
- a first plurality of cells comprising a first re-entrant geometry;
- and
- a second plurality of cells comprising a second geometry, different from the first re-entrant geometry, wherein:
- the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprise an elastomeric material,
- cells in the first plurality of cells are located in a first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and cells in the second plurality of cells are located in a second area of the flexible energy absorbing system, different than the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- cells in the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system are packed at a higher density than cells in the second area of the flexible energy absorbing system, and
- a third area is provided between the first area and the second area and comprises a packing density less than that of the first plurality of cells in the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and greater than that of the second plurality of cells in the second area of the flexible energy absorbing system.
4 more elements
A body armor, comprising:
- a flexible energy absorbing system, comprising:
- a first plurality of cells comprising a first re-entrant geometry;
- and
- a second plurality of cells comprising a second geometry different from the first re-entrant geometry, wherein:
- the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprise an elastomeric material,
- cells in the first plurality of cells are located in a first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and cells in the second plurality of cells are located in a second area of the flexible energy absorbing system, different from the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- cells in the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system are packed at a higher density than cells in the second area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- the first area of the flexible energy absorbing system is associated with a first body area to be protected and the second area of the flexible energy absorbing system is associated with a second different body area to be protected, different from the first body area, and
- the first body area is more vulnerable to impact damage than the second body area.
6 more elements
A helmet, comprising:
- a flexible energy absorbing system, comprising:
- a first plurality of cells comprising a first re-entrant geometry;
- and
- a second plurality of cells comprising a second geometry, different than the first re-entrant geometry, wherein:
- the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprise an elastomeric material,
- cells in the first plurality of cells are located in a first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and cells in the second plurality of cells are located in a second, different area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- cells in the first area are packed at a higher density to cells in the second area, and
- a third area is provided between the first area and the second area and comprises a packing density less than that of the first plurality of cells in the first area and greater than that of the second plurality of cells in the second area.
5 more elements
A protective garment, comprising:
- a flexible energy absorbing system, comprising:
- a first plurality of cells comprising a first re-entrant geometry;
- and
- a second plurality of cells comprising a second geometry, different than the first re-entrant geometry, wherein:
- the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprise an elastomeric material,
- cells in the first plurality of cells are located in a first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and cells in the second plurality of cells are located in a second, different area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- cells in the first area are packed at a higher density to cells in the second area, and
- a third area is provided between the first area and the second area and comprises a packing density less than that of the first plurality of cells in the first area and greater than that of the second plurality of cells in the second area.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a flexible energy absorbing system comprising an elastomeric material, the method comprising:
- forming a first plurality of cells comprising a first re-entrant geometry;
- and
- forming a second plurality of cells comprising a second geometry, different than the first re-entrant geometry, wherein:
- the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprise an elastomeric material,
- cells in the first plurality of cells are located in a first area of the flexible energy absorbing system and cells in the second plurality of cells are located in a second, different area of the flexible energy absorbing system,
- cells in the first area are packed at a higher density to cells in the second area, and
- forming one or more of the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells comprises performing an injection molding process.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.