Flexible energy absorbing material and methods of manufacture thereof
OwnerDaniel James Plantinventor
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Abstract
A flexible energy absorbing sheet material in which a dilatant material (6) is impregnated into or supported by a resilient carrier (1). The dilatant material remains soft until it is subjected to an impact when its characteristics change rendering it temporarily rigid, the material returning to its normal flexible state after the impact. The carrier can be a spacer fabric, a foam layer or modules or threads of dilatant material contained between a pair of spaced layers. Methods of manufacturing the energy absorbing sheet are also disclosed.
Claims61
A flexible energy absorbing sheet material comprising a resilient carrier with voids or cavities therein, said carrier being coated or impregnated with a dilatent material.
A sheet material as claimed in any preceding claim wherein holes are formed through said sheet.
A flexible energy absorbing sheet material comprising a resilient core of discrete modules made of dilatent compound sandwiched between a pair of covering layers.
An energy absorbing sheet material comprising a thread formed from a dilatent compound which is woven or knitted into a compressible layer.
An energy absorbing sheet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dilatent compound is a dimethyl-siloxane-hydro-terminated polymer.
An energy absorbing sheet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dilatent compound has Duolite spheres or lightweight filler therein.
An energy absorbing sheet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dilatent compound is Dow Corning 3179.
A method of manufacturing an energy absorbing sheet material comprising a resilient carrier with a dilatant material therein comprising the steps of heating the dilatant material to convert it from its normal semi-solid state into a flowable form and working the flowable material into the resilient carrier to impregnate said carrier with the dilatant material.
A method of manufacturing an energy absorbing sheet material comprising a resilient carrier impregnated with a dilatant material comprising the steps of reducing the viscosity of the dilatant material from its normal semi-solid state into a flowable foam using a solvent, pouring the thinned dilatant material into the carrier, and finally removing the solvent from the formed sheet of energy absorbing material.
A sheet material as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lubricant and/or a filler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.