Shock absorbers for protective body gear
OwnerVincent Ferrara, Alexander Reynolds +1inventors
InventorsVINCENT FERRARA, Alexander Reynolds, Kyle Lamson
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Abstract
Shock absorbers for integration into protective structures generally take the form of hollow, fluid-filled, compressible cells. In various embodiments, the cell enclosure includes one or more orifices, or vents, through which a fluid (such as air or water) can escape from the inner chamber formed by the enclosure.
Claims11
A compressible cell for attenuating impact forces imparted thereto, the cell comprising:
- an enclosure defining an inner chamber for containing a fluid, the enclosure comprising a side wall extending and varying in thickness between a top wall and a bottom wall, the side wall resistively yielding in response to an impact imparted to the top wall.
In a safety article comprising a compressible cell that includes an enclosure defining an inner chamber and having a side wall extending and increasing in thickness between a top wall and a bottom wall, the safety article being worn on a body with the bottom wall closer to the body than the top wall, a method for protecting the body from damage due to impacts, the method comprising:
- attenuating an impact imparted on the top wall at least partially with the side wall by resistively yielding, wherein a resistance to yielding increases with increased compression of the side wall.
In a safety article comprising a compressible cell that includes an enclosure defining an inner chamber and having a side wall extending and decreasing in thickness between a top wall and a bottom wall, the safety article being worn on a body with the bottom wall closer to the body than the top wall, a method for protecting the body from damage due to impacts, the method comprising:
- attenuating a tangential component of an impact imparted on the top wall at least partially by shearing;
- and
- attenuating a normal component of the impact imparted on the top wall at least partially with the side wall by resistively yielding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.