# US 2013/0153350 A1 · Shock absorbers for protective body gear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153350 A1 - Document ID: US20130153350A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,728 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Xenith, LLC - Inventors: VINCENT FERRARA; ALEXANDER REYNOLDS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153350A1 ## CPC - F16F 1/376: having projections, studs, serrations or the like on at least one surface ({F16F1/3835} , F16F1/387 take precedence) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 top wall including corrugations around a periphery thereof, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls, the side wall and corrugations of the top wall resistively yielding in response to an impact imparted to the top wall so as to attenuate impact forces while allowing the cell to compress. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, further comprising at least one orifice in the enclosure for resistively venting fluid from the inner chamber so as to at least partially attenuate the impact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the corrugations increase resistance to compression of the cell as they contact the bottom wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the top wall is configured to allow lateral movement of a center region thereof relative to a periphery thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the side wall varies in thickness between the top wall and the bottom wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the cell is configured for use between an exterior shell and an interior liner of an impact-attenuating helmet, the top wall being domed so as to conform to an inner surface of the exterior shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cell of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is tapered at the top wall so as to fit between the shell and the liner in a peripheral region of the helmet. ### Claim 8 In a safety article comprising a compressible cell that includes an enclosure defining an inner chamber, a top wall having corrugations around a periphery thereof, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls, 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 and the corrugations of the top wall by resistive yielding thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the enclosure has an orifice, the method further comprising attenuating the impact at least partially by venting fluid from the inner chamber through the orifice. ### Claim 10 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 at least one side wall extending between a top wall and a bottom wall, the at least one side wall resistively yielding in response to an impact imparted to the top wall so as to allow the cell to compress, wherein at least one of the top wall or the bottom wall comprises vertically extending features that increase resistance to compression of the cell as the top wall approaches the bottom wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cell of claim 10, further comprising at least one orifice in the enclosure for resistively venting fluid from the inner chamber so as to at least partially attenuate the impact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cell of claim 10, wherein the features comprise corrugations around a periphery of the top wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The cell of claim 10, wherein the features comprise a plurality of concentrically arranged ridges on the bottom wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The cell of claim 10, wherein the side wall varies in thickness between the top wall and the bottom wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The cell of claim 10, wherein the cell is configured for use between an exterior shell and an interior liner of an impact-attenuating helmet, the top wall being domed so as to conform to an inner surface of the exterior shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cell of claim 15, wherein the enclosure is tapered at the top wall so as to fit between the shell and the liner in a peripheral region of the helmet. ### Claim 17 In a safety article comprising a compressible cell that includes an enclosure defining an inner chamber, a side wall, and top and bottom walls at least one of which includes vertically extending features, 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: in response to an impact imparted to the top wall, attenuating the impact at least partially with the side wall by resistive yielding thereof; and attenuating the impact at least partially with the vertically extending features as the top wall approaches the bottom wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure has an orifice, the method further comprising attenuating the impact at least partially by venting fluid from the inner chamber through the orifice.