# US 7,608,314 B2 · Flexible energy absorbing material and methods of manufacture thereof

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- Number: US 7,608,314 B2
- Document ID: US7608314B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/797,756
- Filed: 2004-03-10
- Published: 2004-09-02
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2001-09-13
- Inventors: Daniel James Plant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608314B2

## CPC

- A41D 31/285: {using layered materials}
- Y10T 428/23914: Interlaminar
- Y10T 428/23986: With coating, impregnation, or bond
- Y10T 428/24149: Honeycomb-like
- Y10T 428/24157: Filled honeycomb cells [e.g., solid substance in cavities, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24174: including sheet or component perpendicular to plane of web or sheet
- Y10T 428/24744: Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell
- Y10T 428/249953: Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
- Y10T 442/102: Woven scrim
- Y10T 442/172: Coated or impregnated
- Y10T 442/2041: Two or more non-extruded coatings or impregnations
- Y10T 442/2369: Coating or impregnation improves elasticity, bendability, resiliency, flexibility, or shape retention of the fabric
- Y10T 442/3602: Three or more distinct layers
- Y10T 442/494: Including a nonwoven fabric layer other than paper
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible energy absorbing material comprising a resilient carrier with voids or cavities therein, said carrier being coated or impregnated or combined with a dilatant material, wherein the resilient carrier supports the dilatant material and the resilient carrier is a spacer fabric comprising a resilient core sandwiched between a pair of covering layers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dilatant material is a dilatant compound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient core comprises a layer of yarn and the covering layers have a plurality of apertures therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A material as claimed in claim 3 wherein the yarn is woven into a resilient pile.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A material as claimed in claim 3 wherein the yarn is knitted into a resilient pile.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein elongate hollow channels are formed in the resilient core.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

An energy absorbing material as claimed in claim 2 wherein the dilatant compound is a dimethyl-siloxane-hydro-terminated polymer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

An energy absorbing material as claimed in claim 2 wherein the dilatant compound has ion exchange resin spheres or lightweight filler therein.