US 7,677,538 B2 · Lateral displacement shock absorbing material

Abstract

A lateral displacement shock absorbing material includes a material consisting of elongated tubular impact absorbing members, each having an axis of elongation. The axes of elongation are parallel to one another by virtue of lateral webbing interconnecting them together. Each of the tubular members has an outer surface made up of two frustoconical surfaces with their larger diameter ends abutting one another and their smaller diameter ends facing away from one another. Each tubular member includes a passageway defined by two frustoconical shapes with the smaller diameter ends abutting one another, and the larger diameter ends facing away from one another and defining the openings of each passageway. Upon impact, the side walls of the tubular members bulge or displace laterally to absorb impacts.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A shock absorbing material, comprising:

a) a plurality of tubular members spaced apart, each tubular member including:
i) an axis of elongation;
ii) an internal passageway having an inner surface and extending through a said tubular member from a first end of said tubular member to a second end thereof, said inner surface comprising two abutting frustoconical surfaces with relatively smaller first terminations abutting;
iii) an outer surface having varying cross-sectional dimensions from said first end to said second end, said outer surface comprising two abutting frustoconical surfaces with relatively larger diameter first terminations abutting one another;
and
b) means for maintaining said axes of elongation of said tubular members in substantially parallel alignment.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lateral displacement shock absorbing material

Life of this patent

Lateral displacement shock absorbing material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12