Impact absorbing apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:
- a first chamber, comprising;
a first chamber wall, anda first valve disposed in the first chamber wall,wherein the first valve when in a closed state forms a first aperture configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate,wherein the first valve when in an open state forms a second aperture larger than the first aperture, wherein the second aperture is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate faster than the first rate;
a second chamber, comprising;
a second chamber wall, anda second valve disposed in the second chamber wall,wherein the second valve when in a closed state forms a third aperture configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate,wherein the second valve when in an open state forms a fourth aperture larger than the third aperture, wherein the fourth aperture is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate faster than the third rate; and
a plurality of connecting pillars connecting the first chamber to the second chamber,wherein the plurality of connecting pillars are configured to shift position or compress in response to an impact of first force,wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate in response to an impact of second force, andwherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate in response to an impact of third force.
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Abstract
An impact absorbing apparatus includes a first chamber including a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall. The impact absorbing apparatus includes a second chamber including a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall. A plurality of connecting pillars connects the first chamber to the second chamber. The plurality of connecting pillars is configured to shift position in response to a first impact. The first valve is configured to pass air in and out of the first chamber. The second valve is configured to pass air in and out of the second chamber.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:
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a first chamber, comprising; a first chamber wall, and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall, wherein the first valve when in a closed state forms a first aperture configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate, wherein the first valve when in an open state forms a second aperture larger than the first aperture, wherein the second aperture is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate faster than the first rate; a second chamber, comprising; a second chamber wall, and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall, wherein the second valve when in a closed state forms a third aperture configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate, wherein the second valve when in an open state forms a fourth aperture larger than the third aperture, wherein the fourth aperture is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate faster than the third rate; and a plurality of connecting pillars connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein the plurality of connecting pillars are configured to shift position or compress in response to an impact of first force, wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate in response to an impact of second force, and wherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate in response to an impact of third force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:
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a first chamber comprising; a first chamber wall, and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall, wherein the first valve when in a closed state is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate, wherein the first valve when in an open state is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate faster than the first rate; a second chamber comprising; a second chamber wall, and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall, wherein the second valve when in a closed state is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate, wherein the second valve when in an open state is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate faster than the third rate; and a plurality of connecting pillars connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein; in response to a light impact the plurality of connecting pillars are configured to undergo primary compression, in response to a moderate impact the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber, permitting secondary compression of the first chamber in addition to the primary compression of the connecting pillars, and in response to a hard impact the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber, permitting tertiary compressing of the second chamber in addition to the secondary compression of the first chamber and the primary compression of the connecting pillars.
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20. An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:
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a first chamber comprising; a first chamber wall, and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall, wherein the first valve when in a closed state is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate, wherein the first valve when in an open state is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate faster than the first rate; a second chamber fluidly isolated from the first chamber and comprising; a second chamber wall, and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall, wherein the second valve when in a closed state is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate, wherein the second valve when in an open state is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate faster than the third rate; and a plurality of connecting pillars disposed between and non-fluidly connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein; in response to a first impact, the plurality of connecting pillars shift position and/or undergo primary compression to decrease acceleration of the first impact, in response to a second impact greater than the first impact, the first valve permits air to pass out of the first chamber, permitting secondary compression of the first chamber to decrease acceleration of the second impact, in response to a third impact greater than the second impact, the second valve permits air to pass out of the second chamber, permitting tertiary compressing of the second chamber to decrease acceleration of the third impact, and air does not pass between the first and second chambers in response to an impact.
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Specification