Head and neck support

• US 10,638,808 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wilkins, Donald F., Downs, Joshua Lee, Berzins, Ronald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez, Erick I
• Application Number:
  US15/922,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20190281916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0556 with releasable fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0473 Neck restraints

Abstract

Example implementations relate to providing head and neck support. An example system includes a helmet, a load bearing harness, and a flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness. An activation of a magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a substantially rigid state causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state. When the flexible extension is in the rigid state, force applied to the helmet transfers through the flexible extension to the load bearing harness. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect an event. Particularly, the sensor causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension in response to detecting the event.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a helmet;

a load bearing harness;

a flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness,

wherein an activation of a magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a rigid state causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state,

wherein the ferromagnetic infused medium is stored in a compartment in the load bearing harness proximate an opening of the flexible extension when the ferromagnetic infused medium is in the fluid state,

wherein the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes the ferromagnetic infused medium to flow from the compartment into the flexible extension along portions of the flexible extension proximate the magnetic field during the transition of the ferromagnetic infused medium from the fluid state to the rigid state, and

wherein when the flexible extension is in the rigid state, force applied to the helmet transfers through the flexible extension to the load bearing harness; and

a sensor configured to detect an event, wherein the sensor causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension in response to detecting the event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the load bearing harness is configured to cover shoulders of a user when the helmet is worn by the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the load bearing harness is configured to absorb force received from the flexible extension.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source configured to receive a signal from the sensor and responsively supply a current that causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible extension prevents rotation of the helmet relative to the load bearing harness when the flexible extension is in the rigid state.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a centerline that extends from a front portion of the helmet and a back portion of the helmet is aligned with a centerline of the load bearing harness when the flexible extension is in the rigid state.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an aircraft seat ejection sensor, and wherein the event corresponds to an activation of the aircraft seat ejection sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor coupled to the helmet, and wherein the event corresponds to an impact to the helmet.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a duration of the transition of the ferromagnetic infused medium from the fluid state to the rigid state depends on a strength of the magnetic field.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a helmet configured to cover a head of a user when the apparatus is worn;

a load bearing harness configured to position over shoulders of the user when the apparatus is worn; and

a flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness,

wherein an activation of a magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a rigid state within the flexible extension causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state,

wherein the ferromagnetic infused medium is stored in a compartment in the load bearing harness proximate an opening of the flexible extension when the ferromagnetic infused medium is in the fluid state,

wherein the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes the ferromagnetic infused medium to flow from the compartment into the flexible extension along portions of the flexible extension proximate the magnetic field during the transition of the ferromagnetic infused medium from the fluid state to the rigid state.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the load bearing harness is configured to absorb force received at the helmet through the flexible extension when the flexible extension is in the rigid state.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a power source configured to supply a current that causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flexible extension prevents rotation of the helmet relative to the load bearing harness when the flexible extension is in the rigid state.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a duration of the transition of the ferromagnetic infused medium from the fluid state to the rigid state depends on a strength of the magnetic field.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a sensor configured to trigger activation of the magnetic field.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor coupled to the helmet.

13. A method comprising:

detecting an event using a sensor; and

responsive to detecting the event, causing an activation of a magnetic field proximate a flexible extension coupled between a helmet and a load bearing harness,

wherein the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a rigid state within the flexible extension causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state,

wherein the ferromagnetic infused medium is stored in a compartment in the load bearing harness proximate an opening of the flexible extension when the ferromagnetic infused medium is in the fluid state,

wherein the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes the ferromagnetic infused medium to flow from the compartment into the flexible extension along portions of the flexible extension proximate the magnetic field during the transition of the ferromagnetic infused medium from the fluid state to the rigid state, and

wherein when the flexible extension is in the rigid state, force applied to the helmet transfers through the flexible extension to the load bearing harness.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein causing the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness comprises:

responsive to detecting the event, transmitting a signal from the sensor to a power source; and

supplying, by the power source, a current that causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the event using the sensor comprises:

detecting an activation of an aircraft seat ejection sensor using the aircraft seat ejection sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the event using the sensor comprises:

detecting an impact to the helmet using a piezoelectric sensor.