IMPACT MONITORING APPARATUS

• US 20110219852A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen P. Kasten
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Kasten
• Inventors: Kasten, Stephen P.
• Application Number:
  US13/044,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/12.04
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00

Abstract

An impact monitoring apparatus that includes a support member made of an elastic material capable of being attached to or worn by a user and at least one force measuring element attached to the support member. The force measuring elements may be easily removed from the support member. The force measuring element may include an indicator capable of indicating the amount of force or impact sustained by the user. If the force measuring element does not include an indicator, then the apparatus may further include an indicator that is associated with the force measuring element.

Claims

1. An impact monitoring apparatus for the body comprising:

a support member comprising an elastic material capable of being attached to, or worn by, a user; and

one or more force measuring elements attached to, or retained within, the support member.

2. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more force measuring elements each include an indicator that is capable of indicating an amount of force of an impact that is experienced by the user.

3. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises at least one of a head band, a skull cap, or a balaclava for monitoring the impact sustained by a user'"'"'s head.

4. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support member includes one or more VELCRO fasteners or one or more pockets for retaining the one or more force measuring elements.

5. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member is easily removable from the user.

6. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the one or more force measuring elements are easily removable from the support member.

7. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support member includes one or more clear windows through which the one or more force measuring elements can be visually inspected.

8. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the one or more force measuring elements each comprise a receptacle containing a colored liquid held in suspension and the indicator comprises the release of the colored liquid into the receptacle when the surface tension of the colored liquid is disrupted when the user is subjected to an impact.

9. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more force measuring elements each comprise a switch.

10. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 9 wherein each switch is actuated upon receiving a specific level of force.

11. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 10 wherein each switch is capable of being automatically reset after being actuated.

12. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an indicator circuit that is connected to each of the switches.

13. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 12 wherein the indicator circuit is not located on or within the support member.

14. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 12 wherein the indicator circuit indicates the level of force received when a switch is activated.

15. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 12 wherein the indicator circuit indicates which switches are activated.

16. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more force measuring elements each comprise an accelerometer.

17. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 16 wherein each accelerometer includes circuitry capable of data collection and storage.

18. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 17 wherein the circuitry is capable of downloading the data to other storage media.

19. The impact monitoring apparatus of claim 17 wherein the circuitry is capable of wirelessly transmitting the data in real-time so that real-time analysis of the data can be performed.

20. An apparatus for registering the force of an impact to a user'"'"'s head comprising:

a stretch fabric support for mounting proximate the head of a user;

an accelerometer attachable to the support, and

an indicator associated with the accelerometer for indicating the degree of acceleration experienced by the user'"'"'s head resulting from the impact force.

21. An apparatus for indicating the force of an impact to a user'"'"'s body part comprising:

a stretch fabric support detachably attachable to the user'"'"'s body part; and

a force measuring element supported by the support having an indicator for indicating the degree of force of the impact in excess of a predetermined level.