IMPACT SENSING DEVICE AND HELMET INCORPORATING THE SAME

• US 20120124720A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battle-ABC, LLC
• Original Assignee: Battle Sports Science LLC (Active Brands Company LLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Jeffrey M., Circo, Christopher W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/424
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents

Abstract

An impact sensing device including a plurality of accelerometers orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and attachable at a body location, each capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact. An integrated circuit is configured to determine the magnitude and direction of the impact based on the signals and operative to activate an indicator when the magnitude exceeds a selected threshold based on the direction of the impact. A head injury coefficient is determined based on the magnitude and a duration of the impact, and the threshold level of acceleration is expressed in terms of a head injury coefficient value. The head injury coefficient value is determined by empirically correlating a head injury coefficient measured at the body location and a head injury coefficient measured at the center of mass of a human head resulting from an impact.

Claims

1. An impact sensing device, comprising:

at least one accelerometer capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact;

an indicator; and

an integrated circuit configured to receive the signal and activate the indicator when the signal exceeds a selected threshold level.

2. The impact sensing device of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

3. The impact sensing device of claim 1, further comprising an item attachable to the body of a person.

4. The impact sensing device of claim 3, wherein the item is a head band.

5. The impact sensing device of claim 3, wherein the item is a helmet.

6. The impact sensing device of claim 3, further comprising a shell sized and configured to receive the person'"'"'s chin, wherein the accelerometer and integrated circuit are contained in the shell.

7. The impact sensing device of claim 6, further comprising a soft inner cuff disposed in the shell.

8. The impact sensing device of claim 6, further comprising a strap connectable to a helmet.

9. The impact sensing device of claim 8, further comprising a button snap attached to the strap and connectable to a helmet, wherein the button snap includes contacts operative to activate the impact sensing device when connected to the helmet.

10. The impact sensing device of claim 1, including a plurality of accelerometers orthogonally oriented with respect to each other, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to determine the magnitude and direction of the impact and activate the indicator when the magnitude exceeds a selected threshold based on the direction of the impact.

11. An impact sensing chin guard, comprising:

a plurality of accelerometers orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and each capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact;

a visual indicator;

an integrated circuit configured to receive the signals and determine the magnitude and direction of the impact and activate the indicator when the magnitude exceeds a selected threshold based on the direction of the impact;

a shell sized and configured to receive a person'"'"'s chin; and

an inner cuff disposed in the shell, wherein the accelerometers and integrated circuit are interposed between the shell and the cuff

12. The impact sensing chin guard of claim 11, further comprising a strap connectable to a helmet.

13. The impact sensing chin guard of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator is a multicolor light emitting diode.

14. A method for indicating when a user has received a potentially traumatic impact, the method comprising:

establishing a threshold level of acceleration for at least one direction of interest;

attaching a plurality of accelerometers to a user at a body location, each accelerometer orthogonally oriented with respect to each other and each capable of producing a signal indicative of an impact;

determining the magnitude and direction of the impact based on the signals; and

activating an indicator if the magnitude exceeds the threshold level of acceleration.

15. The method according to claim 14, including establishing a first threshold level of acceleration for a first direction and a second threshold of acceleration for a second direction.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first threshold level is greater than the second threshold level.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first direction corresponds to the front of the user'"'"'s head.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second direction corresponds to a side of the user'"'"'s head.

19. The method according to claim 14, including determining a head injury coefficient based on the magnitude and a duration of the impact, and wherein the threshold level of acceleration is expressed in terms of a head injury coefficient value.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the head injury coefficient value is determined by empirically correlating a head injury coefficient measured at the body location and a head injury coefficient measured at the center of mass of a human head resulting from an impact.