Energy absorbing material

• US 7,794,827 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Design Blue Limited (D3O Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Design Blue Limited (D3O Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Palmer, Richard Martin, Green, Philip Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Victor S
• Application Number:
  US12/117,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20090324927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 428/304.4, 428/306.6, 428/314.4
• US Class Current: 428/304.4
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/015 with shock-absorbing means A41D13/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/28 Shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2375/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2483/00 Characterised by the use of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only; Derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/0061 characterized by the use of several polymeric components
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/42 with macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/04 comprising both a plastics spring and a damper, e.g. a friction damper
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/00 Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 ; belt tensioners F16H7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/30 with solid or semi-solid material, e.g. pasty masses, as damping medium in devices where rotary elements are damped by viscous shear effect only, any throttling effect being immaterial F16F9/12; where members moving with a rotating system are being damped F16F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249955 Void-containing component partially impregnated with adjacent component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249976 Voids specified as closed

Abstract

A self-supporting energy absorbing composite includes: i) a solid foamed synthetic polymer matrix; ii) a polymer-based dilatant, different from i) distributed through the matrix and incorporated therein during manufacture of i); and iii) a fluid distributed through the matrix. In another embodiment, a self-supporting energy absorbing composite includes: iv) a solid, closed cell foam matrix; v) a polymer-based dilatant, different from i), distributed through the matrix; and vi) a fluid distributed through the matrix. In both embodiments, the combination of matrix, dilatant and fluid is such that the composite is resiliently compressible.

Claims

1. A self-supporting energy absorbing composite comprising:

(i) a solid, closed cell foam matrix;

(ii) a polymer-based dilatant, different from (i), distributed through the matrix; and

(iii) a fluid distributed through the matrix,

the combination of matrix, dilatant and fluid being such that the composite is resiliently compressible.

2. The energy absorbing composite a of claim 1 wherein the matrix is a synthetic elastomer.

3. The energy absorbing composite of claim 1, which is flexible.

4. The energy absorbing composite of claim 1, which is conformable.

5. The energy absorbing composite of claim 1, wherein the synthetic elastomers comprise elastomeric polyurethane.

6. The energy absorbing composite of claim 1, wherein the dilatant comprise a borated silicone polymer.

7. The energy absorbing composite of claim 6, wherein the borated silicone polymer comprises polyborodimethylsiloxane (PBDMS).

8. The energy absorbing composite of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a gas.

9. An impact protection system comprising the energy absorbing composite of claim 1.

10. A self-supporting energy absorbing composite comprising:

(i) a solid, closed cell foam matrix;

(ii) a polymer-based dilatant, different from (i), distributed through the polymer of the matrix; and

(iii) a fluid distributed through the matrix,

wherein the dilatant comprises polyborodimethylsiloxane, and the combination of matrix, dilatant and fluid being such that the composite is resiliently compressible.