Impact shock absorbing material

• US 8,087,101 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Riddell Ferguson
• Original Assignee: James Riddell Ferguson
• Inventors: Ferguson, James Riddell
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tejash
• Application Number:
  US11/939,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 245/5, 2/25, 226/7, 211/3, 211/5, 224/7, 2 6/9, 210/8, 2 9/4
• US Class Current: 2/455
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/285 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/124 with at least one corrugated or ribbed layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/12 characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure

Abstract

Impact shock absorbing material to be incorporated into protective gear or clothing. The impact shock absorbing material is a laminated material, having a shear-thickening layer and a shock absorbing layer, that is a honeycomb material. The laminated material is incorporated into protective headgear, sports gear, clothing, and a host of other articles that are worn for protection against impact shock. The shear-thickening layer shunts the local impact forces over a greater area of the underlying shock absorbing layer, thereby reducing the force at the point of impact. The vertical walls of the honeycomb layer buckle under the incoming force, thereby diffusing the direction of force away from direct alignment with the body wearing the impact-shock-absorbing material. Protective gear made of the impact shock absorbing material significantly reduces forces imparted to the body as a result of a fall, blow, or other sudden impact.

Claims

1. Impact-shock absorbing material comprising:

a first layer of shock absorbing material that is a honeycomb material with honeycomb cell walls; and

a second layer of a material having a property of shear thickening;

wherein a first surface of said first layer and a first surface of said second layer are held in close contact to each other; and

wherein said honeycomb material absorbs impact forces over various planes as said honeycomb cell walls buckle when an impact force is applied to said honeycomb material.

2. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 1, wherein said honeycomb material has perforated walls, which allows flow of air through the cells, thereby dissipating heat buildup.

3. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 1 wherein said second layer is a foam-based dilatant.

4. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 1, further comprising an affixing means for affixing said first surface of said first layer and said first surface of said second layer to each other, so as to prevent slippage therebetween.

5. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 4, wherein said affixing means is an adhesive that adhesively bonds at least a portion of said first surface of said first layer with a portion of said first surface of said second layer.

6. The impact shock absorbing material of claim 4, wherein said adhesive layer, said first layer, and said second layer remain flexible when bonded together.

7. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 4, wherein said affixing means is a pocket dimensioned to receive said first layer and said second layer and to hold said first surface of said first layer over said first surface of said second layer.

8. The impact-shock-absorbing material of claim 4, wherein said affixing means includes an outer fabric and an inner fabric, said outer fabric being placed over a second surface of said second layer and said inner fabric being placed over a second surface of said first layer, and wherein said outer fabric and said inner fabric are stitched together, so as to hold said first surface of said first layer and said first surface of said second layer in close contact with each other.