Shock absorbers for protective body gear

• US 8,950,735 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenith, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xenith, LLC
• Inventors: Reynolds, Alexander, Lamson, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): MOMPER, ANNA M
• Application Number:
  US14/046,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140097052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 188/270, 267/136, 267/139, 267/140.11, 267116-119, 267/64.27, 267/64.11, 267/270, 267/152, 267/140.13, 248/562, 248/566, 248/634, 241/1, 241/3
• US Class Current: 267/139
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/121 with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/376 having projections, studs, serrations or the like on at least one surface F16F1/3835 , F16F1/387 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/12 using plastic deformation of members F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/127 by a blade element cutting or tearing into a quantity of material; Pultrusion of a filling material

Abstract

Shock absorbers for integration into protective structures generally take the form of hollow, compressible cells. The cell enclosure may be configured to provide for two or more compression stages. For example, in various embodiments, the cell enclosure includes one or more corrugations descending from the top wall, which, upon contact with the bottom wall, contribute to impact absorption.

Claims

1. A compressible cell for attenuating impact forces imparted thereto in three stages, the cell comprising:

a hollow enclosure comprising

(a) a top wall having (i) a raised central portion and (ii) at least one corrugation around a periphery of the raised central portion,

(b) a bottom wall, and

(c) a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls, the at least one corrugation descending to a depth below half a height of the side wall,

whereby impact forces imparted on the cell are attenuated in a first stage by resistive yielding of part of the at least one corrugation to allow for depression of the central portion, in a second stage by resistive yielding of the side wall, and in a third stage, upon contact of the at least one corrugation with the bottom wall, by resistive yielding of the at least one corrugation.

2. The cell of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to cause overlap in time between the first, second, and third stages.

3. The cell of claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises two frusto-conical wall portions meeting at an intermediate plane of the cell.

4. The cell of claim 3, wherein inner surfaces of the two frusto-conical wall portions include an obtuse angle.

5. The cell of claim 3, wherein the two frusto-conical wall portions meet at about half the height of the side wall.

6. The cell of claim 1, further comprising an orifice in the top wall for venting fluid from an interior of the cell.

7. The cell of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is substantially cylindrically symmetric.

8. The cell of claim 1, wherein the at least one corrugation forms two ring walls meeting at a trough of the corrugation.