IMPACT ABSORBING APPARATUS

• US 20180187741A1
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valor Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: KLNP, LLC
• Granted Patent: US 10,520,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/121 with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/122 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/124 with at least one corrugated or ribbed layer
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/08 Body-protectors for players or sportsmen , i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions protective clothing or garments for sporting purposes A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/10 the wall being at least in part formed by a flexible membrane or the like F16F13/14 - F16F13/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/105 characterised by features of partitions between two working chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/025 Elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/087 Units comprising several springs made of plastics or the like material F16F1/40, F16F1/545 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/04 in a chamber with a flexible wall producing hollow articles of plastics, e.g. air bellows, B29D22/00

Abstract

An impact absorbing apparatus includes a first chamber including a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall. The impact absorbing apparatus includes a second chamber including a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall. A plurality of connecting pillars connects the first chamber to the second chamber. The plurality of connecting pillars is configured to shift position in response to a first impact. The first valve is configured to pass air in and out of the first chamber. The second valve is configured to pass air in and out of the second chamber.

Claims

1. An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:

a first chamber comprising a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall, wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate when the first valve is in a closed state, wherein the first valve is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate when the first chamber is in an open state, and wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate;

a second chamber comprising a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall, wherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate when the second valve is in a closed state, wherein the second valve is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate when the second valve is in an open state, and wherein the fourth rate is faster than the third rate; and

a plurality of connecting pillars connecting the first chamber to the second chamber,

wherein the plurality of connecting pillars are configured to shift position in response to a first impact,

wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate in response to a second impact, and

wherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate in response to a third impact.

2. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first valve comprises a plurality of first valve leaflets, wherein each of the first valve leaflets comprises an outer wall connected to the first chamber wall, first and second side walls projecting away from the first chamber wall, and a curved inner wall opposite the outer wall, and wherein the curved inner walls of the first valve leaflets form a first aperture configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate when the first valve is in a closed position.

3. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second valve comprises a plurality of second valve leaflets, wherein each of the second valve leaflets comprises an outer wall connected to the second chamber wall, first and second side walls projecting away from the second chamber wall, and a curved inner wall opposite the outer wall, and wherein the curved inner walls of the second valve leaflets form a second aperture configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate when the second valve is in a closed position.

4. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second impact is greater than the first impact.

5. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third impact is greater than the second impact.

6. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second rate is substantially equal to the fourth rate.

7. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 180°

with the first chamber wall when the first valve leaflets are in a closed state.

8. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the obtuse angle is from about 120°

to about 160°

.

9. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 180°

with the second chamber wall when the second valve leaflets are in a closed state.

10. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the obtuse angle is from about 120°

to about 160°

.

11. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 130°

with the first chamber wall when the first valve leaflets are in an open state.

12. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the obtuse angle is from about 100°

to about 120°

.

13. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 130°

with the second chamber wall when the second valve leaflets are in an open state.

14. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the obtuse angle is from about 100°

to about 120°

.

15. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one first chamber reinstating pillar disposed in the first chamber, wherein the first chamber reinstating pillar is configured to apply a first force to return a compressed first chamber to its original shape.

16. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one second chamber reinstating pillar disposed in the second chamber, wherein the second chamber reinstating pillar is configured to apply a second force to return a compressed second chamber to its original shape.

17. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first force is smaller than the second force.

18. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one first chamber reinstating pillar is further configured to at least partially compress in response to the second impact to decrease an acceleration of the second impact.

19. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one second chamber reinstating pillar is further configured to at least partially compress in response to the third impact to decrease an acceleration of the second impact.

20. The impact absorbing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting pillars decrease a first acceleration caused by the first impact, wherein the first valve decreases a second acceleration caused by the second impact, and wherein the second valve decreases a third acceleration caused by the third impact.