System for redirecting head impact force

Abstract

Described herein is a system for redirecting head impact force to other portion or portions of a body of a person. The system includes a harness wearable on upper body or both upper and lower body of the person and permitting motion of the person; a force redirecting element configured to connect the harness to a helmet wearable by the person; and a motion limiting unit connected to the force redirecting element, wherein the motion limiting unit can be triggered by the impact and limit the load on the neck of the person. The system also includes stiffening units to pre-tension the harness and increase the effective impedance of the system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 938,493 filed on Feb. 11, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 096,727 filed on Dec. 24, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The present disclosure, in general, relates to a system for redirecting the head impact force to other parts of a body to reduce risks of head and neck injury.BACKGROUND[0003]The following discussion of the background of the disclosure is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding the disclosure and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the present disclosure.[0004]Head injuries arise from damaging forces applied directly to the head or to the body that result in a rapid acceleration of the head. The resulting translation and rotation of the head have both been linked to neurological outcomes associated ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent provides a system for redirecting head impact force to other parts of a person's body. The system includes a harness that connects to the person's body and allows them to move, a force redirecting element that connects the harness to a helmet, and a motion limiting unit that limits the force applied by the force redirecting element. The harness can be tightened around the person's body at different locations, such as the abdomen, chest, waist, thigh, pelvic bone, hip, knee, or foot. The force redirecting element can include a spring, damper, strut, cable, or inflatable element, and can be embedded in the harness or run under it. The system can also include a stiffening unit that pre-tensions the harness to increase its effectiveness. The technical effect of the system is to provide a way to redirect head impact force to other parts of the body, potentially reducing the risk of injury.

Problems solved by technology

Head injuries arise from damaging forces applied directly to the head or to the body that result in a rapid acceleration of the head.

TBI has been identified as a major public health concern by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.

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