Impact Resistant Structures for Protective Garments

Abstract

A multi-layer composite structure is conformable to the contours of the body parts for which protection is required. The composition structure contains a rigid shock-deflecting outer layer, two semi-rigid shock-damping and shock-dissipating middle layers, and a pliable shock-absorbing lower layer. In one embodiment, the structure is designed for impacts associated with contact sports, such as football, hockey and lacrosse. In another embodiment, the structure is designed for military/police applications, in which impacts can be blunt forces, from weapons such as clubs, or penetrative forces, from knives, bullets or shrapnel.

Description

RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefits of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 407,204, filed Oct. 12, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is also related to this inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,122 B2, “Protective Athletic Garment and Method,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the field of garments adapted to protect a wearer's body from impacts associated with contacts sports and / or military / police activities.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Protective garments for sports, military and police uses have evolved in the direction of becoming lighter, stronger, more mobile, and more wearable. Optionally, the structures comprising such protective garments should be capable of deflecting impact forces, damping their impact, dissipating such forces, absorbing them, and blocking penetration through to the wearer'...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In both sports and military / police embodiments, the middle layers of the impact resistant structures according to the present invention comprise a deformable, polymer-based microlattice damping layer above a semi-rigid, polyurethane honeycomb lattice dissipating layer. The microlattice material preferably comprises a three-dimensional interconnected network of hollow nanotubes preferably having tube diameters less than 1 mm, the stress buckling of which damps impact forces.

[0012]Beneath the microlattice damping layer, the semi-rigid honeycomb dissipating material acts as a constraining layer that sandwiches the microlattice material between itself and the rigid outer deflecting layer, thereby improving the damping characteristics of the microlattice. Preferably, the honeycomb dissipating layer comprises open hexagonal cells less than 0.5 inches in diameter.

Problems solved by technology

The principal problem to be solved in designing such garments is that diverse materials need to be utilized in connection with the foregoing capabilities.

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