Impact Absorbing Array and Athletic Body Armor Incorporating such an Array

Abstract

An article of protective athletic equipment with a plurality of compressible capsules connected by intra-array connectors to form an array of capsules. Each capsule has an inner volume that retains a volume of shear thickening fluid. The intra-array connectors can be tubular to place the inner volumes of adjacent capsules in fluidic communication. The shear thickening fluid can be a suspension of polyethylene glycol and a solute of solid particles. Arrays of capsules can be coupled to one or more layers of fabric and to to pre-existing or specially created articles of sports equipment, including helmets, caps, grips, insoles, and wraps. Plural arrays of capsules can be connected, such as by teeth or by engagement members and apertures. Intra-array connectors can have similar or varied open cross sectional areas, and capsules can be connected by different numbers of intra-array connectors to permit varied fluidic flow between capsules.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/150,538, filed Apr. 21, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to athletic protective gear. Stated more particularly, disclosed herein are arrays of fluidically interconnected, impact-absorbing capsules and athletic articles incorporating such arrays to produce athletic body armor including, by way of example and not limitation, pads, wraps, neck guards, insoles, helmets, and other protective body armor for athletes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing sports equipment typically demands a balance between protection and performance. If athletes want better protection, they typically must deal with bulky padding over large portions of their bodies. The need to wear such bulky padding can severely impede optimal athletic performance.

In view of the deleterious effects on performance deriving from bulky padding, athletes are often tempted to opt for less padding for the sake of improved performance, but there is an obvious, great risk associated with so doing. Joints and other areas that demand protection are left vulnerable to the extremely excessive impacts experienced by players in contact sports. It will thus be appreciated that an ideal balance between the padding required for optimal safety and the desire to perform with minimized hindrance is extremely difficult to reach, and athletes continue to risk their own safety to move quicker and to play better.

Many prior art inventors have sought to develop equipment that reduces the risk of injury, but well recognized needs remain for lightweight, comfortable, and effective body armor for athletes. Unfortunately, sports equipment manufacturers have experienced great difficulty in achieving the difficult balance between the desired comfort and the necessary protection for the athlete.

In children and teens alone, there are more than 5.5 million yearly sports-related injuries. Injuries commonly limit or entirely prevent strenuous physical activity for weeks and months. Certain injuries can be even more severe, producing remnant impacts well into one's adult life. With seemingly more and more athletes being taken out of the games they love because of long-term injuries, the need for a solution is greater than ever.

When comparing commonly used, top-of-the-line helmets, there is a large discrepancy between the amount of padding in a football helmet as compared to a hockey helmet. Football helmets often retain multiple layers of polyurethane foam, which help to reduce skull fractures and absorb the energy from blows to the head. Many players have adopted the option of having increased padding in helmets due to the numerous reports coming to light of retired football players experiencing permanent brain damage from the impacts they suffered while playing. In ice hockey, however, one of the most commonly used helmets includes just a couple of layers of foam enveloped by a thin protective shell.

It is thus recognized that, since athletes are almost always in motion and take hits to the body throughout the game, they will often forego bulky protection in favor of lighter equipment that will help them move quicker and with greater alacrity, perhaps evading hard impacts but being more vulnerable to them when they do come as is invariably the case. Amateur and professional athletes commonly choose lightweight gear that provides reduced impact protection and energy absorption, but they are not the only ones.

The problems deriving from inadequate protection even spread into everyday life, such as where a person involved in a day-to-day activity sprains an ankle simply by stepping on an irregular surface. The protective gear of the prior art has been ill-suited to addressing such concerns since most people would not want to wear, for example, a bulky brace that restricts full range of motion solely to protect against the unpredictable possibility of an ankle strain. That and numerous further circumstances where added protection would be desirable will be apparent. Athletes who frequently experience extreme impacts may reasonably be considered among those in greatest need for reliable protection with minimized deleterious restriction in movement, but there are nearly innumerable other circumstances where the possibility of unobtrusive protection would enable enhanced protection where minimized or no protection was contemplated or employed previously.

With a knowledge of the foregoing, the present inventors have appreciated that there is a need for body armor that overcomes one or more of the foregoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the state of the art and the limitations and deficiencies of current protective athletic and other gear as summarized above, the present inventors set forth with the basic object of providing a high impact-absorbing material capable of being employed as protective armor for athletes and, potentially, others.

A more particular object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a novel design, structure, and composition of protective sports and other equipment using shear-thickening fluids.

An additional object of the invention is to provide articles that offer superior impact protection in a thinner and unobtrusive profile.

In certain manifestations of the invention, a further object is to provide body armor that has application not only as a pad or wrap, but also as underlayering, mid-layering, or overlayering for existing layers, such as fabric layers, potentially as an insert.

In certain embodiments, another object of the invention is to provide armor, such as athletic body armor, capable of providing enhanced protection to the joints of the human body, which may be considered among the weakest parts of the body with respect to impact absorption.

A further object of the invention in particular embodiments is to provide protective armor and, potentially, sports equipment incorporating the same that is modular thereby to provide added versatility and adaptability.

Embodiments of the invention have the added object of providing protective athletic equipment demonstrating an increased useful lifespan, including by the character of the impact-absorbing material used and, additionally or alternatively, by enabling the addition or removal of segments to an impact-absorbing array, such as where a player grows out of equipment or seeks a different level of protection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide protective equipment that can be applied to substantially any impact sport, including hockey and football.

These and further objects and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become obvious not only to one who reviews the present specification but also to one who has an opportunity to make use of an embodiment of the impact absorbing array and athletic body armor incorporating one or more such arrays disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however, that, although the accomplishment of each of the foregoing objects in a single embodiment of the invention may be possible and indeed preferred, not all embodiments will seek or need to accomplish each and every potential object and advantage. Nonetheless, all such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the invention.

In carrying forth one or more objects of the invention, an embodiment of the article of protective athletic equipment can be founded on a plurality of compressible capsules, each capsule with an inner volume. A plurality of intra-array connectors can be operative to interconnect the plurality of compressible capsules to form an array of capsules, and a volume of shear thickening fluid can be disposed within the inner volumes of the plurality of compressible capsules. So constructed, the shear thickening fluid can harden in response to an impact on the array of capsules whereby the article of protective athletic equipment can provide impact protection to an athlete.

The intra-array connectors can be tubular, each with a first end open to an inner volume of a capsule of the plurality of capsules, a second end open to an inner volume of an adjacent capsule of the plurality of capsules, and a passage between the first and second ends of the intra-array connector. With that, adjacent capsules of the plurality of capsules are fluidically connected with the inner volumes of adjacent capsules in fluidic communication.

Within the scope of the invention, the plurality of capsules and the plurality of intra-array connectors could, by way of example and not limitation, be formed from high-impact, high pressure plastic chosen from the group consisting of plasticized polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic, and urethane. The interconnecting tubes could, for instance, be formed from tear resistant flexible plastics or foam. Moreover, embodiments are contemplated wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises a suspension of polyethylene glycol and a solute of solid particles. The shear thickening fluid could be formed with 40-60% solvent and 40-60% solid solute particles. It is contemplated that the solute particles could, for example, comprise metal oxides and carbonates, and the metal oxides and carbonates can have both spherical and irregular molecular structures. Moreover, the solvent could be polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of between approximately 200 to approximately 8000. In certain embodiments, at least one layer of fabric, such as a tear resistant fabric or a polyamide fabric, could be coupled to the array of capsules.

Protective applications of the arrays of capsules are innumerable. For instance, the array of capsules could take the form of a neck guard for a helmet. The array of capsules could, for example, be coupled to the helmet to depend from the helmet thereby to overlie the neck of the athlete. In other embodiments, the array of capsules could be retained by a footwear insole. Still further, the capsules could be formed into at least a portion of a sports equipment grip for an article of sports equipment. In such constructions, the sports equipment grip can have capsules with open inner volumes that retain shear-thickening fluid and alternating capsules that retain volumes of gas.

To form systems of multiple arrays, a coupling mechanism can be provided for connecting the array of capsules to a second and further arrays of capsules. For example, the coupling mechanism could take the form of a plurality of teeth separated by spaces so that arrays of capsules can be coupled by engaging the plurality of teeth and spaces of adjacent arrays. Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of engagement members could project from a first side edge of the array, and a plurality of receiving apertures can be disposed along a second side edge of the array. With that, the plurality of engagement members of a first array of capsules can be matingly received into the plurality of receiving apertures of a second array of capsules.

Embodiments of the protective athletic equipment are disclosed wherein the array of capsules has a longitudinal series of capsules and a lateral series of capsules. Each of the intra-array connectors can be tubular with a first end open to an inner volume of a capsule of the plurality of capsules, a second end open to an inner volume of an adjacent capsule of the plurality of capsules, and a passage between the first and second ends of the intra-array connector. With that, adjacent capsules of the plurality of capsules are fluidically connected with the inner volumes of adjacent capsules in fluidic communication. Each intra-array connector can be considered to have an effective open cross-sectional area. The effective open cross-sectional areas of the connectors can be substantially the same, but it is alternatively possible for at least some of the intra-array connectors to have different effective open cross-sectional areas. Even further, it is contemplated that at least some of the capsules within the array of capsules could be connected by different numbers of intra-array connectors, such as by having two connectors longitudinally connect adjacent capsules and one connector laterally connect adjacent capsules. With that, different compression, flow, and other performance characteristics can be realized by varied flow, movement, and hardening of the shear thickening fluid.

One will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important features of the invention merely to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventors' contribution to the art. Before an embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details and descriptions of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an impact absorbing array as taught herein;

FIG. 2 is a view in right side elevation of the impact absorbing array of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a portion of an impact absorbing array according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view in side elevation of a portion of the impact absorbing array of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative impact absorbing array pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a helmet retaining an impact absorbing array as disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an insole retaining an impact absorbing array according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a grip retaining an impact absorbing array according to the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of coupled impact absorbing arrays according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The impact absorbing array and the athletic body armor incorporating one or more such arrays disclosed herein are subject to varied embodiments, each within the scope of the invention. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below.

The present inventors have recognized that, to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, an article of protective sports equipment should demonstrate four major characteristics: it needs to be lightweight, highly protective, flexible, and sufficiently reasonable in cost to permit general application. The present inventors have sought to meet each requirement with impact absorbing arrays that can be exploited individually or in systems of multiple arrays and as stand-alone protective equipment or by incorporation into pre-existing or particularly crafted articles of athletic and other equipment, materials, and gear. In view of its performance, embodiments of the invention can be referred to as Kinetic Energy Dissipating Equipment Response System Athletic Body Armor or KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor in brief.

Turning more particularly to the drawings, an impact absorbing array according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. There, the impact absorbing array 10 is formed by a plurality of high-impact, high-pressure plastic capsules 12 that are interconnected to form the array 10 with longitudinal series of capsules 12 and lateral series of capsules 12. Each capsule 12 has an inner volume that retains a volume of shear thickening fluid 24. The capsules 12 within a given impact absorbing array 10 can be joined longitudinally, laterally, or longitudinally and laterally by intra-array connectors 20.

Some or all of the intra-array connectors 20 can be tubular with a first end open to an inner volume of a first capsule 12, a second end open to an inner volume of a second capsule 12, and a passage between the first and second ends of the intra array connector 20. With that, adjacent capsules 12 within the impact absorbing array 10 can be fluidically connected with the inner volumes of at least adjacent capsules 12 in fluidic communication. As disclosed herein, such impact absorbing arrays 10 have widespread application, including in relation to athletic equipment, pads, wraps, and other articles for providing protection to substantially any portion or portions of the body. Protective equipment incorporating the impact absorbing arrays 10 of capsules 12 can, where necessary or desirable, be rendered form-fitting to the wearer's body thereby producing as natural a feel as possible.

The shear thickening fluid contained in the capsules could, for instance, be a colloid mixture of reagent-grade polyethylene glycol (200 g/mol molecular weight), which is available from Acros Organics, a division of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. and others, and precipitated calcium carbonate. The precipitated calcium carbonate could have an average length:width ratio of approximately 4:1 for each particle as is available, for instance, from Specialty Minerals, Inc. under the registered trademark OPACARB A40. Of course, other sources and potentially other materials are possible and within the scope of the invention. The solute in this material can, for example, be any metal oxide, such as silicon dioxide, titanium oxide, and any carbonate substance. As used herein, except as expressly limited by the claims, the phrase shear thickening fluid should be interpreted to include all fluidic shear thickening materials that may now exist or hereafter be developed. Other embodiments, details, alternatives, and applications are readily possible in view of the present disclosure. By way of example, shear thickening fluids 22 with additional or alternative solvents and solid solutes as well as other fabrics and substrates can be employed.

During normal movement, the impact absorbing array 10, whether incorporated into padding or another article, will remain flexible. Protective armor incorporating such impact absorbing arrays 10 can be designed to feel largely like a natural part of the body, including due to its lightweight and flexible form. The impact absorbing array 10 will stiffen only in response to impacts thereby protecting the wearer's body and preventing, for example, the unnatural straining or snapping of joints.

The impact protection provided by the impact absorbing array 10 of fluidically interconnected capsules 12 is two-fold. First, as a hit is occurring, the intra-array connectors 20 will compress and absorb some of the hit's energy. Second, once the intra-array connectors 20 are sufficiently compressed, the shear thickening fluids 22 within some or all of the capsules 12 and the connectors 20 will activate. When the shear thickening fluids 22 within the capsules 12 are exposed to force, they instantaneously transition to a solid-like state. Moreover, their viscosity is dependent on the magnitude of that force. Once the energy of the impact has been dissipated, the shear thickening fluid 22 will automatically return to a fluidic state. With that, the impact absorbing array will once again be flexible.

The shear-solidification effect of the impacted shear thickening fluid 22 happens in mere milliseconds, and the energy from an impact will be absorbed and dissipated by the shear thickening fluid 22 and the impact absorbing array 10 in this process. More particularly, when the fluid experiences shear-force of sufficient magnitude and speed, such as an impact in the present application, the calcium carbonate particles will squeeze together in hydroclusters to form a layer that causes the fluid to behave like a solid. The hardness of the shear thickening fluid 22 is dependent on the force of the impact. With that, the shear thickening fluid 22 and the array 10 can be flexible under normal movement, but it can harden upon impact to absorb hard blows and, by way of example and not limitation, to prevent joints, such as knee, elbow, neck, and other joints, from snapping unnaturally. Additionally, the shear-thickening effect can allow for thinner and lighter materials while protecting from impacts as well as or better than equipment according to the prior art.

As set forth herein, embodiments of the impact absorbing array 10 can be modular and, additionally or alternatively, extendable. By way of example, extension segments or components of the impact absorbing array 10 can be attached by any effective method to other arrays 10 and to pre-existing or specially crafted athletic and potentially other equipment. In addition to the protection given to the wearer, attachment to athletic equipment and other wearable articles can expand the usefulness, safety, and lifespan of the article.

Embodiments of the invention can be carried forth as a system and method for equipment modularity and extendibility comprising one or more impact absorbing arrays 10 as shown and described herein. Impact absorbing arrays 10 can vary in size, and systems of plural impact absorbing arrays 10 can be formed, such as by laterally, longitudinally, laterally and longitudinally coupling multiple arrays 10 or even by disposing multiple arrays 10 or groups of arrays 10 in layers.

As can be best understood by reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, for instance, the system and method can further comprise an attachment system for connecting plural impact absorbing arrays 10. For instance, first and second impact absorbing arrays 10A and 10B could be connected edgewise as shown in the example of FIG. 10. In certain embodiments, the attachment system can permit sliding, snapping, or hooking together of extension pieces of impact absorbing arrays 10. By way of example and not limitation, the attachment system could be for a fabric overlay and could comprise an adhesive or hook-and-loop system for establishing mutual connections. Manifestations of the invention can include extension pieces of impact absorbing arrays 10, each with an array 10 of interconnected capsules 12. Impact absorbing arrays 10 can additionally incorporation attachment mechanisms for permitting attachment to pre-existing equipment or to equipment specially adapted to engage impact absorbing arrays 10. Still further, embodiments of the invention can be characterized as an overall attachment system wherein a seamless cohesion is made when connecting extension pieces of impact absorbing arrays 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, one array coupling mechanism could comprise a longitudinal coupling mechanism and could be formed as an end portion 14 with a plurality of teeth 24 separated by spaces 26. As shown in FIG. 10, the teeth 24A and 24B and spaces 26A and 26B of end portions, such as those indicated at 14A and 14B, of first and second impact absorbing arrays, such as those indicated at 10A and 10B, can be formed with complementary configurations. For example, the teeth 24A of first array 10A could have a shape with a widened distal portion, sharp corners, and arcuate side portions while the teeth 24B of second array 10B could have a bulbous shape with a widened distal portion and rounded corners. The shapes of the spaces 26A and 26B of the end portions 14A and 14B of the arrays 10A and 10B can substantially match the shapes of the teeth 24B and 24A so that the teeth 24B and 24A can securely engage and be retained by the spaces 26A and 26B as FIG. 10 illustrates. The teeth 24A and 24B and the spaces 26A and 26B are sized and shaped to engage in a tight, frictional engagement. Other complementarily shaped teeth 24A and 24B and spaces 26A and 26B are possible within the scope of the invention. The mechanical engagement mechanism could be supplemented by another fastening method, such as adhesive, sonic or heat welding, or any other method or combination thereof.

A further coupling mechanism for the impact absorbing arrays 10 can be appreciated with further reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10. There, the array 10 can be seen to have a plurality of engagement members 18 with elliptical cross sections that project from a first side edge of the array 10, and a plurality of receiving apertures 16 are disposed along a second, opposite side edge of the array 10 and along an end edge opposite the end portion 14. The engagement members 18 and the receiving apertures 16 are correspondingly shaped and sized to engage one another in a tight, frictional engagement. With that, where multiple impact absorbing arrays 10 are to be joined, the positive engagement members 18 can be matingly engaged with the receiving apertures 16 thereby to form a system of laterally and, additionally or alternatively, longitudinally connected arrays 10.

In the depicted embodiment, the positive engagement members 18 project directly from edges of the capsules 12 along the first side edge of the array 10, and the receiving apertures 16 are disposed directly in the edges of the capsules 12 along the second side edge of the array 10. It will be understood, however, that the positive engagement members 18 and, additionally or alternatively, the receiving apertures 16 could project from or be formed in a separate member or portion that is itself fixed to the capsules 12 of the respective first or second edge. Again, this mechanical engagement mechanism could be supplemented by another fastening method, such as adhesive, sonic or heat welding, or any other method or combination thereof.

Within the scope of the invention, longitudinal and lateral series of capsules 12 could be fluidically connected by similarly formed and shaped connectors 20 and connectors 20 of the same number as, for instance, in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the several connectors 20 fluidically connecting adjacent capsules 12 with connections of substantially equal open cross-sectional area. However, it is further contemplated that the connectors 20 could differ in the total open cross-sectional area that fluidically connects adjacent capsules 12 thereby permitting, for instance, different rates of flow of the shear thickening fluid 22 between capsules 12 and different hardening characteristics of the capsules 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the total open cross-sectional area between adjacent capsules 12 could be varied, for instance, by varying the number of connectors 20 between adjacent capsules 12 and, additionally or alternatively, by varying the gauge and effective inner diameter of the connectors 20. As best perceived in FIG. 3, for example, capsules 12 could be connected longitudinally by two longitudinal connectors 20A, and capsules 12 could be connected laterally by just one lateral connector 20B. Moreover, the longitudinal connectors 20A could have greater open cross-sectional areas than the lateral connectors 20B.

With this, the shear thickening fluid 22 may flow more freely in a given direction or between given capsules 12 where a greater open cross-sectional area is provided by the connector or connectors 20A and less freely in another direction or between other capsules 12 where a lesser open-cross sectional area is provided by the connector or connectors 20B. The variance in connective cross-sectional area can thus be directionally dependent, such as longitudinally or laterally. Exploiting the variance on connective cross-sectional area, the impact absorbing array 10 can be provided with directionally different compression and impact absorption characteristics. Other permutations with different numbers of connectors 20 and variations in open cross-sectional area are possible and within the scope of the invention.

Manifestations of the protective armor can be adapted for protection of substantially any portion of the body. By way of example and not limitation, protective materials can be applied to joints to avoid season-ending injuries, to the neck to protect against concussions, and to any area of the body in need of energy absorption from impact. Impact absorbing arrays 10 can thus be embodied in numerous ways, including as a pad, a wrap, an insert, or potentially a combination of designs or in some other application.

Impact absorbing arrays 10 could be retained by or incorporated within one or more layers of fabric 28 as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. There, the array 10 is retained between first and second layers of fabric 28. One or more of the layers of fabric 28 could, for instance, be tear resistant and, additionally or alternatively, potentially polyamide fabric. The layers of fabric 27 could, by way of example, be retained by or coupled to the impact absorbing array 10 by any effective mechanism, including, for example, stitching 30, adhesive, or any other mechanism or combination thereof.

Fabric incorporating or retaining one or more layers of the interconnected capsules 12 with shear thickening fluid 22 as disclosed herein could be impregnated with a super-hydrophobic material, or it could be wrapped in a thin airtight plastic or rubber sleeve or other encapsulating material that will act as protection against water, air, and other contamination. In certain embodiments, such as where the athletic body armor formed by one or more impact absorbing arrays 10 is embodied as a wrap or a modular pad, it could be retained, for example, by hook-and-loop material, by snap connectors, by a strap, or by any other retaining mechanism or combination thereof. With that, a user could retain one or more impact absorbing arrays 10 in a selected manner and location, and systems of arrays 10 could be adjusted in size.

The disclosed technology and material has ready application to substantially any area of the body. By way of example and not limitation, impact absorbing arrays 10 can be incorporated into headgear, such as that indicated at 100 in FIG. 6, including athletic helmets, hats, and caps. A helmet 100 can, for example, include a shell 102 and a facemask 104. As FIG. 6 also illustrates, impact absorbing arrays 10 can be employed to act as a neck guard. In such a case, a fastening mechanism 26 can retain the impact absorbing array or arrays 10 to depend from the lower portion of the shell of the helmet 100 thereby to overlie the neck of a wearer. Other protective gear is contemplated and within the scope of the invention.

Headgear incorporating impact absorbing arrays 10 as disclosed herein could, for example, provide better impact dissipation for baseball and softball pitchers, hockey and football players, and other athletes. Arrays 10 positioned as neck guards could be used, for example, by hockey and football players, such as to connect the helmet 100 to the upper body clothing or shoulder padding (not shown). So disposed, the neck guard arrays 10 could harden during a hit thereby to prevent the snapping neck motion that contributes to concussions and other head and neck injuries. Arrays 10 disposed for act as neck guards can be focused toward, but certainly not limited to, players in high impact sports, such as hockey and football. During non-impact situations, the arrays 10 forming the neck guard can be unobtrusive and flexible to permit unimpeded motion.

Manifestations of the impact absorbing arrays 10 can also be embodied with or within footwear, such as in relation to the insoles 150 of athletic shoes as FIG. 7 depicts. There, an insole 150 has an anterior or forefoot portion 152, an arch portion 152, and a heel portion 156. One or more impact absorbing arrays 10 of interconnected capsules 12 could be disposed to form or be incorporated within the forefoot portion 152 and, additionally or alternatively, any other portion of the insole 150. Where the array or arrays 10 are incorporated into the forefoot portion 152, the heel portion 156 might include an array of venting apertures 158.

Still other applications include grips as is indicated generally at 200 in FIG. 8. Such grips 200 can incorporate single or plural arrays 10 thereby to allow dynamic force dissipation where needed in various sports and other activities. The arrays 10 can be disposed in an alternating manner with panels 202 incorporating capsules of retaining volumes of gas, such as air. Such grips 200 could, by way of example and not limitation, be incorporated into hockey stick handles, baseball bats, hammers, bicycle handlebars, and nearly any other application where impact absorption would be desirable. Arrays 10 in such applications can be structured similar to those depicted as, for example, in FIGS. 1 through 6 and 9. Hollow air pockets 202 formed in the grips 200 can work in tandem with shear-thickening fluids contained in the capsules of the arrays 10.

It will be understood that the body armor impact absorbing arrays 10 could include additional or fewer components, functions, or characteristics than those shown and described herein. Accordingly, although the foregoing components and arrangements of components may indeed be preferable and advantageous in achieving one or more objects of the invention, the body armor impact absorbing arrays 10 shall not be interpreted to require all of the foregoing components, to be limited to the specified components, or to be limited even to the positioning and configuration of individual components except as the claims might expressly specify.

Therefore, with certain details and embodiments of the present invention for impact absorbing arrays and athletic body armor incorporating such arrays disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that numerous changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.

Therefore, the following claims shall define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventors. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. A plurality of the following claims may express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, any such claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An article of protective athletic equipment comprising:

a plurality of compressible capsules wherein each capsule has an inner volume;

a plurality of intra-array connectors operative to interconnect the plurality of compressible capsules to form an array of capsules; and

a volume of shear thickening fluid disposed within the inner volumes of the plurality of compressible capsules.

2. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein each of the intra-array connectors is tubular with a first end open to an inner volume of a capsule of the plurality of capsules, a second end open to an inner volume of an adjacent capsule of the plurality of capsules, and a passage between the first and second ends of the intra-array connector whereby adjacent capsules of the plurality of capsules are fluidically connected with the inner volumes of adjacent capsules in fluidic communication.

3. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 where the plurality of capsules and the plurality of intra-array connectors are formed from high-impact, high pressure plastic chosen from the group consisting of plasticized polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic, and urethane.

4. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting tubes comprise tear resistant flexible plastics or foam.

5. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises a suspension of polyethylene glycol and a solute of solid particles.

6. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises 40-60% solvent and 40-60% solid solute particles.

7. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 6 wherein the solute particles comprise metal oxides and carbonates, the metal oxides and carbonates with both spherical and irregular molecular structures.

8. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 6 wherein the solvent comprises polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of between approximately 200 to approximately 8000.

9. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 further comprising at least one layer of fabric coupled to the array of capsules.

10. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 9 wherein the at least one layer of fabric comprises polyamide fabric.

11. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the array of capsules comprises a neck guard and further comprising a helmet wherein the array of capsules is coupled to the helmet to depend from the helmet.

12. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 further comprising a footwear insole wherein the array of capsules is retained by the footwear insole.

13. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of capsules are formed into at least a portion of a sports equipment grip for an article of sports equipment.

14. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 13 wherein the sports equipment grip has capsules with open inner volumes that retain shear-thickening fluid and alternating capsules that retain volumes of gas.

15. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 further comprising a coupling mechanism for connecting the array of capsules to a second array of capsules.

16. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 15 wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of teeth separated by spaces whereby arrays of capsules can be coupled by engaging the plurality of teeth and spaces of adjacent arrays.

17. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 15 wherein the array of capsules has a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein a plurality of engagement members project from the first side edge, and wherein a plurality of receiving apertures are disposed along the second side edge whereby the plurality of engagement members of a first array of capsules can be matingly received into the plurality of receiving apertures of a second array of capsules.

18. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 1 wherein the array of capsules has a longitudinal series of capsules and a lateral series of capsules and wherein each of the intra-array connectors is tubular with a first end open to an inner volume of a capsule of the plurality of capsules, a second end open to an inner volume of an adjacent capsule of the plurality of capsules, and a passage between the first and second ends of the intra-array connector whereby adjacent capsules of the plurality of capsules are fluidically connected with the inner volumes of adjacent capsules in fluidic communication and wherein each intra-array connector has an effective open cross-sectional area.

19. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 18 wherein at least some of the intra-array connectors have different effective open cross-sectional areas.

20. The article of protective athletic equipment of claim 18 wherein at least some of the capsules within the array of capsules are connected by different numbers of intra-array connectors.