Having Movable Mechanical Energy Absorbing Means (e.g., Spring, Etc.) Patents (Class 2/6.8)
  • Patent number: 11259588
    Abstract: Compressible conical springs with unsecured tabs are positioned between an outer helmet and an inner rigid liner to absorb and distribute impact forces to minimize concussion risks and other head injuries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: William O. Young, William O Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10834988
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 10561190
    Abstract: A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces has first and second walls spaced apart from one another to define a stationary enclosed cavity therebetween; a movable member inside the enclosed cavity; an actuator; a proximity sensor; computer memory; a processor in data communication with the actuator, the proximity sensor, and the computer memory; programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the proximity sensor; and programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Newtonoid Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Fielding B. Staton
  • Patent number: 10271602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection arrangement (6) adapted to connect a first (2) and a second part (3) slidably arranged in relation to each other. The connection arrangement (6) is characterized in that said connection arrangement (6) is adapted to allow the sliding movement between the first (2) and the second part (3) in all directions. The arrangement (6) comprises a connection member (7) directly or indirectly connected to at least one of the first part and the second part (2, 3) and a device creating a spring force and/or a damping force (8) during sliding movement between the first and second part (2, 3) adapted to be connected with or to cooperate with said connection member (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventors: Peter Halldin, Daniel Lanner, Kim Lindblom, Johan Thiel
  • Patent number: 9980531
    Abstract: A protective helmet having multiple protective zones, including an inner shell having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, a padded inner lining attached to the first inner surface, an outer shell having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the outer shell functionally attached to the inner shell, an elastomeric zone between the first outer surface and the second inner surface, a plurality of energy dissipation devices arranged between the inner and outer shells, and a plurality of sinusoidal springs positioned in the elastomeric zone. Each of the plurality of sinusoidal springs includes a first end, and a second end connected to one of the plurality of energy dissipation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventor: Loubert S. Suddaby
  • Patent number: 8990962
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Sorin Siegler, Mary Milone, Yoganand Ghati
  • Patent number: 8887312
    Abstract: Helmets for military and other applications that require resistance to high energy fragments and rifle bullets are disclosed. The helmets are fabricated with a combination of ceramic, either as a monolith or as a plurality of discreet pieces, and an inner backing material having a plurality of fibrous layers such as polyolefin and/or aramid fiber layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar, Lori Wagner, Bradley Grunden
  • Patent number: 8834394
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device for reducing brain and cervical spine injury includes a headpiece sufficiently designed to secure to a user's head, the headpiece having a first attachment member; a support harness sufficiently designed to secure to the user's torso, the support harness having a second attachment member; and a telescoping member having a main tube and a series of progressively smaller diameter tubes nested within each other, wherein the smaller diameter tubes are adapted to extend and compress in a linear plane by the intake and outflow of fluid, wherein the telescoping member has a first engaging member for engaging the first attachment member, and wherein the telescoping member has a second engaging member for engaging the second attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jamshid Ghajar
  • Patent number: 8683612
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Sorin Siegler, Mary Milone, Yoganand Ghati
  • Patent number: 8528113
    Abstract: A cervical spine protection apparatus one or more composite bands attached to provide restraint of one or more motions of the cervical spine of a wearer. The apparatus is designed to protect a wearer from incurring cervical spinal injuries, and/or to reduce the severity of cervical spine injuries without substantially compromising the normal functional range of motion of the wearer's cervical spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Drexal University
    Inventors: Sorin Siegler, Mary Milone, Yoganand Ghati
  • Patent number: 8296863
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter Alec Cripton, Timothy Scott Nelson
  • Patent number: 8156569
    Abstract: A helmet is wearable on a user's head for mitigating neck injury. The helmet incorporates an outer member which defines a concavity; an inner member, at least a portion of which is located within the concavity; and a path-motion guide mechanism which couples the inner member to the outer member. The path-motion guide mechanism permits guided relative movement between the inner member and the outer member in response to an impact force. The guided relative movement is constrained to one or more predetermined paths and comprises, for each of the one or more predetermined paths, relative translation and/or rotation between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter Alec Cripton, Timothy Scott Nelson
  • Patent number: 8127373
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing the concussive effects of impact. The system includes a helmet for protecting the head of a user. The helmet has a surface, an array of strain gauges attached on the surface for detecting an impact, an array of cells attached within the helmet and a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the cells. Each cell is selectively inflatable to redirect impact forces to the shell of the helmet, and selectively deflatable to cushion a users head during impact. The process of inflation and deflation is enabled and optimized through the use of a microprocessor connected in operative communication with the array of strain gauges and with the valves. Accordingly, when the system detects impact, the microprocessor selectively signals at least some of the valves to rapidly change pressure in the cells near the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Troy Allen Fodemski
  • Patent number: 7845353
    Abstract: Mask apparatus and methods for providing positive airway pressure therapies are disclosed. The mask apparatus includes a mask secured to the mount with the mask cantilevered from the mount. A circumferential band, a first lateral stabilizing band and a second lateral stabilizing band secure the mount to the head of a user. The methods include securing a mask apparatus to the head of a user and administering a positive airway pressure therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: AEIOMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven S. Bordewick, Bruce Bowman, David Markovich, Laurel D. Brandt, Mark J. Weimholt, Amy Raatikka
  • Patent number: 7461408
    Abstract: An improved head ornamentation such as a mask, cap, hat or headdress which is designed to be supported by a wearer's head and is moveable relatively thereto by the wearer's body movements or a mechanical device controlled by the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Gerald L. Barkdoll
  • Patent number: 6619751
    Abstract: A head restraint for a passenger of a vehicle including a seat having a seat back, a helmet pivotally secured to the seat back, and an inertia harness mechanism connected to the helmet. The helmet has an interior suitable for receiving a human head therein. In particular, the helmet has a plurality of bar members extending in transverse relationship to each other and have a curvature generally conforming to a curvature of a portion of the human head. The inertia harness mechanism is suitable for restricting relative movement of the helmet upon application of forces beyond a desired level to the vehicle. Pad members are secured to the ends of the each of the bar members so as to generally face the human head received within the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Mrugesh K. Shah