The present disclosure relates generally to dampening and/or dispersing of energy, and more particularly to energy dampening and/or dispersing systems such as for use in ballistic garments, footwear, vehicles, sporting goods and the like.
Body armor is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Typically, there are two main types of body armor, soft and hard. Soft armor is typically non-plated body armor for moderate to substantial protection and includes such things as KEVLAR or other pliable ballistic fabrics. Hard armor may include hard-plate reinforced body armor for maximum protection, such as that used by combat soldiers. Rigid ballistic armor plates, also known as rifle plates, are cloth covered plates of ballistic material, such as hardened steel, ceramic composites, or thermally formed and bonded layered ballistic fabric. Armor plates may be used as inserts in specialized garments called plate carriers or plate carrier systems that suspend and position the plate on the wearer's body at a desired location.
High velocity projectiles, such as bullets, and lower velocity projectiles, such as fragments and associated shrapnel, have a tangible transfer of pressure/force when impacting an object, such as a ballistic armor plate. A ballistic pressure wave (and associated wave force) is generated at impact and transmitted through the ballistic armor plate and into the body of the wearer. Typical armor systems focus on preventing penetration of the projectile, but do not address the effects of the resultant pressure wave.
For example, when the projectile impacts the front of the armor plate, the back of the plate sits (albeit perhaps separated by a few layers of clothing) against the wearer's body. Even though the armor plate stops the projectile, which takes time and distance, the armor plate is deformed backward toward the body. How much it is deformed depends on the protective level of the armor plate and the energy of the projectile. The heavier the projectile is and the faster it is going, the more energy (and force) is delivered to the plate. The distance of deformation is commonly referred to as “back face deformation” (BFD). This BFD can lead to “behind armor blunt trauma” (BABT) which can, by itself, be lethal.
BABT is a non-penetrating injury caused by the rapid deformation of an armor plate by a projectile. The energy delivered to the armor plate by the projectile is kinetic energy and causes blunt force trauma to the tissue behind the projectile's impact on the plate. That blunt force trauma caused by the energy that is delivered through the plate material and into the body behind it can cause injuries such as bruises, broken bones, lacerations, abrasions and, in extreme circumstances, can cause death. Thus, while it is imperative to prevent penetration by a projectile, it is no less important to mitigate the energy/force imparted to the body through projectile impacting the armor plate.
Blunt force trauma resulting from impacts to the body are also found outside of the armed combat arena. For instance, a large number of motor vehicle accidents involve blunt force trauma to the driver and/or passenger(s). Athletes are also prone to blunt force injuries, particularly in contact sports such as football, rugby and hockey where participants violently collide with one another during the course of play. Protective gear has been developed, but again, this gear is primarily directed to providing protection from the initial impact and does not address or alleviate the associated pressure/force transmitted to the body as a result of that impact.
Current measures attempting to alleviate the effects of blunt force trauma focus on the use of polymer foam layers positioned between the outer layer of worn equipment and the wearer's body. The foam merely provides a greater distance between to back face of the armor plate and the body. Thus, the back face deformation may not directly impact the body to cause injury. However, the pressure/force transfer is not sufficiently mitigated by these foams. The problem is that these foam layers use outgassing when compressed to dissipate energy. This outgassing is inefficient and recharge time (the time it takes to return the foam to its original resting state) may be impermissibly long for some applications. Also, for high impact energies, a thicker foam layer on the order of 10-12 inches may be needed to satisfactorily dampen and disperse the transferred energy. This thickness may be prohibitive for implementation in real-world devices. Moreover, outgassing foams may be suitable for some applications, but are wholly unsuitable for localized point impacts, such as when struck by a fired projectile. Rather, the area of foam engaged by the projectile is too small for the resultant outgassing to slow, dissipate or otherwise mediate the energy as the energy passes through the foam and into the underlying body tissue.
Dilatant, shear-thickening and non-Newtonian materials have also been developed to address impact pressures/forces. However, these materials are typically single-use materials which need to be replaced after an impact event. While this may be acceptable for certain applications, such materials are unsuitable for situations involving multiple or repeated impacts.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for a thinner, lighter and stronger energy dampening and/or dispersing system that can be used across a wide range of equipment, such as and without limitation to ballistic armor applications, outdoor equipment, footwear, athletic apparel, athletic protective gear and the like. There is also a further need for an energy dampening and/or dispersing system that can be used in load bearing systems with fast (nearly instantaneous) system reset or return-to-form capability for use in applications such as, but not limited to, ruck/backpack straps, carrier straps, and other load bearing support structures. The present disclosure satisfies these, as well as other, needs.
Energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may reduce dangerous transferred energy and help prevent follow on injuries to the wearer during a life-threatening event. The unique layering of selected materials in specific orientation combine to dampen and/or disperse energy and dissipate impact forces across the timeline of the given impact event. Armor packages coupled with energy dampening and/or dispersing systems (or abbreviated to simply “energy dampening systems” for clarity and simplicity) of the present disclosure greatly increase protection against transmitted energies of impact particularly in local regions sensitive to hydrostatic, stress wave and shear impact forces.
The technique of the present disclosure may include use in a variety of products for use as an energy dampening system. Some other applications include vehicles, sporting goods such as sporting protective equipment, healthcare products, and other products.
Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision, in one embodiment of an energy dampening system having, for example, a gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, an aerated gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the top surface of the aerated gel member being secured to the bottom surface of the gel member.
In another embodiment, an energy dampening system includes, for example, a rigid member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a molecular gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the molecular gel member secured to the bottom surface rigid member, an aerated gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the aerated gel member secured to the bottom surface of the molecular gel member, and a cover extending over the top surface of the rigid top member and the bottom surface of the aerated gel member.
In another embodiment, a method for dispersing kinetic energy includes, for example, providing the energy dampening system as described above, receiving a force applied to the energy dampening system, and distributing the force through the energy dampening system.
In another embodiment, a method for dispersing kinetic energy includes, for example, providing a pair of the energy dampening systems as described above in footwear and between the footwear and the feet of the wearer of the footwear, and distributing forces from the feet of the wearer through the energy dampening system.
In another embodiment, a method for forming an energy dampening system includes, for example, providing a gel member, providing an aerated gel member, providing an adhesive layer between the gel member and the aerated gel member, applying heat and a compressive force to an outer surface of the gel member and the aerated gel member, trimming a peripheral edge of the compacted members, and sealing the trimmed peripheral edge of the compacted members.
The subject matter which is regarded as the disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The disclosure, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:
By way of example and without limitation thereto, gel member 120 may be constructed of polyurethane gel, and more particularly may be constructed of polyurethane gel incorporating dry viscoelastic materials therein. One non-limiting example of a suitable gel member 120 material may be SHOCKtec Gel material available from Shocktec, Inc., Mooresville, N.C. Similarly, aerated gel member 130 may be constructed using an air-frothed polyurethane gel, and more particularly may be constructed using an air-frothed polyurethane gel which incorporates dry viscoelastic materials therein so as to resemble a foam material but retain the performance characteristics of a gel, as described in greater detail below. One non-limiting example of a suitable aerated gel member 130 material may be SHOCKtec Air2Gel material available from Shocktec, Inc., Mooresville, N.C.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, in some embodiments, the combination of gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be operable to better disperse forces acting initially on gel member 120 or initially on the aerated gel member 130 depending upon which member is facing the impact source.
In other embodiments, the combination of gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be operable to better disperse forces acting initially on gel member 120 and transferring forces through aerated gel member 130 to the outer surface or bottom surface 132 of aerated gel member 130. By way of example and with reference to
As will be described in greater detail below with regard to
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, because gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 are formed as gels and not foams, energy dispersion is managed through energy wave propagation through each of the member layers and not through outgassing of air as in traditional foam. Further, the gel materials of gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 experience less compression than foam counterparts and also exhibit much faster recharge times than foam. In one aspect, recharge times for gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be on the order of milliseconds or less while comparable foam materials may have a recharge time approaching tens of seconds. As a result, energy dampening system 100 is especially suitable for use in situations involving frequent, i.e., near instantaneous, impacts, such as but not limited to repeated projectile impacts resulting from repeated discharging a firearm.
In other embodiments, the combination of gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be operable to better disperse forces acting on aerated gel member 130 and transferring forces through gel member 120 to the outer surface or top surface 132 of gel member 120. By way of example and with reference to
In some embodiments, either or both of gel member 120 and/or aerated gel member 130 may be configured to transfer forces primarily in one or more directions. For example, the gel member may be configured to more readily transfer forces in one direction compared to other directions. For example, the gel member 120 and/or aerated gel member 130 may have baffles or a varying gel densities or materials. In some embodiments, aerated gel member 130 may be configured to transfer forces primarily in one or more directions. Gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be oriented relative to each other to transfer forces in the same direction through the energy dispersal system 100. In other embodiments, such gel member and aerated gel member may be oriented at the same angle, at a perpendicular angle, or at other angles relative to each other to transfer forces in different direction across and/or through the energy dispersal system 100. Thus, forces may be transferred differently across one or both of the gel member and the aerated gel member. The forces may be transferred differently through one or both of the gel member and aerated gel member.
As described below, during manufacture, the gel member may be disposed in tension and the aerated gel member may be disposed in tension along the mating surface of the gel member and the aerated gel member. In other embodiments, the aerated gel member may be disposed in tension and the gel member may be disposed in tension along the mating surface of the gel member and the aerated gel member.
Energy dampening system 100 may have a planar configuration, a contoured or curved configuration, e.g., concave or convex configuration, along the outer surfaces, or other suitable configurations such as to match or conform to portions of a person such a person's chest or foot, or to match and conform to other components or parts of a machine or other device.
With reference to
Turning now to
As described in greater detail below, in some embodiments, the combination of support structure 250, gel member 120, and aerated gel member 130 may be operable to better disperse forces initially acting on support structure 250 and transferring forces through support structure 250, through gel member 120, and through aerated gel member 130 to the outer surface or bottom surface 132 of aerated gel member 130 than foam-based counterparts.
In some embodiments, support structure 250, gel member 120, and/or aerated gel member 130 may also be configured to transfer forces primarily in one or more directions such as along a plane or through the thickness. For example, support structure 250 may be a composite material having fibers disposed in a single direction, or in a plurality of directions. Gel member 120 may also or alternatively be configured to more readily transfer forces in one direction compared to other directions. In some embodiments, aerated gel member 130 may also or alternatively be configured to transfer forces primarily in one or more directions. For example, aerated gel member may be configured to more readily transfer forces in one direction compared to other directions.
Support structure 250, gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may also be oriented relative to each other to transfer forces in the same direction through the energy dispersal system 200. In other embodiments, such support structure 250, gel member 120 and aerated gel member 130 may be oriented at the same or different angles relative to each other to transfer forces in different directions across and/or through the energy dispersal system 200. Thus, forces may be transferred differently across one or all of the support structure 250, gel member 120 and/or aerated gel member 130.
As described below, during manufacture, the support structure 250, gel member 120 and/or aerated gel member 130 may be disposed in tension or compression compared to the other members which may be in compression or tension along corresponding mating surfaces. In other embodiments, gel member 120 may be disposed in tension or compression relative to support structure 250, and aerated gel member 130 may be disposed in tension or compression along the mating surface of gel member 120 and the aerated gel member 130.
Energy dampening system 200 may have a planar configuration, a contoured or curved configuration, e.g., concave or convex configuration, along the outer surfaces, or other suitable configurations such as to match or conform to portions of a person 12 such a person's chest or foot 18, or to match and conform to other components or parts of a machine or other device.
Support structure 250, gel member 120, and aerated gel member 130 may have aligned peripheral edges 250′, 120′, 130′, respectively, and may further include a seal 290 secured to the peripheral edges. Energy dampening system 200 may have a thickness T4, such as but not limited to about 0.5 inch. Support structure 250 may have a thickness T5, such as but not limited to about 0.062 inch, gel member 120 may have a thickness T2, such as but not limited to about 0.125 inch while aerated gel member 130 may have a thickness T3, such as but not limited to about 0.18 inch. Cover 270 may have a thickness of about 0.1 inch. Each of adhesive layers 140 and 260 may impart a nominal thickness, such as but not limited to less than about 100 microns (0.0039 inches) each.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, support structure 250 may be formed from any suitable material, such as and without limitation thereto, a rigid material comprising fiber reinforced plastic material such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic material, carbon fiber, and the like, or a semi-rigid material, such as canvas, ballistic fibers, reinforce polymer materials. Cover 270 may be any suitable material, such as but not limited to ripstop nylon fabric, natural or synthetic rubber, canvas, and the like.
For example, as shown in
As can be seen in
By way of example and without limitation thereto, one exemplary embodiment of method 1100 may include, at step 1110, providing a rigid or semi-rigid support structure, such as an ABS blank having a nominal thickness of approximately 0.062 inches with haircell texture on one side (surface). Optionally, each ABS blank may then be heated in an oven set between about 760 and 770 degrees Fahrenheit with an oven dwell time of about 15 seconds to allow non-planar molding of the ABS blank.
Step 1110 may further include providing a gel member having a nominal thickness of approximately 0.125 inches. The gel member may include a removable liner covering an adhesive. Each gel member may be die cut to shape, as desired. Step 1110 may further include providing an aerated gel member having a nominal thickness of about 0.125 inches. An adhesive layer may be laminated onto the carrier side of the aerated gel member. The aerated gel member plus adhesive may then be die cut to shape, as desired.
At step 1120, the ABS blank is positioned haircell-side up and the removable liner on the gel member is removed whereby the gel member is placed atop the ABS blank haircell surface. The adhesive layer and aerated gel is then placed atop the gel member so as to form a laminate of ABS blank/adhesive/gel member/adhesive/aerated gel member. Bonding pressure of the laminate is applied under a 20 ton topical press for a length of about 1.5 seconds.
Step 1150 may further include laminating a ripstop fabric with an adhesive. In one embodiment, the ripstop fabric has a gloss side and a textured side. Critically, the adhesive must be laminated on the gloss side of the ripstop fabric to avoid lamination failure. The laminated blank formed in step 120 is then laminated between layers of ripstop fabric via the ripstop adhesive layer.
It will be appreciated from the present disclosure that the energy dampening systems may be applicable as trauma pads used by law enforcement and military personnel underneath their body armor/plate carrier system. The energy dampening pads or trauma pads may be operable conjunctively or in incorporation with ballistic armor and protective garments of many types. The present disclose may aid in the protection of law enforcement and military personnel due to the weight reduction and the enhancement of projectile efficiency that have resulted in higher body armor deformation and therefore, an increasing risk of blunt trauma effects.
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. The energy dampening systems and/or components thereof as disclosed in the specification, including the accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative component(s) or feature(s), such as those disclosed in another embodiment, which serve the same, equivalent or similar purpose as known by those skilled in the art to achieve the same, equivalent or similar results by such alternative component(s) or feature(s) to provide a similar function for the intended purpose. In addition, the devices and apparatus may include more or fewer components or features than the embodiments as described and illustrated herein. Accordingly, this detailed description of the currently-preferred embodiments is to be taken as illustrative, as opposed to limiting the invention.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has”, and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It will be understood that the architectural and operational embodiments described herein are exemplary of a plurality of possible arrangements to provide the same general features, characteristics, and general apparatus operation. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/222,235, filed Jul. 15, 2021, entitled ENERGY DAMPENING SYSTEMS, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63222235 | Jul 2021 | US |