Impact Absorbing Array and Athletic Body Armor Incorporating such an Array

摘要

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.

主权项

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.