CONFORMABLE ENERGY ABSORBER

摘要

An energy absorber 10 that has a spine 12 which has a relaxed configuration and a deployment configuration. In the deployment configuration, the spine 12 lies proximate to a substrate 14 to protect the substrate 14 from an impacting object 16. Preferably, the spine 12 is bendable to conform to the substrate 14. The spine includes a number (N) of energy absorbing modules 18, 20, 22, 24, . . . , where 1<=N<=1000. At least some of the modules have a number (L) of mutually supporting energy absorbing vertebral members 30, where 1<=L<=100. Each vertebral member 30 includes a number (U) of coalesced energy absorbing units 32,34, were 2<=U<=10. At least some of the energy absorbing units 32, 34 have a base 36 that preferably but not necessarily is oriented toward the impacting object 16.

主权项

1. An energy absorber having
a spine having a relaxed configuration and a deployment configuration, so that in the deployment configuration, the spine lies proximate to a substrate to protect the substrate from an impacting object, the spine being bendable to conform to the substrate, the relaxed configuration of the spine having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and an orthogonal axis, the spine including a number (N) of energy absorbing modules, where 1<=N<=1000, at least some of the modules having
a number (L) of mutually supporting energy absorbing vertebral members, where 1<=L<=100;each vertebral member including a number (U) of coalesced energy absorbing units, were 2<=U<=10, at least some of the energy absorbing units including
a base that is oriented toward the impacting object,an aperture defined in the base,a curvilinear wall extending from the base in a direction away from the impacting object, anda bottom that extends across the curvilinear wall at a bottom end thereof so that the bottom can be positioned toward the substrate to be protected;a shoulder that supports adjacent coalesced energy absorbing units in a vertebral member; andone or more living hinges that link adjacent energy absorbing vertebral members, the living hinges being flexible about one or more of the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis and the orthogonal axis of the spine so that in the deployed configuration, the spine can conform to the substrate, thereby protecting the substrate and absorbing forces associated with impact.