US5599290A — Bone fracture prevention garment and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, there being a soft tissue region proximate to the vulnerable region and lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure shaped, in accordance with anatomical features of the vulnerable region and the soft tissue region, so as to shunt a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject in a manner permitting the shunting of impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, there being a soft tissue region proximate to the vulnerable region and lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure shaped, in accordance with anatomical features of the vulnerable region and the soft tissue region, so as to shunt a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject in a manner permitting the shunting of impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 76 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one compliant enclosure is arranged to overlie the soft tissue region but not the vulnerable region, for receiving the impact energy from the vulnerable portion and retransmitting a substantial portion of the impact energy to the soft tissue region and the mounting means include means for mounting the at least one compliant enclosure so as to overlie the soft tissue region but not the vulnerable region.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

A garment according to claim 2, wherein the at least one compliant enclosure is arranged in a horseshoe shape including two arms and defining an exposed interior area between the two arms, the interior area coinciding generally with the vulnerable region when the garment is mounted on the subject.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A garment according to claim 2, wherein the at least one compliant enclosure has an annular shape, with the interior area coinciding generally with the vulnerable region when the garment is mounted on the subject.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening material is relatively stiff during the time of impact but relatively fluid at other times.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening material has a critical shear rate between 5 and 30 s -1 .

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

A garment according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compliant enclosure comprises at least one envelope of an elastomeric material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

A garment according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compliant enclosure comprises a plurality of adjacent sub-envelopes, each sub-envelope containing a portion of the shear-thickening material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening material comprises an aqueous suspension of plant starch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

A garment according to claim 9, wherein the aqueous suspension has a solid volume fraction between 20 and 70 percent.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening material comprises a suspension of spheres in water.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A garment according to claim 11, wherein the spheres are made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A garment according to claim 11, wherein the spheres have a size lying between 0.1 and 500 micrometers in diameter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening material is a suspension of spheres that includes a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride, in a plasticizer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

A garment according to claim 14, wherein the plasticizer is an alkyl phthalate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes a pair of short pants in which is disposed the at least one compliant enclosure.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes a plurality of belts coupled to the at least one compliant enclosure.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A garment according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes adhesive means for adhering the at least one compliant enclosure to the body of the subject.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 59 words

A kit for fabrication of an energy shunting device, the kit comprising: a plurality of envelopes, each envelope containing shear-thickening material and having a face with adhesive disposed thereon, the envelopes disposed contiguously with respect to one another in a linear array permitting the envelopes to be stored in a roll and formed from a common set of components.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 59 words

A kit for fabrication of an energy shunting device, the kit comprising: a plurality of envelopes, each envelope containing shear-thickening material and having a face with adhesive disposed thereon, the envelopes disposed contiguously with respect to one another in a linear array permitting the envelopes to be stored in a roll and formed from a common set of components.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 172 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a greater trochanter disposed in a hip of the human or animal subject, said greater trochanter being at the end of a femur and wherein the hip has a soft tissue region proximate to the greater trochanter and the femur and lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: an energy shunting pad in the shape of a horseshoe including two arms and defining an exposed interior area between the two arms, the interior area coinciding generally with the greater trochanter and the femur when the garment is mounted on the subject; and mounting means for removably mounting the energy shunting pad on the subject with the two arms proximate to opposing sides of the femur so that a substantial portion of impact energy directed at the hip of the subject is shunted from the greater trochanter to the soft tissue region where such energy may be safely dissipated.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 172 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a greater trochanter disposed in a hip of the human or animal subject, said greater trochanter being at the end of a femur and wherein the hip has a soft tissue region proximate to the greater trochanter and the femur and lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: an energy shunting pad in the shape of a horseshoe including two arms and defining an exposed interior area between the two arms, the interior area coinciding generally with the greater trochanter and the femur when the garment is mounted on the subject; and mounting means for removably mounting the energy shunting pad on the subject with the two arms proximate to opposing sides of the femur so that a substantial portion of impact energy directed at the hip of the subject is shunted from the greater trochanter to the soft tissue region where such energy may be safely dissipated.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

A garment according to claim 20 wherein the energy shunting pad comprises a shear-thickening material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

A garment according to claim 21 wherein the shear-thickening material has a critical shear rate between 5 and 30 s -1 .

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

A garment according to claim 21 further comprising an envelope of an elastomeric material in which is disposed the shear-thickening material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

A garment according to claim 21 further comprising a plurality of adjacent sub-envelopes, each sub-envelope containing a portion of the shear-thickening material.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

A garment according to claim 20 wherein the mounting means includes a pair of short pants in which is disposed the energy shunting pad.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

A garment according to claim 20 where the mounting means includes a plurality of belts coupled to the energy shunting pad.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 99 words

A protective pad comprising: shear-thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure configured with two arms, defining an exposed area between the arms at which the distance between the two arms is between 30 mm, and 70 mm., about a vulnerable region to be protected such that the at least one compliant enclosure overlies two opposing regions both adjacent to the vulnerable region but not the vulnerable region itself, said at least one compliant enclosure serving to receive impact energy directed toward the vulnerable region and retransmitting a substantial portion of the impact energy to the adjacent region.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 99 words

A protective pad comprising: shear-thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure configured with two arms, defining an exposed area between the arms at which the distance between the two arms is between 30 mm, and 70 mm., about a vulnerable region to be protected such that the at least one compliant enclosure overlies two opposing regions both adjacent to the vulnerable region but not the vulnerable region itself, said at least one compliant enclosure serving to receive impact energy directed toward the vulnerable region and retransmitting a substantial portion of the impact energy to the adjacent region.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The protective pad of claim 27 wherein the at least one compliant enclosure is arranged in a horseshoe shape including the two arms.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The protective pad of claim 27 wherein the at least one compliant enclosure has an annular shape, with the interior area coinciding generally with the vulnerable region to be protected by the pad.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 22 words

The protective pad of claim 27 wherein the shear-thickening material has a critical shear rate between 5 and 30 s -1 .

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

The protective pad of claim 27 further comprising adhesive means for adhering the at least one compliant enclosure to the body of a subject.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 105 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated; and adhesive means for removably adhering the at least one compliant enclosure to the body of the subject.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 105 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated; and adhesive means for removably adhering the at least one compliant enclosure to the body of the subject.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 113 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated, the shear thickening material comprising a suspension of spheres in water; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 113 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated, the shear thickening material comprising a suspension of spheres in water; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

A garment according to claim 33, wherein the spheres are made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

A garment according to claim 33, wherein the spheres have a size lying between 0.1 and 500 micrometers in diameter.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 127 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated, the shear-thickening material comprising a suspension of particles that includes a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride, in a plasticizer; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 127 words

A garment, for reducing the risk of bone fracture of a human or animal subject due to impact forces on a vulnerable region having a bone part near the skin surface, the vulnerable region being proximate to a soft tissue region lacking a bone part near the skin surface, the garment comprising: shear thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure for shunting a substantial portion of the impact energy from the vulnerable region to the soft tissue region, where such energy may be safely dissipated, the shear-thickening material comprising a suspension of particles that includes a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride, in a plasticizer; and mounting means for removably mounting the at least one compliant enclosure on the subject.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 13 words

A garment according to claim 36, wherein the plasticizer is an alkyl phthalate.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 104 words

A protective pad comprising: shear-thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure configured in an annular shape for placement around a vulnerable region to be protected such that the at least one compliant enclosure overlies a region adjacent to the vulnerable region but not the vulnerable region itself, the annular shape of the at least one compliant enclosure having an interior area coinciding generally with the vulnerable region to be protected by the pad, the at least one compliant enclosure serving to receive impact energy directed toward the vulnerable region and retransmitting a substantial portion of the impact energy to the adjacent region.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 104 words

A protective pad comprising: shear-thickening material disposed in at least one compliant enclosure configured in an annular shape for placement around a vulnerable region to be protected such that the at least one compliant enclosure overlies a region adjacent to the vulnerable region but not the vulnerable region itself, the annular shape of the at least one compliant enclosure having an interior area coinciding generally with the vulnerable region to be protected by the pad, the at least one compliant enclosure serving to receive impact energy directed toward the vulnerable region and retransmitting a substantial portion of the impact energy to the adjacent region.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 22 words

The protective pad of claim 38 wherein the shear-thickening material has a critical shear rate between 5 and 30 s -1 .

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 24 words

The protective pad of claim 38 further comprising adhesive means for adhering the at least one compliant enclosure to the body of a subject.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-02-04	2000-08-05	2001-02-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-02-04	2004-08-05	2005-02-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-02-04	2008-08-05	2009-02-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bone fracture prevention garment and method

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag