Patent US8863319B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US8863319B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 5.7 years remaining
Biomechanics aware protective gear
Assignee: Brainguard Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2012-07-20
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Granted: 2014-10-21
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Expires: 2032-07-20
Abstract
Abstract Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact threes, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-theological elements, etc. The protective gear may be firmed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert T. Knight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:39
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/06; A42B3/062; A42B3/063; A42B3/064; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/015; A42B3/08; A42B3/10; A42B3/12; A42B3/121; A42B3/125; A42B3/14; A42B3/18; A42B3/20; A42B3/22; A42C; A42C2/00; A42C2/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a gel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a gel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise an electro-rheological element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise an electro-rheological element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise an magneto-rheological element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise an magneto-rheological element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a plurality of elastomeric trusses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer and the inner energy and impact transformer layer comprise a plurality of elastomeric trusses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer includes means to allow the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer includes means to allow the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
A helmet, comprising: an outer shell layer; a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer includes means to allow the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer includes means to allow the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The helmet of claim 6 , wherein mechanical forces include impact forces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The helmet of claim 6 , wherein mechanical forces include rotational and shear forces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The helmet of claim 6 , wherein a lining layer is connected to the inner shell layer, wherein the lining layer is configured to conform to a human head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The helmet of claim 6 , wherein the lining layer comprises foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
Protective gear, comprising: a middle shell layer connected to an outer shell layer through an outer energy transformer layer, the outer energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy transformer layer includes means to allow the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy transformer layer, the inner energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy transformer layer, wherein the inner energy transformer layer includes means to allow the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
Protective gear, comprising: a middle shell layer connected to an outer shell layer through an outer energy transformer layer, the outer energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy transformer layer includes means to allow the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy transformer layer, the inner energy transformer layer operable to absorb energy from forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy transformer layer, wherein the inner energy transformer layer includes means to allow the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer shell layer is constructed using higher strength material than the middle shell layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer energy transformer layer comprises a gel layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer energy transformer layer comprises a fluid layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer energy transformer layer comprises an electro-rheological element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the outer energy transformer layer comprises a magneto-rheological element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein mechanical forces include impact forces.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein mechanical forces include rotational and shear forces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective gear of claim 11 , wherein a lining layer is connected to the inner shell layer, wherein the lining layer is configured to conform to a human head.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The protective gear of claim 19 , wherein the lining layer comprises foam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2017-10-20 | 2018-04-21 | 2018-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2021-10-20 | 2022-04-21 | 2022-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2025-10-20 | 2026-04-21 | 2026-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |