The present invention consists of providing a drive shaft damper having a condensed radial size of most of the shaft damper insert along its length for the purposes of lowering the cost of freight and enabling easy installation of the product into the drive shaft. Parts can be inserted into a drive shaft without any radial interference, which then can expand after installation. End portions may have radial interference without compression or with minimal compression to seal the damper.

A cover covering an object includes an inner surface of the cover facing the object and spaced from the object, and an outer surface of the cover opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover. The local energy absorber includes an energy absorbing core layer operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover and a frangible face sheet layer attached to the energy absorbing core layer facing the object. The frangible face sheet layer is to initiate fracture of the frangible face sheet layer during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.

An exercise system for use with tools having weighted masses includes a housing having an upper end and a lower end, and a strike post having an upper end that is located above the upper end of said housing and a lower end that is located between the upper and lower ends of the housing. The strike post is configured to move along a vertical axis that extends between the upper and lower ends of the housing. A shock absorbing pad overlies the upper end of the strike post. A spring assembly is disposed between the lower end of the strike post and the lower end of the housing. During a physical exercise session, the shock absorbing pad is hit with a toll having a weighted mass to apply an impact force, which is transferred through the strike post to the spring assembly for compressing the spring assembly.

A damping pad is formed with a hollow portion, from an upper surface to a lower surface of the damping pad. The damping pad has at least two cross sections with different hollow proportions. The cross sections having different hollow proportions enable the damping pad to absorb vibrations of different frequencies and waveforms and of various combinations of different frequencies and waveforms, such that the damping pad achieves good absorption and damping of vibrations of various frequencies and waveforms and complex combinations thereof.

Provided herein is a vibration reducing sheet comprising a damping patch, a stiffening patch, and a substrate. The substrate is connected to the damping patch and the stiffening patch, and in some embodiments, the damping patch and the stiffening patch do not contact one another. The sheet can be connected to a base structure that is prone to vibrations. Because the damping patch and the stiffening patch can thus be applied to different locations of the base structure, the two patch types can independently be positioned to provide enhanced vibration reduction and mitigation.

Support structure adapted to form a collision object for use when testing a subject vehicle to simulate a real traffic environment, the support structure comprising a plurality of panels having a bending stiffness according to ISO 5628:2012 of 20 Nm to 60 Nm, such as 30 Nm to 50 Nm, such as 35 Nm to 45 Nm. A support structure adapted to form a collision object for use when testing a subject vehicle to simulate a real traffic environment, the support structure comprising a plurality of panels made from cardboard, is also provided. A collision object for use when testing a subject vehicle to simulate a real traffic environment is also provided.

An energy absorbing protective material includes an encapsulating layer defining two or more pouches, which define an internal closed cavity. A frangible glass foam material may be located within the cavity and configured to absorb an impact force upon the pouch. A non-frangible material may also be located within the cavity adjacent at least a portion of the frangible foam glass material. The encapsulating layer may include vinyl, rubber and/or plastic. The non-frangible material may include padding, rubber, polyurethane, polystyrene, and/or expanded polystyrene.

A machine includes a section that defines a target vibrational mode to dampen and a nanocellular foam damper that includes interconnected ligaments in a cellular structure. The interconnected ligaments have an average ligament size defined with respect to a vibrational loss modulus of the nanocellular foam damper and the target vibrational mode. Also disclosed is a method of damping vibration.

A force damper arranged to progressively arrest a first force imparted by an object moving in a first direction is disclosed. The force damper includes a housing enclosure having a first housing end and a second housing end. The first housing end includes a first connection point, and the second housing end includes an opening. A driving member is disposed within the housing enclosure and includes a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a shaft therebetween. The first shaft end includes a stop and the second shaft end includes a second connection point. A compressible member is disposed within the housing enclosure between the stop and the opening. The compressible member is formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation when the first force is arrested and imparts a second force on the stop toward first housing end.

A shock-absorbing face guard connector for an athletic helmet such as a helmet worn in American football, ice hockey, cricket, and baseball and softball, among other possible applications. The shock-absorbing face guard connector couples a face guard to the athletic helmet, and can absorb some of the forces resulting from a strike or impact to the face guard amid play and at other times. The shock-absorbing face guard connector includes a compressible piece that can compressibly yield when the face guard is struck or otherwise impacted.