Protective Garments Incorporating Impact Resistant Structures

Abstract

A protective garment comprising multi-layered composite structures is conformable to the contours of the body parts for which protection is required. The composite structure contains rigid impact-deflecting outer structures, impact-dissipating gel middle layers, and impact-damping microlattice lower layers. In one embodiment, the structure is designed for impacts associated with contact sports, such as football, hockey and lacrosse. In another embodiment, the structure is designed for military/police applications, in which impacts can be blunt forces, from weapons such as clubs, or penetrative forces, from knives, bullets or shrapnel.

Claims

1. A protective garment comprising: one or more linear or curvilinear, impact-deflecting plate arrays, comprising multiple rigid deflecting plates, which are interchangeably attachable to multiple plate sockets, wherein the plate sockets are interconnected by a congruously linear or curvilinear semi-rigid rail connector, and wherein each of the plate sockets is pivotally attached to one of multiple pivot axes in the rail connector, and wherein each of the pivot axes is transversely aligned to a longitudinal axis of the rail connector, and wherein each of the plate sockets independently pivots about one or the pivot axes in the rail connector; one or more impact-dissipating viscoelastic polymeric gel layers; and one or more impact-damping microlattice layers.

2. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein each of the microlattice layers comprise a three-dimensional network of multiple hollow polymer nanotubes, having tube diameters less than 1 mm, and wherein the polymer nanotubes are interconnected at multiple nanotube nodes which undergo resilient deformation under an applied stress, thereby effecting a damping of an applied stress.

3. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein each of the deflecting plates comprises a rigid, light-weight, impact-resistant plastic, polymer, polymer blend, or ceramic material.

4. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the deflecting plates comprise a rigid plastic or metal material which is ballistic and puncture resistant.

5. The protective garment according to claim 3, wherein some or all of the deflecting plates comprise convex shells, which are sized and contoured to conform to a size and a shape of a covered body part over which the convex shell is to be worn.

6. The protective garment according to claim 4, wherein some or all of the deflecting plates comprise convex shells, which are sized and contoured to conform to a size and a shape of a covered body part over which the convex shell is to be worn.

7. The protective garment according to claim 5, wherein each of the convex shells are sized and contoured by 3D printing in conjunction with 3D optical scanning of the covered body part.

8. The protective garment according to claim 6, wherein each of the convex shells are sized and contoured by 3D printing in conjunction with 3D optical scanning of the covered body part.

9. The protective garment according to claim 5, wherein some or all of the impact-deflecting arrays are aligned with a body joint or a spinal column.

10. The protective garment according to claim 6, wherein some or all of the impact-deflecting arrays are aligned with a body joint or a spinal column.

11. The protective garment according to claim 7, wherein some or all of the impact-deflecting arrays are aligned with a body joint or a spinal column.

12. The protective garment according to claim 8, wherein some or all of the impact-deflecting arrays are aligned with a body joint or a spinal column.

13. The protective garment according to claim 9, wherein some or all of the gel layers are positioned below one of the plate arrays and above one of the microlattice layers.

14. The protective garment according to claim 10, wherein some or all of the gel layers are positioned below one of the plate arrays and above one of the microlattice layers.

15. The protective garment according to claim 11, wherein some or all of the gel layers are positioned below one of the plate arrays and above one of the microlattice layers.

16. The protective garment according to claim 12, wherein some or all of the gel layers are positioned below one of the plate arrays and above one of the microlattice layers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary impact resistant protective garment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2A is perspective view of an exemplary microlattice layer comprising a component of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2B is a magnified detail view of the exemplary microlattice of FIG. 2A under initial compression, showing incipient buckling deformation at microlattice nodes;

[0019] FIG. 2C is a magnified detail view of the exemplary microlattice of FIG. 2A under further compression, showing increased buckling deformation at microlattice nodes;

[0020] FIG. 3A is perspective view of an exemplary impact-deflecting plate array comprising a component of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIGS. 3B and 3C are detail perspective views of the exemplary impact-deflecting plate array shown in FIG. 3A; and

[0022] FIG. 4 is front perspective view of an exemplary exoskeleton comprising multiple impact resistant structures according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary impact resistant protective garment 10 comprises a rigid, impact-deflecting outer layer 11, below which is a deformable, polymer-based microlattice, impact-damping lower layer 12. Sandwiched between the outer layer 11 and the lower layer 12 is an impact-dissipating middle layer 13, containing a viscoelastic polymeric gel. In this embodiment 10, the impact-deflecting outer layer 11 comprises three curvilinear plate arrays 11 containing multiple rigid deflecting plates 14.

[0024] As depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C, the deflecting plates 14 are interchangeably attachable to multiple plate sockets 17, which are interconnected by a semi-rigid rail connector 18. As best seen in FIG. 3B, the deflecting plates 14 can removably attach to the plate sockets 17 by conjugate plates prongs 19 and socket slots 20, or other such conventional mechanical mating structures. Each of the plate sockets 17 is pivotally attached to one multiple pivot axes 21 which are transversely aligned to the longitudinal axis 22 of the rail connector 18. This configuration enables each of the plate sockets 17 to pivot about one of the pivot axes 21 independently of the other plate sockets 17.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2A, the lower microlattice layer 12 comprises a three-dimensional network of hollow nanotubes, preferably having tube diameters less than 1 mm. The nanotubes microscopic structure is depicted in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in which the microlattice is under increasing compression, with deformation progressing from incipient buckling at the nodes 15 to more advanced buckling 16. The buckling at the nanotubes' nodes damps impact forces, and the extremely small aspect ratio of the nanotubes' wall thickness to their diameter enables nearly full deformation recoverability.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, in body areas that are particularly exposed and/or vulnerable to impacts, such as the back and shoulders, an impact-dissipating middle gel layer 13 is interposed between the outer impact-deflecting layer 11 and the lower impact-damping microlattice layer 12. The viscoelastic polymeric gel 13 redirects the kinetic energy of the impact orthogonally to the impact direction so that a downward impact is directed outward along a horizontal plane, rather than penetrating in a downward direction. This dissipative effect reduces the force which passes through to the lower microlattice layer 12, thereby synergistically improving the impact-damping efficiency of the microlattice layer 12. The density and/or thickness of the gel layer 13 can be adjusted to the force level of the impacts against which the garment is designed to protect. For example, in military and police garments, a denser, thicker gel layer 13 can be deployed to dissipate the penetrative impacts of bullets and knives.

[0027] The material composing the rigid, impact-deflecting outer layer 11 of the exemplary garment structure 10 can be varied, depending on the application. In sports uses, it is preferably made of a rigid, light-weight, impact-resistant plastic or ceramic material, while in military/police uses, it is preferably composed of a ballistic and puncture resistant material, such as reinforced plastic, titanium metal or aramid fibers.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, a complete or partial exoskeleton 23 can be assembled from articulate panels having the multi-layer composite structure of the present invention.

[0029] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims.