MAGNETIC IMPACT ABSORPTION IN PROTECTIVE BODY GEAR
Magnetic repulsive forces can be exploited for impact absorption in protective body gear such as, e.g., helmets.
1 . A shock-absorbing helmet comprising:
a protective shell;
connected to an inner surface of the shell, an interior liner for contact with a wearer's head; and
disposed between the shell and the interior liner, first and second spaced-apart magnetic elements oriented such that they are mutually repulsive between the interior liner and the shell.
2 . The helmet of claim 1 , further comprising mechanical constraints on the shell and liner for laterally aligning the first and second magnetic elements.
3 . The helmet of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical constraints prevent lateral motion of the magnetic elements at a distance therebetween that exceeds a specified threshold.
4 . The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements have substantially opposite polarity and are mounted to opposing interior surfaces of a compression cell disposed between the shell and the interior liner.
5 . The helmet of claim 4 , wherein the shock-absorbing cell is substantially tubular and the first and second magnetic elements are mounted to an interior floor and an interior ceiling, respectively, of the substantially tubular cell.
6 . The helmet of claim 5 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements are disk-shaped.
7 . The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elements have magnetic strengths sufficient to prevent contact therebetween in response to shock forces not exceeding an expected maximum force.
8 . The helmet of claim 1 , comprising multiple distributed pairs of first and second magnetic elements.
9 . The helmet of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are spaced apart along an axis passing perpendicularly through the interior liner and the shell.
10 . Protective body gear comprising:
a protective shell;
connected to an inner surface of the shell, an interior liner for contact with a wearer's body; and
disposed between the shell and the interior liner, first and second spaced-apart magnetic elements oriented such that they are mutually repulsive between the inner liner and the shell.
11 . The body gear of claim 10 , further comprising mechanical constraints on the shell and liner for laterally aligning the first and second magnetic elements.
12 . The body gear of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical constraints prevent lateral motion of the magnetic elements at a distance therebetween that exceeds a specified threshold.
13 . The body gear of claim 10 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements have substantially opposite polarity and are mounted to opposing interior surfaces of a compression cell disposed between the shell and the interior liner.
14 . The body gear of claim 13 , wherein the shock-absorbing cell is substantially tubular and the first and second magnetic elements are mounted to an interior floor and an interior ceiling, respectively, of the substantially tubular cell.
15 . The body gear of claim 14 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements are disk-shaped.
16 . The body gear of claim 10 , wherein the first and second elements have magnetic strengths sufficient to prevent contact therebetween in response to shock forces not exceeding an expected maximum force.
17 . The body gear of claim 10 , comprising multiple distributed pairs of first and second magnetic elements.
18 . The body gear of claim 10 , wherein the magnets are spaced apart along an axis passing perpendicularly through the interior liner and the shell.