IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,561,190
Granted Patent B2
US 10,561,190 · App. 16/285,569 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Apparatus for dispersing impact forces

Inventor: Fielding B. Staton (Liberty, MO)
Assignee: Newtonoid Technologies, L.L.C.
A42B3/063A42B3/046A42B3/0453A42B3/065A42B3/125A42B3/20B60J1/2094B60R1/04F16F13/00F16F13/002F16F13/005F16F13/04F16F15/005F16F15/04F41C23/06F41H1/04F41H5/013F41H5/263F42D5/045G08B21/02G08B21/18B60J1/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,561,190
App. No.
16/285,569
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces has first and second walls spaced apart from one another to define a stationary enclosed cavity therebetween; a movable member inside the enclosed cavity; an actuator; a proximity sensor; computer memory; a processor in data communication with the actuator, the proximity sensor, and the computer memory; programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the proximity sensor; and programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces.

Claims (46)

1. A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces, comprising:

first and second walls spaced apart from one another and defining a stationary enclosed cavity therebetween;

a movable member inside the enclosed cavity;

an actuator;

a proximity sensor;

computer memory;

a processor in data communication with the actuator, the proximity sensor, and the computer memory;

programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the proximity sensor; and

programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces;

wherein the actuator is at least one electromagnet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wall is curved and the second wall is curved.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an impact plate in the enclosed cavity.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member coupling the impact plate to the first wall.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the biasing member is selected from the group consisting of: a flat spring, a helical spring, a magnetic spring, a liquid spring, and a gas spring.

7. A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces, comprising:

a housing having first and second walls spaced apart from one another and defining an enclosed cavity therebetween;

a movable member inside the enclosed cavity;

an impact plate in the enclosed cavity;

a biasing member coupling the impact plate to the first wall;

an actuator;

a sensor;

computer memory;

a processor in data communication with the actuator, the sensor, and the computer memory;

programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the sensor; and

programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move freely of the first wall inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is at least one electromagnet.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is at least one proximity sensor.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the housing is a helmet.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first wall is curved and the second wall is curved.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is selected from the group consisting of: a flat spring, a helical spring, a magnetic spring, a liquid spring, and a gas spring.

13. A system for mitigating impact forces, comprising:

a housing having first and second walls spaced apart from one another and defining an enclosed cavity therebetween;

a movable member inside the enclosed cavity, the movable member being unbound relative to the first wall;

an actuator for moving the movable member inside the enclosed cavity;

a sensor;

computer memory;

a processor in data communication with the actuator, the sensor, and the computer memory;

programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on the housing using data obtained from the sensor; and

programming causing the processor to activate the actuator after determining the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces whereby an impact on the housing is mitigated.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is at least one electromagnet.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is at least one proximity sensor.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the housing is a helmet.

17. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

an impact plate in the enclosed cavity; and

a biasing member coupling the impact plate to the first wall.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2019
From: STATON, FIELDING B.
To: NEWTONOID TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 048439/0676 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15594200 · May 12, 2017
Continuation 15274837 · Sep 23, 2016
Division 14528099 · Oct 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61928687 · Jan 17, 2014
Related Publication 20190269191A1 · Sep 5, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,359,488