Anti-blast and shock optimal reduction buffer

Abstract

A cushion for use in a helmet or body armor to mitigate shock loads (i.e. blasts or blunt impact) against the human body includes a matrix having a plurality of fluid pockets. The fluid pockets themselves are either deformable, or they can be reconfigured (e.g. emptied) and are, therefore, connected in fluid communication with an empty receiver pocket. In the latter case, a vent connects each fluid pocket to at least one receiver pocket, and a valve is imbedded into the vent to control fluid flow through the vent. In either case, when the cushion receives a shock load, fluid in the cushion is transferred to reconfigure the cushion for mitigation of the resultant forces.

1 . A device for mitigating shock loads on a human body which comprises:
 a plate member having a force impact surface and a force transfer surface, wherein the transfer surface is opposite the impact surface; and   a fluid cushion positioned between the force transfer surface of the plate member and a portion of the human body, wherein the fluid cushion includes a boundary member defining at least one fluid pocket for holding a fluid therein, and wherein the fluid pocket is deformable in response to a force against the impact surface of the plate member to move fluid in the fluid pocket to mitigate the resultant force against the human body.   
   
   
       2 . A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plate member is a helmet and the fluid is a gas. 
   
   
       3 . A device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the boundary member deforms to reconfigure the fluid pocket in response to the force against the impact surface of the plate member. 
   
   
       4 . A device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one receiver pocket formed by the boundary member in the fluid cushion; and   at least one vent formed in the fluid cushion by the boundary member, with the vent connecting the fluid pocket in fluid communication with the receiver pocket for transfer of fluid from the fluid pocket and into the receiver pocket for mitigation of the resultant force.   
   
   
       5 . A device as recited in  claim 4  wherein there are a plurality of fluid pockets and a plurality of receiver pockets. 
   
   
       6 . A device as recited in  claim 4  further comprising a valve imbedded in the vent to establish a predetermined fluid flow therethrough. 
   
   
       7 . A device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the boundary member is a membrane. 
   
   
       8 . A device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the valve opens to allow fluid flow from the fluid pocket to the receiver pocket when a pressure in the fluid pocket “p f ” exceeds a predetermined value. 
   
   
       9 . A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein the valve is a two-way valve to permit a back flow of fluid from the receiver pocket to the fluid pocket when a fluid pressure in the receiver pocket “P r ” exceeds “p f ”. 
   
   
       10 . A device as recited in  claim 8  wherein the vent is rupturable for a one-time use of the device. 
   
   
       11 . A fluid cushion for mitigating shock loads on an object which comprises:
 a matrix positioned against the object; and   a plurality of fluid pockets formed by the matrix and selectively distributed through the matrix, wherein the fluid pockets hold a fluid and are deformable in response to a shock load on the cushion, to move fluid in the fluid pockets, to mitigate the resultant force acting on the object.   
   
   
       12 . A fluid cushion as recited in  claim 11  wherein the object is the head of a human being, wherein the cushion is incorporated into a helmet and further wherein the matrix deforms to reconfigure the fluid pocket in response to the shock load. 
   
   
       13 . A fluid cushion as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 a plurality of receiver pockets formed by the matrix; and   a plurality of vents formed in the matrix, with each vent connecting a fluid pocket in fluid communication with a receiver pocket for transfer of fluid from the fluid pocket and into the receiver pocket for mitigation of the resultant force.   
   
   
       14 . A fluid cushion as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of valves with each valve imbedded in a respective vent to establish a predetermined fluid flow therethrough, and wherein the valve opens to allow fluid flow from the fluid pocket to the receiver pocket when a pressure in the fluid pocket “p f ” exceeds a predetermined value. 
   
   
       15 . A fluid cushion as recited in  claim 14  wherein the valve is a two-way valve to permit a back flow of fluid from the receiver pocket to the fluid pocket when a fluid pressure in the receiver pocket “P r ” exceeds “p f ”. 
   
   
       16 . A method for manufacturing a fluid cushion to mitigate shock loads on an object when the fluid cushion is positioned against the object, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating a plurality of fluid pockets for holding a fluid therein;   distributing the plurality of fluid pockets in a matrix; and   connecting each fluid pocket in fluid communication with a receiver pocket, via a vent, for transfer of fluid from the fluid pocket to the receiver pocket in response to an impact of the shock load on the matrix, to mitigate the resultant force action on the object.   
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the object is the head of a human being, wherein the cushion is incorporated into a helmet and further wherein the matrix is a viscoelastic membrane and the fluid is a gas. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising the step of imbedding a valve in a respective vent to establish a predetermined flow therethrough. 
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein each valve opens to allow fluid flow from the fluid pocket to the receiver pocket when a pressure in the fluid pocket “p f ” exceeds a predetermined value. 
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the valve is a two-way valve to permit a back flow of fluid from the receiver pocket to the fluid pocket when a fluid pressure in the receiver pocket “P r ” exceeds “p f ”.