System for redirecting head impact force

Abstract

Described herein is a system for redirecting head impact force to other portion or portions of a body of a person. The system includes a harness wearable on upper body or both upper and lower body of the person and permitting motion of the person; a force redirecting element configured to connect the harness to a helmet wearable by the person; and a motion limiting unit connected to the force redirecting element, wherein the motion limiting unit can be triggered by the impact and limit the load on the neck of the person. The system also includes stiffening units to pre-tension the harness and increase the effective impedance of the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for redirecting head impact force to other portion or portions of a body of a person, comprising:
 a harness wearable on the body of the person and permitting motion of the person;   a force redirecting element configured to connect the harness to a helmet wearable by the person; and   a motion limiting unit connected to the force redirecting element, wherein the motion limiting unit is configured to be triggered by motion of the force redirecting element, and limit a force applied by the force redirecting element to within a threshold level.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the harness is configured to be tightened around the body on at least one of upper arm, forearm, abdomen, chest, waist, thigh, pelvic bone, hip, elbow, knee, and foot of the person. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the harness comprises at least one adjustable strap for tightening the harness to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the harness holds at least one end of the force redirecting element on the body at, or in the vicinity of, one of abdomen, chest, waist, thigh, pelvic bone, hip, knee, and foot of the person. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the harness includes at least one of a body garment comprising a fabric with a reinforcement structure, and straps configured to wrap around the body. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion limiting unit is a retractor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the force redirecting element includes at least one of a spring, a damper, a strut, a cable, and an inflatable element. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the force redirecting element is a cable assembly including:
 an inner cable;   an intermediate layer surrounding the inner cable and configured to allow the inner cable to move relative to the intermediate layer; and   an outer layer embedded with a helical metallic structure, the outer layer covering at least a portion of the intermediate layer.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the force redirecting element is at least partially embedded in the harness or at least partially runs under the harness. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of force redirecting elements configured to connect the helmet to the harness at different locations on the harness. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of force redirecting elements is connected to the harness at or below a waist of the person. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of motion limiting units each connected to a respective one of the plurality of force redirecting elements. 
     
     
         13 . A system for redirecting head impact force to other portion or portions of a body of a person, comprising:
 a harness configured to connect to the body of the person and permitting motion of the person; and   a force redirecting element configured to connect the harness to a helmet wearable by the person;   wherein the harness is configured for tightening around the body at least at or below a waist of the person.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the force redirecting element is connected to the harness at or below the waist of the person. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a motion limiting unit connected to the force redirecting element. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of force redirecting elements configured to connect the helmet to the harness at different locations on the harness. 
     
     
         17 . A system for redirecting head impact force to other portion or portions of a body of a person, comprising:
 a harness configured to connect to the body of the person and permitting motion of the person;   a force redirecting element configured to connect the harness to a helmet wearable by the person; and   a stiffening unit configured to pre-tension the harness to increase an effective impedance of the body of the person.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the stiffening unit includes at least one of: (a) one or more springs and dampers each attached to two points on the harness, and (b) a padding under the harness. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the padding is under shoulder straps of the harness. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the stiffening unit is configured to be triggered by the head impact force.