Biomechanics aware headgear

Abstract

Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 an outer shell layer;   a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer;   an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer;   wherein the helmet is coupled to a neck brace, the neck brace comprising:
 a neck bracing outer surface; 
 a neck bracing inner surface; and 
 a bracing mechanism, located between the neck bracing outer surface and the neck bracing inner surface, wherein the bracing mechanism is configured to detect an imminent, mechanical force impact on the helmet and alter the stiffness of the bracing mechanism upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force impact to distribute energy from the mechanical force impact onto shoulders supporting the neck bracing mechanism. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises a magneto-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the magneto-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises an electro-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the electro-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor on the helmet. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor associated with the neck bracing mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism is connected to the helmet and is configured to rest on the shoulders themselves. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism allows flexible movement of the helmet relative to the shoulders when no imminent, mechanical force is detected. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing mechanism allows limited movement of the helmet relative to the shoulders when the imminent, mechanical force is detected. 
     
     
         9 . Protective gear comprising:
 a helmet comprising:
 an outer shell layer; 
 a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; 
 an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer; and 
   a neck brace comprising:
 a neck bracing outer surface; 
 a neck bracing inner surface; and 
 a bracing mechanism, located between the neck bracing outer surface and the neck bracing inner surface, wherein the bracing mechanism is configured to detect an imminent, mechanical force impact on the helmet and alter the stiffness of the bracing mechanism upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force impact to distribute energy from the mechanical force impact onto shoulders supporting the neck bracing mechanism. 
   
     
     
         10 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises a magneto-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the magneto-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         11 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises an electro-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the electro-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         12 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor on the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor associated with the neck bracing mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism is connected to the helmet and is configured to rest on the shoulders themselves. 
     
     
         15 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism allows flexible movement of the helmet relative to the shoulders when no imminent, mechanical force is detected. 
     
     
         16 . The protective gear of  claim 9 , wherein the bracing mechanism allows limited movement of the helmet relative to the shoulders when the imminent, mechanical force is detected. 
     
     
         15 . A neck brace comprising:
 a neck bracing outer surface;   a neck bracing inner surface; and   a bracing mechanism, located between the neck bracing outer surface and the neck bracing inner surface, wherein the bracing mechanism is configured to detect an imminent, mechanical force impact on the helmet and alter the stiffness of the bracing mechanism upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force impact to distribute energy from the mechanical force impact onto shoulders supporting the neck bracing mechanism;   wherein the neck brace is coupled to a helmet, the helmet comprising:
 an outer shell layer; 
 a middle shell layer connected to the outer shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer, the outer energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the outer shell layer, wherein the outer energy and impact transformer layer allows the outer shell layer to slide relative to the middle shell layer; 
 an inner shell layer connected to the middle shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer, the inner energy and impact transformer layer operable to absorb energy from mechanical forces imparted onto the middle shell through the outer shell and the outer energy and impact transformer layer, wherein the inner energy and impact transformer layer allows the middle shell layer to slide relative to the inner shell layer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The neck brace of  claim 15 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises a magneto-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the magneto-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         17 . The neck brace of  claim 15 , wherein the bracing mechanism comprises an electro-rheological element, wherein the viscosity of the electro-rheological element increases upon detection of the imminent, mechanical force. 
     
     
         18 . The neck brace of  claim 15 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor on the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . The neck brace of  claim 15 , wherein the bracing mechanism detects the imminent, mechanical force using a sensor associated with the neck bracing mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The neck brace of  claim 15 , wherein the bracing mechanism is connected to the helmet and is configured to rest on the shoulders themselves.