Impact absorbing apparatus

Abstract

An impact absorbing apparatus includes a first chamber including a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall. The impact absorbing apparatus includes a second chamber including a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall. A plurality of connecting pillars connects the first chamber to the second chamber. The plurality of connecting pillars is configured to shift position in response to a first impact. The first valve is configured to pass air in and out of the first chamber. The second valve is configured to pass air in and out of the second chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impact absorbing apparatus, comprising:
 a first chamber comprising a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall, wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at a first rate when the first valve is in a closed state, wherein the first valve is configured to pass air into the first chamber at a second rate when the first chamber is in an open state, and wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate;   a second chamber comprising a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall, wherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at a third rate when the second valve is in a closed state, wherein the second valve is configured to pass air into the second chamber at a fourth rate when the second valve is in an open state, and wherein the fourth rate is faster than the third rate; and   a plurality of connecting pillars connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, the first chamber being fluidly isolated from the second chamber,   wherein the plurality of connecting pillars are configured to shift position in response to a first impact of a first force,   wherein the first valve is configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate in response to a second impact of a second force, and   wherein the second valve is configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate in response to a third impact of a third force.   
     
     
         2 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a plurality of first valve leaflets, wherein each of the first valve leaflets comprises an outer wall connected to the first chamber wall, first and second side walls projecting away from the first chamber wall, and a curved inner wall opposite the outer wall, and wherein the curved inner walls of the first valve leaflets form a first aperture configured to pass air out of the first chamber at the first rate when the first valve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second valve comprises a plurality of second valve leaflets, wherein each of the second valve leaflets comprises an outer wall connected to the second chamber wall, first and second side walls projecting away from the second chamber wall, and a curved inner wall opposite the outer wall, and wherein the curved inner walls of the second valve leaflets form a second aperture configured to pass air out of the second chamber at the third rate when the second valve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second impact is greater than the first impact. 
     
     
         5 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third impact is greater than the second impact. 
     
     
         6 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second rate is substantially equal to the fourth rate. 
     
     
         7 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 180° with the first chamber wall when the first valve leaflets are in a closed state. 
     
     
         8 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the obtuse angle is from about 120° to about 160°. 
     
     
         9 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 180° with the second chamber wall when the second valve leaflets are in a closed state. 
     
     
         10 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the obtuse angle is from about 120° to about 160°. 
     
     
         11 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 130° with the first chamber wall when the first valve leaflets are in an open state. 
     
     
         12 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the obtuse angle is from about 100° to about 120°. 
     
     
         13 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second valve leaflets form an obtuse angle of less than 130° with the second chamber wall when the second valve leaflets are in an open state. 
     
     
         14 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the obtuse angle is from about 100° to about 120°. 
     
     
         15 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first chamber reinstating pillar disposed in the first chamber, wherein the first chamber reinstating pillar is configured to apply a first return force to return a compressed first chamber to its original shape. 
     
     
         16 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one second chamber reinstating pillar disposed in the second chamber, wherein the second chamber reinstating pillar is configured to apply a second return force to return a compressed second chamber to its original shape. 
     
     
         17 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first return force is smaller than the second return force. 
     
     
         18 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first chamber reinstating pillar is further configured to at least partially compress in response to the second impact to decrease an acceleration of the second impact. 
     
     
         19 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one second chamber reinstating pillar is further configured to at least partially compress in response to the third impact to decrease an acceleration of the second impact. 
     
     
         20 . The impact absorbing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting pillars decrease a first acceleration caused by the first impact, wherein the first valve decreases a second acceleration caused by the second impact, and wherein the second valve decreases a third acceleration caused by the third impact.