U.S. patent application number 12/229235 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for protective helmet pad interface structure.
Invention is credited to Michael R. Dennis, Anthony P. Erickson.
Application Number | 20090031481 12/229235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37073770 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090031481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dennis; Michael R. ; et
al. |
February 5, 2009 |
Protective helmet pad interface structure
Abstract
A shock-absorbing, protective interface pad structure usable
between the shell of a helmet and the head of a helmet wearer
including (a) an acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic core
structure made of a product having substantially the same
characteristics as at least one of Confor CF-42 or Confor CF-45
manufactured by EAR Specialty Composites in Indianapolis, Ind., and
(b) a water-moisture-blocking, bidirectionally gas-permeable
barrier layer spray-applied to and fully enclosing the core
structure, made of the a product having substantially the same
characteristics as the product manufactured, and designated V-2000,
by Russell Products Company, Inc. in Akron, Ohio.
Inventors: |
Dennis; Michael R.; (St.
Helens, OR) ; Erickson; Anthony P.; (Scappoose,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. VARITZ, P.C.
4915 SE 33RD PLACE
PORTLAND
OR
97202
US
|
Family ID: |
37073770 |
Appl. No.: |
12/229235 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11096695 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
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12229235 |
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10156074 |
May 27, 2002 |
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11096695 |
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09942987 |
Aug 29, 2001 |
6467099 |
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10156074 |
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09390518 |
Sep 3, 1999 |
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09942987 |
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60099208 |
Sep 3, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/127 20130101;
B32B 3/04 20130101; B32B 25/04 20130101; F16F 2236/045 20130101;
B32B 2307/724 20130101; B32B 33/00 20130101; B32B 2571/00 20130101;
B32B 2307/7265 20130101; A42B 3/121 20130101; B32B 3/26 20130101;
B32B 25/08 20130101; F16F 9/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/414 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/00 20060101
A42B003/00 |
Claims
1. A shock-absorbing, protective interface pad structure usable
between the shell of a helmet and the head of a helmet wearer
comprising an acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic core
structure made of a product having substantially the same
characteristics as at least one of Confor CF-42 or Confor CF-45
manufactured by EAR Specialty Composites in Indianapolis, Ind., and
a thin and flexible, water-moisture-blocking, but gas-permeable
barrier layer spray-applied to and fully enclosing said core
structure, made of the a product having substantially the same
characteristics as the product designated V-2000 by Russell
Products Company, Inc. in Akron, Ohio, completely blocking outside
access to the core of all water moisture while accommodating
substantially free, bidirectional gas breathability by the core
structure.
2. The interface pad structure of claim 1 which possesses a
body-facing side intended to face a helmet-wearer's head, and which
further comprises an expanse of a moisture-wicking material made of
a product having substantially the same characteristics as the
product sold as Orthowick designated VELCRO.RTM. brand Loop 3993 by
Velcro Laminates, Inc. in Bristol, Ind., with said expanse having a
configuration which is one of (a) substantially completely
enveloping the barrier-layer enclosed core structure, or (b)
disposed across said pad structure's said body-facing side.
3. A shock-absorbing, protective interface pad structure usable
between the shell of a helmet and the head of a helmet wearer
comprising an acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic core
structure made of at least one of the product designated Confor
CF-42 or Confor CF-45 manufactured by EAR Specialty Composites in
Indianapolis, Ind., and a thin and flexible,
water-moisture-blocking, but gas-permeable barrier layer
spray-applied to and fully enclosing said core structure, made of
the product designated V-2000 by Russell Products Company, Inc. in
Akron, Ohio, completely blocking outside access to the core of all
water moisture while accommodating substantially free,
bidirectional gas breathability by the core structure.
4. The interface pad structure of claim 3 which possesses a
body-facing side intended to face a helmet-wearer's head, and which
further comprises an expanse of a moisture-wicking material made
the product sold as Orthowick and designated VELCRO.RTM. brand Loop
3993 by Velcro Laminates, Inc. in Bristol, Ind., with said expanse
having a configuration which is one of (a) substantially completely
enveloping the barrier-layer enclosed core structure, or (b)
disposed across said pad structure's said body-facing side.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation from currently co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/096,695, filed Mar. 31, 2005,
for "Non-Resiliency Body-Contact Protective Helmet Interface
Structure", which is a continuation-in-part from U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/156,074, filed May 27, 2002 for
"Body-Contact Protective Interface Structure and Method", which
application is a continuation from U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/942,987, filed Aug. 29, 2001, entitled "Body-Contact Cushioning
Interface Structure and Method", which is a continuation from U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/390,518, filed Sep. 3, 1999,
entitled "Body-Contact Cushioning Interface Structure", which
application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 60/099,208, filed Sep. 3, 1998, entitled "Body Contact System
and Structure for Wearable Garments, Such as a Helmet". The
disclosure contents of each of these prior-filed patent
applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a human-body(head)
protective, cushioning helmet interface (shock-absorbing)
structure, pad-like in nature, which is designed especially to
combine with a rigid protective helmet-shell to protect a helmet
wearer's head from a blunt-trauma-type impact injury. The proposed
interface pad structure is formed of plural, cooperative elements
and materials, specified with particularity herein, that, in
addition to offering superior, and comfortable, blunt trauma impact
protection, also significantly minimize, via the respective
possessions of individual, and cooperative, fire-resistance
capabilities, and in a situation where serious and dangerous fire
exposure exists, the likelihood of combusting-pad-contributed (a)
sustained-pad-combustion burn injury to a helmet wearer, and/or (b)
sustained-pad-combustion, per se, damage to, and destruction of,
the shock-absorbing functional characteristics of the interface pad
structure itself. More particularly, the present invention relates
to such an interface pad structure (a) which lacks any springy
(spring-back or rebound) resiliency, (b) which possesses
acceleration-rate (strain-rate)-sensitivity, (c) which is designed
to be interposed the body and a cooperating rigid barrier structure
such as a helmet shell worn on the head, and (d) which offers the
important kinds of fire-resistance (also referred to herein as
"fire-resistant") performance mentioned above.
[0003] In the prior patenting history generally of the subject
matter of the present invention, expressed in a number of filed and
prosecuted patent applications which have directed attention to
different important features and aspects of the invention structure
and methodology, primary emphasis has been directed toward the
important load-cushioning and shock-absorbing behavior of the
invention. At this point in the now-progressing history of seeking
patent protection for the subject invention, this present patent
application adds to the field of previously furnished emphasis a
focus on the important fire-resistant qualities and characteristics
of the materials which are preferably, and which should be, chosen
for use in forming the several components of the overall interface
pad structure of the invention.
[0004] As will become apparent, we have chosen, and we have, in
detail, identified herein, particular materials for these
components, which materials, in addition to acting cooperatively to
furnish the intended, significant shock-absorbing behavior of the
invention, with the clear understanding that other specific
materials possessing substantially the same shock-absorbing
characteristics may be used, specific materials also carefully
selected to provide two, very important fire-resistant
capabilities, one of which is that each of these materials, when
exposed to an external fire-ignition source, while igniting and
(almost surely) burning so long as that source is immediately
present, nonetheless self-extinguish very shortly after removal of
such an external source. In other words, material has been selected
for the structure of components of this invention which do not
self-fuel their own destruction by burning. The other important
capability associated with the mentioned materials selections
involves the resulting, anti-combustion, cooperative, collective
nature of these materials in the sense that no one of these
materials is capable of acting as kindling requisite to promote and
sustain ignition and burning of any one of the other materials.
This non-kindling cooperative characteristic of the materials
chosen herein turns out to be an extremely important characteristic
which it is entirely independent of the "personal",
non-self-fueling, individual characteristic of each of the chosen
materials.
[0005] Just as is true with respect to the understood opportunity
for substituting materials which may be specifically different from
those identified herein for the purpose of supplying necessary
shock-absorbing behavior in the overall pad structure of the
invention, so also is it true that other specific materials may be
employed which, in the context of supplying appropriate
shock-absorbing characteristics, further possess substantially the
same fire-resistant characteristics lying in the two
fire-resistance categories/capabilities just mentioned above.
[0006] For this reason, the present patent application focuses
special attention on the very specific materials which have been
identified herein for pad/component construction, with the
understanding that this focus is intended to include "substitute"
materials possessing substantially the same, respective, overall
characteristics.
[0007] While there are many helmet applications wherein the
structure of the present invention can offer distinct advantages,
one preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein
specifically in the setting of a military helmet, with respect to
which the invention has been found to furnish particular utility.
As is well known, this is a setting laced with potential
blunt-impact, and associated fire, dangers.
[0008] To accomplish the unique shock-absorbing performance of the
invention, the proposed interface pad structure features a core
formed of an acceleration-rate (strain-rate)-sensitive,
viscoelastic, load-cushioning foam material which must "breathe" in
order to function effectively, yet which must also be guarded
entirely against any influx of water moisture--an influx which
could quickly disable the material's load-cushioning
capabilities.
[0009] Guarding this core material against a water-moisture
"attack" is a thin, spray-apply, continuous-surface, fully
jacketing, fully moisture-blocking (yet gas permeable) barrier
layer material. This barrier layer material forms an uninterrupted
continuum, enclosing the inside-contained
acceleration-rate-sensitive core material, and thus defining an
absolute limiting boundary for the "flow" of any water moisture
moving toward the core material from the outside. Notwithstanding
this important water-moisture barriering the barrier layer material
"breathes" gas (air) bidirectionally to accommodate required
breathability of the core material--thus accommodating
substantially uncompromised load-cushioning behavior by the core
material.
[0010] Associated preferably, though not absolutely necessarily,
with these two, just-mentioned cooperative materials is a
moisture-wicking fabric material which is disposed either in a
fully surrounding (enveloping) manner relative to the
core-structure and barrier-layer materials, or at least on that
side of the core-structure and barrier-layer materials which is to
be disposed adjacent a helmet wearer's head.
[0011] As has been suggested above, set forth below herein in the
detailed description of the invention are specific materials that
have been found to be very suitable for the three, respective,
component structures mentioned above.
[0012] Offering the fire-resistance behavior characteristic of the
preferred interface pad structure of the present invention, the
materials just set forth above, in addition to possessing, as
chosen, the requisite mechanical characteristics that are
associated with shock-absorbing and water-moisture managing, also
possess, by choice, the two, independent and collaborative,
earlier-mentioned fire-resistance behaviors, characteristics and
capabilities. Each of these materials is a non-self-fueling
material if ignited by an external fire source; and collectively,
significantly, and surprisingly, none of these materials, quite
independently of their respective, associated, non-self-fueling
characteristics, acts as a fire-sustaining kindling to either of
the other materials.
[0013] These specific, best-mode materials, as originally set forth
in the foundation specification in the underlying history of this
case, and therefore also set forth specifically in the present
specification, definitively offer the above-mentioned
fire-resistance qualities.
[0014] All of the respective, individual characteristics of the
interface-pad-structure materials--mechanical and fire-resistant in
natures--identified with specificity in this application, are
publicly known characteristics which are present in commercially
available products. In particular, these characteristics are made
known by the respective manufacturers of the identified materials.
The important, collaborative non-cross-kindling behaviors of our
chosen materials, however, are not pre-known, and are definitively
part of the surprising discovery associated with the present
invention.
[0015] Other, respective, like materials, with like
characteristics, are expected also to be employable in the
practice, structure and functioning of the present invention.
[0016] Accordingly, the claims to invention in the present
application are directed both to the pad interface structure of the
invention expressed (a) in specific terms wherein the components of
the structure are stated to be made expressly of the specific,
commercially available materials identified in the instant
specification, as well as (b) in terms of like materials which
effectively possess substantially the same mechanical and
fire-resistance qualities and characteristics.
[0017] All of the special features and advantages mentioned above
that are offered by the present invention will now become more
fully apparent as the description which follows below is read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front elevation (with certain portions broken
away to reveal details of internal construction) of a military
helmet whose shell is equipped, on its inside, with plural (seven
in total number) pad-like cushioning (shock-absorbing) interface
structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevation (also with portions broken away
to reveal details of internal construction) of the helmet of FIG.
1, on about the same scale as, and taken generally from the right
side, of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale, fragmentary and partly
cross-sectioned detail taken generally in the area of curved arrows
3-3 in FIG. 2, showing one of the several shock-absorbing interface
pad structures of the invention pictured in the shell of the helmet
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a modified form of
shock-absorbing interface pad structure constructed in accordance
with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Turning attention now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, indicated
generally at 10 is a military helmet including a rigid shell 10a.
In all respects, shell 10a is completely conventional in
construction, and might have any one of a number of different
specific constructions and configurations.
[0023] Fastened in one of a variety of appropriate manners on the
inside, concave, dome-like surface of shell 10a is an installation
12 of shock-absorbing, load-cushioning interface pad structure
constructed in accordance with the present invention. Installation
12, in the particular setting illustrated in these figures and now
being described, includes seven, individual, multi-layer,
shock-absorbing, interface pad structures, or pads, 12a 12b, 12c,
12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, each of which includes one preferred form of a
central, load-cushioning, shock-absorbing core structure, or core,
possessing certain characteristics which are key to the
shock-absorbing functionality of the present invention. Pad 12a is
joined to the inside surface of shell 10a in the frontal, central
portion of that surface. Pads 12b, 12c are disposed on laterally
opposite sides of pad 12a. Pads 12d, 12e are located in laterally
spaced places on the inside, lower, rear portion of the inside
surface of shell 10a. Pad 12f is positioned centrally between pads
12d, 12e. Pad 12g is disposed on the upper (or crown) portion of
the inside surface of shell 10a.
[0024] It should be understood that the shapes and the locations of
the illustrated seven pads, and indeed the specific number of pads
chosen for use illustratively in helmet 10, are completely matters
of choice, and form no part of the present invention. These
specific shapes, locations, and this "pad-count" number, have been
chosen, rather, in relation to picturing the equipping of the shell
of helmet 10 with one appropriate deployment of the helmet pad
interface structure of the invention. In terms of the features of
the present invention, all seven pads shown associated with helmet
10 are essentially the same in construction. Accordingly, a
detailed description of the construction of helmet pad interface
structure 12a which now follows fully describes the construction of
each of the other six pads in installation 12.
[0025] Thus, pad 12a includes a central load-cushioning,
shock-absorbing core (core structure) 16 made up, in the embodiment
of the invention which is now being described, of two, internally
facially confronting, "stacked" core components 16a, 16b. This core
structure lies at the heart of the shock-absorbing behavior, per
se, of the present invention. Also included in pad 12a is a
water-moisture-blocking, gas-permeable barrier layer 18, and
optionally, a moisture-wicking outer layer 20 (fully enveloping, or
"one-sided" only, as will be explained). The right side of pad 12a
in FIG. 3 is referred to herein as its body-facing side, and the
left side of the pad in this figure is referred to herein as its
helmet-shell-facing side.
[0026] Each of core components 16a, 16b is formed of a suitable,
acceleration-rate(strain-rate)-sensitive, viscoelastic material
which possesses, in technical "terms" known to those skilled in the
art, a behavior which responds to compressive acceleration in a
manner that is likenable generally to the sheer-resistance behavior
which is observed in certain fluids as a phenomenon known as fluid
dilatancy. When compressive pressure is applied to these kinds of
viscoelastic materials, if that pressure application is done at a
very low acceleration rate, the materials respond very readily and
fairly instantaneously with a yielding response. However, if such a
pressure is applied rapidly, i.e., with a rapid acceleration rate,
the materials tend to act very much like solids, and they do not
respond rapidly with a yielding action. Generally speaking, the
higher the rate of acceleration associated with an applied
compressing force, the more like solid materials do components 16a,
16b, i.e., the collaborating core-structure components,
perform.
[0027] An important consequence of this acceleration response
characteristic is that the core structure of the present invention
offers, in relation to prior art load-cushioning, shock-absorbing
structures, a superior shock-cushioning, shock-absorbing action. It
thus offers a significant improvement in relation to the prior art
with respect to blunt-trauma injury avoidance.
[0028] A contributing factor also in this regard is that the
materials in core structure 16, after undergoing a compressive
deformation, return relatively slowly toward their pre-deformation
configurations.
[0029] While there are, and may be, various appropriate
acceleration-rate-sensitive materials that are employable in core
structure 16, component 16a herein in this core structure is
preferably made of the material designated Confor CF-42 made by a
company called EAR Specialty Composites in Indianapolis, Ind. Core
component 16b is preferably made of the material designated Confor
CF-45, also made by this same company. Since the time of the
original writing of the specification in this application, and in
its predecessor applications, it is possible that the manufacturer
of these two materials has changed the specific product designator
of either or both materials, and it is intended that the specific
product designators presented herein also be understood to refer
respectively to product(s) possessing any such designation
change(s).
[0030] Preferably, the overall thickness of core structure 16,
i.e., the dimension thereof measured laterally (or from left to
right sides) in FIG. 3 (shown at T.sub.1), is about 7/8-inches.
Component 16a alone has a thickness, pictured in FIG. 3 at T.sub.2
(measured in the same fashion), of about 3/8-inches, and component
16b alone a thickness, pictured in FIG. 3 at T.sub.3, of about
1/2-inches. Core components 16a, 16b are joined to one another by
means of a suitable, interfacial adhesive.
[0031] Barrier layer 18 which completely surrounds, encapsulates
and envelops core structure 16 in pad 12a is a sprayed-on layer
formed of a vinyl-solvent-based material sold under the product
designator V-2000 made by Russell Products Company, Inc. in
Acheron, Ohio. In general terms, this coating product forms a
smooth, vibration-resistant, skin-like protective layer over the
outside surfaces (entirely) of core structure 16. It provides a
breathable and durable, flexible membrane skin on the outside of
the core structure, which skin completely blocks penetration, at
any location, of water moisture into the core structure from the
outside of the barrier layer. Notwithstanding this important,
"continuity", water-moisture barriering behavior, layer 18 permits
relatively free bidirectional gas flow into and out of the core
structure. Thus, it permits necessary "breathing" of core structure
16 under circumstances of compression and return-from-compression.
Preferably, this barrier layer has a thickness somewhere in the
range of about 0.007-inches to about 0.01-inches, and in the
specific construction now being described, has a thickness of about
0.009-inches.
[0032] Full continuity "jacketing" of the core cushioning structure
by the barrier layer enables an associated helmet, such as helmet
10, to be fully immersed in water, under most circumstances,
without there occurring any appreciable degradation in
core-material, acceleration-rate-sensitivity performance, which
degradation would result from any water-moisture entrance into the
acceleration-rate-sensitive core material.
[0033] The comment made above regarding manufacturer re-designating
of a product is intended to be applicable as well to the identified
barrier-layer material.
[0034] Jacketing and enveloping the outside of the combined
assembly of core structure 16 and barrier layer 18 is a
moisture-wicking layer 20. This layer, which is optional, is, when
employed, preferably distributed somewhat in the form of an
enclosure bag around the core structure and barrier layer. In the
construction now being described, layer 20 takes the form of a
polyester fabric (with a nominal thickness of about 0.015-inches)
known as Orthowick, made by Velcro Laminates, Inc. in the Bristol,
Ind. Specifically, this Orthowick material bears the product in
designator Velcro.RTM. brand Loop 3993. The bag form of structure
20 herein is closed by stitching as indicated schematically by a
short, dashed line 22 in FIG. 3. As can be seen, and importantly,
this stitching does not penetrate the barrier layer.
[0035] The comments made above regarding manufacturer
re-designating of products are applicable as well to the
just-identified moisture-wicking layer material.
[0036] Pad 12a is suitably removeably attached to the inside of
helmet shell 10a through a two-component, conventional,
hook-and-pile structure 24 sold under the name Velcro--a readily
commercially available product made by Velcro USA, Inc. in
Manchester, N.H.
[0037] Turning attention now to FIG. 4, here there is illustrated a
modified form 12a of a shock-absorbing interface pad structure
usable in helmet 10 at the location, for example, of previously
described pad 12a. In this modified pad 12a, core structure 16
includes but a single, acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic
component 16c surrounded by a barrier layer 18, and additionally, a
moisture-wicking layer 20 which is defined by but a single expanse
of material 20a that extends (one side only) solely on and across
what has been referred to previously as the body-facing side of pad
12a.
[0038] Component 16c has a thickness, indicated at T4 in FIG. 4, of
about 1/2-inches, and is formed preferably of the above-mentioned
Confor CF-42 material.
[0039] Completing, with moisture-wicking expanse 20a, an enclosure
generally in a bag form around the assembly of core component 16c
and barrier layer 18 is another expanse 26 of any suitable fabric
material.
[0040] The specific materials set forth above which have been
chosen for elements 16 (16a, 16b, 16c), 18, and 20 in the interface
pad structure of the invention, in addition to possessing the
several, important shock-absorbing and water-moisture-, and water-,
managing characteristics already discussed, further possess, by
intentional choice, individually, and cooperatively/collectively,
important fire-resistance characteristics. These fire-resistance
characteristics are such that each of these materials, when exposed
to (and then thereafter de-exposed from) an external fire-igniting
source, do not self-fuel continued self-combustion, and tend,
therefore, to self-extinguish any combustion which may have begun.
Most significantly, and indeed surprisingly, because of their
respective, individual characteristics, these materials, as
combined in the overall interface pad structure of the invention,
do not cross-kindle one another. Such cross-kindling, of course, is
a risk and a danger independent of the material's respective
self-extinguishing behaviors. In other words, notwithstanding a
particular material's individual ability to self-extinguish any
started combustion, and to resist self-fueling, it is entirely
possible for an adjacent, different material, if burning, to act as
kindling (referred to herein as cross-kindling) for the nominally
self-extinguishing-capable material, and thereby to defeat that
material's self-extinguishing propensity.
[0041] These fire-resistant qualities of the specific materials
chosen for incorporation in the interface pad structure of the
invention are significant in relation to minimizing both (a)
potential pad-created burn injury to a helmet wearer, and (b) the
likelihood of combustion degradation of the important
shock-absorbing performance of a pad structure's cushioning-core
componentry. Without specifying anything more, preferred use of the
herein-above-identified pad-structure materials assures this
just-explained, resulting fire-resistance behavior. In this
context, it will be understood that substantially the same
fire-resistance performance will be obtained with selection and use
of alternative, respective, pad-structure materials which possess
essentially the same, respective, material-specific
characteristics.
[0042] There is thus provided by the present invention a unique,
shock absorbing, load-cushioning structure which offers the various
compression-and-slow-return, non-springy,
acceleration-rate(strain-rate)-sensitive, viscoelastic benefits
ascribed to it hereinabove--which benefits offer significant
blunt-trauma-injury resistance improvements over related prior art
structures. The particular pad-component materials identified
herein, and more pointedly the specific material characteristics of
these materials, assure the important shock-absorbing and
fire-resistance behaviors central to the performance features of
the interface pad structure of invention.
[0043] While the invention has been disclosed in particular forms
herein, numerous variations, some of which have been discussed, are
recognized to be possible, and in this context, we regard the
subject matter of our invention to include all novel and
non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various
elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed
herein.
* * * * *