U.S. patent application number 13/539612 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-25 for helmet using shock absorbing material.
Invention is credited to Eli Cohen.
Application Number | 20120266365 13/539612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44277083 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120266365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen; Eli |
October 25, 2012 |
HELMET USING SHOCK ABSORBING MATERIAL
Abstract
In at least one embodiment, a safety helmet is provided that
includes an outer shell and at least one layer of a sheet of shock
absorbing material located therein, the shock absorbing material
having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of
ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of
ribs extent through the material so as to create a plurality of
channels therein, the layers having a plurality of perforations
therein that communicate with the plurality of channels and that
align with the holes in the helmet, each of the plurality of
channels having an opening on an end of the material for air to
pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the
perforations in the material.
Inventors: |
Cohen; Eli; (Lincoln Park,
NJ) |
Family ID: |
44277083 |
Appl. No.: |
13/539612 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12985118 |
Jan 5, 2011 |
8235461 |
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13539612 |
|
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61297036 |
Jan 21, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/5642 20130101;
A47C 7/744 20130101; B60N 2/70 20130101; B60N 2/5657 20130101; A42B
3/124 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/411 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/06 20060101
A42B003/06 |
Claims
1. A helmet comprising: an outer shell with holes located therein;
and at least one layer of a sheet of shock absorbing material
located therein, the shock absorbing material having a top layer, a
bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of ribs that couple the top
layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of ribs extent through the
material so as to create a plurality of channels therein, the
layers having a plurality of perforations therein that communicate
with the plurality of channels and that align with the holes in the
helmet, each of the plurality of channels having an opening on an
end of the material for air to pass through the openings of the
channels and exit through the perforations in the material.
2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the material is installed in an
upper hemisphere of the helmet to protect the top of a user's
head.
3. The helmet of claim 2, wherein the ribs extend radially outward
from the top of the helmet.
4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein material is installed as a band
circumferentially around a rim line of the helmet to cover temple,
forehead, and the back of a user's head.
5. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a plurality of layers of the
shock absorbing material.
6. The helmet of claim 5, wherein the layers of shock material are
located so that channels of respective layers of the material
extend in different directions.
7. The helmet of claim 6, wherein at least one of the layers of the
material extend from a front to a back of the helmet.
8. The helmet of claim 6, wherein at least one of the layers of the
material extend from a first side of the helmet to a second side of
the helmet opposite the first side.
9. The helmet of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs of the pair of
ribs is bowed oppositely with respect to another of the pair of
ribs, therewith creating alternating shaped channels.
10. The helmet of claim 9, wherein at least one channels of the
alternating shaped channels has a circular cross sectional
shape.
11. The helmet of claim 1, wherein each of the top and the bottom
layers include perforations therein that align with the holes in
the shell of the helmet.
12. The helmet of claim 1, wherein each of the top and bottom
layers include perforations therein that do not align with holes in
the shell of the helmet.
13. The helmet of claim 1, wherein each of the top and bottom
layers include perforations therein and wherein a number of
perforations in the top layer is less than a number of perforations
in the top layer.
14. The helmet of claim 13, wherein a ratio of top to bottom layer
perforations is from about 8 to about 9.
15. The helmet of claim 13, wherein a size of top layer
perforations is greater than a size of the bottom layer
perforations.
16. The helmet of claim 1, comprising foam sections to mirror feel
of conventional bicycle helmets.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/985,118, filed Jan. 5, 2011, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/297,036,
filed Jan. 21, 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates to safety gear and more
particularly to helmets.
[0003] Various types of helmets exist, however, none of these use
shock absorbing material to provide, among other things,
ventilation there through. Accordingly, there is a need for helmets
that are not so limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In at least one embodiment, a safety helmet is provided that
includes an outer shell and at least one layer of a sheet of shock
absorbing material located therein, the shock absorbing material
having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a plurality of pairs of
ribs that couple the top layer to the bottom layer, the pairs of
ribs extent through the material so as to create a plurality of
channels therein, the layers having a plurality of perforations
therein that communicate with the plurality of channels and that
align with the holes in the helmet, each of the plurality of
channels having an opening on an end of the material for air to
pass through the openings of the channels and exit through the
perforations in the material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a cross section view of a shock absorbing material
according to at least one embodiment of the materials disclosed
herein in a relaxed state.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the shock absorbing
material of FIG. 1 in a compressed state.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a shock absorbing material
according to at least one other embodiment of the materials
disclosed herein in a relaxed state.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the shock absorbing
material of FIG. 3 in a compressed state.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a shock absorbing material
according to at least one other embodiment of the materials
disclosed herein in a relaxed state.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the shock absorbing
material of FIG. 5 in a compressed state.
[0011] FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross section views of a shock absorbing
material with bridging elements between ribs according to at least
one other embodiment of the materials disclosed herein.
[0012] FIG. 9 is a cross section view of a shock absorbing material
with bridging elements between ribs according to at least one other
embodiment of the materials disclosed herein.
[0013] FIGS. 10 and 11 are side cross section and top, partial cut
away views, respectively, of a shock absorbing material with solid
plugs between ribs according to at least one embodiment of the
materials disclosed herein.
[0014] FIG. 12 is a top, partial cut away view of a shock absorbing
material with solid plugs and vents between ribs according to at
least one embodiment of the materials disclosed herein.
[0015] FIG. 13 is a cross section view of a shock absorbing
material with tubular plugs between ribs according to at least one
other embodiment of the materials disclosed herein.
[0016] FIGS. 14 and 15 are side, partial cut away view of a
personal safety product according to at least one embodiment of the
products disclosed herein.
[0017] FIG. 16A-B and D are perspective views of a ventilated seat
using a shock absorbing material in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the materials disclosed herein.
[0018] FIG. 16C is a side view of a shock absorbing material for
use in a ventilated seat in accordance with at least one embodiment
of the materials disclosed herein.
[0019] FIG. 16E is a perspective view of a ventilation manifold for
use in a seat using a shock absorbing material in accordance with
at least one of the embodiments of the materials disclosed
herein.
[0020] FIGS. 17-18 are side views of a gun stock using a shock
absorbing material in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the materials disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present application provides personal safety and comfort
products, such as helmets, pads, guards, etc., with energy
absorbing features. Although particular safety products may be
discussed herein, it is understood that the energy absorbing
features of the present application may be used in other products.
Accordingly, this application is not limited to any one or more
particular safety products.
[0022] In at least one embodiment, the energy absorbing features
affixed to the personal safety and/or comfort devices is a
resilient pad or material having structures therein that absorb the
energy from an impact, hereinafter referred to as a material.
Referring to FIG. 1, the energy absorbing material, according to at
least one embodiment of the materials disclosed herein, includes a
top layer 12 and a bottom layer 16. The top and bottom layers 12,
16 may be disposed in relation to each other to create a wedge
shape as shown, or parallel to each other. The top and bottom
layers 12, 16 are connected with a plurality of pairs of ribs 18.
As shown, each of the ribs of the pair of ribs 18 is bowed
oppositely with respect to one another. In this respect, the shape
of the ribs 18 creates a series of alternating shaped voids that
extend through at least a portion of the length or width of the
material. Although not crucial, each pair of ribs is constructed
from a rubber, rubber-like, or similar material that is flexible
and resilient. Harder materials may be used for greater load
bearing capacity. The top and bottom layers 12, 16 may be made of a
material different than that of the ribs or all of the components
of the material 12, 16, 18 can be extruded or molded as an entire
unit.
[0023] When a normal force is applied the mat, as is shown in FIG.
2, each of the ribs initially deflects. A relatively large force is
needed to initially deflect the ribs, but as the ribs are deflected
to a greater extent, relatively less force is needed to deflect the
ribs further. Each pair of ribs is separated from adjacent pairs of
ribs such that after a predetermined force has been applied, one of
the pairs of ribs 18 intrudes upon an adjacent rib 20 of a second
pair of ribs at 24, while the second rib of the pair 18 intrudes
upon its adjacent rib 22 of a third pair of ribs at 26. From this
point on, as additional force is applied normal to the mat, the
ribs will be compressed axially, which will require a larger force.
The material therefore acts as a three stage progressive energy
absorbing material. That is, a first force is necessary for initial
deflection, a second force that is less than the first force for
additional deflection as a result of the buckling of the ribs 18,
and a third force that is greater than the second force and likely
greater than the first to compress the ribs 18. The ultimate result
is a material with superior energy absorbing properties which is
light, inexpensive, and soft.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a material in which each of a pair of ribs 28
contains one forwardly facing contoured "S"-shaped rib and an
oppositely faced contoured "S"-shaped rib. As was true with respect
to the material described in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the ribs is
initially deflected until adjacent ribs 30 and 32 abut at 24 and
26, at which point any additional force applied to the material
would act as a force to compress the ribs 28 of the material 14, as
is shown in FIG. 4.
[0025] Similarly, FIG. 5 shows a material 10 provided with a
plurality of pairs of ribs 38, each pair of ribs forming a
"diamond" design. Furthermore, as was true with respect to the
materials shown in FIGS. 1-4, this "diamond" design would initially
deflect when force is provided normal to the material until
adjacent ribs 40 and 42 intrude upon the ribs 38 at 24 and 26,
respectively, at which time the ribs 38 of the mid-material 14
would compress, as is shown in FIG. 6. Each of the top or bottoms
layers 16 can be provided with one or more transverse slits 17, to
reduce the effort required to flex the material during use.
[0026] Although the exact dimensions of the rib and material size
are not crucial, it has been determined that the ribs may be about
1/8 inch in thickness, and these last several ribs may be 3/16 inch
in thickness. Furthermore, the spacing between ribs which are 1/8
inch in thickness is 1/4 inch in the relaxed state and the spacing
between ribs which are 3/16 inch in thickness are slightly less
than 1/4 inch. The purpose of the slightly thickened ribs is to
provide additional or different impact resistance on different
areas of the material. Additionally, the top layer 12 could be 3/32
inch in thickness and the bottom layer may be 1/8 inch in
thickness. The overall thickness of the material may be 3/8 inch,
which allows the material to be stacked to produce a thickness of
3/4 inch. It is understood that the dimensions disclosed herein can
be made smaller and/or larger along the entire material or at some
portions to achieve the desired energy absorbing properties.
Additionally, the spacing between each pair of ribs as well as the
thickness of the ribs and the length of the ribs can be increased
or decreased depending upon the weight of the individual, or the
particular activity for which the material is designed. The
durometer value of the ribs can also be altered to customize the
cushioning to an individual's weight and/or the activity. It is
this interaction of each pair of ribs with their adjacent ribs
which produces the particular cushioning connection and not the
action of any hydraulic or pneumatic force.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a side-elevation of the material 14 provided
with the type of ribs 60, 62 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A thin elastic
bridging element 64 is provided between each of the ribs 60, 62
provided between pairs of ribs. Some or all of the pairs of ribs
may contain similar bridging elements. The bridging elements may be
thinner than each individual rib and the elastic nature of the
element allows them to be stretched when the ribs 60, 62 are
initially deflected and then compressed to provide another
complementary cushioning force to that of the deflection of the
ribs. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, if the ribs may be spaced
further apart than is shown in FIG. 7, the bridging elements 64 are
used only in conjunction with the deflective forces of the ribs 66,
69, 70 and 72. In this situation, regardless of the amount of
pressure or force which is applied to the mat, rib 66 should not
abut rib 70 and similarly, rib 68 should not abut rib 72. The
bridging of the ribs may be along the major void, i.e., the
circular void, as shown in FIGS. 7-8 and/or preferably along the
minor voids, i.e., the hourglass shaped void, as shown in the
preferred embodiment of FIG. 9. That is, the bridging element 98
may be disposed between ribs 90 and 92. In this instance, the
bridging member will be in compression to complement the forces
that cause the ribs to deflect.
[0028] In another embodiment, as is illustrated with respect to
FIG. 10, a deflection inhibiting insert 94 is provided between two
adjacent rib pairs. The insert is inserted into the material
between rib 90 of one pair of ribs and rib 92 of an adjacent pair
or ribs. The insert 94 is constructed from a compressible material,
more, equal, or less compressible than the material that the
material is made of, and is adapted to substantially fill the void
between ribs 90 and 92. Initially, when force is applied to the
mat, the ribs 90 and 92 would deflect until they abut one another
and then the ribs would begin to compress. However, when the insert
94 is provided between ribs of adjacent rib pairs, deflection of
the ribs is retarded and a differential resistance is created. By
utilizing inserts of varying length and placement, as well as
material, the resistance can be used to customize the material to a
particular individual or specific activity. The deflection
inhibiting inserts 94 can be used with various configurations of
ribs as long as one rib of each pair is angled with respect to the
second rib of each rib pair. Additionally, although the embodiment
of FIG. 10 works well with solid inserts 94, these inserts could be
replaced by tubular inserts.
[0029] FIGS. 11-12 illustrate further embodiments with which solid
elastomeric or other type of material plug inserts are used to
further tailor the energy absorbing properties of the material. As
shown in FIG. 11, plugs 80 are placed between the ribs 18 which
extend laterally along the width of the material. The plugs 80
could extend along the entire width of the mat, or, as illustrated
in FIG. 11, can be provided between the first and second ribs of a
rib pair 18 for only a portion of the width. Additionally, as
shown, the plugs 80 need not be provided between each pair or ribs,
but the placement and length of each plug 80 may be predicated upon
the type of activity contemplated as well as the physical
characteristics of the user. The plugs 80 may be solid or tubular
with a desired thickness as shown in FIG. 13. The plugs 80 may be
the same material as that of the mat, or other materials, e.g.,
with greater or lesser density and/or compressibility, again to
achieve the desired energy absorbing properties with the
material.
[0030] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the ribs 52 may
extend along all or a portion of the length of the material. The
plugs 82 can be provided between longitudinally extending ribs 50,
52. Similar to the embodiment shown with respect to FIG. 11, tubes
82 need not be provided between all the pairs or ribs, nor must
they extend for the entire length of the material. The plugs 82 may
also be disposed in the minor voids between ribs of a rib pair
and/or the major voids between rib pairs.
[0031] In one embodiment, the material includes a plurality of
vents 54 that extend through the top and/or bottom layers 12, 16
and into the voids between the pairs of ribs 50, 52. The vents 54
may be disposed in the layers in a predetermined spacing to form a
grid type pattern as shown. The grid may have dimensions such that
the spacing between longitudinally and laterally adjacent vents is
essentially the same. This beneficially allows a plurality of
materials to be stacked over each other so that the vents can line
up with one another when the ribs of each material are placed
parallel or perpendicular to each other. One or more of the ends of
the voids between the ribs can be either open or closed, and may
include a valve that opens and closes at certain times. In this
instance, the air can be forced through the vents as the material
is compressed. For example, if that material is used as a mid-sole
in a shoe, the vents can force air into the shoe as the person
wearing the shoe is walking or running. In this instance, the ribs
may run in one direction in one portion of the shoe and in another
in the other portion. For example, the ribs may run longitudinally
in the heel while the ribs may run laterally in the other parts of
the sole.
[0032] The vents may be created in the material in a variety of
ways. For example, the material may be molded with the vents
therein or punched into the top and bottom layers after the
material has been extruded or injection molded. The vents may be
punched through the layers with an elongated rod that acts as a
backing for a punch. In this instance, the rod is placed into the
openings in the material between the ribs and the punch is
subsequently pressed down into the layers of the material between
the flat portion of the rod and the punch thereby forcing a hole
therein. The rod may include a relief or hole on the flat side for
the punch to pass through as the punch shears the layers of the
material and for the waste material to be removed from the site. To
create the grid pattern, one or a plurality of rods may be pushed
into the voids of the material between the ribs and a plurality of
punches in the desired pattern may be pressed against the rod or
rods to create vents essentially simultaneously or otherwise. The
punches may be disposed on a wheel that rolls over the material as
the material is fed through the punch thereby creating a series of
holes in the material.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 14, in one embodiment the personal safety
and comfort product is a helmet, such as a football helmet as
shown. It is understood that the present disclosure may be used in
various types of helmets and is thus not limited to any one
particular implementation. The helmet 190 generally includes an
outer shell 192 and at least one layer of the material or materials
191, 196 disclosed herein. The material or materials may be
installed, e.g., bonded, adhered, etc., in the helmet in a variety
of ways, however, the material or materials are preferably
installed in areas susceptible to impact. For example, a layer of
material may be installed about the entire interior of the helmet
or only portions thereof. That is, the material 191, 196 may be
installed in the upper hemisphere of the helmet to protect the top
of the head, and/or sections or a band of the material 197, 199 may
be installed circumferentially around the rim line of the helmet to
cover the temple, forehead, and the back of the head, as shown.
Portions of the material 191, 196 may include bridging elements 200
between the ribs, also as shown, to form an H like pattern in the
minor voids between rib pairs.
[0034] The ribs of the material may be oriented in the helmet in a
variety of ways. For example, the ribs in material 191 may be
aligned from the left to rights side of the helmet and/or the ribs
of the material 196 may be aligned from the front to the back of
the helmet, in reverse, diagonally, or in any desired direction.
The ribs of the materials 197, 199 on the side of the helmet may be
aligned from top to bottom of the helmet, circumferentially, in the
reverse, diagonally, or in any desired direction. The ribs 200 may
also be aligned as to extend radially outward from the top and the
materials may be disposed in discrete sections 297, 297 of the
helmet 190, as shown in FIG. 15.
[0035] As noted herein, the material or materials include vents
therein that allow air to pass into the voids of the material
between the ribs. This feature enhances ventilation and allows
perspiration to evaporate there through. Ventilation may be
accommodated with a hole or holes 195 that perforate through the
shell 192 of the helmet 190. The holes 195 may be disposed on
various parts of the helmets. For example, the holes 195 may be
disposed on the top, front, rear, or a combination thereof. The top
holes 195 may allow convection to evacuate warm moist air in the
helmet 190 whereas the front holes may allow air to be forced in as
the wearer of the helmet is moving and the rear holes may allow
that air to escape.
[0036] The holes 195 of the helmet 190 are preferably aligned with
the vents in at least the top layer of the material or materials
installed within the helmet 190. The holes 195 and the vents may be
aligned to provide a direct opening though helmet 190 and the
materials or they may be staggered to provide an indirect opening
through the helmet 190. As shown, the helmet 190 includes a
plurality of direct openings and a plurality of indirect openings.
That is, air passes indirectly through the hole 195, through a vent
in the top layer of the mat, lengthwise through the void between
the ribs of the mat, and finally through a vent 198 in the bottom
layer of the material that is not in alignment with the vent in the
top layer. The number of vents in the top layer may be less than
the number of vents in the bottom layer. That is, for every hole in
the top layer, there may be a certain number of holes in the bottom
layer. For example, for every hole in the top, there may be 8 or 9
holes in the bottom layer equally spaced about the hole in the top.
The size of the vents may vary; however, the size of the top layer
vent may be greater than the size of the bottom layer vent.
[0037] The dimensions of the material may be varied to achieve a
desired result in terms of hardness and durability. In one
embodiment, the dimensions of the material are calibrated in this
respect to a desired durometer or dimensions to fit a particular
application. For example, the material for a helmet used in
football may have a different durometer reading than a helmet used
for baseball. The cushioning material in the youth's helmet or any
other product may have a different durometer reading than an
adult's helmet or other product, because of age, size, and/or
weight to maximize the benefit for the individual and/or the
activity involved. The material for the adults, for example, may be
harder than the material for children. The material and the helmets
may therefore be customized for the particular application and/or
individual.
[0038] The materials disclosed herein may be combined with other
energy absorbing material, for example, to provide a feel that a
wearer is accustomed to. For example, a bicycle helmet may include
Styrofoam sections that come into direct contact with the wearer to
mirror the feel of conventional bicycle helmets. Similarly, the
material may be covered with a felt fabric and/or foam to provide
greater comfort for the wearer.
[0039] As noted herein, the material may be used in other
applications. Referring to FIG. 16A, the material may be used as a
cushion in a seat, such as an automotive seat, a theatre seat, or
any other type of seating. That is, the material 160 may be
disposed within the seat to provide comfortable support to the
user. The material 160 may be installed in the seat portion and/or
the seat back portion of the seat. The material 160 may further
include vents 166 therein that communicate with the voids or
channels in the material 160. The seat cover disposed over the
material 160 may be perforated to essentially match the vents 166
in the material 160. Ventilation may be achieved therewith by
allowing air to pass through the voids from one or more of the ends
162, 164 of the material 160 and exit through the vents 166. The
ends of the material may be connected to the air conditioning
and/or heating system of the vehicle or a standalone unit to
provide cool and/or warm air to the passengers of the vehicle. The
seats with the material therein may be original equipment or
retrofit in existing vehicles. In the later, the material 160 may
be installed in a seat cover that fits over complete seats. The
seat cover may include a feeder tube or other conduit that connects
the voids of the material to the vehicle or standalone ventilation
system.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 16B, the material 160 may be connected to
the vehicle or a separate air conditioning and/or heading system
with a feeder tube 170. The feeder tube 170 may be coupled to the
voids or channels in the material 160 with nipples 172. The feeder
tube 10 and the nipples 172 may be coupled to each other with a
manifold 168. A plurality of nipples 172 in a row are preferably
bonded, e.g., with adhesive, to the openings in the material 160 at
at least one of the ends 162, as shown in FIG. 16C. The opposite
end 164 is preferably blocked so that all of the air passing
through the voids in the material 160 exits through the vents 166.
The material may also include a drain hole therein for any
condensation to exit the voids in the material 160. Ideally the
material includes perforations only on the use side of the material
to that condensation running through the channels does not
penetrate to the other side of the material.
[0041] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16B, the material 160 runs
along the seat and the seat back portions of the seat beginning at
or near the front of the seat and extending in a single piece at or
near the tope of the seat back. In this instance, air may be forced
from the front end of the seat or from any other point in the
material 160. For example, a row 176 of nipples 174 may be inserted
from the bottom of the material so that the nipples 174 perforate
the wall of the circular channels of the material 160, as shown in
FIG. 16C, at the point in the seat where the seat portion meets the
seat back portion. Air may also be forced into the material 160
from opposite ends of the material. In this instance, some of the
nipples 172 may be inserted in a row on one end while another row
of nipples 172 is inserted on the opposite end near the point where
the seat portion and the seat back portion meet. The nipples 172 in
a row may be inserted in every other opening in the material 172 so
that the air in adjacent channels flows in opposite directions.
Each of the rows may be coupled to the air conditioner separately
to provide separate zones in a single material 160.
[0042] A plurality of materials 160 may also be installed in the
seat each in a different location. For example, a first material
160 may be installed in the seat portion and a second material 160
may be installed in the seat back portion of the seat. In this
instance, each of the materials 160 may be coupled to the air
conditioner separately. This beneficially allows the seat to
provide at least two zones of air conditioning in the seat, one
zone for each material.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 16D, in one embodiment, the air conduit or
manifold 178, 180, or 182 that supplies heated or cooled air to the
material 160 is positioned in the crotch of the seat where the seat
portion meets the seat back. Conduit 178, 182 can have one row of
nipple or conduit 180 may have two rows of nipples for insertion
into the circular channels of the material 160. That is, one of the
rows of the conduit 178 may feed the material extending through the
seat portion and/or one of the rows of the conduit 182 may feed
that material extending through the seat back. If two separate
strips of material are used, e.g., one for the seat portion and one
for the seat back, then one can position the nipples on the conduit
172 90 degrees from each other, as shown in FIG. 16E, and the
nipples would be fixed in place directly into the channels of the
material. If a single strip of material is used for both of the
seat and the seat back then a single row of nipples may be inserted
thru one of the outer walls of the material, directly into the
channels in the material.
[0044] In this respect, the material 160 provides ventilation with
comfortable support for the passengers of the vehicle. The material
160 may be installed in the seat in such a way to tailor the
support that the material 160 provides. For example, the material
160 may be disposed so that the ribs extend from the front to the
back of the seat portion or in the reverse. Similarly, the material
160 may be disposed so that the ribs extend from the top to the
bottom of the back portion or in the reverse. Multiple layers may
also be used as discussed herein. The size of the vents may vary to
provide air in different velocities at certain portions of the
seat. For example, larger holes may be provided in the seat as
opposed to the seat back. Providing air conditioning to occupants
locally as discussed herein beneficially uses less energy to keep
occupants of the vehicle comfortable than blowing air into the
vehicle. In this respect, the ventilation system reduces the load
on the vehicles engine or electric motor, which allows designers to
specify smaller displacement, more fuel efficient engines or motors
in new cars.
[0045] The material may also be installed on the butt end of a gun
stock to absorb the recoil energy from the gun when it is fired as
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. That is, one or more layers of the
material may be attached to the tail end of the gun so that the
ribs of the material extent longitudinally, laterally, diagonally,
or a combination thereof In the embodiment of FIG. 17, two layers
of the material are installed on the end of the gun stock so that
the ribs of both layers extend laterally. Although the ribs of the
material are shown disposed inline with each other, the ribs may
also be staggered to tailor the feel of the material as desired. In
the embodiment of FIG. 18, one of the layers extends laterally
while the other extends longitudinally.
[0046] As noted above, the material may be installed as or in a
sole in a shoe. The material may be installed in a sole having a
first cavity with a depth essentially the thickness of a layer of
the material and a second cavity in the heel portion with a depth
essentially twice the thickness of the material. In this instance,
a first section of the material may be installed in the heel and a
second section of the material may be installed on top of the first
section to provide extra shock absorption in the heel of the sole.
The second section preferably extends over essentially the entire
length and/or width of the cavity within the sole. The layers of
the sections of the material may be installed so that the ribs of
the material extent longitudinally, laterally, diagonally, or a
combination thereof That is, the ribs in one of the sections may
run in a first direction while the ribs in another of the sections
extend in a different direction.
[0047] While the foregoing invention has been described in some
detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be
appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the
disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made
without departing from the true scope of the invention in the
appended claims.
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