Head stabilizing system

Abstract

A head stabilizing system is provided. The head stabilizing system is intended to minimize loads on the head and the neck, some of which may be injurious or even fatal, by generating a reaction force that substantially opposes a force acting on the head and generated by rapid deceleration of a vehicle or a crash impact. The head stabilizing system includes a helmet, a connection structure, and at least one resisting member. The resisting member generates a reaction force that opposes the crash impact force, yielding a reduced net force on the head. This reaction force can be generated as a function of position, velocity or acceleration. The resisting member may include a tether, a dashpot, or a dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid. The viscosity of the controllable rheological fluid can be automatically adjusted in response to changes in status of a vehicle or it's occupant.

1 - 60 . (canceled)  
   
   
       61 . A passive head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body, comprising: 
 a passive resisting member having first and second ends, at least the first end being configured to be pivotably connected to another structure;    a helmet mount connector configured to pivotably connect the passive resisting member to a helmet, the helmet mount connector being pivotably connected to the first end of the passive resisting member; and    a shoulder/chest plate connector configured to connect to a shoulder/chest plate worn by the wearer, the shoulder/chest plate connector being connected to the second end of the passive resisting member.    
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the passive resisting member is a dashpot.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the passive resisting member is a tether.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising a helmet having a mounting device connectable to the helmet mount connector.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising a shoulder/chest plate to be worn by the wearer, the shoulder/chest plate including an element configured to connect to the shoulder/chest plate connector.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the shoulder/chest plate is configured to engage at least a portion of safety harness.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising a second passive resisting member, wherein the shoulder/chest plate connector includes means for connecting to an end of the second passive resisting member.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the passive resisting member generates a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive resisting member includes a vertical component.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive resisting member includes a horizontal component.  
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive resisting member includes a vertical component and a horizontal component.  
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the passive resisting member is positioned to generate the reaction force that substantially opposes the crash impact force to yield the reduced net force on the head at a point below a center of gravity of the head.  
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the helmet mount connector for connecting the passive resisting member to the helmet is attached to the helmet at a point below a center of gravity of the head.  
   
   
       74 . A passive head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body, comprising: 
 a passive resisting member having first and second ends, at least the first end being configured to be pivotably connected to another structure;    a helmet mount connector configured to pivotably connect the passive resisting member to a helmet, the helmet mount connector being pivotably connected to the first end of the passive resisting member; and    a connector configured to connect to a component worn by the wearer, the connector being connected to the second end of the passive resisting member.    
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the passive resisting member is a dashpot.  
   
   
       76 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the passive resisting member is a tether.  
   
   
       77 . The system of  claim 74 , further comprising a helmet having a mounting device connectable to the helmet mount connector.  
   
   
       78 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the component worn by the wearer is a shoulder/chest plate, the shoulder/chest plate including an element configured to connect to the shoulder/chest plate connector.  
   
   
       79 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the shoulder/chest plate is configured to engage at least a portion of safety harness.  
   
   
       80 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the component worn by the wearer is a yoke.  
   
   
       81 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the component worn by the wearer is a harness.  
   
   
       82 . The system of  claim 74 , further comprising a second passive resisting member, wherein the connector configured to connect to a component worn by the wearer includes means for connecting to an end of the second passive resisting member.  
   
   
       83 . The system of  claim 74 , further comprising a component worn by the wearer, wherein the component is one of a shoulder/chest plate, a yoke, and a harness.  
   
   
       84 . A passive head stabilizing system for limiting the load acting on a wearer's head and generated by displacement, velocity, or acceleration of the wearer's head with respect to the wearer's body, comprising: 
 a helmet; and    passive means for generating a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head, the passive means including at least one passive resisting member having a body portion, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion,    wherein the body portion is positioned between the first and second connecting portions and the first connecting portion includes a pivoting mechanism and the second connecting portion is configured to connect to a component worn by the wearer.    
   
   
       85 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the at least one passive resisting member includes at least one passive dashpot.  
   
   
       86 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the at least one passive resisting member includes at least one tether.  
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive means includes a vertical component.  
   
   
       88 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive means includes a horizontal component.  
   
   
       89 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the reaction force generated by the passive means includes a vertical component and a horizontal component.  
   
   
       90 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the passive means is positioned to generate the reaction force that substantially opposes the crash impact force to yield the reduced net force on the head at a point below a center of gravity of the head.  
   
   
       91 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the at least one passive resisting member is connected to the helmet at a point below a center of gravity of the head.  
   
   
       92 . The system of  claim 84 , further comprising a component worn by the user, wherein the component is one of a shoulder/chest plate, a yoke, and a harness.