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 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . An automatically adjustable 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;    a connection structure;    means for continuously monitoring a status of a vehicle and/or driver; and    at least one dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid, the at least one dashpot positioned between and connected to the helmet and the connection structure, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot automatically changes in response to or in anticipation of a change in a load being applied to the helmet and head of the wearer.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the connection structure is part of the vehicle.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the connection structure is a safety harness.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the controllable rheological fluid is magneto-rheological fluid.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the controllable rheological fluid is electro-rheological fluid.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising two dashpots containing a controllable rheological fluid.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising four dashpots containing a controllable rheological fluid.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a rolling harness connector connecting one end of the dashpot to the connection structure.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for continuously monitoring includes an accelerometer.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for continuously monitoring includes a yaw sensor.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for continuously monitoring includes a global positioning system.  
   
   
       46 . An automatically adjustable 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 bladder positionable around a wearer's neck and containing a controllable rheological, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the bladder automatically changes based on changes in a load being applied to the head of the wearer.    
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , further comprising a helmet connected to a top portion of the bladder.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising a shoulder/chest plate connected to a bottom portion of the bladder.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the bladder generates a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head.  
   
   
       50 . A method of automatically 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: 
 providing an occupant of a moving vehicle with a system comprising: 
 a helmet,  
 a connection structure,  
 means for continuously monitoring a status of a vehicle and/or driver, and  
 at least one dashpot containing a controllable rheological fluid, the at least one dashpot positioned between and connected to the helmet and the connection structure, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot automatically changes in response to or in anticipation of a change in a load being applied to the helmet and head of the wearer;  
   continuously monitoring the status of at least one of the vehicle and the occupant; and    automatically changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot in response to changes in the status.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the rheological fluid is magneto-rheological fluid, and wherein automatically changing the viscosity includes applying a magnetic field to the fluid.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the rheological fluid is electro-rheological fluid, and wherein automatically changing the viscosity includes applying a charge to the fluid.  
   
   
       53 . A method of automatically 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: 
 providing an occupant of a moving vehicle with a system comprising a bladder positionable around a wearer's neck and containing a controllable rheological, wherein the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the bladder automatically changes based on changes in a load being applied to the head of the wearer;    continuously monitoring the status of at least one of the vehicle and the occupant; and    automatically changing the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the dashpot in response to changes in the status.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the rheological fluid is magneto-rheological fluid, and wherein automatically changing the viscosity includes applying a magnetic field to the fluid.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the rheological fluid is electro-rheological fluid, and wherein automatically changing the viscosity includes applying a charge to the fluid.  
   
   
       56 . A 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 having an upper portion and a lower portion connected via a hinge; and    at least one resisting member having a first end connected to the upper portion of the helmet and having a second end connected to the lower portion of the helmet, wherein the at least one resisting member generates a reaction force that substantially opposes a crash impact force to yield a reduced net force on the head.    
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one resisting member is a dashpot.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one resisting member is a magneto-rheological fluid-based dashpot.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one resisting member is an electro-rheological fluid-based dashpot.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 56 , further comprising two resisting members.