Body Protecting Device

Abstract

A body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: an impact surface; and an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each of said cells comprises a tube, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface.

1 . A body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising:
 an impact surface;   an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each of said cells comprises a tube, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface.   
   
   
       2 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of each tube is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface. 
   
   
       3 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of each tube is arranged at an angle of between 15° and 30° to a line normal to the impact surface. 
   
   
       4 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the oblique arrangement of tubes is adapted to provide deflecting means for causing lateral deflection of the impact of an impacting object at the impacting surface. 
   
   
       5 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the impact surface is convex. 
   
   
       6 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim including an inner surface, and wherein the axis of the one or more tubes extends from the impact surface towards the inner surface. 
   
   
       7 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the array is localised at a particular area in the plane of the body protecting device. 
   
   
       8 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of arrays are provided at different locations of the body protecting device. 
   
   
       9 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the plurality of arrays include tubes which are orientated at a different oblique angle to the tubes of the other of the plurality of arrays. 
   
   
       10 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the device also includes one or more arrays of tubes in which the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle which is normal to the impact surface. 
   
   
       11 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 8  to  10 , wherein each of the plurality of arrays comprises an insert provided at a spacing member. 
   
   
       12 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the spacing member is formed from at least a foam material. 
   
   
       13 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body protecting device comprises a safety helmet. 
   
   
       14 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which abuts the side wall of at least another tube. 
   
   
       15 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube. 
   
   
       16 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube by an adhesive. 
   
   
       17 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 15  or  16 , wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube substantially along the length of the tube. 
   
   
       18 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more tubes may be formed from an inner core comprising a first material and an outer core comprising a second material. 
   
   
       19 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second material is a polymer, and wherein the second material has a lower melting temperature than the first material. 
   
   
       20 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein substantially each tube is near or adjacent to at least three other tubes. 
   
   
       21 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein substantially each tube is near or adjacent to six other tubes. 
   
   
       22 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each tube has a diameter of between 2 and 25 mm. 
   
   
       23 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the side wall of each tube is less than 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       24 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the length of each tube is between 10 and 50 mm. 
   
   
       25 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the array of energy absorbing cells is provided as an integral material. 
   
   
       26 . A body protecting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the density of the material is between 60 and 100 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       27 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the integral material comprises one of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyetherimide, polyethersulphone, polyphenylsulphone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene vinyl acetate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
   
   
       28 . A body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising:
 an impact surface;   an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each cell comprises a tube; and   deflecting means adapted to cause lateral deflection of the impact of an impacting object at the impacting surface.   
   
   
       29 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the deflecting means is provided by arrangement of the axis of each tube at an oblique angle to the impact surface. 
   
   
       30 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the axis of each tube is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface. 
   
   
       31 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 28  to  30 , wherein the array is localised at a particular area in the plane of the device. 
   
   
       32 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 28  to  30 , wherein a plurality of arrays are provided at different locations of the device. 
   
   
       33 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the plurality of arrays include tubes which are orientated at a different oblique angle to the tubes of the other of the plurality of arrays. 
   
   
       34 . A method of absorbing energy imparted by an impact load applied in a first direction comprising:
 providing an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each of said cells comprises a tube;   orientating the array such that the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is at an oblique angle to the first direction.   
   
   
       35 . A body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising:
 a spacing member formed from at least a first material and defining one or more receptacles in the plane of the spacing member; and   one or more inserts formed from a second material, the or each insert located at a receptacle of the spacing member.   
   
   
       36 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the or each receptacle is an aperture, recess or cavity. 
   
   
       37 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 35  or  36 , wherein the spacing member defines a plurality of receptacles at selected locations in the plane of the spacing member. 
   
   
       38 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 35  to  37 , wherein the first material comprises a foam. 
   
   
       39 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 35  to  38 , wherein the or each insert comprises an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each cell comprises a tube. 
   
   
       40 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 39 , including an impact surface, and wherein the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface. 
   
   
       41 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the axis of one or more tubes is arranged at an angle of between 5° and 45° to a line normal to the impact surface. 
   
   
       42 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 40  or  41 , wherein the oblique arrangement of tubes is adapted to provide deflecting means for causing lateral deflection of an impacting object. 
   
   
       43 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 35  to  42 , including an inner surface, and wherein the axis of the one or more tubes extend from the impact surface towards the inner surface. 
   
   
       44 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 35  to  43 , wherein the body protecting device comprises a safety helmet. 
   
   
       45 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 39  to  43 , wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which abuts the side wall of at least another tube. 
   
   
       46 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube. 
   
   
       47 . A body protecting device as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein substantially each tube has a side wall which is connected to the side wall of at least another tube substantially along the length of the tube. 
   
   
       48 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 39  to  43  or any of  claims 45  to  47 , wherein the array of energy absorbing cells is provided as an integral material. 
   
   
       49 . A body protecting device as claimed in any of  claims 39  to  43  or any of  claims 45  to  48 , wherein the array defines a first and second discontinuous surface, and wherein a sealing material is provided at one or both of the first and second discontinuous surfaces. 
   
   
       50 . A method of forming a body protecting device for wearing by a user, the method comprising:
 forming a spacing member from a first material, the spacing member defining one or more receptacles in the plane of the spacing member;   forming one or more inserts from a second material; and   locating the or each insert at a receptacle of the spacing member.   
   
   
       51 . A method as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the spacing member defines a plurality of receptacles at selected locations in the plane of the spacing member. 
   
   
       52 . A method as claimed in  claim 50  or  51 , including locating the or each insert at the receptacle before or during forming the spacing member. 
   
   
       53 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 50  to  52 , including encapsulating the or each insert within the spacing member. 
   
   
       54 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 50  to  53 , wherein the first material comprises a foam. 
   
   
       55 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 50  to  54 , wherein the or each insert comprises an array of energy absorbing cells, and wherein each cell comprises a tube. 
   
   
       56 . A method as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the array defines a first and second discontinuous surface, and the method includes providing a sealing material at one or both of the first and second discontinuous surfaces.