Material for mitigating impact forces with collision durations in nanoseconds to milliseconds range

Abstract

Material for mitigating impact forces with collision durations in nanoseconds to milliseconds range is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an object wearable on or against a human body comprises one of a layer of polyurea material and plug of polyurea material, and the layer of polyurea material or plug of polyurea material is positioned within the object or on the object between the human body and an outer structure of the object.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A shoe, comprising:
 an upper structure;   outsole; and   one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material positioned between the upper structure and the outsole, and positionable below a user's foot when the user's foot is inserted into the shoe for use.   
     
     
         37 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , further comprising a midsole, and wherein the layer of polyurea material is an insole. 
     
     
         38 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , further comprising an insole, and wherein the layer of polyurea material is a midsole. 
     
     
         39 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , further comprising an insole, a midsole, and wherein the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is positioned within a hole formed in the midsole. 
     
     
         40 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , further comprising a heel cushion positioned above the outsole. 
     
     
         41 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , wherein the polyurea material comprises a mixture hard and soft phase material wherein the soft phase material comprises oligomeric diamine prepolymer and the hard phase material comprises modified diphenylmethane diisoyanate, wherein the mixture comprises ratio of soft phase to hard phase material of about 4 to 1. 
     
     
         42 . The shoe according to  claim 36 , wherein the polyurea material comprises a mixture hard and soft phase material wherein the soft phase material comprises oligomeric diamine prepolymer and the hard phase material comprises modified diphenylmethane diisoyanate, wherein the mixture comprises a ratio of soft phase to hard phase material in a range of about 2:1 to 8:1. 
     
     
         43 . The shoe according to  claim 36  wherein the thickness of the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is between 0.1 mm and 10 cm. 
     
     
         44 . The shoe according to  claim 36  the thickness of the layer of polyurea material is between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
         45 . The shoe according to  claim 36  wherein the of the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is adapted to reduce the magnitude of impact forces transmitted through the shoe to a wearer of the shoe by 15 to 20% for impact forces received in a direction normal to the layer or plug of polyurea material wherein the impact forces are governed by force time curves on the order of 1 ns to 100 ms. 
     
     
         46 . The shoe according to  claim 36  wherein the of the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is adapted to deflect impact forces received in a direction normal to the layer or plug of polyurea material laterally within the plane of the layer or plug of polyurea material. 
     
     
         47 . A method for reducing the magnitude of impact forces transmitted through a shoe to a wearer of the shoe, the steps comprising
 striking a shoe to a surface during the course of an activity conducted by a wearer of the shoe, the shoe comprising an upper structure, an outsole, and one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material positioned between the upper structure and the outsole and below the wearer of the shoe's foot, and   deflecting impact forces resulting from the shoe striking the surface and received in a direction normal to the layer or plug of polyurea material laterally within the plane of the layer or plug of polyurea material.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the step of deflecting impact forces laterally includes reducing the magnitude of the impact forces transmitted through the shoe to the wearer of the shoe by 15 to 20%. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the shoe further comprises a midsole, and wherein the layer of polyurea material is an insole. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the shoe further comprises an insole, and wherein the layer of polyurea material is a midsole. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the shoe further comprises an insole, a midsole, and wherein the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is positioned within a hole formed in the midsole. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the polyurea material comprises a mixture hard and soft phase material wherein the soft phase material comprises oligomeric diamine prepolymer and the hard phase material comprises modified diphenylmethane diisoyanate, wherein the mixture comprises ratio of soft phase to hard phase material of about 4 to 1. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the polyurea material comprises a mixture hard and soft phase material wherein the soft phase material comprises oligomeric diamine prepolymer and the hard phase material comprises modified diphenylmethane diisoyanate, wherein the mixture comprises a ratio of soft phase to hard phase material in a range of about 2:1 to 8:1. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the thickness of the one of a layer of polyurea material and a plug of polyurea material is between 0.1 mm and 10 cm. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the thickness of the layer of polyurea material is between 0.5 and 1 mm.