Body Protection

Abstract

A body protection assembly is disclosed for protecting a human body from injury due to an impact. An internal planar structure ( 102 ) defines the shape of the apparatus and an outer layer of a flexible sheet material ( 105 ) has a shape defined by the internal planar structure. The internal planar structure is constructed from a plurality of cells such that, in response to an impact, the cells at the position of an impact region deform to absorb kinetic energy. Furthermore, the outer layer of flexible sheet material extends the size of the impact region so as to increase the number of cells that absorb this kinetic energy.

1 . A body protection apparatus for absorbing the energy of an impact, comprising:
 an internal planar structure constructed from a plurality of open cells configured to deform under load; and   an outer layer of a flexible sheet material arranged to overlie a surface of the internal planar structure, wherein:   the outer layer of flexible material is held in place relative to the internal planar structure such that the outer layer of flexible material increases the area of energy absorption under impact.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer flexible layer is held in place relative to the internal planar structure at its edges. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of flexible material is attached to the internal planar structure to hold the layers in place. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of adhesive between said internal planar structure and said flexible material to attach the flexible material in place. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said internal planar structure is a honeycomb material comprising a plurality of tubular open cells arranged normally to the surface to be impacted. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of said tubular cells is welded to at least one other of said tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , configured to protect against spinal injury. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , including attachments for attaching the apparatus into position over the spine of a user. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is configured to be received within an item of clothing or a wearable item of luggage. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of flexible material covers both a front surface and a rear surface of said internal planar structure. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer rim surrounding an edge of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of flexible material is a breathable material knitted or woven from a yarn 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of flexible material is a plastic sheet material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said outer layer of plastic sheet material includes a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a body protection apparatus for absorbing the energy of an impact, comprising the steps of:
 constructing an internal planar structure from a plurality of open cells configured to deform under load; and   arranging an outer layer of a flexible material to overlie a surface of said internal planar structure; wherein   the outer layer of flexible material is held in place relative to the internal planar structure such that the outer layer of flexible material increases the area of energy absorption under impact.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of attaching the outer layer of flexible material to the internal planar structure to hold the layers in place. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said constructing step further comprises the steps of:
 extruding tubes with an inner circumference of a first material and an outer circumference of a second material, said second material having a lower melting point than said inner material;   cutting predetermined lengths of said extruded tubes;   arranging said predetermined lengths into said planar structure; and   applying heat to melt a portion of said outer circumferences without melting respective inner circumferences.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said tubes have an outer diameter between two millimetre (2 mm) and nine millimetre (9 mm). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said tubes have a thickness of less than seven hundred and fifty micro metre (0.75 mm). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of forming holes in said flexible material.