Impact protection structure

Abstract

The invention relates to an impact protection structure, in particular for a helmet, to absorb kinetic energy during an impact, in particular a fall, comprising a plurality of cells arranged next to one another, wherein each cell has a hollow interior (1), which is delimited by at least one side wall (2), wherein cells adjoining one another have at least one common side wall (2), wherein the interior (1) and the side walls (2) run from an outer side (3) of the impact protection structure to an inner side (4) of the impact protection structure opposing the outer side (3), wherein at least one side wall (2) of a cell has at least one recess (5).

1 . An impact protection structure, in particular for a helmet, to absorb kinetic energy during an impact, in particular a fall, comprising a plurality of cells arranged next to one another, wherein each cell has a hollow interior ( 1 ), which is delimited by at least one side wall ( 2 ), wherein cells adjoining one another have at least one common side wall ( 2 ), wherein the interior ( 1 ) and the side walls ( 2 ) run from an outer side ( 3 ) of the impact protection structure to an inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure opposing the outer side ( 3 ),
 characterized in that at least one side wall ( 2 ) of a cell has at least one recess ( 5 ).   
     
     
         2 . The impact protection structure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer side ( 3 ) and/or the inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure is arranged in a flat or curved, in particular parabolic or hemispherical surface. 
     
     
         3 . The impact protection structure according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the impact protection structure on the inner side ( 4 ) has an inner contact surface ( 4 ) formed by the cross-sectional surface of the side wall ( 2 ) delimiting the side wall ( 2 ) on the inner side. 
     
     
         4 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the cross-section of the interior ( 1 ) of the cells tapers from the outer side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure towards the inner side ( 3 ), wherein in particular it is provided that the side walls ( 2 ) expand from the outer side ( 3 ) towards the inner side ( 4 ), preferably at an angle of between 0.5 to 5°. 
     
     
         5 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the side walls ( 2 ) from the outer side ( 3 ) to the inner side ( 4 ) have a height of 0.3 cm to 50 cm, in particular of 0.5 cm to 20 cm and/or in that the side walls ( 2 ) in the cross-section have a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that in the region of the recess ( 5 ) the surface of the side wall ( 2 ) is reduced, wherein it is in particular provided that the recess ( 5 ) is arranged adjoining the outer side ( 3 ) and/or the inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure, wherein the height of the side wall ( 2 ) is reduced in the region of the recess ( 5 ). 
     
     
         7 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the recess ( 5 ) is formed as an arc or polygon, in particular as a rectangle and/or
 in that the recess ( 5 ) is arranged in a middle region of the side wall ( 2 ) spaced apart from the side walls ( 2 ) adjoining the respective side wall ( 2 ) and/or 
 in that the recess ( 5 ) is 0.01% to 70%, in particular 15% to 60%, preferably 30% to 50% of the area of the respective side wall ( 2 ). 
 
     
     
         8 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that 5% to 100%, in particular at least 20%, preferably at least 70% of the cells have a side wall ( 2 ) with a recess ( 5 ). 
     
     
         9 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that the surface of the side wall ( 2 ) facing the interior ( 1 ) is formed flat or is composed of a plurality of in each case flat surface regions. 
     
     
         10 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that the cells of the impact protection structure form a honeycomb structure and/or
 in that the interior ( 1 ) has at least one cell, in particular a plurality of cells adjoining one another, a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, cross-section, wherein it is preferably provided that the interior ( 1 ) of a number of the cells on the outer side ( 3 ) and/or on the inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure has a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, cross-section. 
 
     
     
         11 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the cells each have six side walls ( 2 ), wherein the edges of the side walls ( 2 ) delimit the cross-sectional surface of the interior ( 1 ) and have an edge length, wherein side walls ( 2 ) opposing one another in relation to the interior ( 1 ) each have the same edge length and wherein it is in particular provided that four long side walls ( 2 ) are provided with a longer edge length and two short side walls ( 2 ) with a shorter edge length. 
     
     
         12 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , characterized in that in each case one recess ( 5 ) is formed in at least two, in particular in all four long, side walls ( 2 ) of a cell opposing one another in relation to the interior ( 1 ) and/or
 in that no recess ( 5 ) is formed in two, in particular short, side walls ( 2 ) of a cell opposing one another in relation to the interior ( 1 ). 
 
     
     
         13 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 3  to  12 , characterized in that the inner contact surface of cells adjoining one another forms an arrow delimited by recesses ( 5 ), located in particular in the surface of the inner side and open on both sides. 
     
     
         14 . The impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , characterized in that the impact protection structure consists of a, in particular foamed, thermoplastic elastomer, preferably of polyurethane, copolyester, polyamide, polyolefin and/or styrene block copolymer. 
     
     
         15 . An impact protector, in particular helmet, comprising an impact protection structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , characterized in that fastening means are provided for fastening to a body to be protected, wherein the inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure can be arranged facing the body and wherein the recess ( 5 ) is provided on the inner side ( 4 ) of the impact protection structure. 
     
     
         16 . The impact protector, in particular according to  claim 15 , comprising an impact protection structure, in particular according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , characterized in that an outer shell is arranged on the impact protection structure at an outer side ( 3 ) of the impact protection structure which can be arranged facing away from the body to be protected. 
     
     
         17 . The impact protector according to  claim 16 , characterized in that fastening elements, in particular belts, are provided at the connection points ( 6 ) for fastening the impact protector to a body. 
     
     
         18 . The impact protector according to any one of  claims 15  to  17 , characterized in that the outer shell is formed of a thermoplastic material or polycarbonate or a carbon fiber material.