Impact protection device and method of assembly

Abstract

Embodiments of the innovation relate to an impact protection device, comprising: a first shell configured to be disposed on a body portion of a user; a second shell spaced at a distance from the first shell; an elastomeric member spanning the distance between the first shell and the second shell; and an elastomer attachment system configured to secure the elastomeric member between the first shell and the second shell. The elastomer attachment system comprises: a first elastomer attachment mechanism coupled to the first shell, a first portion of the elastomeric member disposed between the first elastomer attachment mechanism and an outer wall of the first shell, and a second elastomer attachment mechanism coupled to the second shell, a second portion of elastomeric member disposed between the second elastomer attachment mechanism and an inner wall of the second shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impact protection device, comprising:
 a first shell configured to be disposed on a body portion of a user;   a second shell spaced at a distance from the first shell;   an elastomeric member spanning the distance between the first shell and the second shell; and   an elastomer attachment system configured to secure the elastomeric member between the first shell and the second shell, the elastomer attachment system comprising:
 a first elastomer attachment mechanism coupled to the first shell, a first portion of the elastomeric member disposed between the first elastomer attachment mechanism and an outer wall of the first shell, and 
 a second elastomer attachment mechanism coupled to the second shell, a second portion of the elastomeric member disposed between the second elastomer attachment mechanism and an inner wall of the second shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The impact protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer attachment mechanism comprises:
 a first attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the first attachment section to the first shell;   a second attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the second attachment section to the first shell; and   a body section disposed between the first attachment section and the second attachment section, the second attachment section configured to secure the first portion of the elastomeric member against the first shell.   
     
     
         3 . The impact protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises:
 a first attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the first attachment section to the second shell;   a second attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the second attachment section to the second shell; and   a body section disposed between the first attachment section and the second attachment section, the second attachment section configured to secure the second portion of the elastomeric member against the second shell.   
     
     
         4 . The impact protection device of  claim 3 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises a first bend location disposed between the first attachment section and the body section, the first bend location configured to orient the first attachment section along a first direction relative to the body section. 
     
     
         5 . The impact protection device of  claim 3 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises a second bend location disposed between the second attachment section and the body section and is configured to orient the second attachment section along a second direction relative to body section. 
     
     
         6 . The impact protection device of  claim 3 , wherein second attachment section defines a curved edge configured to engage a portion of the elastomeric member. 
     
     
         7 . The impact protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric member comprises a loop-shaped elastomeric band. 
     
     
         8 . The impact protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric member comprises a first elastomeric device and a second elastomeric device, the first elastomeric device having a first elastic modulus and the second elastomeric device having a second elastic modulus, the first elastic modulus being distinct from the second elastic modulus. 
     
     
         9 . The impact protection device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first elastomeric device and the second elastomeric device configured as a loop-shaped elastomeric band, the first elastomeric device nested within the second elastomeric device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling an impact protection device, comprising:
 securing a first portion of an elastomeric member to an outer surface of a first shell via a first elastomeric attachment mechanism;   coupling a first attachment section of a second elastomeric attachment mechanism to an inner surface of a second shell;   inserting a second attachment section of the second elastomeric attachment mechanism within a second portion of the elastomeric member to dispose the second portion of the elastomeric member between the second elastomeric attachment mechanism and the inner surface of the second shell; and   coupling the second attachment section of the second elastomeric attachment mechanism to the inner surface of the second shell to secure the second portion of the elastomeric member to the inner surface of the second shell.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein securing the first portion of the elastomeric member to the outer surface of the first shell via the first elastomeric attachment mechanism comprises:
 creating a set of openings in the first shell corresponding to the locations of the openings defined by the first elastomer attachment mechanism;   placing the first portion of the elastomeric member against the outer surface of the first shell in proximity to the set of openings;   disposing the first elastomer attachment mechanism against the first portion of elastomeric band and against the outer surface of the first shell; and   inserting fasteners into the openings defined by the first elastomer attachment mechanism and the set of openings formed in the first shell to secure the elastomeric member and the first elastomer attachment mechanism to the first shell.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein coupling the first attachment section of the second elastomeric attachment mechanism to the inner surface of the second shell comprises:
 creating a set of openings in the second shell corresponding to the locations of the openings defined by the second elastomer attachment mechanism;   disposing the second elastomer attachment mechanism on the inner surface of the second shell; and   inserting fasteners into the openings defined by the first attachment section of the second elastomer attachment mechanism and into the set of openings formed in the second shell.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein inserting the second attachment section of the second elastomeric attachment mechanism within the second portion of the elastomeric member to dispose the second portion of the elastomeric member between the second elastomeric attachment mechanism and the inner surface of the second shell comprises:
 inserting a curved edge of the second attachment section into a loop defined by the elastomeric member to dispose the second portion of the elastomeric member between the body section of the second attachment section and the inner surface of the second shell.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein coupling the second attachment section of the second elastomeric attachment mechanism to the inner surface of the second shell to secure the second portion of the elastomeric member to the inner surface of the second shell comprises:
 inserting fasteners into the openings defined by the second attachment section of the second elastomer attachment mechanism and into the corresponding openings formed in the second shell to secure the second portion of the elastomeric member between the inner wall of the second shell and the second elastomer attachment mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . An elastomer attachment system, comprising:
 an elastomeric member;   a first elastomer attachment mechanism configured to capture a first portion of the elastomeric member between the first elastomer attachment mechanism and an outer wall of a first shell of an impact protection device; and   a second elastomer attachment mechanism configured to capture a second portion of the elastomeric member between the second elastomer attachment mechanism and an inner wall of a second shell of the impact protection device.   
     
     
         16 . The elastomer attachment system of  claim 15 , wherein the first elastomer attachment mechanism comprises:
 a first attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the first attachment section to the first shell;   a second attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the second attachment section to the first shell; and   a body section disposed between the first attachment section and the second attachment section, the second attachment section configured to secure the first portion of the elastomeric member against the first shell.   
     
     
         17 . The elastomer attachment system of  claim 15 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises:
 a first attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the first attachment section to the second shell;   a second attachment section defining at least one opening configured to receive at least one fastener to couple the second attachment section to the second shell; and   a body section disposed between the first attachment section and the second attachment section, the second attachment section configured to secure the second portion of the elastomeric member against the second shell.   
     
     
         18 . The elastomer attachment system of  claim 17 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises a first bend location disposed between the first attachment section and the body section, the first bend location configured to orient the first attachment section along a first direction relative to the body section. 
     
     
         19 . The elastomer attachment system of  claim 17 , wherein the second elastomer attachment mechanism comprises a second bend location disposed between the second attachment section and the body section and is configured to orient the second attachment section along a second direction relative to body section. 
     
     
         20 . The elastomer attachment system of  claim 17 , wherein second attachment section defines a curved edge configured to engage a portion of the elastomeric member.