System, method, article of manufacture and apparatus for protecting an individual from sustaining a concussion and for measuring and evaluating concussion risk arising from a collision

Abstract

Herein is disclosed a protective balaclava. The balaclava may include a layer of foam, which may bear certain non-Newtonian properties, such as hardening in response to impact. To a wearer of such a balaclava, the risk of concussion in response to collision, for example, is significantly reduced. The balaclava may be worn in conjunction with other protective wear, such as a helmet. The balaclava may include various features to permit a snug fit between the foam and the human form, even though the balaclava may be sized according to head size. The balaclava may include sensors that record linear and angular acceleration, such as linear and angular acceleration of the head, along with sensors recording other data. The sensors may be coupled to a microcontroller that may be coupled to a transceiver, which may transmit such data to permit it to be accessed to evaluate concussion risk, among other purposes.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . An article of manufacture suitable to be worn by a wearer, said article of manufacture comprising:
 a first layer of fabric;   a second layer of fabric;   a layer of foam interposed between said first layer of fabric and said second layer of fabric, wherein said layer of foam is enclosed by said first and second layers of fabric and formed into a balaclava.   
     
     
         2 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said foam is a non-Newtonian foam. 
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein said foam is in the form of a sheet including one or more darts, and wherein said sheet is no more than seven millimeters thick. 
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of foam comprises a single, continuous sheet of foam including one or more darts. 
     
     
         5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of foam comprises plural pieces of foam. 
     
     
         6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said balaclava is shaped to extend to a sternum of said wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6 , wherein said balaclava is shaped to extend to a sternum of said wearer, and to extend no further. 
     
     
         8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said balaclava is shaped to extend to a neck of said wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 8 , wherein said balaclava is shaped to extend to a neck of said wearer, and to extend no further. 
     
     
         10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein said layer of foam is perforated in at least a first region and a second region, and wherein, upon having formed said first layer of fabric, second layer of fabric and layer of foam into a balaclava, at least a portion of said first region is proximate to a first ear of said wearer and at least a portion of said second region is proximate to a second ear of said wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A balaclava suitable to be worn by a wearer having a calvaria, crown of head, neck, chest and back, said balaclava comprising:
 an impact-hardening foam in one or more regions of said balaclava, which, when said balaclava is worn by said wearer, substantially cover at least said calvaria and neck of said wearer.   
     
     
         12 . The balaclava of  claim 11 , wherein said impact-hardening foam is an open-cell urethane foam. 
     
     
         13 . The balaclava of  claim 12 , wherein, when said balaclava is worn by said wearer, said one or more regions cover at least a portion of said chest and said back of said wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The balaclava of  claim 13 , wherein said impact-hardening foam is perforated. 
     
     
         15 . The balaclava of  claim 14 , wherein said impact-hardening foam is enclosed in fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The balaclava of  claim 15 , wherein said fabric exhibits a two-way stretch, having an axis along which said fabric does not stretch. 
     
     
         17 . The balaclava of  claim 16 , wherein said balaclava includes a zero-way stretch fusible attached to said fabric in an area that, when said balaclava is worn by said wearer, is proximal to said crown of head of said wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The balaclava of  claim 17 , wherein said balaclava includes at least one pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The balaclava of  claim 18 , wherein said balaclava includes at least one section that excludes said impact-hardening foam and includes mesh. 
     
     
         20 . A balaclava suitable to be worn by a wearer having a head, neck, shoulders, chest and back, said balaclava comprising:
 an impact-hardening foam;   a means for preventing said impact-hardening foam from tearing during athletic activity by said wearer;   a means for permitting said wearer to select a size of said balaclava based exclusively upon a size of said head of said wearer, while permitting said balaclava to fit snugly to said neck of said wearer;   a means for permitting said wearer to select a size of said balaclava based exclusively upon a size of said head of said wearer, while permitting said balaclava to fit snugly to said chest of said wearer; and   a means for permitting said wearer to select a size of said balaclava based exclusively upon a size of said head of said wearer, while permitting said balaclava to fit snugly to said back of said wearer.