Fluid-based exoskeletal body armor with climate control

Abstract

A protective suit comprising: a head portion comprising a fluid-filled head portion chamber; a neck portion releasably secured to the head portion and comprising a neck portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled head portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and a torso portion releasably secured to the neck portion and comprising a fluid-filled torso portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and wherein the head portion is configured to be disposed on a head of the wearer, the neck portion is configured to be disposed in an arcuate manner around a neck of the wearer, and the torso portion is configured to be disposed on a torso of the wearer, such that when a force of an impact is received on the head portion, fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber is transferred into the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer, and when a force of an impact is received on the torso portion, fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is transferred to the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective system comprising:
 a protective suit configured to be worn by a wearer, the protective suit comprising:
 a head portion comprising a fluid-filled head portion chamber; 
 a neck portion releasably secured to the head portion and comprising a neck portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled head portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and 
 a torso portion releasably secured to the neck portion and comprising a fluid-filled torso portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and 
   wherein the head portion is configured to be disposed on a head of the wearer, the neck portion is configured to be disposed in an arcuate manner around a neck of the wearer, and the torso portion is configured to be disposed on a torso of the wearer, such that when a force of an impact is received on the head portion, fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber is transferred into the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer, and when a force of an impact is received on the torso portion, fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is transferred to the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein after the force of the impact to the individual has been removed, the fluid in the neck portion chamber flows back into the fluid-filled head portion chamber and the fluid-filled torso portion chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
         5 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber comprises a left-side fluid bladder portion, a right-side fluid bladder portion and a rear fluid bladder portion. 
     
     
         6 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the torso portion and the head portion comprises an input/output valve for injecting or removing fluid from the protective suit in order to adjust the body temperature of the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the torso portion and the head portion comprises an input/output valve for injecting or removing fluid from the protective suit in order to adjust the pressure within the head portion, the neck portion or the torso portion. 
     
     
         8 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a compressive base layer for disposition under the protective suit. 
     
     
         9 . The protective system of  claim 8  wherein the compressive base layer comprises a head portion, a torso portion and a leg portion. 
     
     
         10 . The protective system of  claim 8  wherein the compressive base layer comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physiological condition of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The protective system of  claim 10  wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting data relating to the at least one physiological condition to a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises an outer vest for disposition over the torso portion of the protective suit. 
     
     
         13 . The protective system of  claim 12  wherein the outer vest comprises a plurality of rigid, overlapping plates. 
     
     
         14 . The protective system of  claim 13  wherein the torso portion of the protective suit comprises a plurality of holes, and further wherein the outer vest is connected to the torso portion by passing at least one fastener through at least one of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         15 . The protective system of  claim 12  wherein the outer vest comprises an electronics module comprising at least one of an accelerometer for detecting a force of an impact, a sensor for obtaining physiological data from the wearer, a sensor for measuring the fluid within the protective suit, a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to a mobile device, an indicator light and a rechargeable battery for powering the electronics module. 
     
     
         16 . The protective system of  claim 15  wherein the indicator light lights up when a force of an impact on the wearer exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The protective system of  claim 16  wherein the predetermined threshold is adjusted based on at least one from the group consisting of wearer height, wearer weight, and wearer concussive history. 
     
     
         18 . The protective system of  claim 15  wherein the electronics module is removable from the outer vest. 
     
     
         19 . The protective system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a helmet for disposition over the head portion of the protective suit. 
     
     
         20 . The protective system of  claim 19  wherein the helmet comprises a flexible outer shell comprising a plurality of slats separated by grooves. 
     
     
         21 . The protective system of  claim 20  wherein when a force of an impact is received to the helmet, the slats compress the fluid-filled head portion chamber to move the fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber to the neck portion chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The protective system of  claim 19  wherein the helmet comprises a pivotable face shield. 
     
     
         23 . The protective system of  claim 20  wherein the helmet comprises a face shield, wherein when a force of an impact is received to the face shield, the face shield moves posteriorly within the grooves of the helmet to compress the plurality of slats of the helmet, whereby to compress the fluid-filled head portion chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The protective system of  claim 19  wherein the helmet comprises an electronics module comprising at least one of an accelerometer for detecting a force of an impact, a sensor for obtaining physiological data from the wearer, a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to a mobile device, an indicator light and a rechargeable battery for powering the electronics module. 
     
     
         25 . The protective system of  claim 24  wherein the indicator light lights up when a force of an impact on the wearer exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         26 . The protective system of  claim 25  wherein the predetermined threshold is adjusted based on at least one from the group consisting of wearer height, wearer weight, and wearer concussive history. 
     
     
         27 . The protective system of  claim 24  wherein the electronics module is removable from the helmet. 
     
     
         28 . The protective system of  claim 6  further comprising an air compressor for injecting air into the protective suit. 
     
     
         29 . A method for protecting an individual, the method comprising:
 positioning a protective system on the individual, the protective system comprising:
 a head portion comprising a fluid-filled head portion chamber; 
 a neck portion releasably secured to the head portion and comprising a neck portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled head portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and 
 a torso portion releasably secured to the neck portion and comprising a fluid-filled torso portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and 
 wherein the head portion is disposed on a head of the individual, the neck portion is disposed in an arcuate manner around a neck of the individual, and the torso portion is disposed on a torso of the individual, such that when a force of an impact is received on the head portion, fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber is transferred into the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the individual against translational and rotational forces imparted to the individual, and when a force of an impact is received on the torso portion, fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is transferred to the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the individual against translational and rotational forces imparted to the individual; and 
   injecting fluid into at least one of the fluid-filled head portion chamber and the fluid-filled torso portion chamber.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the system further comprises at least one of an outer vest for disposition over the torso portion of the protective suit and a helmet for disposition over the head portion of the protective suit. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the outer vest comprises a plurality of rigid overlapping plates, and further wherein the helmet comprises a flexible outer shell comprising a plurality of slats separated by grooves. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein compression of the plurality of slats upon impact to the helmet maximizes displacement of fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber to the neck portion chamber, and wherein compression of the plurality of rigid overlapping plates upon impact to the outer vest maximizes displacement of fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber to the neck portion chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the outer vest and the helmet comprises an electronics module comprising at least one of an accelerometer for detecting a force of an impact, a sensor for obtaining physiological data from the wearer, a sensor for measuring the fluid within the protective suit, a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to a mobile device, an indicator light and a rechargeable battery for powering the electronics module. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising injecting cold fluid into the protective suit to cool the individual, whereby to reduce the effects of injury to the individual. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising injecting warm fluid into the protective suit to warm the individual, whereby to reduce the effects of injury to the individual. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising injecting pressurized fluid into the protective suit to cause the neck portion chamber to inflate, whereby to immobilize the neck of the individual. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29  wherein after the force of the impact to the individual has been removed, the fluid in the neck portion chamber flows back into the fluid-filled head portion chamber and the fluid-filled torso portion chamber. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the helmet comprises a flexible outer shell comprising a plurality of slats separated by grooves, and further wherein when a force of an impact is received to the helmet, the slats compress the fluid-filled head portion chamber to move the fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber to the neck portion chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the helmet comprises a face shield, wherein when a force of an impact is received to the face shield, the face shield moves posteriorly within the grooves of the helmet to compress the plurality of slats of the helmet, whereby to compress the fluid-filled head portion chamber.