Patent ID: 8961733
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: A41D,A47C,B60N,B64D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of improving an impact-protective property of a conformable substrate, the method comprising: securing a central core adjacent the conformable substrate, the central core having a plurality of rigid plates, wherein the plates are more rigid than the substrate, the plurality of rigid plates comprise at least three plates, each of the three plates has one or more edges hingedly joined to two or more other plates in the plurality of rigid plates by respective hinges, each of the hinges joins less than the entire respective hingedly attached edge to an edge of a corresponding other substantially adjacent plate in the corresponding two or more other plates, each of the hinges comprises a respective living hinge formed integrally with each of the corresponding plates, each of the hinges and hingedly attached edges of the plates are formed entirely from the same material, and each of the hinges is less thick than the plates joined using the hinge.