Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6397400?dq=6,460,050
Timestamp: 2015-05-30 01:23:04
Document Index: 387344099

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13']

Patent US6397400 - Body protection/support device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA body protection/support device is provided for arrangement on a body part. The device has a molded body filling of individual molded bodies (19, 20) accommodated in a receiving enclosure (11). The receiving enclosure (11) in an outer part (13) is substantially remote from the body part and is relatively...http://www.google.com/patents/US6397400?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6397400 - Body protection/support deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6397400 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/485,016PCT numberPCT/DE1998/002103Publication dateJun 4, 2002Filing dateJul 27, 1998Priority dateJul 29, 1997Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE19732610A1, EP0999881A1, EP0999881B1, WO1999006126A1Publication number09485016, 485016, PCT/1998/2103, PCT/DE/1998/002103, PCT/DE/1998/02103, PCT/DE/98/002103, PCT/DE/98/02103, PCT/DE1998/002103, PCT/DE1998/02103, PCT/DE1998002103, PCT/DE199802103, PCT/DE98/002103, PCT/DE98/02103, PCT/DE98002103, PCT/DE9802103, US 6397400 B1, US 6397400B1, US-B1-6397400, US6397400 B1, US6397400B1InventorsAndreas Hassler, Herbert BoergerOriginal AssigneeOped GmbH-Orthop�dischc ProdukteExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Referenced by (3), Classifications (15), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetBody protection/support device
US 6397400 B1Abstract
A body protection/support device is provided for arrangement on a body part. The device has a molded body filling of individual molded bodies (19, 20) accommodated in a receiving enclosure (11). The receiving enclosure (11) in an outer part (13) is substantially remote from the body part and is relatively rigid compared to an inner part (12), which is substantially directed towards the body part.
The present invention relates to a body protection/support device for arrangement on a body part, having a molded body filling of individual molded bodies accommodated in a receiving enclosure.
A body protection/support device of the type described initially is known from DE 296 11 929 U1. The known device comprises a molded body filling of individual resilient molded bodies in a receiving enclosure in the form of a foil pouch and is used for integration into so-called protectors, which are used as shin guards, elbow guards, safety helmets etc. to protect against sports injuries.
The object of-the present invention is to propose a body protection/support device which compared to the known devices, is of a one-piece construction.
In the case of the device according to the invention, by virtue of the—in terms of its dimensional stability—differentiated receiving enclosure the supporting “shell function”, which is achieved in the known device by an additional component, is realized quasi integrally in the receiving enclosure. It is therefore possible for the first time to propose a body protection/support device, which enables the desired protective function without the need for combination of the receiving enclosure with a further component, namely the protector shell. This not only enables a considerable improvement in terms of inexpensive manufacture of such a protection device but also increases the reliability of such devices under load conditions because the protection device according to the invention eliminates the problem presented by the known protection devices, namely of reliably maintaining the connection between the outer protector shell and the receiving enclosure also under load conditions.
Particularly good results, in terms of a cohesive connection of the material layers in the transition region which is stable under load and inexpensive to manufacture, are achievable by means of a so-called “thermobondod joint”, whereby overlapping edge regions of the material layers are pressed against one another under the influence of temperature.
FIG. 2 the head protection device shown in FIG. 1 in section along the lines II—II in FIG. 1;
Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows a body protection/support device in an embodiment as a head protection device 10 which, in order to illustrate the arrangement on the head of a person wearing the head protection device 10, is shown arranged on a head. The type of head protection device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a lightweight crash helmet for cyclists having an, on the whole, annular receiving enclosure 11 which comprises an inner part 12 and an outer part 13.
As is evident from the representation according to FIG. 2, which shows the receiving enclosure 11 with a receiving enclosure cross section 21 in a sectional view, the inner part 12 and the outer part 13 each comprise a material layer 14, 15, which is cut to size in accordance with the intended annular shape of the receiving enclosure 11. In such a case, as is particularly evident from a combined inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2, the material layer 15 forming the outer part 13 is situated in the outwardly directed region of the receiving enclosure 11 which comes into contact with an obstacle in the event of the wearer of the head protection device 10 being involved in a crash. The outer part 13 formed by the material layer 15 takes the form of a molded part having a dimensionally stable wall 16, whereas the inwardly directed material layer 14, which comes into contact with the head of the wearer of the head protection device 10, forms a—compared to the material layer 15—dimensionally compliant wall 17, which in the present cast may moreover be flexible and enables snug contact between the wall 17 and the head.
As is further clearly evident from FIG. 2, the material layers 14, 15, which form the inner part 12 and the outer part 13 respectively, are connected in a flange-like manner to one another in the outer and inner edge regions 23, 24 and 25, 26 respectively so as to form transition regions 27, 28. In the present case, the transition regions 27, 28 are produced in a thermobonding process, which is part of a thermal shaping process for producing the total molded part formed by the inner part 12 and the outer part 13 and is effected during the formation of the inner part and outer part by pressing together the molded part halves in the parting plane of a two-part mold. Such a process, whereby two material layers during the shaping to produce a one-piece total molded part are thermally bonded to one another in the parting plane of the mould, is known in the trade as a “twin-sheet” shaping process.
FIG. 4 shows a body protection/support device in use as a splint device 35, having an, in the present case, multiple arrangement of support elements 36, 37, 38 and 39. The individual support elements 36 to 39 in the present case are of an identical type and, in accordance with the body protection/support device in the form of head protection device 10 shown in FIG. 2, comprise a receiving enclosure 40, which is formed by two material layers 14, 15 and in the application of the body protection/support device shown in FIG. 4 substantially has an elongate cushion format, wherein like the embodiment of the receiving enclosure 11 shown in FIG. 2 in the case of the—in FIG. 4—left support element 36 a receiving enclosure 40 is provided with a dimensionally stable material layer 15, which provides the support action needed for the splint application, and a dimensionally compliant material layer 14, which enables a snug fit against the body part. As in the case of the receiving enclosure 11 shown in FIG. 2, the receiving enclosure 40 is filled with molded bodies 20, which in terms of their resilient or plastic properties are so selected that the desired adaptation is achieved simultaneously with minimal impairment of the support action provided by the outer material layer 15.
Unlike the left support element 36, the—in FIG. 4 right support element 39 comprises an evacuable receiving enclosure 41 which, like the embodiment of the head protection device 10 shown in FIG. 3, is provided with a non-return valve device 31. The evacuable design of the support element 39 enables uniform compression of the molded bodies 20 disposed in an interior space 42 so that transfer of the support action of the dimensionally stable outer material layer 15 to the body part may be effected more directly and more effectively.
The receiving enclosures 40 and 41 used to form the support elements 36 to 39 in FIG. 4 and filled with molded bodies 20 may, if suitably dimensioned, also be used as mattresses (not shown here) of the type usable, for example, to prevent bedsores. In said case, the adaptation of the dimensionally compliant material layer 14 achieved with or without a vacuum is used for adaptation to the body of the patient lying on the mattress. The dimensionally stable material layer 50 in said case forms an outer, dimensionally stable frame, which eliminates the need to provide a suitable dimensionally stable frame for receiving the mattress. Thus, in the embodiment as a mattress also, by virtue of integrating the reinforcing “shell function” in a material layer an important advantage over known solutions is achieved.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3745998 *Jan 6, 1971Jul 17, 1973Bio Medical Syst IncVacuum formed support structures and immobilizer devicesUS4412358 *May 27, 1982Nov 1, 1983Gentex CorporationIndividually fitted helmet liner and method of making sameUS4657003 *Jan 24, 1986Apr 14, 1987Cramer Products, Inc.Immobilizer deviceUS4848364 *Oct 23, 1987Jul 18, 1989Patentico Ltd.Covering sheet which can be made form-retainingUS5086514 *Jun 5, 1991Feb 11, 1992Gary RossInflatable protective cushion to be worn by people in high speed and high impact sportsUS5222478 *Jun 8, 1992Jun 29, 1993Scarberry Eugene NApparatus for application of pressure to a human bodyUS5324460 *Jul 17, 1991Jun 28, 1994Helmets LimitedMethod of making a helmet linerUS6065158 *Oct 27, 1998May 23, 2000Rush, Iii; Gus A.Impact indicator for athletic helmetsCH577328A5 Title not availableDE1376177U Title not availableDE19524743A1Jul 7, 1995Jan 25, 1996Lubos Karl HeinzImpact protector for sportswearDE29611929U1Jul 9, 1996Sep 12, 1996Uhlsport GmbhSto�d�mpfer* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7611476 *Mar 3, 2004Nov 3, 2009Taranow Warren SVacuum-sealed orthotic, prosthetic, and other body worn devicesUS8574181Sep 13, 2011Nov 5, 2013Velocity Medical, LlcAnkle walkerUS20100036505 *Dec 22, 2005Feb 11, 2010Oped AgProsthetic device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification2/455, 602/5International ClassificationA63B71/10, A63B71/08, A63B71/12, A61G7/057Cooperative ClassificationA63B71/10, A63B71/1225, A42B3/00, A63B2071/1258, A61G7/05753, A63B71/08, A63B2071/1266European ClassificationA63B71/08, A42B3/00Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 28, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Nov 24, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Nov 23, 2005FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 11, 2000ASAssignmentOwner name: OPED GMBH-ORTHOPADISCHEC, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BOERGER, HERBERT;REEL/FRAME:010732/0128Effective date: 20000202Owner name: OPED GMBH-ORTHOPADISCHEC MUHLTAL 3, D-83626 VALLEYOwner name: OPED GMBH-ORTHOPADISCHEC MUHLTAL 3, D-83626 VALLEYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BOERGER, HERBERT;REEL/FRAME:010732/0128Effective date: 20000202RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services