Abstract

A negative stiffness shell has a convex first position, but can transition or snap to a concave second position under a force applied to the exterior surface of the shell in the convex first position. During the transition, the shell exhibits negative stiffness that permits a large amount of energy to be absorbed. The negative stiffness shell can withstand a high initial force threshold prior to transitioning. In the second, concave position the shell can still resist force. Moreover, it is possible for the shell to revert back to the first, convex position with minimal plastic deformation for subsequent use. The negative stiffness shells can be used collectively and/or in layers to increase the efficiency of the overall negative stiffness shell unit.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Comments

Docket Number: 18MST034-UTL

Filing Date: 01/20/2021

Issue Date: 05/20/2025, FY25

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents:

3,831,920 A * 8/1974 Meldrum…............F16F 3//0876 267/293

3,997,020 A * 11/1976 Villari...............A42B 3/122 2/909

4,535,553 A * 8/1985 Derderian...............A43B 13/181 36/28

4,724,549 A * 2/1988 Herder...............A42B 3/065 2/421

5,310,157 A 5/1994 Platus

6,953,187 B2* 10/2005 Groth...............F16F 1/3935 267/141.1

7,625,023 B2* 12/2009 Audi...............B60N 2/70 293/134

7,625,036 B2* 2/2012 Aveni...............A43B 13/183 36/35 R

8,950,735 B2* 2/2015 Reynolds...............F16F 1/376 267/64.11

10,010,122 B2* 7/2018 Kamradt...............A41D 31/285

10,030,733 B2* 7/2018 Seepersad...............F16F 1/3737

2005/0230205 A1* 10/2005 Springler................F16F 7/121 188/377

2007/0228745 A1 10/2007 Cormier et al.

2010/0295521 A1* 11/2010 Kligerman...............F16F 3/0876 267/140.11

2011/0296594 A1 12/2011 Thomas et al.

2012/0174500 A1 7/2012 Yakoub

2012/0228309 A1* 9/2012 Lukyanets...............F17C 1/16 220/592

2013/0152284 A1* 6/2013 Ferrara...............F16F 9/0418 2/455

2014/0215722 A1* 8/2014 Lobry...............F16F 1/37/267/142

Foreign Patent Documents:

CN 101055058 A 10/2007

Prior Publication Data:

US 2021/0293295 A1 September 23, 2021

Patent Application Number

17/261,840

Patent Number

US 12,305,731 B2

Document Type

Patent

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 The Curators of the University of Missouri, All rights reserved

Additional Rights Information

Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri (US)

Publication Date

20 May, 2025

Download

Share

 
COinS