3D Image Element Shin Guard for Team Identity Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Soccer players' shin guards and elbow/knee pads lack innovative designs to enhance team uniform visibility and protection simultaneously, with existing padding not effectively incorporating three-dimensional image elements to project desired shapes like player numbers or logos.
Innovation Solution
The development of shin guards and sports pads that incorporate a three-dimensional image element on their front faces, which can be secured using straps or elastic sleeves, allowing the image to project through clothing, enhancing team identity and providing protective coverage for shins, knees, and elbows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional flat shin guards are used, then protection is provided, but team uniform visibility and aesthetic enhancement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional flat two-dimensional shin guard surfaces to three-dimensional raised image elements. The image elements protrude from the front face of the protective plate, creating a tactile and visual depth that allows images to be projected through outer clothing layers, thereby enhancing team uniform visibility without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by selectively raising specific portions of the shin guard surface to form image elements while keeping other areas flat. This allows certain regions to have enhanced image-projection properties while maintaining the overall simplicity of the protective plate structure, thus improving aesthetic enhancement without uniformly increasing device complexity.
2Shape
If three-dimensional image elements are added to enhance team identity, then aesthetic benefit is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the image elements directly into the protective plate during the molding process. The image elements and the protective plate are formed as a single unified structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the three-dimensional image-enhancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective plate serves multiple functions: it provides protective coverage for the shin and simultaneously projects team identity through integrated three-dimensional image elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate decorative components, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving both protection and aesthetic enhancement.
Data Source
AI summary
A shin guard includes a protective plate having a front face and a rear face. The rear face is contoured to fit around a shin of a wearer of the shin guard. Further, the shin guard includes a three dimensional image element carried on the front face. This image element projects an image outline through a sock worn over the shin guard. A sports pad is provided including an outer shell defining a pocket and a pad received and held in the pocket. A three dimensional image element is captured between said outer shell and the front face of the pad. That image element projects an image outline through the outer shell to enhance the uniform of the player wearing the sports pad.