Adjustable Chest Protector Structure for Body-Conforming Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chest protectors often fail to conform accurately to the individual body shapes of sport participants, limiting freedom of movement and effective protection.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a pliable shaper that can be manually bent to match the wearer's body shape and retain that shape during movement, allowing for enhanced conformity and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a chest protector is made with fixed rigid structure, then protection strength is improved, but freedom of movement and body conformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The chest protector incorporates movable components including a movable lower edge that can shift vertically, and adjustable shoulder portions that can move relative to the main body. This dynamic structure allows the protector to adapt to body movements while maintaining protection, resolving the contradiction between rigid protection and freedom of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest protector features adjustable parameters including the position of the lower edge, the angle and position of shoulder portions, and the tightness of fastening systems. These adjustable parameters enable the protector to be customized for different body shapes and movement requirements, allowing users to optimize both protection and mobility.
2Ease of manufacture
If a chest protector is made with fixed structure, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different body shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chest protector uses movable and adjustable components rather than completely fixed structures. The movable lower edge and adjustable shoulder portions can be implemented using simple mechanical elements that are easy to manufacture while providing significant adaptability to different body shapes and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest protector is designed as a universal garment that can accommodate various body types through its adjustable features. The same basic structure serves multiple functions: providing protection, adapting to different torso lengths, accommodating different shoulder widths, and allowing for various ranges of motion. This multi-functionality achieves adaptability without requiring multiple specialized models.
3Manufacturing precision
If a chest protector uses multiple fixed sizes, then precision of fit is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of producing multiple fixed-size models, the chest protector uses a single adjustable design where components can move and be repositioned. The movable lower edge and adjustable shoulder portions allow one model to achieve precise fits for various body types, eliminating the need for complex inventory management of multiple sizes while maintaining high precision of fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest protector achieves precision of fit by allowing users to adjust key parameters such as the position of the lower edge, the angle of shoulder portions, and the tightness of fastening. This parameter adjustment capability replaces the need for multiple pre-configured size models, simplifying the device while maintaining precise customization for each user.
Data Source
AI summary
A chest protector may include shoulder portions to extend over shoulders of a sport participant wearing the chest protector, a padded chest portion to extend over the chest of a sport participant wearing the chest protector, a padded torso portion and a pliable shaper extending across the padded torso portion.