Adjustable Leg Guard Strap for Custom Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leg guards for sporting events, such as hockey and soccer, often struggle to be adequately adjusted to fit different wearer sizes, compromising their effectiveness in protecting the shin area from impacts.
Innovation Solution
A leg guard design featuring a shin guard body with adjustable straps that include coupling bases and couplers, allowing for adjustable attachment points to customize the fit and length of the wrappable segment of the strap, ensuring secure and comfortable mounting on various leg sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length strap is used to secure the leg guard, then the structure is simple, but the leg guard cannot be adequately adjusted to fit different wearer sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The strap is divided into multiple segments with multiple attachment points along its length. The coupler can engage with different attachment points to create different strap lengths, allowing the same strap to accommodate various leg sizes through segmented length adjustment rather than requiring multiple different straps
Solution Approach 2:
The strap system transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The coupler mechanism enables the strap length to be changed based on the wearer's leg size, making the leg guard adaptable to different users without requiring a completely different design for each size
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple attachment points are added to allow strap adjustment, then adaptability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bases are designed with multiple discrete attachment points that can be manufactured as standardized features. Each attachment point is a separate, simple element that can be produced using standard manufacturing processes, making the overall complex function achievable through repeated simple manufacturing units
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling bases serve multiple functions: they provide structural attachment points for the strap, enable length adjustment through multiple engagement positions, and maintain secure fastening. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single component design that can be manufactured as a universal part for different leg guard sizes
Data Source
AI summary
The leg guard for protecting at least a shin of a wearer includes a shin guard body and a strap. A peripheral edge of the shin guard body defines part of a perimeter of the shin guard body. The shin guard body includes a first coupling base and a second coupling base disposed on one of the interior and exterior surfaces. A first coupler is disposed at a first end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the first coupling base at a plurality of first attachment points, and a second coupler is disposed at the second end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the second coupling base at one of a plurality of second attachment points. A length of a wrappable segment is adjustable by releasably attaching the second coupler to the second coupling base at another one of the plurality of second attachment points.