Removable Aircraft Entryway Head Guard for Collision Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Passengers and crew members frequently suffer head injuries while boarding or exiting regional aircraft due to the mismatch in height between the aircraft entry doors and individuals, exacerbated by the use of air stairs and jet bridges, leading to potential bio-hazard risks and legal liabilities for airlines and airports.

Innovation Solution

A removable entryway head guard made of protective material, designed to fit the top portion of aircraft entryways, providing padding and an exterior cover to prevent head collisions during loading and unloading, which can be easily attached and detached by aircraft personnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If air stairs are used for loading and offloading passengers, then passengers can board and exit the aircraft, but passengers repeatedly collide with the top of the main cabin entranceway causing head injuries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger boarding and offloadingVSAvoidhead injuries from collision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective head guard is installed on the top portion of the aircraft entryway frame before passengers board. The head guard consists of a padded cushioning material covered with a durable exterior material, positioned to prevent direct contact between passengers' heads and the hard frame during boarding and offloading operations through air stairs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The head guard acts as an intermediary element between the hard entryway frame and passengers' heads. It provides a soft interface that absorbs impact during collisions, preventing direct injury while allowing the structural frame to remain in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If jet bridge is dropped to lowest point to connect with regional aircraft, then connection is achieved, but height difference creates illusion causing passengers to strike their heads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejet bridge connection to regional aircraftVSAvoidhead collisions due to height illusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The head guard is installed in advance on the entryway frame before passengers approach the aircraft. It provides pre-positioned protection against the specific height difference created when the jet bridge is lowered to connect with regional aircraft, addressing the illusion problem by cushioning the impact zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If entryway frame is kept at fixed height, then structural integrity is maintained, but it causes repeated head collisions for average height passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentryway frame structural integrityVSAvoidhead injuries from fixed height frame

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the entire entryway frame structure, the head guard applies localized protection only to the specific area where head collisions occur (the top portion of the frame). This maintains the overall structural integrity while modifying only the critical interaction zone with soft cushioning material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The head guard combines different materials: a padded cushioning material for impact absorption and a durable exterior material for protection and aesthetics. This composite structure provides both injury prevention and structural durability without requiring frame modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If head guard is made of thick protective material, then protection effectiveness increases, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead injury protectionVSAvoidhead guard structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The head guard is designed as a segmented, modular unit that can be easily installed and removed. It consists of separate components including the padded cushioning material and the exterior material that can be assembled together, simplifying installation while maintaining adequate protection thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8678313B2Door entry head guard

Publication Date: 2014.03.25 PB ROSS

AI summary

A method of protecting individuals entering or exiting an aircraft is provided. The method includes prior to the individuals entering or exiting the aircraft, removably attaching an entryway head guard to a frame of an entryway of the aircraft to protect the individuals entering or exiting the aircraft, the entryway head guard comprising a main body made of a protective material, wherein the main body has a contour that complements the frame of the aircraft passenger entryway such that the entryway head guard is configured to fit against the frame. The method further provides that after the individuals enter or exit the aircraft, removing the entryway head guard from the door of the aircraft.