Arm Guard with Free-Floating Elbow Cap and Overlapping Biceps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lacrosse arm guards are uncomfortable and impede arm motion due to rigid attachments, and the placement of the elbow pad relative to the biceps pad creates a ledge that increases the force of impacts on the arm.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a forearm guard with a free-floating elbow cap and a biceps guard with a lower end that overlaps the forearm guard, allowing for radioulnar rotation and enhanced mobility, along with elastic straps for attachment, to facilitate impact protection and deflect vertical blows effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elbow pad is placed exterior relative to the biceps pad to provide impact protection, then protection capability is improved, but a projecting ledge is created that increases the force of impacts on the arm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the biceps pad exterior relative to the elbow cap, rather than placing the elbow pad exterior relative to the biceps pad. This reversal eliminates the projecting ledge that previously concentrated impact forces, while maintaining protection capability through the overlapping configuration of the pads.
2Reliability
If the biceps pad and forearm pad are sewn rigidly attached to close the elbow joint area, then coverage and protection are improved, but motion of the wearer's arm including radioulnar rotation is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the arm guard into separate components (biceps pad, elbow cap, forearm pad) that are not rigidly attached to each other. Instead, they are connected through a sleeve that allows relative movement, enabling the segments to move independently to accommodate arm motion while maintaining overall coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static, rigidly attached structure to a dynamic configuration where the biceps pad, elbow cap, and forearm pad can move relative to each other through the sleeve connection. This dynamic arrangement allows the arm guard to adapt to the wearer's arm motion, including radioulnar rotation, while maintaining protective coverage.
3Reliability
If the three arm pads are rigidly attached to provide structured protection, then protection capability is improved, but flexion of the arm at the elbow joint is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the arm guard into three separate pads (biceps pad, elbow cap, forearm pad) that are not rigidly attached to each other. This segmentation allows each pad to move independently, preserving elbow flexion capability while maintaining protective coverage through their coordinated arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sleeve as an intermediary component that connects the biceps pad, elbow cap, and forearm pad without creating rigid attachments. This intermediary allows the pads to move relative to each other, enabling elbow flexion while maintaining the structured protection capability of the three-pad configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Protective gear for protecting an arm or other body part of a wearer, such as a lacrosse, hockey, baseball, or other sports player, or an occupational worker, is provided. The gear can be in the form of an arm guard including a forearm guard, a biceps guard and a sleeve. The sleeve can be joined with the forearm guard and an upper end of the biceps guard, with a lower end of the biceps guard being free from attachment to the sleeve to facilitate radioulnar rotation of the forearm guard and thus the forearm of the wearer. The arm guard can include a low profile elbow cap that is integral with the forearm guard, and generally free floating within and joined with the forearm guard, rather than being a separate component from the forearm guard.