Articulated Protective Apparatus with Hinged Shell and Puncture Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional protective apparatuses, such as shin guards, often fail to effectively combine impact attenuation with puncture resistance and adaptability to different wearer sizes due to the use of rigid shells that do not conform to the body's shape.
Innovation Solution
An articulated protective apparatus featuring a two-part impact shell with a moveable hinge and an impact attenuating structure that serves as both a force attenuator and a hinge, along with a puncture prevention element positioned between the shell portions to resist impalement, and channels on the posterior surface to guide articulation, allowing for a customizable fit and enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid shell is used in combination with foam-like material, then puncture resistance is improved, but adaptability to different wearers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid shell is divided into two separate portions (first shell portion and second shell portion) that are movably connected through a hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows each portion to independently adjust and conform to the wearer's body shape while maintaining puncture resistance through the rigid material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism enables dynamic movement between the two shell portions, allowing the protective apparatus to adapt its configuration based on the wearer's anatomy. The movable connection transforms the static rigid shell into a dynamic structure that can accommodate different wearers while preserving puncture protection capabilities.
2Strength
If a rigid shell is used, then impact protection is improved, but conformability to body shape deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the rigid shell into two portions connected by a hinge allows the structure to maintain its protective rigidity while enabling shape adaptation. Each segmented portion can independently conform to different contours of the body, solving the conflict between maintaining protective shape and adapting to individual wearer anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
While the shell portions themselves remain rigid for protection, the hinge mechanism introduces flexibility to the overall structure. This allows the rigid protective elements to be connected through a flexible joint that enables the apparatus to conform to various body shapes without compromising the rigid protection where needed.
3Ease of operation
If foam-like material is used, then comfort is improved, but puncture resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines foam-like material with a rigid shell structure in a hybrid configuration. The foam material is integrated within or alongside the rigid shell portions to provide comfort and cushioning, while the rigid shell components maintain puncture resistance. This merging of materials with different properties allows both comfort and puncture protection to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective apparatus uses a composite structure combining rigid shell material (for puncture resistance) and foam-like material (for comfort). This composite approach creates a multi-layered or multi-material system where each material contributes its superior properties, achieving both puncture protection and wearer comfort simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The articulated design effectively distributes and absorbs impact forces, provides puncture resistance, and adapts to various wearer sizes by allowing the shell to conform to the body's shape, enhancing comfort and protection while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an impact attenuating structure that functions to attenuate an impact force
Implementation Method 2
The impact shell includes two portions that are moveably hinged to one another
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a protective apparatus that is comprised of an impact shell and an impact attenuating structure. The impact shell includes two shell portions that are moveably hinged to one another to conform to the underlying protected portion, such as an athlete's shin region. The protective apparatus also utilizes an impact attenuating structure that functions to attenuate an impact force as well as serve as a hinge between the two-part shell. Additional aspects include a puncture prevention element that is positioned between the two shell portions to resist impalement at the hinge junction formed between the two shell portions. Further, additional aspects utilize one or more channels on a posterior surface of the impact attenuating structure to aid in guiding the articulation of the impact attenuating structure in a location related to the shell articulation joint.