Ballistic Collar Bellows Structure Head Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ballistic neck protection collars compromise between mobility and protection, hindering head movement due to rigid materials and manufacturing methods, and often create gaps between helmets and collars, especially in prone positions.
Innovation Solution
A ballistic collar with a bellows-shaped structure made from folded body armor fabric embedded in a resilient resin, allowing for expansion and compression by adjusting fold angles, providing optimal protection without restricting head movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid armor plates are used for ballistic protection, then protection level is improved, but head mobility is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into multiple rigid plates connected by flexible joints, creating a segmented structure that combines protection with mobility. Each plate maintains ballistic protection while the joints enable head movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic articulated structure with movable joints. The flexible connections allow the collar to adapt to head movements while maintaining protective coverage.
2Ease of operation
If overlapping plates with variable overlap are used, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The collar consists of multiple discrete plates connected by joints, creating a segmented modular structure. This segmentation enables flexibility through controlled overlap while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plates are shaped with curved surfaces and rounded edges that allow smooth overlapping and rotation at joints, reducing mechanical complexity while enhancing flexibility of movement.
3Strength
If ballistic materials are used for neck protection, then protection level is improved, but freedom of movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Ballistic protection is segmented into multiple plates rather than using a single rigid shell. This allows the protective material to maintain its strength while the segmented construction enables movement through the joints between plates.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the collar have different properties - the plates provide rigid ballistic protection while the joints provide flexibility. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between protection and mobility.
4Area of stationary object
If the collar structure is made rigid, then protection surface coverage is improved, but gaps with helmet are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The collar structure is made dynamic with movable joints that allow it to adapt to different head positions. This maintains continuous protection coverage without gaps while the articulated structure enables movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar can change its geometric parameters (overlap distance, joint angles) in response to head position changes. This adaptability ensures continuous protection coverage across various positions while maintaining structural integrity.
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 collar maintains effective ballistic protection while allowing unrestricted upward and lateral head movement, ensuring continuous coverage and flexibility during various positions.
Implementation Method 1
the fabric is included in a matrix, such as a resin, preferably a resilient resin with sufficient stiffness sufficient to cause the structure to stand up freely in a compressible position
Data Source
AI summary
Ballistic collar may include a bellows shaped member, which is arranged to surround a human's neck, including bellows plies being mainly perpendicular to the axis of the collar or of the human's neck. Free standing, the structure stands up around the neck to provide ballistic protection. The structure may be formed by folding a sheet of ballistic rated body armor fabric including strong synthetic fibers, e.g. from aromatic polyamide fibers, or ultra high molecular weight polyolefin, e.g. polyethylene polypropylene, fibers. For manufacturing the ballistic collar, a plurality of sheets may be piled-up and the whole may be submitted to transformation in a mold at a temperature and pressure at which the sheets remain mainly loose from each other. Preferably parts of the collars or bellows shaped members are made, which are assembled afterwards e.g. by stitching, welding etc.