Biasing Member Apparatus for Dispersing Impact Forces on Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass products, such as windshields and windows, and helmets are prone to breakage and injury due to impact forces, with existing manufacturing advancements being costly and insufficient in preventing damage or injury, and there is a need for technologies that can inhibit glass breakage and disperse impact forces without altering the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a housing with a contact member and a biasing member that is secured to a glass surface, which absorbs and redistributes impact forces, preventing glass breakage and minimizing injury by transferring forces through the biasing member, allowing the contact member to return to its initial position and impart a reduced force on the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If manufacturing advancements are made to improve glass resilience, then glass breakage resistance is improved, but product cost increases and existing products cannot be retrofitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate protective apparatus with a contact member and biasing member that acts as an intermediary between the impact force and the glass surface. This mediator absorbs and disperses impact forces without requiring changes to the glass manufacturing process, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving glass strength and maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective apparatus is divided into distinct functional components: a contact member that receives impact forces, a biasing member that stores and releases energy, and a housing that structures the system. This segmentation allows the protective function to be added independently to existing glass products without redesigning the glass manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If impact forces are absorbed by traditional materials, then some protection is provided, but the force dispersion is insufficient to prevent breakage or injury
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member provides a dynamic response to impact forces, automatically adjusting its stiffness and force absorption characteristics based on the magnitude of the applied load. This dynamic behavior enhances protection effectiveness without requiring complex control systems or multiple components, as the mechanical properties adapt inherently to the impact conditions.
3Strength
If glass products are made more resilient through manufacturing changes, then breakage is reduced, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the glass material itself (which would increase manufacturing costs), the patent uses an external protective apparatus as an intermediary that provides the same resilience benefit. This approach achieves improved glass resilience without the high costs associated with advanced glass manufacturing processes.
4Reliability
If existing glass products are protected, then breakage resistance is improved, but the protective mechanism must be added after manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The protective apparatus functions as an independent intermediary system that can be applied to existing glass products without integrating into the manufacturing process. This allows existing products to be protected while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the protective function is added separately rather than requiring complex manufacturing changes.
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 solution effectively inhibits glass breakage and disperses impact forces, reducing the risk of injury by absorbing and redistributing impact energy, making glass products more resilient and helmets safer without requiring changes to the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member biasing the contact member toward the housing aperture... impact force is transferred from the glass item to the biasing member via the contact member
Implementation Method 2
A cushion may be placed in the housing... The cushion may then absorb some force from the contact member when the contact member is returned to the glass
Data Source
AI summary
A force transfer system includes a body and an article. The article includes a first portion forming a first lateral axis and a second portion forming a second lateral axis, the axes being offset. An intermediate member is disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and holds the second portion to the first portion. A stimulus received by the first portion causes a temporary alteration of the intermediate member from an initial condition, the alteration of the intermediate member thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the second portion. The intermediate member subsequently returns to the initial condition, thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the first portion, which is influenced by the change in the characteristic of the second portion. The change in the characteristic of the first and second portions prevents at least a portion of the stimulus from reaching the body.