Collapsible Honeycomb Helmet for Compact Carry and Head Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The bulkiness of standard protective helmets discourages their use with shared micro-mobility solutions, leading to reduced adoption and increased risk of head injuries due to non-use.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible helmet with a honeycomb structure that deploys into a protective configuration, featuring a rigid loop support structure, effective strap harness, and tailored honeycomb segments for optimal impact absorption, facilitated by a manufacturing method that includes cutting and assembling arcuate segments with staggered lines of attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard protective helmet is used, then head protection is provided, but the helmet is bulky and difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is divided into multiple arcuate segments (at least two) that can be deployed sequentially to form the complete protective structure. Each segment contains layers joined along staggered lines of attachment, allowing the helmet to collapse into a compact form while maintaining protective capability when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The helmet employs a dynamic structure that transitions between collapsed and deployed states. The arcuate layered structure can be opened into a honeycomb protective configuration, changing from a compact portable form to an expanded protective form, enabling the helmet to be carried conveniently and then deployed for head protection
2Ease of operation
If the helmet structure is made compact for portability, then ease of carrying is improved, but head coverage and protection effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet utilizes a three-dimensional honeycomb structure formed by arcuate segments with staggered lines of attachment. When deployed, the structure expands radially to provide comprehensive head coverage while maintaining a compact two-dimensional collapsed form for portability. The arcuate segments are arranged to span an angular range that ensures full head protection when opened
3Reliability
If arcuate segments with staggered lines of attachment are used, then impact energy absorption is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is segmented into multiple arcuate segments that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. Each segment contains layers joined along staggered lines of attachment, which are designed to absorb impact energy through progressive failure. The segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual segments using conventional techniques, reducing overall manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The staggered lines of attachment are positioned at specific parameters and intervals within each arcuate segment to optimize impact energy absorption. By carefully controlling the spacing and arrangement of these lines, the structure achieves superior energy absorption characteristics while maintaining manufacturability through standardized design parameters
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 collapsible helmet provides extended head coverage, maintains positioning during use, and ensures effective impact energy absorption, addressing the challenges of bulkiness and usability with shared mobility solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The honeycomb structure is effective for absorbing impact energy through progressive crumpling or other deformation of the cell walls
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible helmet is formed as an arcuate layered structure openable into a honeycomb protective configuration. The arcuate layered structure is formed from a number of arcuate segments each covering only part of the helmet. Each segment is oriented so that an extensional cell direction of the honeycomb structure is radial for a middle-region. The arcuate layered structure is preferably bounded by arcuate end plates which engage with each other when the helmet is open to form a rigid loop encircling a bottom edge of the helmet.