Composite Material with Segmented Plate Attachment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing puncture, cut, and abrasion resistant composite materials for garments face issues such as plate rotation, single-point attachment fragility, difficulty in conforming to curved surfaces, excessive thickness, edge binding, and lack of buoyancy.

Innovation Solution

A composite material design featuring a base layer with protective plates attached via a multi-directional attaching means to prevent pivoting, a cover layer with additional attaching means for stability, and perforations filled with buoyant material to enhance buoyancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If protective plates are attached at a single point to an elastic base layer, then the composite material remains elastic, but the protective plates can twist and rotate out of alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveelasticityVSAvoidplate alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The attaching means is segmented into multiple attachment points distributed across the protective plate rather than a single point. This segmentation provides multiple connection locations that resist rotational forces while preserving the elasticity of the base layer, solving the contradiction between elasticity and plate alignment stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system transitions from a single-point (0D) attachment to a multi-point distributed attachment pattern. By adding spatial distribution dimensions to the attachment points, the system resists rotational moments while maintaining elastic deformation capability in the base layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If protective plates are attached at a single point, then the structure is simple, but the connection is fragile and prone to failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment structureVSAvoidconnection strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment structure is divided into multiple attachment points instead of a single connection. This segmentation creates redundancy in the connection system, so that if one attachment point fails, others continue to provide support, significantly improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple individual attachment elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-point attachment system provides built-in redundancy that cushions against connection failure. The distributed attachment points create a fail-safe system where the loss of one connection does not lead to catastrophic failure, providing beforehand protection against attachment point failure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If rigid flat protective plates are used, then protection is provided, but the material has difficulty conforming to curved surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective capabilityVSAvoidconformity to curved surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective plates are designed with curved surfaces that match the underlying body contours. This curvature allows the rigid protective function to be maintained while adapting to curved surfaces such as knees, elbows, and other body joints, resolving the contradiction between protection and conformity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Strength

If rigid protective plates are used, then puncture and cut resistance is improved, but the material cross section becomes excessively thick and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuncture and cut resistanceVSAvoidmaterial thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Protective plates are strategically positioned only in areas requiring puncture and cut resistance rather than covering the entire garment. This local application maintains protection where needed while minimizing overall material thickness and bulk in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Curved protective plates conform to body contours, reducing the need for excessive thickness to accommodate curvature. The curved design allows plates to follow body lines closely, minimizing protrusion and overall material volume while maintaining protective function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

5Ease of manufacture

If side-by-side arrangement of protective plates is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the material is vulnerable at joints and requires multiple redundant layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplate arrangementVSAvoidjoint protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Adjacent protective plates are designed with overlapping edges that interlock or bond together, merging the protective function across plate boundaries. This overlapping arrangement eliminates gaps at joints while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, providing continuous protection without requiring multiple redundant layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12332028B2Composite material

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 SUNDNES JOHN PHILLIP

AI summary

A composite material (10) comprising:a base layer (48);a plurality of protective plates (41, 51, 51a, 51b) located on the base layer (48);an attaching means (43) to connect the base layer (48) to the protective plates (41), whereinthe attaching means (43) is positioned along a first direction (46) on the base layer (48) to resist pivoting of each protective plate (41, 51, 51a, 51b) about an axis normal to the base layer (48).