Compressible Ball Helmet Padding for Angular Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional helmets are ineffective in protecting against traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) caused by angular impacts, as they primarily dampen linear forces and fail to adequately absorb rotational forces, which can be as damaging as direct impacts.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorbing system utilizing compressible balls that are free to move within a cavity formed between the outer shell and the inner liner of the helmet, allowing them to deform and disperse impact forces in multiple directions, thereby enhancing protection against both direct and angular impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional helmets use rigid outer shell and interior padding to protect against skull fractures, then protection against linear impacts is improved, but protection against angular impacts and rotational forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is divided into multiple functional layers: a rigid outer shell for linear impact protection, an intermediate layer with movable spherical elements for angular impact absorption, and an inner liner for comfort and additional cushioning. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in different types of impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical elements in the intermediate layer are designed to be movable rather than fixed. When angular impacts occur, these spheres can rotate and shift independently, allowing the material to dynamically adapt to rotational forces and dissipate energy more effectively than static padding.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional helmets use fixed padding material to absorb impact energy, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but effectiveness against rotational forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The padding is segmented into multiple spherical elements rather than using continuous fixed foam. This segmentation allows the elements to move independently in response to rotational forces while still being manufactured through relatively simple processes like molding and insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and arrangement of the padding material from fixed continuous foam to movable discrete spherical elements. This parameter change enables the material to respond dynamically to angular impacts while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized component production.
3Strength
If helmet padding is made from compressible materials to absorb linear forces, then protection against direct impacts is improved, but protection against glancing blows deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical elements provide dynamic response to different impact types. For direct impacts, they compress vertically like traditional padding. For glancing blows, they can rotate and shift laterally, distributing rotational forces across multiple elements and preventing concentrated stress on the brain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the padding system by using discrete spherical elements with specific size, material properties, and spacing. These parameter changes enable the padding to exhibit different compression and rotation characteristics depending on the impact direction and force.
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 system effectively reduces the risk of TBI and CTE by absorbing and dispersing impact forces, providing improved protection without increasing the weight, cost, or complexity of the helmet, while being practical for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
multiple, compressible balls, which serve to absorb at least some of the force of an impact by compressing and/or moving
Implementation Method 2
The balls are described in this disclosure for two primary types of uses... compressible balls configured to at least partially compress when impacted
Data Source
AI summary
A structural padding system includes an outer shell, an inner shock absorbing liner attached to the outer shell, and multiple compressible balls coupled with the outer shell and/or the inner shock absorbing liner in such a way that the multiple compressible balls are free to move, relative to the outer shell and the inner shock absorbing liner, when the structural padding system is impacted by an object.