Cycling Helmet Energy-Absorbing Insert for Rotational Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cycling helmets with stiff foam materials like EPS often fail to effectively absorb rotational or oblique impacts, leading to higher injury risks due to restricted head movement and potential axon stretching or tearing during such incidents.
Innovation Solution
A cycling helmet design featuring an energy-absorbing insert made from multi-directionally flexible material, such as polycarbonate, which can bend, compress, stretch, and shift without shearing, housed within a shell with a closed cell foam layer and a fit system that includes a yoke and adjustable straps for secure fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional stiff foam material (EPS) is used in cycling helmets, then the helmet can effectively absorb direct impact energy, but it fails to effectively absorb rotational or oblique impacts due to restricted head movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional static EPS foam with a dynamic system consisting of a spherical energy-absorbing insert that can move freely within the helmet shell. This insert is connected to the shell via multiple arms that allow rotational and translational movement, enabling the system to adapt to various impact directions and types, including rotational and oblique impacts that traditional fixed foam cannot handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and movement parameters of the energy-absorbing material from a fixed, rigid foam structure to a movable, multi-directional system. The spherical insert can change its position, orientation, and compression state dynamically during impact, allowing it to absorb energy from direct, rotational, and oblique impacts through different mechanical responses.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional EPS foam is used, then the helmet structure remains simple and manufacturing is easier, but the helmet restricts head movement during rotational impacts causing potential axon stretching or tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional monolithic foam structure into separate components: a spherical energy-absorbing insert, multiple connecting arms, and a helmet shell. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the sphere absorbs impact energy while the arms provide controlled movement, reducing head trauma risk without significantly complicating manufacturing processes.
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
Enhances impact absorption across multiple directions, reducing the likelihood of injury from rotational or oblique impacts by allowing the insert to move with the user's head, thereby minimizing the risk of head trauma.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-absorbing insert made from multi-directional flexible material that is able to bend, compress, stretch, and shift without shearing
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A cycling helmet 100 includes an outer shell 105 and a closed cell foam layer 110 adjacent to the outer shell. The cycling helmet also includes an inner liner 210 adjacent to the closed cell foam layer 110. The cycling helmet further includes an insert 205 of energy absorbing material adjacent to the inner liner. The insert 205 is configured to move in multiple directions in response to an impact to the cycling helmet.