Dual-Shell Helmet With Inflated Bladder For Impact Force Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current football helmets do not adequately protect against subconcussive injuries and severe head injuries, as they fail to effectively absorb and distribute impact forces, leading to potential long-term degenerative conditions and immediate traumatic brain injuries.
Innovation Solution
A dual-shell helmet design with an outer and inner shell separated by an interior space containing an inflated bladder and fastener assemblies that absorb impact forces, along with an interior padding portion to distribute kinetic energy and reduce the helmet's weight, using lightweight materials like carbon fiber and inflatable bladders instead of traditional foams and gels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional foam and gel materials are used for impact absorption, then the helmet provides basic cushioning, but the helmet weight increases and impact force distribution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inflatable bladders filled with gas or fluid to absorb and distribute impact forces. These pneumatic elements expand under compression during impact, providing superior force distribution compared to traditional foam materials while maintaining lower weight due to the air-filled structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The helmet utilizes a composite structure combining rigid outer shell material with inflatable bladder elements. This composite approach integrates the protective function of rigid materials with the energy-absorbing properties of pneumatic elements, achieving both weight reduction and enhanced impact protection.
2Reliability
If a single rigid shell is used, then the helmet structure is simple, but it cannot adequately distribute impact forces and protect against subconcussive injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer rigid shell, intermediate inflatable bladders, and an inner liner system. This segmentation allows each layer to perform specific functions - the outer shell provides structural integrity, the bladders distribute impact forces, and the inner liner protects against subconcussive injuries through controlled deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable bladders are pre-positioned and pre-inflated within the helmet structure to provide immediate impact absorption capability. This prior cushioning ensures that protective force distribution is already in place before impact occurs, enhancing reliability without requiring complex active systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional foam liners are used, then the helmet provides basic comfort, but kinetic energy distribution is insufficient and long-term injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interior padding system incorporates dynamic inflatable elements that can adjust their properties in response to impact conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize kinetic energy distribution during impact events, providing superior protection against subconcussive injuries compared to static foam liners.
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 design significantly reduces the intensity of impact forces on the wearer's head, decreasing the occurrence of subconcussive injuries, concussions, and other head injuries by minimizing kinetic energy through the use of lightweight materials and advanced force absorption mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The cells can contain a gas or liquid agent that absorbs force energy applied to the shells
Implementation Method 2
A dual-shell helmet design with an outer and inner shell separated by an interior space containing an inflated bladder and fastener assemblies that absorb impact forces, along with an interior padding portion to distribute kinetic energy and reduce the helmet's weight, using lightweight materials like carbon fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet, such as a football helmet, includes a shell portion, a retention assembly, and a face guard assembly. The shell portion includes: an outer shell; an inner shell spaced apart from the outer shell, the inner shell and the outer shell defining an interior space between the inner shell and the outer shell; at least one fastener assembly extending from the outer shell to the inner shell through the interior space; and at least one inflated bladder positioned in the interior space defined by the inner shell and the outer shell. The shell(s) can be formed from lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber. The retention assembly is connected to the inner shell for securing the helmet to a head of a wearer. The face guard assembly is connected to the outer shell and is positioned to protect at least a portion of a face of the wearer.