Dynamic Movement Blocking Mechanism for Protective Orthoses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal protective equipment (PPE) body protectors are designed to withstand direct impacts but fail to prevent injuries caused by exceeding the natural physiological range of motion, which is a common cause of physical injuries in sports, work, and rehabilitation.
Innovation Solution
A blocking system integrated into connecting structures on the body that allows natural movement below a defined speed threshold and initiates a blocking mechanism above this threshold, using mechanisms such as centrifugal force or electromagnetic systems to prevent excessive movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking mechanism is integrated into connecting structures to prevent excessive movement, then injury protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one by incorporating a blocking mechanism that can change its state based on movement conditions. The blocking element remains inactive during normal movement and only activates when excessive movement is detected, allowing the system to adapt its rigidity dynamically to provide protection only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic sensing and control systems with a purely mechanical blocking mechanism that automatically responds to movement conditions. The blocking element uses mechanical principles such as friction, normal forces, and geometric constraints to detect and prevent excessive movement without requiring external power sources or complex electronics.
2Reliability
If the blocking mechanism restricts movement to prevent injury, then safety is improved, but natural movement freedom deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism is designed to counteract harmful movements before they can cause injury. By positioning the blocking element to engage at specific thresholds of movement, the system prevents excessive deflection of body segments before injury can occur, while allowing full range of motion within safe limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of the connecting structure dynamically - remaining flexible and allowing natural movement during normal conditions, then transitioning to a rigid blocked state when movement exceeds safe thresholds. This parameter change is controlled by the interaction between the blocking element and the connecting structure under load.
3Reliability
If the blocking mechanism is activated at high speeds, then injury prevention is improved, but response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism is pre-positioned and pre-loaded within the connecting structure, ready to engage immediately when excessive movement occurs. The geometric arrangement of the blocking element and its interaction surfaces ensures that no additional activation time is needed - the blockage occurs automatically as soon as the movement threshold is exceeded.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking mechanism skips the intermediate steps of sensing, processing, and actuation found in electronic systems. The mechanical design allows the blocking element to rush directly into the blocking position through the force of the excessive movement itself, eliminating response delays and providing immediate protection.
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
Effectively prevents injuries by restricting movement only when necessary, minimizing damage to joints by anticipating and preventing excessive physiological deflections.
Implementation Method 1
The blocking element contains a shear-thickening medium located in a chamber, which contributes to damping movements of the body segments connected to the extension element
Implementation Method 2
Another solution for damping body movements based on the damping effect of a filling medium is known from DE 10 2018 116569 B3
Data Source
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a dynamically dependent blocking system (Fig. 1) for ortheses or protectors for limiting relative movement of at least two body segments (Fig.2, Fig.3), consisting of at least one blocking unit (1.0) which consists of a blocking element (1.1), an extending element (1.4) and the body linking structures (2.1) and worn on the body. The central element of the blocking unit (1.0) is the blocking element (1.1) a. which can move below a speed threshold of the extending element (1.4) Fig.4); b. which triggers a block by the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) over a determined extension speed (Fig. 4, Fig.5); c. which includes a restoring winding mechanism (Fig.6), which allows for a change in length of the extending element (1.4) in a specific region below the blocking speed; d. and which force-transmittingly couples the winding mechanism (1.1.2) and the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) (Fig. 7), such that, with total or partial blocking, the extension of the extending element (1.4) is totally or partially prevented.