Eccentric Dimple Headguard Rear Pad for Occipital Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective headgear systems, particularly those with chinstraps, face issues such as increased injury risk from rotational forces, inconvenient and uncomfortable adjustments, and inadequate prevention of minor helmet shifts, which compromise fit, retention, and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A protective headguard design featuring a rear pad with a sagittally inset eccentric dimple to accommodate the occipital lobe, a front pad interconnected to the rear pad at distinct points, and independently adjustable bands to create tensioned circumferential lines of retention, allowing for customizable fit and reduced slippage, while eliminating the need for a chinstrap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chinstraps are used to improve retention, then the headgear stays on the head better, but the risk of injury from rotational forces increases and comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the chinstrap component entirely from the headgear system. Instead of using a chinstrap that creates rigid rotational constraints, the invention uses an occipital cradle that conforms to the natural shape of the occipital bone, providing retention through a compliant interface that allows controlled rotation and reduces injury risk while maintaining headgear stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The occipital cradle is designed as a flexible, compliant structure that conforms to the occipital bone. This flexible interface allows the headgear to rotate slightly under impact forces, dissipating rotational energy and reducing the risk of brain and neck injuries, while still maintaining adequate retention during normal use.
2Reliability
If chinstraps are used to improve retention, then the headgear stays on the head better, but comfort and ease of operation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating the chinstrap and its associated buckles, straps, and adjustment mechanisms, the patent removes the complexity and discomfort associated with chinstrap adjustments. The occipital cradle provides passive retention through its anatomical fit, requiring no user intervention for adjustment while maintaining comfort during speech and movement.
3Reliability
If the fit is made tighter to improve retention, then the headgear stays on the head better, but comfort decreases due to pressure points and bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies retention forces locally at the occipital bone through the occipital cradle, rather than distributing tight compression across the entire head. This localized, targeted approach provides adequate retention while avoiding the discomfort, pressure points, and bulk associated with tight overall fits.
Solution Approach 2:
The occipital cradle is designed with a curved surface that matches the spherical curvature of the occipital bone. This conformal fit distributes retention forces evenly across the curved bone surface, preventing pressure points and improving comfort while maintaining effective retention.
Data Source
AI summary
The present claimed invention is directed to a protective headguard, comprising a rear pad to protectively cover at least the occipital lobe on the back of a human head. The rear pad has an eccentric dimple for accommodating the occipital lobe. A front pad is configured and arranged to protectively cover at least the forehead of a human. The front pad is releasably interconnected to the rear pad at separate and distinct upper and lower connection points on the rear pad positioned on opposite sides of the dimple. The fit of the headguard can be adjusted between a first and second configuration by disconnecting the front and rear pads, rotating the rear pad 180° and reconnecting the front and rear pads with the front pad connections to the rear pad exchanged as between the upper and lower connection points.