Non-porous Elastomeric Shock Absorbing Glove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports gloves and protective gear fail to provide adequate protection against impact, vibration, and shock while maintaining hand flexibility and dexterity, as they often rely on thick, porous foamed materials that reduce mobility and are prone to bacterial growth and odor issues.
Innovation Solution
A non-porous, spongy, elastic polymer material, such as SORBOTHANE visco-elastic polymer, is applied to the glove to absorb energy, shock, and vibration, allowing for thin, flexible designs that protect the hand without compromising dexterity, and can be applied to strategic areas like the dorsal side and palm side for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick foamed padding is used in sports gloves, then impact protection is improved, but hand flexibility and dexterity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using non-porous elastomeric materials with specific density ranges (5-20 pounds per cubic foot) instead of conventional foamed materials. This parameter change allows the material to provide adequate impact protection with reduced thickness, thereby maintaining hand flexibility and dexterity while protecting against impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures by combining non-porous elastomeric materials with other materials in layered or integrated configurations. This composite approach optimizes both protective properties and flexibility, allowing the glove to absorb impact energy while maintaining natural hand movement and dexterity.
2Strength
If thick padding is used to protect against impact, then shock absorption is improved, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes non-porous elastomeric materials with optimized density parameters (5-20 pounds per cubic foot) that provide high shock absorption capacity per unit weight. This parameter optimization allows the glove to absorb impact forces effectively without requiring excessive material thickness, thereby minimizing added weight while maintaining protective performance.
3Strength
If porous foamed materials are used for shock absorption, then impact protection is improved, but bacterial growth and odor issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the material structure parameter by using non-porous elastomeric materials instead of porous foamed materials. This structural parameter change eliminates the pores that would otherwise serve as breeding grounds for bacteria and sources of odor, while the elastomeric material maintains its shock absorption capabilities through its elastic properties and density characteristics.
4Strength
If conventional foam materials are used for padding, then impact protection is provided, but flexibility and range of motion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting non-porous elastomeric materials with specific density and elasticity characteristics (5-20 pounds per cubic foot). These parameter changes enable the material to provide impact protection while maintaining sufficient flexibility and range of motion, as the elastomeric structure can deform and recover without the rigid constraints of conventional foamed padding.
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 solution provides effective impact protection while maintaining hand flexibility and reducing the risk of injury and fatigue, with improved sanitation and launderability compared to traditional foamed materials, as it absorbs a significant amount of shock without the need for thick padding and minimizes weight and bacterial growth.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of layers of shock-absorbing material are affixed to one another to form a multi-layered article. The shock-absorbing material may be any material known to absorb shock, vibration and/or impact such as viscoelastic polymers, particularly SORBOTHANE visco-elastic polymer.
Implementation Method 2
material that is designed to absorb energy, shock, vibration and/or impact is applied to a glove to protect the wearer from injury or fatigue due to same
Implementation Method 3
where the impacts are periodic or frequent, the shock-absorbing material needs to rebound or recover ('spring back') its original shape quickly
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the instant invention, material that is designed to absorb energy, shock, vibration and/or impact (“ESVI”) is applied to a glove to protect the wearer from injury or fatigue due to same. The material features a spongy (but essentially non-porous), elastic polymer, and may be provided in relatively thin sheets or strips. The glove modified with the ESVI ameliorating material hardly changes flexibility. The ESVI material may be applied selectively to strategic areas on the glove covering or corresponding to regions on the hand of the wearer such as bone joints, e.g., the knuckles and the wrist.