Eye Protector Deflecting Lacrosse Ball Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current eye protectors for women's lacrosse primarily focus on blocking incoming lacrosse balls, which results in maximum force transfer to the wearer's face and reduced visibility due to obstructive design features, rather than deflecting the ball to minimize impact force and maintain clear vision.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring a molded plastic part with a C-shaped configuration overlying the eyebrows and a thin, forwardly staggered metallic part with a central tab and wing-shaped attachment members, optimized for deflection rather than blocking, ensuring minimal obstruction and enhanced visibility while distributing impact forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If eye protectors are designed with vertically disposed support bars to provide structural integrity, then the structural strength is improved, but the visibility of the wearer is worsened due to blocked vision
Solution Approach 1:
The eye protector is divided into multiple horizontal bars spaced vertically apart, creating segmented openings between them. This segmentation allows light to pass through the gaps while the bars themselves provide structural support, resolving the contradiction between strength and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from vertical bars (one-dimensional obstruction) to horizontal bars arranged in multiple levels (two-dimensional distribution). This dimensional change allows structural integrity to be maintained through horizontal spacing while visibility is improved through vertical gaps between the bars.
2Reliability
If eye protectors are designed to block incoming lacrosse balls directly, then the blocking function is improved, but the force transferred to the wearer's face is maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal bar configuration is designed to deflect balls away from the wearer's face before direct impact can occur. The spacing and orientation of the bars create a cushioning effect that redirects the ball's path, reducing the force transferred to the face while maintaining eye protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the harmful direct blocking function into a beneficial deflection function. Instead of stopping the ball directly (which maximizes force transfer), the horizontal bar arrangement guides the ball away from the face, transforming a harmful impact into a redirected path that protects the eye while minimizing facial injury.
3Strength
If multiple vertical bars are used to define eye openings, then the structural support is improved, but the distraction function is worsened by blocking vision of game occurrences
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous vertical barrier is segmented into discrete horizontal bars with spacing between them. This segmentation creates multiple smaller openings through which game occurrences can be seen, reducing the distraction function while maintaining structural support through the distributed bar arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is reconfigured from vertical to horizontal orientation, changing the dimensional arrangement. This allows the wearer to see over the top of the horizontal bars and through the vertical gaps between them, maintaining structural integrity while improving visibility of the game.
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 significantly reduces the force imposed on the wearer's head by deflecting lacrosse balls, enhancing eye protection and maintaining unobstructed vision by strategically positioning the metallic and plastic components to manage ball impacts effectively.
Implementation Method 1
A regulation lacrosse ball is about 2.47 to 2.55 inches in diameter and weighs from 5 to 5.25 ounces. As shown in FIG. 5, when a lacrosse ball B is thrown or shot at a high rate of speed, it tends to elongate into the shape of an ovoid upon impact. When this occurs, a diameter reduces below 2.47 inches.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an eye protector are made of a molded plastic part connected with a metal part. The plastic part consists of a generally C-shaped configuration with an elongated portion overlying the eyebrows and arcuate fingers designed to overlie the wearer's cheekbones. The metallic part includes an arcuate portion staggered significantly forwardly with respect to the plastic part. The horizontal stagger virtually precludes a ball from impacting on both the plastic part and the metallic part simultaneously, and the thin profile of the metallic part causes deflection of a ball rather than rebound. Embodiments also include a downwardly depending inverted V-shaped portion that protects the wearer's face below the eyes.