Helmet Facemask Bumpers for Impact Force Redistribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional facemasks in helmets fail to effectively distribute impact forces, leading to high peak forces and localized stress concentrations, which increase the risk of concussions and other brain injuries, and do not adequately dampen vibrations or sudden shocks.
Innovation Solution
An improved facemask design with a modified structural feature and impact mitigation bumpers that redistribute pressure, reduce peak impact forces, and enhance vibration control, incorporating features like filaments, auxetic structures, and foam layers to mitigate impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional facemask design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but impact forces are not effectively distributed leading to high peak forces and localized stress concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The facemask is divided into multiple segments including a top bar with first and second arched sections, a central section, and a lower bar with arched sections. This segmentation allows each segment to independently manage and distribute impact forces across different zones, preventing localized stress concentrations while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The facemask design incorporates vertical arched sections that extend upwardly from the horizontal bars, adding a vertical dimension to the force distribution mechanism. This three-dimensional configuration disperses impact forces across multiple spatial dimensions rather than concentrating them in a single plane, effectively reducing peak forces transmitted to the helmet.
2Ease of manufacture
If facemask structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but vibration and sudden shock dampening capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The facemask incorporates multiple arched sections with curved geometries instead of straight rigid bars. These curved sections naturally absorb and dampen vibrations and sudden shocks through their elastic deformation characteristics, while still being manufacturable using standard metal forming processes. The curvature allows the structure to flex and dissipate energy from impacts.
3Loss of energy
If impact mitigation features are added to facemask, then energy transfer to wearer's head is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impact mitigation bumpers are integrated directly into the facemask structure, merging the protective function with the existing facemask components rather than adding separate independent systems. The bumpers are positioned at strategic locations where they can absorb and dissipate impact energy before it reaches the helmet, reducing energy transfer to the wearer's head while maintaining a unified structure.
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 new helmet system significantly reduces the energy transferred to the wearer's head by distributing impact forces over a larger area, improving vibration control, and reducing sudden shocks, thereby minimizing the risk of concussions and other brain injuries.
Implementation Method 1
impact mitigation bumpers that are particularly adapted to redistribute pressure and impact forces, decrease the peak transmitted forces from the facemask to the rest of the helmet system
Implementation Method 2
decrease vibration, sudden shock, and/or noise
Implementation Method 3
impact mitigation bumpers... reduce noise and/or vibration propagation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and/or an apparatus for an improved helmet system that may help reduce the severity of injuries by enhancing overall helmet protection through uniquely designed facemasks and facemask bumpers. The facemask and facemask bumpers that are particularly adapted to redistribute pressure and impact forces, decrease vibration, sudden shock, noise and/or the peak forces transmitted from the facemask to the rest of the helmet system. The facemask bumpers may be disposed into specific regions of the facemask, including the brow region, the glabella region, orbit region, the frontal region, the mandible (front, right and/or left side) region, the maxilla region, the nasal region, zygomatic region, the ethmoid region, the lacrimal region, the sphenoid region and/or any combination thereof.