Fluid-Filled Bladder Strap for Even Shoulder Pressure Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carry straps often concentrate pressure on the shoulders, leading to discomfort due to uneven load distribution, particularly affecting areas with the suprascapular nerve, and existing solutions like foam elements and fluid-filled bladders may not provide adequate cushioning or flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A strap design featuring a sheath with a fluid-filled bladder that is unsecured within the sheath, allowing the bladder to stretch and distribute weight evenly, using materials like polymer tubes and thermoplastic urethanes, and securing elements to attach the strap to articles, providing cushioning and tensile support without transferring tensile forces to the sheath.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If compressible materials are incorporated into the strap to distribute loads evenly, then comfort is enhanced and pressure concentrations are decreased, but the strap structure becomes more complex and materials cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-filled bladder is nested within the sheath structure, with the bladder positioned inside the hollow interior of the sheath. This nesting arrangement allows the cushioning element to be integrated within the existing strap structure rather than adding external components, thereby providing load distribution while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a fluid-filled bladder (pneumatic element) as the compressible material to provide cushioning and load distribution. The fluid-filled bladder can deform under pressure to conform to the shoulder contour, effectively distributing loads while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to solid foam alternatives.
2Ease of operation
If fluid-filled bladders are used to provide cushioning, then pressure distribution is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and sealing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is constructed from flexible polymer materials (such as polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomers) that can be molded into the desired shape and then inflated with fluid. This flexible shell approach allows for simpler manufacturing compared to rigid cushioning structures, as the bladder can be produced through injection molding or extrusion processes followed by sealing and fluid filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap system combines the fluid-filled bladder with the sheath structure made of complementary materials. The sheath provides structural support and protection, while the bladder provides cushioning. This composite approach allows each component to be manufactured using optimized processes for its specific function, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bladder is unsecured within the sheath to allow stretching, then flexibility and comfort are improved, but the risk of bladder displacement or leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is designed to be dynamically positioned within the sheath, allowing it to move and deform freely in response to applied loads while maintaining functional integrity. The bladder can stretch and conform to different shoulder shapes and movement patterns, providing adaptability while the fluid pressure and bladder elasticity work together to maintain proper positioning without rigid constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap system is segmented into distinct functional components: the sheath providing structural support and the bladder providing flexible cushioning. This segmentation allows the bladder to move independently within the sheath, achieving flexibility and adaptability while the sheath structure prevents extreme displacement and contains any potential leakage.
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 strap design enhances comfort by distributing pressure evenly, reducing strain on the shoulders and providing effective cushioning and tensile support, allowing for a wider range of materials to be used in the sheath while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the bladder is positioned within the indentations such that a combination of the foam element and the bladder provides cushioning when carrying an article
Implementation Method 2
compressible materials may be utilized, therefore, to distribute loads more evenly over a surface of the shoulder and decrease the pressure concentrations
Implementation Method 3
Although the fluid within the bladder may be pressurized, the fluid may also be air at a pressure substantially equal to a pressure of ambient air surrounding the strap
Data Source
AI summary
A strap may include a sheath and a fluid-filled bladder at least partially located within the sheath. The bladder has an elongate configuration that defines a first end, an opposite second end, and a central portion located between the first end and the second end. At least the central portion and the second end are unsecured to the sheath. In addition, the strap may include a pair of securing elements configured to join the strap to an article, and at least one of the securing elements may be joined to the second end of the bladder.