Foam Sword Blade with Internal Rod for Impact Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy and exercise swords, particularly those made of rigid plastic, pose a safety hazard due to their rigidity, which can lead to injuries such as eye pokes and bruises during play, especially among children.
Innovation Solution
A foam sword with a flexible, soft foam blade and a reinforcing rod for internal support, combined with a handle and hilt guard made from EVA foam, providing a lightweight and safe option for exercise and play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid plastic or wooden swords are used for exercise or play, then structural strength and durability are improved, but safety is worsened due to risk of injury from rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The sword blade is constructed from flexible foam material that can bend and deform upon impact, eliminating the rigid structure that causes injury. The foam blade maintains sufficient structural integrity for exercise purposes while its flexibility allows it to deform safely during use, preventing eye pokes and bruises associated with rigid plastic or wooden swords.
Solution Approach 2:
The sword combines multiple materials with different properties: foam material for the blade providing flexibility and safety, reinforced with internal structural elements for durability, and equipped with a foam hilt guard for additional protection. This composite construction achieves both strength and safety simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If soft foam material is used for the sword blade, then safety is improved by reducing injury risk, but structural strength is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sword combines multiple materials with different properties: foam material for the blade providing flexibility and safety, reinforced with internal structural elements for durability, and equipped with a foam hilt guard for additional protection. This composite construction achieves both strength and safety simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sword have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The blade uses soft foam for safety, while internal reinforcing elements provide localized structural support where needed, and the hilt guard uses foam for hand protection. Each region's material properties are tailored to its functional requirements.
3Weight of moving object
If foam material is used for the sword, then weight is reduced improving ease of use, but structural strength is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sword combines multiple materials with different properties: foam material for the blade providing flexibility and safety, reinforced with internal structural elements for durability, and equipped with a foam hilt guard for additional protection. This composite construction achieves both strength and safety simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sword blade is constructed from flexible foam material that can bend and deform upon impact, eliminating the rigid structure that causes injury. The foam blade maintains sufficient structural integrity for exercise purposes while its flexibility allows it to deform safely during use, preventing eye pokes and bruises associated with rigid plastic or wooden swords.
Data Source
AI summary
A foam sword having a sword blade made from a flexible, soft foam material having a blade-shaped, generally constant cross-section with a major dimension and a minor dimension is provided, having blade edges defined in a direction of the major dimension. The blade has first and second ends, and a longitudinally extending opening extends therethrough from the first end to the second end. The blade includes a reinforcing rod that extends partially therethrough from the first end to provide some rigidity and to which the sword handle is connected, and a plug closes the opening in the second end of the foam sword blade to present a sword-like appearance.