Foldable Helmet Segments Sliding Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional protective helmets for bicycles and motorcycles are bulky due to their design, which compromises comfort and safety when not in use, as they often have discontinuities and undesirable spaces that make them more vulnerable to shocks and less practical for storage.

Innovation Solution

A protective helmet comprising multiple segments interconnected via sliding connections with transverse bars, notches, and guide elements, allowing for a compact folding mechanism that maintains structural integrity and adaptability to the user's head shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the helmet is designed with a conventional single-piece structure to ensure safety and protection, then the protective performance is improved, but the helmet becomes bulky and difficult to store

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective performanceVSAvoidhelmet volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The helmet is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, third segment, fourth segment) that can be interconnected through sliding connections, allowing the helmet to be folded into a compact form while maintaining protective coverage when worn

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the helmet is designed with discontinuities and spaces to reduce bulk, then the storage convenience is improved, but the vulnerability to shocks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehelmet volumeVSAvoidshock resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The helmet employs dynamic sliding connections that allow the segments to move relative to each other during folding for compact storage, while automatically locking into a rigid assembled state during use to provide continuous protective coverage and shock resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the helmet segments are interconnected with simple connections to ease manufacturing, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the structural integrity and adaptability to head shape deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding connection acts as an intermediary mechanism between helmet segments, providing a standardized interface that is relatively simple to manufacture while enabling complex relative movements and locking actions to maintain structural integrity and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2644046B1Foldable protective helmet
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 OVERADE
  • EP2644046B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP2644046B1 patent drawingFigure 6~11
  • EP2644046B1 patent drawingFigure 12~17

AI summary

The helmet (1) has central segments (106, 107) connected to each other by a sliding connection ensuring a sliding motion. The segments are formed of notches and complementary and parallel projections. The projections of each segment are connected to each other by a transverse bar. The transverse bars are located at ends of the projections. Ends of the transverse bars extending beyond the projections are guided in the displacement by guidance elements placed along the notches.