Heat-Moldable Forearm Guard Self-Securing Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forearm guards for sports like alpine ski racing, baseball, and lacrosse often fail to provide a secure and comfortable fit, as they are not customizable and can become loose during use, requiring additional fasteners that complicate application and removal, especially in cold weather.
Innovation Solution
A heat-moldable thermoplastic polymer forearm guard that can be shaped to fit an individual's arm using heat, pressure, and an elastic band for a secure, strapless fit, allowing for easy placement and removal even with a gloved hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If removable fasteners (straps, buckles, Velcro) are used to secure the forearm guard, then the guard can be attached to the skier's arm, but the straps come loose during contact with poles and the guard becomes insecure
Solution Approach 1:
The forearm guard uses the skier's own arm as the securing mechanism. The circumferential guard is held in place by the natural contour and pressure of the forearm itself, eliminating the need for separate straps or fasteners that can come loose during contact with poles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the strap and fastener components entirely from the design. By extracting these problematic elements, the guard avoids the issue of straps coming loose during athletic contact while maintaining secure attachment through the arm's natural shape.
2Ease of manufacture
If straps and fasteners are used to secure the guard, then the guard can be attached to the arm, but it requires removing ski gloves and complicates application in cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The guard applies pressure to the forearm and is secured by the natural contour and pressure of the arm itself. This self-securing mechanism allows athletes to easily don and doff the guard with gloved hands, eliminating the need to manipulate complex fastener systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If a standard size and shape guard is used, then the guard can be mass-produced, but it rarely fits securely and comfortably around each individual skier
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is made from heat-activatable thermoplastic material that changes its physical properties when heated. In the heated state, the material becomes pliable and can be molded to the individual skier's arm contours. When cooled, it retains the custom shape, providing a perfect fit while still allowing mass production of the basic form.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoplastic material undergoes a phase transition from rigid to pliable when heated, allowing it to be molded to the skier's arm. After cooling, it returns to a rigid state that maintains the custom-fit shape, combining mass production efficiency with individual customization.
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 custom-fit guard provides stable protection against impacts by recoiling to secure itself to the forearm, preventing movement during high-speed activities without the need for additional fasteners, ensuring comfort and functionality in various athletic and work settings.
Implementation Method 1
When heated by means of an oven, warm water, or a hair dryer, the near circumferential device becomes moldable and remoldable
Implementation Method 2
the athlete may provide a custom fit of the device by simply providing pressure applied by hand, and wherein the device will retain the desired shape after the device cools
Implementation Method 3
Once cooled, the elasto-plastic properties of the polymer material allows the athlete to pull apart the device wide enough device to slide the device on and off of the forearm. When slid onto the forearm in a lengthwise fashion, the shape memory of the polymer material allows the device to recoil thereby firmly securing the device to the forearm
Data Source
AI summary
A self-securing forearm guard used to protect a user's upper extremity during athletic training and competition. The current design incorporates heat moldable materials that allows an athlete to customize the guard's fit around their forearm using pressure applied by hand, and wherein the arm guard will retain the desired shape after the pressure is released, and thereby stay securely attached to said athlete's forearm without the need for straps and/or removable fasteners. The arm guard is adapted to protect a user's forearm during athletic activities such as skiing past and through ski gates, wherein it is common for a skier's forearm to intentionally contact the poles of such gates when skiing at a high rate of speed therethrough, thereby avoiding varying degrees of injury.