Fracturable Helmet Cover with Impact Indication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional rigid helmets do not indicate when an impact force exceeds a threshold that could cause injury to the wearer, despite being designed to withstand significant forces without fracturing.
Innovation Solution
A helmet cover with a polymeric outer shell and honeycomb supports that fractures and redirects impact energy, featuring a marker mechanism to indicate impacts exceeding a predetermined threshold, visible to the wearer or others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the rigid outer shell is designed to withstand high impact forces (e.g., 11,000 psi), then the helmet maintains structural integrity and protection, but the helmet cannot indicate when an impact force has exceeded a safe threshold that could cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet system is segmented into two functional components: the rigid outer shell for structural protection and the fractureable cover for impact indication. The cover is divided into multiple sections that can independently fracture at predetermined thresholds, providing localized impact information without compromising the overall helmet structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fractureable cover acts as an intermediary element between the impact force and the rigid outer shell. It absorbs and indicates impact information before the force reaches the main helmet structure, serving as a sacrificial indicator that communicates impact severity without transferring full force to the wearer.
2Loss of information
If the helmet cover is designed to fracture at a predetermined impact threshold, then the helmet can indicate dangerous impacts, but the cover structure becomes more complex with multiple sections and hinged connections
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into multiple independent sections that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. Each section contains its own fractureable indicators and can be attached to the helmet independently, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the indication capability across the entire helmet surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The fractureable indicator mechanism is nested within the cover structure itself. The indicators are integrated into the cover sections rather than being separate components, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the impact indication function.
3Loss of energy
If the supports are designed to collapse under impact force, then energy is absorbed and redirected, but the mechanism requires precise calibration of collapse thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The collapse threshold of the supports is controlled by changing material parameters such as wall thickness, material composition, and geometric dimensions. By adjusting these parameters during manufacturing, the collapse threshold can be calibrated to specific impact levels without requiring complex assembly or adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The supports are constructed using composite materials with specific mechanical properties that enable predictable collapse behavior. The composite structure allows for tailored energy absorption characteristics while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication processes.
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 helmet cover effectively indicates the strength and location of impactful forces, potentially dangerous to the wearer, by fracturing and marking the area of impact, thereby aiding in monitoring for injuries.
Implementation Method 1
The supports are each adapted to absorb and redirect energy realized on the helmet cover by an impact force
Implementation Method 2
The supports are adapted to collapse under an impact force which exceeds a predetermined impact threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet cover comprising an outer shell and a series of internal supports, wherein the helmet cover further comprises an outer shell comprised of a material designed to fracture at the location of an impact greater than a threshold impact, providing an indicator of the strength and location of the impact, and dispersing the force of the impact around the rigid shell of the helmet. The helmet cover further comprises a marker device adapted to release a marker when an impact greater than a threshold impact is realized on the helmet cover. The helmet cover is preferably a thermoplastic material which is not cellular in nature.