Glove Shock-Absorbing Pad with Embedded Plastic-Elastic Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body-protectors for sports, such as gloves, fail to effectively absorb impact energy both elastically and plastically, leading to rebound forces that can cause injuries, and lack flexibility, ease of inspection, and manufacturing simplicity.
Innovation Solution
A body-protector with a shock-absorbing pad composed of a first member for irreversible plastic deformation and a second member for reversible elastic deformation, where the first member is embedded within the second member, allowing for efficient energy absorption and preventing rebound forces, while maintaining flexibility and ease of inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If elastic materials are used to absorb impact energy, then impact force is reduced, but rebounding forces are generated that can cause injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing pad is divided into two distinct members: a first member for plastic deformation and a second member for elastic deformation. This segmentation allows each member to perform its specific function - the first member absorbs energy through irreversible deformation without rebound, while the second member provides additional elastic absorption, together eliminating the harmful rebounding forces that would occur with elastic materials alone
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining two different material behaviors - plastic deformation material and elastic deformation material - in a single shock-absorbing pad. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from both energy absorption mechanisms while eliminating the disadvantage of rebounding forces associated with purely elastic materials
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic deformation is used to absorb impact energy, then rebounding forces are eliminated, but the structure loses flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shock-absorbing pad into two members with different deformation characteristics, the invention allows the first member (plastic deformation) to eliminate rebounding forces while the second member (elastic deformation) to maintain flexibility. The combination of these segmented components resolves the contradiction between eliminating rebound and preserving flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the deformation parameter of the shock-absorbing pad by incorporating both plastic and elastic deformation mechanisms. The first member undergoes irreversible plastic deformation to stop rebound, while the second member undergoes reversible elastic deformation to maintain flexibility, thus changing the overall behavioral parameters of the protective device
3Reliability
If the shock-absorbing pad uses complex multi-layer structure, then energy absorption is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first member is embedded within the second member, creating a nested structure where one component is placed inside another. This nesting approach achieves complex energy absorption functionality while simplifying manufacturing compared to alternative multi-layer constructions, as the embedded configuration allows for integrated production processes
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of two different deformation materials working together provides enhanced energy absorption reliability. The combination of plastic and elastic deformation mechanisms in a single integrated pad design achieves superior energy absorption without requiring excessively complex manufacturing processes
4Ease of manufacture
If the first member is not embedded in the second member, then manufacturing is simpler, but lateral support is insufficient causing cell buckling
Solution Approach 1:
By embedding the first member within the second member, the invention provides lateral support to the cell structure through the surrounding elastic material. This nested configuration prevents cell buckling during oblique impacts while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process, as the embedding can be achieved through integrated molding or insertion 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 solution effectively absorbs impact energy through both elastic and plastic deformation, reducing injury risk, enhancing flexibility, and allowing for easy inspection and replacement of damaged components, while maintaining durability and comfort during sports activities.
Implementation Method 1
a first member (4) configured to absorb shock energy by an irreversible plastic deformation
Implementation Method 2
a second member (5) configured to absorb shock energy by a reversible elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
Body-protector (1,1′) comprising: a wearable article (2,2′); a shock-absorbing pad (3) anchored to the wearable article (2,2′); wherein the shock-absorbing pad (3) comprises a first member (4) configured to absorb shock energy by an irreversible plastic deformation and a second member (5) configured to absorb shock energy by a reversible elastic deformation and wherein the first member (4) is embedded in the second member (5); wherein the first member (4) comprises a plurality of cells (6) interconnected each other via their sidewalls (7) to form a pliable sheet (8) configured to absorb energy through irreversible deformation of said sidewalls (7) or said interconnections in response to a compressive load applied to said sheet (8). Said wearable article (2) being a glove (2′) wherein said shock-absorbing pad (3) is anchored to a back of the glove (2′).