Head and Neck Restraint Load Distribution via Ring Tether
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head and neck restraining systems in high-speed vehicles fail to effectively distribute and reduce the forces exerted on a user's head and neck during accidents, as they rely on a single tether that creates a cantilevered condition, leading to uneven load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A new head and neck restraining system featuring a neck brace structure with a tether system that includes a ring structure and a single tether material sliding through the ring, which splits the load between the helmet and the neck extension and shoulder extensions, allowing for even distribution via multiple load paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single tether is used to attach the helmet to the neck brace structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the load distribution becomes uneven creating a cantilevered condition
Solution Approach 1:
The single tether is segmented into multiple tethers (first tether and second tether) that attach to different points on the neck brace structure. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple attachment points rather than creating a cantilevered condition at a single point, thereby improving load distribution uniformity while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tethers are merged to work together as a unified restraint system. The first and second tethers combine to distribute the helmet load across both shoulder extensions, creating a more stable and uniform load distribution system that functions as an integrated whole rather than separate components
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple tethers are used to distribute the load evenly, then the load distribution uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The neck brace structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, distributes load across the shoulders, and anchors multiple tethers. The shoulder extensions both support the tethers and distribute the load, making the system more efficient without proportionally increasing complexity. Each component performs multiple roles that justify its inclusion
Solution Approach 2:
The tether attachment points are arranged in a horizontal plane rather than vertically stacked. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple tethers to attach to different locations on the helmet and neck brace structure simultaneously, distributing load across the horizontal dimension and reducing the complexity burden that would result from vertical stacking or complex routing
Data Source
AI summary
A head and neck restraining system includes a helmet, a neck brace structure, and a tether system. The neck brace structure includes a neck extension that is attached to shoulder extensions. The tether system includes at least one ring structure that is configured to attach to the helmet and a single tether material that slides through the at least one ring. The single tether material is guided along the neck extension and attached to the shoulder extensions. The at least one ring structure is positioned between the neck and shoulder extensions along the single tether material and splits the load on the helmet to the neck extension and the shoulder extension along to the single tether material created by exerted forces.