Protective Headgear Soft Shell and Cheekbone Fit Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective headgear for women's lacrosse does not adequately address the high rates of head, face, and eye injuries, particularly due to the lack of mandatory head protection and the need for improved fit and protection at the cheekbone area.
Innovation Solution
The development of protective headgear featuring a soft, external thermoplastic polymer shell with a void fraction of less than 20%, combined with inner padding and a rear closure arrangement that stabilizes and secures the helmet, along with replaceable cheekbone fit pads for improved fit and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional headgear materials are used, then the headgear is lightweight and comfortable, but the protection against head injuries is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear uses a composite structure combining a hard outer shell made of thermoplastic polymer with a soft inner lining made of foam material. This composite design provides both impact protection from the hard shell and comfort/crash absorption from the soft lining, resolving the contradiction between protection strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the thermoplastic polymer shell including hardness (70-100 Shore A), elongation (5-20%), and density (0.8-1.2 g/cm³). By optimizing these material parameters, the headgear achieves maximum protection with minimized weight, as the specific parameter ranges provide optimal balance between protective strength and material density.
2Strength
If the shell hardness is increased to improve protection, then the protection effectiveness increases, but the comfort and fit for the wearer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear features a dual-material construction where the outer shell has high hardness (70-100 Shore A) for impact protection while the inner lining has soft foam material for comfort. This local differentiation of material properties allows the hard shell to provide protection where needed while the soft lining ensures comfort against the skin, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and wearer comfort.
3Ease of operation
If the headgear design is simplified for ease of use, then the ease of operation improves, but the adaptability to different head sizes and shapes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The headgear incorporates an adjustable strap system that allows dynamic adaptation to different head sizes and shapes. The straps can be tightened or loosened to accommodate various head circumferences, and the foam lining provides flexible conformability to different head shapes. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains ease of use while achieving versatility across different users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies parameter ranges for the foam lining including density (0.05-0.2 g/cm³) and compression set (10-30%). These parameter ranges allow the foam to be sufficiently soft and compliant to adapt to different head shapes and sizes while maintaining structural integrity. The adjustable strap length parameters also enable accommodation of various head circumferences.
4Strength
If the thermoplastic polymer shell with low void fraction is used to improve impact resistance, then the shock absorption improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a precise void fraction parameter range (5-20%) for the thermoplastic polymer shell. This parameter optimization achieves optimal shock absorption performance while maintaining manufacturability. The controlled void fraction provides energy absorption during impact while the material remains processable using standard injection molding or similar manufacturing techniques for thermoplastics.
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 proposed headgear design effectively satisfies the mechanical testing requirements of ASTM WK36457, providing enhanced protection against deformation, shock absorption, and ball impact, while also improving fit and comfort for the wearer.
Implementation Method 1
The external head-protecting shell has a crown portion, left and right side portions, and a rear portion. The external head-protecting shell has a hardness of 25 to 70 Shore D and/or a hardness of 70 to 100 Shore A.
Implementation Method 2
The protective headgear is configured to satisfy at least two of the following tests of ASTM WK36457 proposed Nov. 13, 2014: the Deformation Test, the Shock Absorption Test, and the Ball Impact Absorption Test.
Implementation Method 3
The protective headgear further includes an inner padding attached to the shell.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects herein relate to protective headgear for sports and to methods of using such headgear. In one aspect, the headgear has an external head-protecting shell that is soft to reduce the risk of injuring other players. In another aspect, the headgear has a rear closure arrangement that includes a bridge component for ease of putting on the headgear and for added protection at the closure area of the rear closure arrangement. In another aspect, fit pads of different sizes are removeably attachable to a cheekbone extension member of the headgear to provide a proper fit to the wearer's cheekbone. A face mask is integrated with the headgear in some embodiments.