Protective Helmet Absorption Elements for Impact Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective helmets inadequately dissipate impact energy, particularly in angular and rotational impacts, leading to potential soft tissue injuries even without visible cranial fractures, as the energy absorption is largely reliant on the inner lining with limited assistance from the outer shell.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of absorption elements with a geometric configuration featuring end portions and a working portion with a smaller transverse section, designed to break before the outer shell, allowing for effective absorption and dissipation of impact energy, including angular and rotational forces, and optionally integrated with a support element or coating shell for enhanced energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the inner lining is designed to absorb impact energy through collapse, then energy absorption capacity is improved, but unabsorbed energy is transferred to the head causing serious injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The inner lining is divided into multiple independent absorbent elements (cones, blocks, or cells) distributed throughout the helmet interior. Each element independently absorbs impact energy through controlled collapse, ensuring more complete energy dissipation and reducing unabsorbed energy transfer to the head.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent elements are designed with progressive collapse characteristics that adapt to impact intensity. Under low impact, elements compress gradually; under high impact, they collapse more rapidly, dynamically adjusting energy absorption to match the force applied and minimizing residual energy transfer.
2Strength
If the outer shell is made thicker to reduce impact force concentration, then impact resistance is improved, but the helmet weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is constructed using composite materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic, Kevlar, or aramid fibers. These materials provide exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, enabling the shell to resist impact forces effectively while maintaining minimal thickness and weight compared to traditional solid plastic shells.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell thickness and material properties are optimized locally based on impact risk zones. High-impact areas receive enhanced reinforcement while lower-risk areas use thinner material, achieving overall improved impact resistance without proportionally increasing total weight.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional inner lining materials are used for energy absorption, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but energy dissipation capacity is insufficient for angular and rotational impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The inner lining is segmented into multiple independent absorbent elements rather than using a single continuous material layer. This segmentation enables better energy dissipation through distributed collapse mechanisms while maintaining ease of manufacture by allowing modular assembly and use of standard materials like EPS or EPP.
Solution Approach 2:
The density, size, and distribution parameters of the absorbent elements are optimized to enhance energy dissipation capacity. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves superior performance against angular and rotational impacts while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing 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
Significantly reduces traumatic injuries to the cranial bones and soft tissues by efficiently dissipating impact energy, improving protection in various impact scenarios while maintaining the structural integrity of the outer shell.
Implementation Method 1
the absorption elements have a breaking load lower than the breaking load of the outer shell, so that in the event of an impact the working portion is subject to breaking before the outer shell and before the end portions to allow the absorption of the impact shock energy
Implementation Method 2
The inner lining is typically made of a material able to absorb energy caused by a shock, e.g. expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP) or materials with similar mechanical behaviors. The inner lining is able to progressively collapse following the impact thus reducing the accelerations transmitted to the head.
Data Source
AI summary
A protective helmet has an outer shell and one or more absorption elements of impact shock energy operatively coupled with the outer shell. The absorption elements include a working portion interposed between the end portions. The section of the working portion along a surface transverse to the development axis has an area smaller than the areas of the corresponding sections of the end portions. The absorption elements have a breaking load lower than the breaking load of the outer shell, so that in the event of an impact the working portion is subject to breaking before the outer shell and before the end portions to allow the absorption of the impact shock energy.