Safety Helmet Air Canalization Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional safety helmets impede natural air circulation and sweat evaporation, leading to discomfort, especially in hot weather, due to their rigid design and padding materials that obstruct airflow and compromise breathability and cleanliness.

Innovation Solution

The safety helmet incorporates an air canalization structure made of spongy material with flexible supports and removable caps, featuring air intake and extraction openings connected to auxiliary air systems, which enhance airflow and include a visor demisting function, while allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If padding is made with soft deformable material to adapt to head shape, then fit comfort is improved, but aeration channels and openings are occluded, reducing air passage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit comfortVSAvoidair passage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The padding is divided into multiple independent zones: some areas use soft deformable material for comfort, while other areas use rigid or semi-rigid material to maintain aeration channel geometry. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different materials with different properties are used in different locations of the padding. Soft material is applied where comfort is prioritized, while rigid/semi-rigid material is used in regions where structural integrity of air channels is critical, ensuring local optimization of both comfort and ventilation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If padding compression is increased to improve fit, then anatomical adaptation is improved, but groove lateral walls narrow, reducing air flow section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanatomical adaptationVSAvoidair flow section
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The padding structure incorporates dynamic elements that can adapt their properties based on compression level. The rigid/semi-rigid components maintain their shape under compression to preserve channel geometry, while flexible components provide anatomical adaptation, creating a dynamic system that responds differently to pressure in different regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The padding combines multiple materials with contrasting properties: soft compressible materials for anatomical adaptation and rigid/semi-rigid materials for structural support. This composite construction allows the padding to simultaneously achieve good fit and maintain adequate air flow passages under compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If openings are exposed to allow direct air contact with head, then evaporation is improved, but hair intrusion occludes the openings

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveevaporationVSAvoidopening patency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A mesh or filter structure is introduced as an intermediary element at the air openings. This intermediary allows air molecules to pass through for evaporation while physically blocking larger particles such as hair, thus maintaining both evaporation efficiency and opening patency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If fabric covering is used on padding to improve comfort, then wettability and breathability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecomfortVSAvoidbreathability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric covering is selected or engineered to be porous, allowing air and moisture vapor to pass through while still providing the comfort benefits of fabric contact. The porous structure maintains breathability by permitting vapor transmission while the fabric layer provides comfort through soft contact with the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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

This design promotes sweat evaporation and air circulation, improving comfort during use, especially in hot conditions, and allows for easy sanitation and maintenance, while maintaining the helmet's protective features.

Implementation Method 1

the aforesaid canalization structure conducts air flows starting from a first air intake opening and a second air intake opening toward a first air extraction opening and a second air extraction opening, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the human body takes advantage of the removal of heat given by the evaporation of the sweat for the purposes of automatically adjusting the surface temperature of the skin and scalp

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3174416B1Safety helmet
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 ALBANI IVAN MATTEO
  • EP3174416B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3174416B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3174416B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A safety helmet (10), including a rigid outer shell (11) and an inner part (11.1) made to absorb and deaden any impact endured by said helmet, and comprising an inner padding (14c) which provides a canalisation structure (16) for conducting air between said at least one air intake opening (12.1) and said at least one air extraction opening (13.1), characterized in that it comprises a cap (15), which, when the helmet is worn by said person, cooperates with said padding to provide a plurality of air channels at said canalizations of said padding and covers the head of the person at least at the padding itself.