Safety Helmet Integrated Earplug Capsule and Cord System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction workers face hearing loss and earplug contamination or loss due to discomfort, contamination, and hygiene issues with traditional earmuffs and earplugs, leading to potential ear infections and inadequate noise protection.

Innovation Solution

A safety helmet with integrated earplug securing capsules and a cord system that keeps earplugs clean, secure, and easy to replace, featuring apertures for ear placement, cord holder attachments, and flaps to cover capsules when not in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional earplugs are provided to workers, then hearing protection is achieved, but earplugs get contaminated and lost during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing protection effectivenessVSAvoidearplug contamination and loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the earplug storage case with the helmet structure, integrating the capsule into the helmet's interior. This merging eliminates the need for separate storage containers and prevents earplugs from being lost or contaminated by keeping them securely housed within the helmet when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cord system as an intermediary element that connects the earplugs to the helmet. This cord acts as a mediator that prevents earplugs from falling out or getting lost, while the capsule serves as an intermediary storage solution that protects earplugs from contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If earmuffs are provided to workers, then hearing protection is achieved, but earmuffs are uncomfortable to wear at worksites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing protection effectivenessVSAvoidcomfort during wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the uncomfortable earmuff structure and replaces it with a simpler earplug system. By removing the bulky earmuff design and using only essential earplug components with a securing cord, the solution maintains hearing protection effectiveness while significantly improving comfort for workers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If earplugs are reused after contamination, then productivity is maintained, but risk of ear infection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework continuityVSAvoidear infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent promotes a disposable earplug culture where contaminated earplugs are discarded and replaced with fresh ones stored in the helmet capsule. This approach prioritizes worker health over cost savings, ensuring that earplugs are never reused after contamination while maintaining productivity through easy replacement from the integrated storage system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11357280B2Safety helmet and accessory system that prevents hearing loss at worksites

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SANCHEZ MACARIO

AI summary

A safety helmet and accessory system for construction worksites. The system includes a safety helmet that defines two apertures, each aperture being positioned on the helmet so that they will correspond to a user's left and right ears when the safety helmet is placed on the user's head, the safety helmet has a plurality of cord holder attachments attached within an inner circumference of the safety helmet. A pair of capsules, each capsule is secured within each aperture of the safety helmet. A cord that has two terminal ends and each terminal end has a securing device. And, a pair of earplugs that define a stem, the stem of each ear plug has a receiver that receives each securing device. The system provides a safety helmet that has an integral earplug securing system.