Helmet Energy Management System with Stretchable Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems in protective head gear, such as helmets, are not thin enough to be disguised as a baseball hat while providing adequate protection against high-speed baseball impacts, and they do not effectively redirect energy away from the impact point.
Innovation Solution
The use of stretchable bladders within strategically placed foam pockets that allow the bladder to extend beyond the helmet's confines upon impact, redirecting and absorbing energy through deformation and stretching, thereby reducing the energy transmitted to the head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional energy management systems are used in protective head gear, then protection against impact is provided, but the helmet becomes too thick to be disguised as a baseball hat
Solution Approach 1:
The energy management system is divided into multiple discrete foam pockets distributed throughout the helmet interior. Each pocket contains an independent bladder, creating a segmented structure that provides comprehensive protection while maintaining a thin overall profile. The segmentation allows energy dissipation to occur at multiple distributed points rather than requiring a single thick protective layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladders are designed to extend beyond the confines of the helmet shell in the radial direction upon impact. This dimensional extension allows the energy-absorbing material to move outward away from the head, redirecting impact energy away from the protected area while maintaining a thin helmet profile against the head.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional energy management systems are used, then impact protection is provided, but the system does not effectively redirect energy away from the impact point
Solution Approach 1:
The bladders are designed to dynamically respond to impact forces by deforming and extending beyond the helmet shell. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to varying impact magnitudes and directions, effectively redirecting energy away from the impact point on the head. The flexible membrane of each bladder allows controlled movement and energy dissipation in multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful impact force into beneficial energy dissipation through bladder deformation. When impacted, the bladders extend beyond the helmet, using the impact energy to deform their flexible membranes and move material outward, thereby converting the harmful kinetic energy into deformation work that protects the head.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If bladders extend beyond helmet confines upon impact, then energy is redirected away from head, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bladders are nested within the foam pockets, which are themselves positioned within the helmet shell. This nested arrangement integrates the energy management function into the existing helmet structure without requiring separate external components. The foam pockets provide structural support while containing the bladders, creating a compact multi-functional integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladders are constructed from flexible membranes that can deform and extend beyond the rigid helmet shell upon impact. This flexibility allows the energy management system to operate effectively with thin-walled bladders that do not add significant structural complexity. The thin film construction enables the bladders to conform to the helmet interior while providing effective energy absorption and redirection.
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 solution provides superior protection by achieving the lowest Severity Index value in baseball impact tests, indicating reduced risk of injury from high-speed baseball impacts while maintaining a thin, discreet helmet design.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom surface of each bell-shaped pocket is configured to allow the bladder to extend beyond the bottom surface of the pocket and beyond the bottom edge of the helmet upon impact
Implementation Method 2
redirecting and absorbing energy through deformation and stretching, thereby reducing the energy transmitted to the head
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of bell-shaped pockets situated on an inside surface of the helmet shell
Implementation Method 4
achieves the lowest Severity Index value in baseball impact tests, indicating reduced risk of injury
Data Source
AI summary
An energy management system comprising a helmet shell, at least one pocket situated on an inside surface of the helmet shell and having an outer surface, and a bladder positioned inside of the at least one pocket. The outer surface of the at least one pocket is configured to allow the bladder to extend beyond the outside surface of the pocket upon impact.