Sport Helmet Grille Circumferential Shock Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sport helmets transfer shock from impact to the wearer's head due to inadequate dispersion of impact forces across the face and head, particularly behind the ears.
Innovation Solution
A helmet grille with elongate members that extend circumferentially around the head, featuring attachment formations to dissipate shock energy to the helmet shell or inner shock absorbing arrangement, allowing for adjustable and displaceable mounting to distribute impact forces over 360°, thereby reducing shock transfer to the wearer's head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the grille portion is attached to the helmet portion or shock absorbing material, then the face is protected, but shock from ball impact is transferred to the wearer's head
Solution Approach 1:
The grille is divided into multiple elongate grille members (at least three) that are laterally spaced apart and extend circumferentially around the head. This segmentation allows the impact force to be distributed across multiple separate members rather than concentrated at a single attachment point, reducing shock transfer to the wearer's head while maintaining face protection
Solution Approach 2:
The grille members extend in a circumferential dimension around the wearer's head (360° coverage), transitioning from a conventional planar grille to a three-dimensional circumferential structure. This dimensional extension allows impact forces to be dispersed around the entire head circumference, including areas behind the ears, rather than being confined to the front face area
2Area of stationary object
If conventional grille structure is used, then face protection is provided, but impact forces are not dispersed over 360° around the head
Solution Approach 1:
The grille comprises multiple laterally spaced elongate grille members that collectively provide circumferential coverage. Each member independently contributes to the overall protection area, and their distributed arrangement ensures that impact forces are spread across the entire 360° circumference rather than concentrated in one location
Solution Approach 2:
The grille members wrap around the head in a circumferential pattern, extending from the front across the sides to the rear. This creates a three-dimensional protective barrier that encompasses the entire head circumference, significantly increasing the effective protection area compared to conventional flat grilles
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 helmet grille effectively disperses impact forces across the head, reducing shock transmission to the wearer's head and providing enhanced protection behind the ears by utilizing adjustable and displaceable elongate members with shock-absorbing attachment formations.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one attachment formation may include a shock absorbing arrangement, in use, to dissipate energy being transferred from the elongate grille member to one of the shell and the inner shock absorbing arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet grille for a sport helmet having a shell and an inner shock absorbing arrangement, the helmet grille including at least one elongate grille member extending from a rear helmet portion forwardly operatively along a first side of a wearer's face, across a front of the wearer's face, and rearwardly towards the rear helmet portion, substantially to extend at least partially around a wearer's head, and at least one attachment formation attached to at least one end of the at least one elongate grille member and attachable to any one of the shell and the inner shock absorbing arrangement.