Helmet Head Mount Air Gap and Friction Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helmets face challenges in manufacturing and assembly due to friction issues between moving parts, which affect the relative movement needed for impact absorption and distribution, and require complex designs to ensure ease of manufacturing and effective impact protection.
Innovation Solution
A helmet design featuring an outer shell with a head mount suspended within, creating an air gap, and a head engagement device that can move relative to the head mount, supported by a low friction interface and a head engagement device support structure with connectors to allow for sliding and rotation, reducing friction and enhancing impact energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If moving parts are implemented in a helmet to enable relative movement for impact protection, then impact energy absorption and distribution are improved, but friction between moving parts increases making it difficult to overcome friction during impact
Solution Approach 1:
A low friction interface is introduced as an intermediary element between the head engagement device and the head mount. This interface reduces the friction force that must be overcome for relative movement to occur during impact, enabling the moving parts to slide more easily while still providing the necessary impact protection benefits
2Loss of energy
If moving parts are implemented in a helmet to enable relative movement for impact protection, then impact energy absorption is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is divided into distinct segments including the outer shell, head mount, head engagement device, and low friction interface. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately before final assembly, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while enabling the complex relative movement functionality needed for impact protection
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 design effectively reduces rotational acceleration of the head during impacts by allowing relative movement between helmet components, improving impact energy distribution and absorption, thereby enhancing protection against both radial and tangential impact components.
Implementation Method 1
a low friction interface is provided between the head engagement device and the head mount
Implementation Method 2
the head mount is suspended within the outer shell such that, in use, an air gap is provided between the head mount and the outer shell
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet comprising: an outer shell; a head mount, configured to be mounted on the top of the head of a wearer of the helmet; wherein the head mount is suspended within the outer shell such that, in use, an air gap is provided between the head mount and the outer shell; the head mount comprises a plurality of straps, that are configured to extend across the top of the head of a wearer of the helmet, and a head ring that at least partially surrounds the head of a wearer of the helmet, extending around the craniocaudal axis; and the helmet further comprises: a head engagement device that is provided on a surface of the head mount, that is configured to face the head of a wearer of the helmet, such that the head engagement device can move relative to the head mount; and a head engagement device support that is configured to inhibit the movement of the head engagement device through gaps between the straps and/or head ring of the head mount into the air gap between the head mount and the outer shell.