Bicycle Helmet Internal Ventilation Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle helmets suffer from heat build-up and retention issues due to impact attenuating materials directly contacting the wearer's head, which can compromise structural integrity and increase aerodynamic drag, while relying on openings and channels for ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A protective bicycle helmet with an internal ventilation system that includes an energy dissipating inner layer and a web-like structure of fingers that create a gap between the helmet and the wearer's head, allowing for airflow and adjustable fit to reduce heat retention and maintain structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If impact attenuating materials directly contact the wearer's head, then protection is improved, but heat build-up and retention worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet interior is segmented into multiple zones: a first region with reduced material coverage and a second region with conventional material coverage. This segmentation allows the first region to provide ventilation and heat dissipation while the second region maintains impact protection, resolving the contradiction between protection and heat management.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the helmet interior are assigned different qualities: the first region (frontal, temporal, or occipital areas) has reduced impact attenuating material to facilitate airflow and heat dissipation, while the second region maintains conventional material density for impact attenuation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate material coverage only where needed.
2Temperature
If openings and channels are provided in the helmet shell for ventilation, then heat retention is reduced, but structural integrity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating openings in the helmet shell, the invention extracts the ventilation function to the interior lining by reducing or eliminating impact attenuating material in specific regions. This allows airflow through the helmet interior without compromising the structural integrity of the outer shell.
3Reliability
If impact attenuating materials cover significant extent of the wearer's head, then protection is improved, but heat build-up worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet interior is segmented into multiple zones: a first region with reduced material coverage and a second region with conventional material coverage. This segmentation allows the first region to provide ventilation and heat dissipation while the second region maintains impact protection, resolving the contradiction between protection and heat management.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the helmet interior are assigned different qualities: the first region (frontal, temporal, or occipital areas) has reduced impact attenuating material to facilitate airflow and heat dissipation, while the second region maintains conventional material density for impact attenuation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate material coverage only where needed.
4Temperature
If conventional helmet design with front inlet and rear port is used, then ventilation is provided, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating openings in the helmet shell, the invention extracts the ventilation function to the interior lining by reducing or eliminating impact attenuating material in specific regions. This allows airflow through the helmet interior without compromising the structural integrity of the outer shell.
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 internal ventilation system effectively reduces heat build-up and retention, enhances structural integrity, and minimizes aerodynamic drag by allowing airflow through a gap between the helmet and the wearer's head, while maintaining protection and adjustability.
Implementation Method 1
The internal ventilation structure is configured for direct engagement with the head of the wearer... cooperate to define a functional gap between the head of the wearer and the inner surface... allowing airflow through a gap between the helmet and the wearer's head, allowing for airflow and adjustable fit to reduce heat retention
Implementation Method 2
Bicycle helmet interiors include impact attenuating materials such as an arrangement of padding and/or foam, wherein the impact attenuating materials cover and contact a significant extent of the wearer's head... designed to protect the cyclist's (or wearer's) head, including to absorb and dissipate energy during an impact with a surface
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle helmet for protecting the head of a wearer includes an outer shell and an energy dissipating inner layer coupled to the outer shell. The inner layer defines an inner surface, and front attachment locations are inwardly offset from the inner surface substantially at a frontal portion of the helmet. Rear attachment locations are inwardly offset from the inner surface substantially at a rear portion of the helmet. An internal ventilation system is supported by the front attachment locations and the rear attachment locations. The internal ventilation system is configured for direct engagement with the head of the wearer for supporting the helmet upon the head of the wearer. The internal ventilation system provides a gap between the head of the wearer and the inner surface. The gap allows ventilating air to flow over a substantial extent of the wearer's head and within the helmet.