Helmet Liner with Adjustable Pads for Head Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current helmet liner systems with separate foam pads often fail to match the geometry of the wearer's head, leading to discomfort and reduced impact protection due to water absorption by the materials used.
Innovation Solution
A liner body made from impact-absorbing material with a convex outer and concave inner surface, featuring adjustable pads and a retention system for secure fit, utilizing hook-and-loop fasteners and breathable materials to prevent water absorption, providing customizable impact protection and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate foam pads are used in the helmet liner, then impact protection is provided, but the pads do not match the geometry of the wearer's head leading to discomfort and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate foam pads into a single integrated liner body that conforms to the head geometry. This merging allows the liner to provide comprehensive impact protection across the entire head while simultaneously matching the head's contours for comfort and stability, eliminating the trade-off between protection and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner body incorporates variable density regions where different portions of the liner have different foam densities. Denser regions are positioned in areas requiring higher impact protection, while less dense regions provide comfort in areas where less protection is needed. This local differentiation allows the single integrated structure to simultaneously optimize both protection and comfort across different head regions.
2Ease of operation
If foam pads are removed to improve fit and comfort, then comfort is improved, but impact protection from that portion of the helmet is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating all impact-absorbing elements into a single unified liner body that covers the entire head, the system eliminates the need to remove portions for fit adjustment. The continuous structure ensures that impact protection is maintained across all regions while the overall geometry is optimized for comfort and stability.
3Reliability
If traditional foam materials are used in the liner, then impact absorption is achieved, but the materials absorb water leading to increased weight and greater discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional water-absorbing foam to water-resistant foam material. This parameter change maintains the impact absorption capability while eliminating water absorption, thereby preventing weight increase and associated discomfort during use.
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 solution provides improved comfort and stability by matching the head geometry, maintaining impact protection without water absorption, and allowing for customizable fit adjustments without compromising protection.
Implementation Method 1
The liner body may be constructed from an impact-absorbing material and have an outer surface with a convex curvature and an interior surface with a concave curvature. In some embodiments, the liner is configured to provide different levels of impact attenuation to different portions of the wearer's head.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more fasteners may include hook-and-loop or hook-and-pile type fasteners or portions thereof.
Implementation Method 3
The pads may include a foam material enclosed in fabric, and may include a material that does not substantially absorb or retain water.
Data Source
AI summary
An impact-attenuating liner for a helmet includes a liner body made from an impact-absorbing material and a plurality of pads removably attached to an interior surface of the liner body, each of the pads being repositionable at different locations on the interior surface of the liner body. A retention system may be attached to the liner body and configured to secure the liner to the wearer's head during use. The liner may be configured to provide substantially uniform impact protection throughout the interior region of the helmet.