Cycling Helmet Liner Coupling for Rotational Impact Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional helmets suffer from instability due to rotating energy management liners that can separate during impacts, compromising protection, and branding elements often detach, reducing effectiveness and stability.
Innovation Solution
A cycling helmet design featuring an inner and outer liner coupled by elastomeric return springs and leash couplings, with a branding element integrated into the shell, allowing for rotational energy attenuation and maintaining liner stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional helmets use structures that require breaking or deforming material for liners to rotate against each other, then energy absorption is achieved, but helmet stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical properties of the coupling mechanism from rigid breaking/deforming connections to elastic returnable connections. The return springs provide a reversible elastic deformation mechanism that absorbs energy while maintaining structural integrity and stability, resolving the contradiction between energy absorption and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite coupling system combining return springs (elastic material) with rigid liner structures. This composite approach allows the elastic springs to absorb energy through reversible deformation while the rigid liners maintain structural stability, achieving both energy absorption and stability simultaneously.
2Loss of energy
If liners are allowed to rotate against each other for energy absorption, then impact energy is managed, but complete separation of liners occurs reducing protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The return springs are pre-installed between the liners to provide cushioning and maintain connection. This beforehand preparation ensures that during impact, the liners can rotate for energy absorption while the springs prevent complete separation, maintaining protection effectiveness throughout the incident.
Solution Approach 2:
The return springs act as intermediary elements between the inner and outer liners. They mediate the interaction by allowing controlled rotation for energy absorption while simultaneously preventing complete separation, thus maintaining the protective function of the helmet system.
3Ease of manufacture
If branding elements are attached to the outer shell with adhesive, then brand communication is achieved, but elements detach during impact compromising branding and potentially reducing protection
Solution Approach 1:
The return springs are installed beforehand to cushion and stabilize the helmet structure during impacts. This pre-positioned cushioning prevents the kind of structural failure that would cause branding elements to detach, maintaining both branding integrity and protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The return springs provide preliminary anti-action by counteracting the forces that would otherwise cause liner separation and potential branding element detachment. This preemptive stabilization ensures branding remains intact while maintaining protection during impact events.
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 attenuates rotational energy while preventing complete separation of liners, enhancing stability and maintaining branding integrity during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of return springs comprising an elastomeric material, each return spring having a first end coupled to the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, a second end distal to the first end and coupled to the outward-facing surface of the inner liner
Implementation Method 2
The design effectively attenuates rotational energy while preventing complete separation of liners, enhancing stability and maintaining branding integrity during impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet having an outer liner with an inward-facing surface, an inner liner with an outward-facing surface that interfaces with the inward-facing surface of the outer liner, and a flexible tether coupling the outer liner to the inner. The inner liner is slidably coupled to the outer liner via a plurality of return springs, the plurality of return springs biasing the inner liner to a first position with respect to the outer liner.