Helmet Motion Restrictor with Centrifugal Brake Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety gear for helmet wearers inadequately restricts neck and spine compression during head-first collisions while excessively restricting helmet movement during normal operation.
Innovation Solution
A motion restrictor device with a harness, helmet-engaging component, and centrifugal brake assembly that decelerates and stops the helmet in response to injurious movement, maintaining contact with the helmet through yieldable surfaces and independent lever operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional collar structures are used to limit neck flexing movement, then neck and spine compression is restricted to some extent, but helmet free range of movement is excessively restricted during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly transitions from a static restraint system to a dynamic one that adapts its restraining force based on motion characteristics. During normal operation, the system allows free movement, but during injurious acceleration, the brake assembly activates to provide progressive resistance, thereby resolving the contradiction between unrestricted normal movement and restricted injurious movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of restraining force from constant (conventional collar) to variable based on acceleration thresholds. The brake assembly remains disengaged during low-acceleration normal use, allowing full range of motion, but engages progressively during high-acceleration injurious events, providing neck and spine protection only when needed
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional safety gear is used to protect against head-first collision, then some nominal restriction to neck and spine compression is provided, but helmet movement is excessively restricted during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the braking function from the helmet structure itself and places it in a separate, independently operable brake assembly. This modular approach provides protection against head and spine injury while keeping the helmet structure simple and maintaining normal movement freedom during non-injurious activities
Solution Approach 2:
The brake assembly acts as an intermediary between the helmet and the rider's head/neck. It provides the necessary restraining force during injurious events without requiring direct structural integration with the helmet, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining protection effectiveness
3Reliability
If the brake assembly restricts shifting of helmet-engagement surfaces, then injurious movement is controlled, but normal helmet movement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly operates periodically rather than continuously - remaining disengaged during normal low-acceleration helmet movement and engaging only during high-acceleration injurious events. This periodic activation pattern allows normal movement freedom while providing reliable protection when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its restraining characteristics based on the magnitude and rate of helmet acceleration. During normal operation, the brake assembly remains inactive allowing full range of motion. During injurious events exceeding acceleration thresholds, the brake progressively engages to restrict harmful movement, resolving the contradiction between free normal movement and restricted injurious movement
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
Effectively reduces the risk of head and spine injury by controlling helmet motion without permanent connection, allowing free movement during non-injurious activities.
Implementation Method 1
The brake assembly is operable to restrict shifting of at least one of the helmet-engagement surfaces in response to injurious movement of the helmet
Implementation Method 2
The helmet-engaging component is operable to yieldably bias each of the helmet-engagement surfaces toward the helmet when the device is worn, such that contact with the helmet is maintained as the helmet-engagement surface shifts through the range of motion
Data Source
AI summary
A motion restrictor device is operable to be worn with a protective helmet to reduce the risk of head or spine injury caused by injurious movement of the helmet. The device includes a helmet-engaging component supported on a harness. The component presents helmet-engagement surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the neck of the user. The component is operable to yieldably bias each of the helmet-engagement surfaces toward the helmet when the device is worn, such that contact with the helmet is maintained as the helmet-engagement surface shifts through a range of motion. The device also includes a brake assembly that restricts shifting of at least one of the helmet-engagement surfaces in response to injurious movement of the helmet.