Protective Helmet Pad Assembly with Detachable Valve Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional helmets for contact sports face issues with valve exposure leading to damage and cumbersome pad assembly removal, especially in inclement weather, and buckles are prone to impacts due to their external location and material requirements.
Innovation Solution
A pad assembly with a retainer and detachable cap system that protects the valve and allows for easy inflation/deflation, combined with a protective buckle cover to shield the buckle from impacts, using a threaded engagement mechanism and a soft, flexible cover to encase the buckle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valves are firmly press fit into the shell openings to avoid accidental dislodging, then the valve security is improved, but the pad assembly removal becomes cumbersome and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into multiple components: the valve body press-fit into the shell, a retainer that secures the valve body, and a detachable cap that covers the valve. This segmentation allows the cap to be removed for access while the valve body remains securely retained, resolving the contradiction between secure valve attachment and easy pad assembly removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the valve body and the shell opening. It provides a secure mechanical retention mechanism that allows the valve to be firmly held in place while enabling the cap to be independently removed for maintenance or adjustment without removing the entire valve assembly.
2Reliability
If conventional valves are firmly press fit into the shell openings, then the valve security is improved, but damage to the valve and internal pad assembly increases during removal
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the valve assembly into a permanently secured valve body and a removable cap, the design eliminates the need to apply force to the valve body during routine maintenance. The cap can be removed and reattached without disturbing the valve body's secure press-fit connection, preventing damage to both the valve and internal pad assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer serves as an intermediary that provides a secure mechanical interface between the valve body and shell, allowing the valve to be firmly held without requiring damage-prone removal methods. This intermediary structure enables maintenance access while protecting the valve from harmful removal forces.
3Ease of operation
If the buckle is exposed on the exterior of the helmet to allow adjustment and securing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the buckle becomes susceptible to impacts and wear
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible cover made of soft, impact-resistant material is placed over the buckle assembly. This cover protects the buckle from impacts and wear during gameplay while including openings or access points that allow the buckle to remain operable for adjusting and securing the chin strap.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle assembly is nested within a protective cover structure. The cover encases the buckle components, providing a protective outer layer that absorbs impacts while allowing the inner buckle mechanism to remain accessible and functional for user operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pad assembly is provided for use with a protective sports helmet in a contact sport, the helmet having an opening. The pad assembly includes a pad member within a pad housing, and a retainer having a projection that fits within the helmet opening. The pad assembly also includes a cap detachably coupled to the retainer, the cap including a base portion that fits within the helmet opening and a flange portion that fits within a countersunk recess disposed around the helmet opening, the cap detachably receiving the projection of the retainer. A protective sports helmet having a pad assembly is also provided.