Helmet Shell Segmentation for Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact protection apparatuses, such as helmets, face challenges in manufacturing and assembly due to friction issues between moving parts and the need for easy assembly and manufacturing, particularly in ensuring sufficient relative movement under impact.
Innovation Solution
A shell design with a plurality of openings along a boundary between regions, detachably attached to a helmet hard shell, allowing for sliding interfaces and reduced friction through low friction materials or lubricants, facilitating relative movement between layers to absorb and redirect impact energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If moving parts are implemented in a helmet to allow relative movement between layers under impact, then impact protection is improved, but friction between moving parts increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into multiple regions (first region, second region, third region) separated by boundaries with openings. This segmentation allows each region to move independently relative to others during impact, providing the desired relative movement for impact protection while simplifying the overall structure by using discrete separable sections rather than complex continuous moving mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Openings are provided along the boundaries between regions, acting as intermediaries that facilitate relative movement between adjacent regions. These openings allow the regions to slide or shift independently during impact while maintaining structural connection, thereby reducing friction issues and enabling easier manufacturing compared to fully integrated moving parts.
2Ease of operation
If openings are provided along boundaries between regions of the shell, then relative movement between regions is facilitated, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shell maintains different structural qualities in different locations: regions connected by openings have local flexibility to allow movement, while the regions themselves maintain full structural strength. The openings are strategically positioned along boundaries rather than throughout the entire shell, providing movement capability exactly where needed while preserving strength in load-bearing areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure where regions can move relative to each other through the openings. This dynamic capability allows the shell to adapt during impact by permitting controlled movement in non-critical areas while maintaining overall structural integrity and strength in essential load-bearing regions.
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 shell design enhances impact protection by reducing rotational acceleration of the head, potentially reducing brain injury risks by up to 90%, while improving manufacturing ease and assembly by enabling effective relative movement between helmet layers.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for sliding interfaces and reduced friction through low friction materials or lubricants, facilitating relative movement between layers
Data Source
AI summary
A shell configured to be detachably attached to the outside of a helmet hard shell, the shell comprising: a first region; a second region; and a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings extending from a first side to a second side of the shell; wherein the plurality of openings are arranged along a boundary between the first region and the second region.