Helmet Shield Sealability via Inflected Edge and Cover Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current helmet designs face challenges in preventing water ingress between the shield and main hat body, particularly during bad weather, due to gaps and limitations in the placement of sealing members around the turning mechanisms, which affect both sealability and visual design.
Innovation Solution
A helmet design featuring a seal member that inflects towards the main hat body at the upper edge of the shield, combined with cover members that cover the rear sides of the turning mechanisms, effectively sealing gaps and preventing water ingress without compromising the movement of the shield or chin guard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the window rubber is relocated toward the rear of the helmet to prevent water ingress into the wearer's view area, then water sealing performance is improved, but the turning mechanisms must be relocated which increases structural complexity and limits design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into two independent parts: the window rubber that seals the aperture window perimeter, and the cover members that seal the turning mechanism areas. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the window rubber can be positioned for optimal water sealing while the cover members handle the turning mechanism sealing, eliminating the need to relocate the entire turning mechanism assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover members act as intermediary sealing elements between the main hat body and the shield, specifically covering the turning mechanisms. These intermediaries provide the necessary seal in the turning mechanism areas without requiring the main window rubber to be relocated, thus maintaining both sealing performance and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If thicker sealing members are used around the turning mechanisms to fill gaps, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the helmet's visual design is adversely affected due to exposed sealing members at the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The cover members serve as intermediary elements that provide sealing functionality while maintaining aesthetic appearance. They are positioned to cover the turning mechanisms and any exposed sealing members, acting as a visual barrier that hides the functional sealing components from view, thus resolving the conflict between sealing effectiveness and visual design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover members are designed as thin, flexible components that can conform to the contours of the turning mechanisms and shield edges. This allows them to provide effective sealing while maintaining a sleek, aerodynamic appearance that does not compromise the helmet's visual design or aerodynamic performance.
3Reliability
If the turning mechanisms are relocated toward the rear of the helmet to accommodate rearward window rubber positioning, then water ingress prevention is improved, but the shield shape and turning mechanism structure must be changed increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into the window rubber for the aperture window and separate cover members for the turning mechanisms. This allows the window rubber to be positioned optimally at the aperture window perimeter while the cover members independently handle the turning mechanism areas, eliminating the need to relocate or redesign the turning mechanisms themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relocating the turning mechanisms to achieve water sealing, the solution inverts the approach by keeping the turning mechanisms in their optimal positions and adding cover members as separate sealing elements. This reverses the conventional thinking of moving mechanisms for sealing purposes, instead adding dedicated sealing components in place.
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
This design enhances sealability, reduces wind noise, and improves aerodynamic performance by ensuring that water is directed outside the wearer's view, even in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member that, when the shield is at the closed position, seals a gap between an upper edge of the shield and an upper edge of the aperture window
Implementation Method 2
relocating positions of the left and right ends of the window rubber toward a rear of the helmet such that, even when water ingresses, the water is kept outside the area of the wearer's view
Data Source
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AI summary
Sealability between a helmet and a shield is improved. The helmet includes a main hat body, a shield, and a seal member. The main hat body is substantially spherical and includes an aperture window that opens forward to provide a field of view to a wearer. The shield is connected to a pair of turning mechanisms protruding from two side faces of the main hat body, and is movable between a closed position at which the shield is located so as to close off the aperture window and an open position at which the shield is located so as to open the aperture window. When the shield is at the closed position, the seal member seals a gap between an upper edge of the shield and an upper edge of the aperture window of the main hat body from a vicinity of one of the turning mechanisms to a vicinity of another of the turning mechanisms. An upper end portion of the shield is inflected toward the main hat body at least at upper edges of left and right end portion vicinities of the seal member.