Impact Force Dispersing Apparatus for Glass Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass products, such as automobile windshields and home windows, are prone to breakage due to impact forces from debris, and existing manufacturing advancements to enhance resilience are either expensive or ineffective for existing products.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a housing with a contact member and a biasing member is used to absorb and dissipate impact forces on glass surfaces, which includes a contact end with an aperture, a contact member disposed inside the housing, and a biasing member that biases the contact member toward the aperture, allowing for secure attachment to the glass and effective force transfer and dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If manufacturing advancements are made to improve glass resilience, then glass strength is improved, but product cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A resilient member is introduced as an intermediary element between the glass surface and the impactor. This resilient member absorbs and dissipates impact forces, protecting the glass from direct impact damage. The resilient member acts as a mediator that transforms the harmful impact force into deformable energy, thereby protecting the glass without requiring changes to the glass manufacturing process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is positioned in advance on or near the glass surface to provide cushioning protection before impact occurs. This pre-positioned cushioning element is designed to deform upon impact, absorbing the shock before it can damage the glass. This approach provides protection without requiring the glass itself to be manufactured with enhanced resilience.
2Reliability
If manufacturing advancements are made to improve glass resilience, then glass breakage resistance is improved, but existing products cannot benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member serves as an external intermediary protection layer that can be applied to existing glass products without modifying the glass itself. This allows both new and existing glass products to benefit from improved breakage resistance through the addition of the resilient member, rather than requiring recall or replacement of existing glass inventories.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system is segmented into a separate resilient member component that is distinct from the glass product. This segmentation allows the protection mechanism to be independently applied, removed, or adjusted without affecting the glass product itself, thereby enabling retrofitting of existing products and providing flexibility in deployment.
3Reliability
If a resilient member is introduced to absorb impact forces, then glass protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is designed as a flexible element that can deform to absorb impact forces. This flexible structure provides effective impact protection while maintaining a relatively simple and compact overall apparatus design. The flexibility of the resilient member allows it to conform to the glass surface and absorb energy through deformation rather than requiring complex mechanical structures.
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 apparatus effectively inhibits glass breakage by transferring and dissipating impact forces, reducing the likelihood of cracking or shattering, and can be integrated into existing glass manufacturing processes without significant changes, offering a cost-effective solution for enhancing glass product durability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member biasing the contact member toward the housing aperture... the force is at least partially transferred to the contact member, which in turn temporarily alters the biasing member, which subsequently returns the contact member to an initial position
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for dispersing impact forces are provided. Provided in one embodiment is an apparatus for dispersing impact forces includes a housing having a contact end with an aperture; a contact member located at least primarily inside the housing; a biasing member biasing the contact member toward the housing aperture; and means for securing the housing contact end to a surface. When an impact force is received upon the impact receiving surface, the force is at least partially transferred to the contact member, which in turn temporarily alters the biasing member, which subsequently returns the contact member to an initial position. The return of the contact member imparts a second force on the impact receiving surface, which is less than the impact force transferred to the contact member.