Impact Reduction Pad with Radial Energy Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact reduction devices for athletic and marksmanship applications are heavy, bulky, and fail to disperse recoil energy effectively, limiting mobility and increasing the risk of injury due to concentrated impact forces.
Innovation Solution
The development of impact reduction pads with a geometry and material configuration that includes dimpled layers made of low-density polyethylene or carbon nanotubes, combined with an inflatable bladder, which dissipates energy through a 360-degree radial dispersion, allowing for improved shock absorption and reduced weight, enhancing mobility and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional high-density molded plastic combined with open or closed cell foam padding is used, then impact energy is absorbed and dispersed over an expanded area, but the padding becomes heavy and bulky, limiting mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining a rigid outer shell with a softer inner lining material. The rigid shell provides structural integrity and initial impact resistance, while the inner lining (foam, gel, or air-filled chambers) provides cushioning and energy absorption. This composite approach achieves effective impact protection with reduced overall weight and bulk compared to traditional solid foam pads.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates air-filled chambers or porous structures within the pad design. These air-filled spaces act as compressible elements that absorb impact energy through compression, significantly reducing the pad's weight and bulk while maintaining effective energy absorption capabilities.
2Strength
If honeycomb structure padding is used, then the structure is rigid in the direction of impact and flexible perpendicular to impact, but the padding becomes rigid and limits freedom of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different material properties to different regions of the pad. The outer shell provides rigidity in the impact direction where strength is needed, while the inner lining materials (soft foam, gel, or air chambers) provide flexibility and compliance in other directions, allowing natural body movement. This localized differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between impact resistance and mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad design allows the structure to dynamically respond to applied forces. The rigid shell maintains its shape during normal movement, but deforms appropriately under impact loads. The inner lining materials provide progressive compression, allowing the pad to adapt to different movement ranges and impact intensities, thereby maintaining both protection and mobility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing recoil buffers are used, then the impact of recoil is cushioned, but the kinetic energy is not dispersed in a broad way, resulting in concentrated impact force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs the pad with a broad surface area that distributes recoil impact across multiple dimensions. The air-filled chambers or porous structure extend in multiple directions, allowing impact energy to disperse laterally as well as vertically. This multi-dimensional energy dispersion prevents concentration of force in a single localized area, effectively reducing the peak impact force on the body.
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 solution provides enhanced impact reduction with improved mobility and reduced risk of injury by effectively dispersing recoil energy, allowing for more efficient energy dissipation and protection against impact forces, while maintaining the pads' resilience and ability to return to their original shape.
Implementation Method 1
dissipates energy through a 360-degree radial dispersion
Implementation Method 2
absorb the energy of an impact force, dissipating that energy over an expanded area
Implementation Method 3
maintaining the pads' resilience and ability to return to their original shape
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable impact reduction device including a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The first layer is located closest to the wearer's body and includes a flexible material configured to conform to the shape of a user's body. The fourth layer is located furthest from the wearer's body and is more rigid than the first layer whereby the fourth layer can distribute an external impact over a region. The second layer is placed between the first layer and the third layer. The third layer is placed between the second layer and the fourth layer. The second layer includes an elastically-deformable material having at least one resilient impression arranged and configured to at least partially compress upon application of a force and to return elastically to its original shape upon removal of the force. The third layer comprises an elastically-deformable material having at least one resilient impression arranged and configured to: contact and transmit a force to said resilient impression in the second layer, at least partially compress upon application of a force, and return to its original shape upon removal of a force.